Best News: Billy Elliot will NOT be altered for B'Way

[Craig]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 9:16am

http://www.nypost.com/seven/04252008/entertainment/theater/everybody_might_love_billy_107934.htm

[dramarama2]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 9:17am

So they added/improved stuff for the AUS production, but not Broadway???

[Craig]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 9:22am

I haven't seen the AUS production, just the Original UK production, so I can't comment specifically. But have you? It seems interesting to say that they improved stuff if you haven't.

Billy Elliot was/is one of the best musicals I've seen in a long time and didn't think it need any tweaking. Loved it as is - so very happy it's coming in un-altered. Especially given my initial fears based on previously imported musicals.

Here were my original thoughts: https://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=13139

[Maurice]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 9:30am

I know there had been some talk of them making changes for Broadway. I guess they were thinking that the story wouldn't be as accessible to Americans as it is to people in the UK. But, I am glad to hear that they're not going make any changes for its run here.

[TonyVincent]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 9:32am

I'm really curious to see how it goes in the US unaltered. I loved it (pretty much because I can relate to Billy, having danced as a boy), but some of the references went over my head, and I'm sure even more will be missed by the average Broadway ticketholder. The strike scenes seemed to bog down the production for me (they're emphasized more than in the movie), probably because they have no historical significance for me and for most US audiences.

Elton + great production + cute dancing kids + a story of triumph over adversity = blockbuster
British references and a context that many will have trouble relating to = dud

Posted: 4/25/08 at 9:36am

Oh, I'm SO happy nothing will be changed too much! I'm so excited! thanks for the news, Craig!

[Craig]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 9:41am

When I saw it in London, even some of the Brits didnt fully understand some of the references (hey - same hold true when American audiences see things about their own country too!). Regardless - the entire audience loved the show enthusiastically.

I don't think people will feel lost or not get the overall show just because they dont get a few references and such. They'll be too busy enjoying the entire experience.

My .02

[bdboston]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 9:42am

Is the dialogue really that hard to understand in the London production?

Posted: 4/25/08 at 9:44am

Boston, have you heard the OLCR? Its a bit hard to understand. I had to have an Irish friend translate some stuff because the dialect is different than what my American ears are used to ,and they were speaking very fast. However, I can't see that stopping me from loving the show!

[Craig]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 9:47am

No. It's not that hard to understand. You do have to LISTEN a bit closer - but that's hardly a bad thing.

Again - between the staging, choreography, performance and story, this is an amazing show.

[bdboston]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 9:57am

Hey D-G-G... nope, I've heard not one song from the show; I've only seen (and loved) the movie, where the dialogue/dialect was sometimes hard to follow, but never took away from the enjoyment.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 9:59am

I loved it when I saw it in London. I just hope it DOES transfer well. There were a few things ~ can't put my finger on them now ~ when I saw it that I'm really not sure will play well over here. I hope I'm wrong and it's fantastic. But there's a part of me that fears this may be another Coram Boy ~ lauded and loved over there but lost on American audiences as a whole. (Speaking of the general theatre-going public, not the people like us on here.)

[WOSQ]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 10:05am

The Australian Billy expanded a dance number in Act One (at least I don't remember it from London) and turned a big crowd pleaser into a real showstopper. I hope this remains.

As for the accents, they are not easy to understand because they are set deep in the throat. They need to be spoken forward in the mouth/facial mask. They are not in the UK, but are in Sydney. Once I cupped my hand to my ear in London, it helped clarify the words.

Having now seen this show three times, I decided the book and music are very good and the lyrics a little less so. The show will still make a lot of people very happy and warm a lot of cockles.

I'd be more concerned about the mammoth physical production. Where are they going to put everything in the wings?

[avab802]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 10:21am

I haven't seen the show, but everyone I know who has seen it in London raves about it. I'm glad it's not going to altered for Broadway. I always find when I'm watching something where there are heavy accents that it is difficult to understand at first, but after a scene or two my ears get used to it and I can understand most everything.
Also, while most Americans won't be familiar with the specific miners strike that is depicted in the show, I think the majority of Americans are at least somewhat familiar with strikes in general.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 10:22am

So is a $135.00 a new top price for a Broadway show ( as in normal ticket wise )?

[hubee]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 10:40am

I hope they DON'T alter the strike scenes because those were some of the best parts!

Yeah, some of the references went over me too (I saw the London prod.) but I didn't mind them since it grounded the universal story to a specific time and place giving it further depth.

Posted: 4/25/08 at 10:50am

Boston, definitely try and get a listen! It is so worth it, and will probably prepare you for the show!

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 11:00am

Excellent news! It's nice to see people sticking to their creative guns and not expecting an audience to be ALL uncomprehending, "family-ready" dolts.

[LeaGirl]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 11:01am

WOSQ, I don't think that the powers that be at Billy Elliot are worried about the Imperial being a good fit for their show since they were announced for the Imperial back in 2006. They've been after it since then so they must know it can work. And they've got from now until October to do what they need to do to the theater.

I remember when that announcement came out it was right during High Fidelity's early days in the house and the comment was "well if High Fidelity is a hit, it can move..."

[Mamie]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 11:15am

has anything been said about the remaining casting?

[Muhlethaler]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 4:32pm

Updated On: 6/18/20 at 04:32 PM

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 4:44pm

I saw the show in London when it first opened and thought it was one of the best 5 shows I've ever seen in my entire life. By comparison, I absolutely HATED Elton John's Aida and Lestat and found his Lion King only mildly amusing.

I hope that they can cast the show appropriately on Broadway. Hayden Gwynne as the dance teacher was brilliant and I hope they find an actress who can play her in the same earthy way rather than play her as a stock musical theatre character. Also, the male London ensemble were completely believable as miners- I hope they find enough butch chorus boys who can dance, sing and pass for miners....

I also think the powers that be need to make at least one casting coup and make a casting coup for at least one of the supporting characters. Casting someone like Betty Buckley as the grandmother or Raul Esparza as the father would give an added cachet to the production.

[Muhlethaler]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 5:04pm

Updated On: 6/18/20 at 05:04 PM

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 5:25pm

this is excellent news.

I think given the economy and the politics of our current president, people won't have a hard time understanding strikes and contempt for a harsh leader.

Plus the film was enough of a hit here to already be familiar.

[jakebloke]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 5:27pm

I for one, saw it in London, and was completely lost through a lot of it. I think they need to provide a detailed synopsis in the playbill, and it wouldn't hurt the show to tone down the heavy heavy accents. I was hoping to love it. I still enjoyed the show on the whole, but would've liked to understand it better.