BILLY ELLIOTT WORST MUSICAL EVER?

[Ajax]

Posted: 4/30/05 at 6:07am

What a horrible thing I witnessed on stage last evening here in London. No score, a wonderful film reduced to a trite, overblown glob of nothingness. Surely one of the ugliest casts assembled for a show. An areil ballet out of amateur ville. Elton John has done yet another diservice to musical theatre with the stuff he has allowed to reach human ears. What a total waste of time, money and effort. THEY NEED NEW MUSIC, a new director and most definitly a new CHOREOGRAHER ASAP.'

This was even worse then Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Ajax (from London)

[Janki]

Posted: 4/30/05 at 6:54am

I couldn't disagree more...I loved it....certainly better than a lot of shows that are out there....I honestly think this show has got something that many other lack and that is HEART!

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 4/30/05 at 6:55am

Oh, would you shut up!

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 4/30/05 at 7:02am

I was talking to Ajax

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 4/30/05 at 11:10am

Wow, people, can you please calm down ? Ajax, I respect your opinion, but since you are probably new here, please try to keep in mind that it is best not to use so harsh characterisations, because it doesn't help conversation ! There are always polite ways to state your dissatisfaction and state your argument ! A lot of people disagree that Elton John does a diservice to musical theater ! No reason to be so hard, after all we are all here to exchange views ! :)
And rockfernis, no need to be so rude my friend, your post will only cause a fight between you two and there is no reason for it !
I am only interfering because I think we can all get along fine and respect each other's views ! There's lots of negativity in the world around, no need to bring it here as well :)

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 4/30/05 at 12:10pm

OH NO!!! i was hoping it would be good!

[pab]

Posted: 4/30/05 at 12:51pm

Well, you really don't know if it's not good. You have two very different opinions just in this short thread. You have Janki who loved it and Alex who hated it so, you might end up agreeing with Janki when you eventually get to see it so don't write it of just yet.

[Beergoggles]

Posted: 4/30/05 at 12:58pm

I heard a song from it not long ago (o.k one song i know) but it sounded pretty good! The lads who are playing Billy were phenomonal considering their age,

[QueenMuppet]

Posted: 4/30/05 at 1:36pm

Can't wait to see it. I got my tickets for this for my annual London trip in June. I have high hopes, my friends absolutely loved it.

And I'm with Pab on that one. Almost amazes me when some people rely on one review that much. Go and judge for yourself.

QM

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 4/30/05 at 2:24pm

I am seeing it next Thursday matinee ! I will let you all know what I think, as soon as I get back home, which is next Sunday ! I never find time to log on when I am travelling abroad. Too many things to see ! :)

Take care

[Ringo Star]

Posted: 4/30/05 at 3:01pm

Of course Ajax is entitled to his/her opinion but I personally think that this show is one of the greatest shows ever to grace the west end stage. It has charm, wit, comedy, scenes that will bring a tear to your eye (or in my case will reduce you to sobbing!) and above all, as someone else said, it has a whole lot of heart. I was almost left stunned when I saw this show for the first time; i felt as though i had just witnessed something very special...very special indeed. Elton's music may not be the greatest score ever written but I did enjoy many of the songs e.g. the letter song, express yourself, electricity. But I think the main point is that the show as a whole is simply stunning. I'd much prefer to see an amazing show with good music than a badly produced show with fantastic music. For me, the 'whole' is much more important than one individual aspect alone. I personally cannot see how you could fault the choreography in the show Ajax, it was creative, inspired, and quite frankly breathtaking in some places. I guess you could say 'each to their own' and all that. However, I would urge anyone who has not seen this show (who has the opportunity to) to GO! (If only to make up your own minds about it). ENJOY!

[rawleygirl]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 12:36am

The ugliest cast in London? THAT should be something to behold!

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 12:40am

The clips I've heard from it sound great. But that's just me.

[midtowngym]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 12:56am

i was warned to stay away from it when i visit next month

[devonian.t]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 3:35am

"the ugliest cast in London?"

Is it a show or a beauty contest? Bearing in mind it is set amongst coal miners in Newcastle I congratulate the casting director in not gathering a bunch of pre-pubescent chorines, barely able to pick up a shovel between them!
Perhaps some of us should stick with quality products like Good Vibrations... a fantastic musical- they were so pretty!

[Janki]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 4:24am

"The Ugliest cast"?....Maybe my taste is way off, but i found that all of the guys and the girls were charming...appart from Chris Lennon, cause he was absolute gorgeous (loved him since I saw him as Mickey in Blood Brothers)

[wickedfan]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 8:06am

Where can I listen to clips from the show?

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 9:45am

here

[Elphaba]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 9:54am

well, obviously you never went to Napoleon when it had it
s short run in London. The absolutley WORST thing ever to grace a stage.......why they let it out of Canada I'll never know.

Updated On: 5/1/05 at 09:54 AM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 11:08am

I always heard that Bernadette was the worst thing to grace the West End stage. That and Heathcliff. When Ajax said the show has "no score", then I knew to discredit the entire review. Not liking a score does not mean the score doesn't exist.
And the mention of the "ugliest cast" is juvenile and means absolutely nothing. It's not a show about sexy people and if that is what Ajax was looking for, then he/she obviously had no clue what they were going to see. I wonder what the cast would think about Ajax's looks.

The review did not have a modicum of intelligence and was clearly a rant by someone who doesn't like Elton and wanted to see gorgeous people. So why did they go see Billy Elliot?

[midtowngym]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 12:07pm

good point. Based on Ajax's ridiculous rant, i WILL see Billy Elliot on my London trip.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 12:22pm

Thanks Caroline- I like the clips. It's not really enough for me to fuly appreciate or not appreciate the score. But what I've heard so far I like.

[Chloe]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 3:01pm

This seems to be one of those love it or hate it shows, but the vast majority of reactions I've seen on British message boards and newspapers have been positive.

Posted: 5/1/05 at 5:14pm

Ya know I have YET to see the movie so I cannot comment. BUT~~ I would like to see it. I love alot of things from London that others did not so I would have to say I am sure I will like it.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 5:35pm

Isn't every show one of those love it or hate it shows? Either way, there is an intelligent way to express your opinion. Some people just choose not to do so.