Billy Elliot - Broadway vs West End differences?

[BroadwayPenguin2]

Posted: 10/17/08 at 3:37pm

Hi all.

Just saw the West End production on Wednesday. It was marvelous!

I heard that a lot of the cursing has been taken out.

Is the tiny boy still in the show? I saw a clip on the website that showed an older boy trying to dance along behind Billy after the opening number.

What about a lot of the references that Americans might not understand?

Cheers!

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 10/17/08 at 3:41pm

"Little Boy" is still in the show.
I haven't seen it yet, but from what I understand they kept all the curses.

[BroadwayPenguin2]

Posted: 10/19/08 at 8:57am

"Little Boy" is adorable! Is he allowed to still say "wanker"?

[Testing1232]

Posted: 10/19/08 at 9:01am

"Little Boy" might have been the cutest thing I have ever seen !!!

And Eboni Edwards ! Too cute !

[BroadwayPenguin2]

Posted: 10/19/08 at 11:57am

The opening film is different too, yea?

Also, it's one guy singing to start off instead of the ens for "The Stars Look Down"

[changinandhow]

Posted: 10/19/08 at 12:13pm

Penguin, yes the little boy does still say "wanker" and I believe that the opening film has been extended a bit so that the American audiences know whats going on.

They also added the jump rope bit into "Born to Boogie" for Broadway, and now the kids start out "Merry Christmas, Maggie Thatcher" rather than the adults.

The "He Could Be A Star" lyrics are also different, aren't they?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 10/19/08 at 12:50pm

I haven't seen it in the West End, but there is plenty of cursing (especially from the kids) in the Broadway production and the "Little Boy" character is definitely in, and he's quite adorable.
I liked the idea of the kids starting "Merry Christmas, Maggie Thatcher" and then everybody joining in.
I've said this before, but BILLY ELLIOT is easily the best new musical currently running on Broadway.

[BroadwayPenguin2]

Posted: 10/19/08 at 1:34pm

Re: Maggie Thatcher - They cut the "Oh my Darlin'" bit at the end too.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 10/19/08 at 4:40pm

<< I've said this before, but BILLY ELLIOT is easily the best new musical currently running on Broadway >>

Without a doubt !!! REALLY need to go back !

[sgv123]

Posted: 10/19/08 at 6:43pm

the audition scene is quite different as well. Billy does not stand in fron of the "panel" or wind the tape of anything like that. Instead there is a drop that has a window and a door. Billy's back is to the audience and there is a big scrim in front on him and it is of a theater. It is as if he were auditioning on a stage and looking out.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 2:50am

Some of the cursing has indeed been cut.
They've trimmed some fat off the show to appease America's short attention span.
They've begun to accept the fact that in America we clap along to the beat.

After seeing many shows in London, I am disheartened by the typical American theatergoer. No class!

[sanda]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 10:25am

I did not see the show in West End. But did they do some rearrangement in the score when transfer the show to Broadway? I thought I heard a piece of "Swan Lake remix" in "Angry Dance" when I saw the show on Broadway but did not hear it from the original cast recording.

[JenD512]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 2:18pm

<>

I saw Billy Elliot in London two weeks ago and the woman sitting next to me was eating sushi for half the show.

They really changed that whole audition scene on Broadway? I loved the bit with the tape.

Are they still doing the dance during the curtain calls? I heard that's possibly being cut. I hope not.

[coolboi952]

Posted: 10/20/08 at 3:40pm

The finale is back in the show