Billy Elliot London vs. Billy Elliot New York- Page 2

[logan0215]

Posted: 4/22/09 at 11:12am

As an American with minimal European history under my belt I didn't feel left out or like I should have done research before seeing the show. Sure, I itched my head a bit about the Margaret Thatcher bit, but it didn't take a brain surgeon to know that they didn't like her and were mocking her.

It actually inspired me to research the historical route of the film/musical's plot after the show which I don't think is a terrible thing.

I wouldn't blame the "dumbing down" or adding of material to make it clearer to the Australian (and subsequent American) audiences for the inferiority to the original though.

[LesMizazz]

Posted: 4/22/09 at 2:37pm

I have seen the show 4 times in London and once on Broadway. I saw the London production first and loved it so much, which is why I went 4 times during a 1 week trip.

I wanted to see it on Broadway to see how the 2 shows compared and I was not expecting it to have as many differences as it did. Since I first saw the show in London and that is what I fell in love with, I think I was expecting the same thing out of the Broadway production, and was surprised (not in a good way) in the differences between the 2.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS



-The difference in the accents didn't bother me and I thought everyone on Broadway did very good with them.
-The Big Davey breakfast scene was funnier in London.
-The number with the largest amount of differences that I noticed was 'Merry Christmas Maggie Thatcher'.
-George and Tony don't do as much banter and comedy at the beginning, which is a part that I liked (in fact, Tony doesn't even come out)
-Tony doesn't wear the elf outfit (though I did see a picture somewhere with Santino in the outfit...I guess during previews?)
-The kids wore the Maggie Thatcher masks instead of the Adult Ensemble.
-I feel like more of the lyrics of the songs were given to the kids compared to it being the adults in London.


That's all I can really remember. I think it had a lot to do with 'Merry Christmas..." being my favorite song in London and so the differences on Broadway kinda took me by surprise.