Billy Elliot The Musical- Page 106

[w_tanoto]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 7:31pm

19 days to go. Hope it won't be delayed again.

[billy elliot]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 8:00pm

Fingers crossed!!!

Steve

[Billy's Cush!]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 8:34pm

There can never be an equal amount of performance time between any of the Billy's and Michael's. The main reason is obvious - Michael appears on stage mainly for Expressing Yourself,dancing for Dad, the goodbye scene and for a couple of other small scenes. However, Billy is on stage for pretty much the whole show, therefore the Billy actors need more rest as their role is more demanding, so there would always have to be more Billy's than Michael's.

The proper mix for BE is as we know 3 of each, but due to the exhausting schedule of playing Billy, some of the actors have needed a rest - like James covering for Liam. That's the only reason we've currently got 4 Billy's and 3 Michael's.

We should remember that BE is still a new show and the West End hasn't had to rely on such young leads since Cameron McIntosh's revival of "Oliver!" a few years ago, so nobody could predict how demanding the show would be. I think once the producers are comfortable, we will be down to 3 - or even 2 (the normal West End amount) - sets of each.

One point I would just like to make is about the posts about whether or not George and Liam will stay on after the December cast change. I think most of you have forgotten that Mr's Lomas, Maguire and Mower have been working on this show since early 2004 (auditions, workshops, rehearsals and performances) and they must be exhausted. They cannot go on forever. The average run for any juvenile in the West End is 12 weeks under licensing laws. So to have had at least 2 of the original juvenile leads for 9 months is beyond expectation, therefore perhaps we should all bite the bullet and prepare to say goodbye - after all, they're only human (and supposed to be getting an education). As much as I love all 3 as Billy, it really is only fair they hand over the reins. I'm sure they'll all get other work, but we really shouldn't want to exhaust them and scare them off showbiz completely. What use is the Billy academy if nobody else gets a shot. If we run Liam and George into the ground with only Joey (and James for a limited time) to cope, the show will close because there'll be no replacements.

I don't mean to go on, but obsession seems to be overtaking reality.

Other than that, Congrats to James and long live Billy! (Oh, and don't be to mean to me - I'm only thinking of the boys!)

[dinocally]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 9:04pm

Very well said Billy's Cush!!

[BillyFan2]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 2:29am

I don't see them ever going down to having only two Billys. The role is far too demanding for that and it leaves no room for injury or illness. At times the show has struggled with three Billys, James at one point had to perform both the matinee and evening shows on the same day and Liam at one point performed four nights consecutively (i'm sure there are other examples but those are the ones that I remember). For me there is no reason that there can't be the three main Billys plus a reserve (the last Billy to leave) providing all concerned are happy to run that way.

As for people leaving, it's a fact of life and I'm sure all of us would wish them well after their amazing runs in the show. I don't think we will ever be down to three month runs for the boys as the training is too intensive and there don't seem to be enough coming through to allow for that. Each of the actors should decide for themselves how long they want to be in the show and not be tied to something if they no longer wish to do it. Given Stephens compassion in the past I somehow doubt that he would try to keep any actor that genuinely felt that it was time they left the show.

For the rest of us, when people leave I will wish them good luck and look forward to seeing them in whatever they choose to do next. I will also look forward to seeing the replacements.

[matthew3]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 5:27am

I saw the show in July and had tickets again for tomorrow night. Unfortunately I cannot now go and have had to sell them. If any of you are going tomorrow, Thursday evening performance, can you post next day and tell me which Billy and Michael I missed? A brief review wiould also be appreciated. Thanks.

[Brian2]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 8:19am

Hello everyone.

Decided to register so that I can post some comments after having been a 'non registered' observer for a while now. Have seen the show 8 times so hope I'm "qualified" to be a member of the team ! Have seen Liam (and Ryan) 4 times, George and James twice each, still to see Leon. Pic is of James on 15th September - which at the time was 2 days before he was finishing on the 17th!!

It is very interesting all of the comments about the people who are finishing because - if you go back to the original statements - it was only going to be a 6 month contract for the younger cast members and replacements were going to be found. James managed his 6 months (based on the original opening date of 24th March, which got put back a week). Liam and George have gone beyond their initial 6 months but, as others have said, even though they make it look so easy and enjoyable up there on the stage, it probably is a strain at times doing it as much as they do. That said, you wouldn't believe it when you meet them at the stage door about 10 minutes after they come off the stage ! But they do have to complete their studies and GCSEs - as James confirmed to me when I spoke to him after last Friday's show. If you saw the show and didn't go to the stage door you missed a treat. The performance was Liam's , but George and James were both at the stage door, as was Brad, so it was a chance to see all three of the original 'Billy's' together again !

Nobody has really said much about the adult performers that are not renewing their contracts. As a fan of the show you wonder why they would ever want to give up being part of such a great performance, but they obviously have their reasons - and other committments - and so we will have to accept new performers in these roles, as well as replacements for the younger cast members.

That said, it is a shame that people will be changing as the true devotees of BE - of which there are quite a few on here posting comments and quite a few others just reading I'm sure (as I used to) - have followed it from its first days and have loved the original cast members each time we have seen them.

I'm sure it will go on as ever and the new cast (as Leon and Joey have proved) will be just as good - Stephen and the crew wouldn't produce anything less I'm sure!

It is just sad to say 'goodbye' to the great cast members we have all so appreciated since April but wish them all well in their continued futures, be they young or old, and hope to see them appear in other great productions (or rock bands, George!) in the not too distant future.

[JessieJAFan]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 12:32pm

Welcome to the board. I agree with what u say! i went to see the show on September 15th!

[RheaLMFan]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 12:39pm

hi im rhea !! and please if u guys want to out there would u like to visit my site at http://xxrheas-worldxx.piczo.com plz and thnku
i also have a betm pic page aswell

Updated On: 11/16/05 at 12:39 PM

[JessieJAFan]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 12:40pm

Hiya Rhea. Welcome to the board. :)

[Brian2]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 12:43pm

Hi Jessie

I know you went on the 15th !, it was your birthday wasn't it ? I'm the Brian you left a message for on the other website thread !

[JessieJAFan]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 12:45pm

Hiya. I didnt remember that but i dont remember that much. yh it was my birthday!

[Charlotte]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 2:29pm

Just thought i would let you know three is the normal west end amount for sets of children in a show. even in chitty where there are masses and half as much to do they still have three teams. this is becuase yes they are allowed to perfom legally four times a week, however if one billy was to get ill/ injured the other would not legally be able to step in as they would already have to perform their maximum of four. they dont risk ever having less than three teams and often it is more. just thought i would let you know. good though- more kids get the chance! X

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 4:44pm

I think even though normally other WE shows have 3 sets of kids, Billy should have 4 because this role is probably one of the most physically demanding roles for a male performer!!!

[dancing_girl]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 4:50pm

Hi everyone!
Welcome to the board Brian and Rhea. I was just looking through the posts when i saw Brian's picture. I thought i recognised someone in the pic and when i enlarged it i realised it was me standing next to James!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lol! I wasn't sure at first but when i read the posts afterwards i knew that it was because i also saw the show on Sept 15th! Sorz this is rather pointless but made me laugh!
dancing_girl
X

[Brian2]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 5:12pm

Wow, that's an amazing coincidence, you being in my pic of James !

Was that your programme he was signing as well ?

[dancing_girl]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 5:22pm

Yea i think so because i recognise the pen!!!!!!!!!!! lol!!!!!! It just made me laugh to see me on someone elses display pic! So where were you sitting on that night?
dancing_girl
X

[Brian2]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 5:44pm

Front Row, right where Billy jumps down off the stage !

Got it as a day ticket for £25, but meant queuing up from about 10am to be sure of getting in. Had to do so though as I couldn't make the Saturday night and so wanted to see James again before he finished. Not knowing he would be back !!

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 11/17/05 at 3:31am

You know in shows with kids, I heard that there's a regulation about kids not allowed onstage after 10.30pm or sth like that, e.g. in Mary Poppins, because of teachnical problems, the show delayed for 30 mins, the kids HAD to leave, therefore at the end of 'Anything Can Happen' and the ending scenes, the Banks parents and Mary Poppins were talking to themselves?!. Anyway, does this apply to Billy Elliot? Has it ever happened? Because, they wudn't ask the Bily to leave early right?

[AccordCanada]

Posted: 11/17/05 at 6:48am

Although this is only 6 MB, it is the best version of Elton John's Electrcity (featuring Liam Mower) that I have seen yet. Still looking for higher quality if someone has it.

http://s6.ultrashare.net/hosting/fs/ac81c4bc2175b080/

Accy
_/_/_/
_/_/_/
_/_/_/
Download video

[AccordCanada]

Posted: 11/17/05 at 7:27am

Here is a summary (as of Nov 17) of the best versions I can find of the available audio and video clips. Hope that others can let me know of more. I will post this list from time to time noting any new clips.

Billy Elliot Diaries
http://www.savefile.com/projects.php?pid=221526

Electricity and The Letter Clips (audio)
http://www.billyelliotthemusical.com/ntrackplayer.swf

Electricity Video NEW VERSION
http://s6.ultrashare.net/hosting/fs/ac81c4bc2175b080/

Expressing Yourself at Press Launch, June 2004
http://eltonjohn.com/now/projects/billy_elton_bband.ram

Liam/Ryan Interview (audio)
http://www.whatsonstage.com/wos/radio/Billy_Elliot_Pod.mp3

Searching for the Next Billy Elliot Trailer
http://s10.ultrashare.net/hosting/fs/4ceeae42abed5541/

Strictly Come Dancing / Cash In The Attic
http://billyelliotthemusical.me.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=24&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=99

Will and Grace
http://www.savefile.com/files/9253319

Accy
_/_/_/
_/_/_/
_/_/_/
Updated On: 11/17/05 at 07:27 AM

[Electricity]

Posted: 11/17/05 at 7:48am

Accord - these clips are great. Thank you for posting them.

Felix - in answer to your question, it is true that the younger cast members in any current West End show can't stay and perform after 10:30 pm.

This could quite easily happen in Billy Elliot. I was talking to one of the chaperones at the stage door of the Victoria Palace not so long ago who was saying that they were just about to go on stage and pull the children out as the show over-ran to 10:45 pm.

[w_tanoto]

Posted: 11/17/05 at 8:38am

DOes this rules apply to Children in Needs? Because if it's does, then Billy Elliot and Mary Poppins won't appear

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 11/17/05 at 8:52am

I mean, it's awkward enough for Mrs. Banks and Mary Poppins to be talkin on their own, but in BE, their endng scene is Billy & Michael, what do u think they'l do if the show ACTUALLY overran?

[Electricity]

Posted: 11/17/05 at 9:26am

I'm not to sure if this would be the case if Billy Elliot was on the likes of "Children in Need" as this would be a one-off performance.

If "Billy" did ever over run, I'm sure it could be a very interesting situation to witness!

By the way Felix, where did you get your pictures from in your thumbnail?