Billy Elliot The Musical — Page 118

i wanna lern 2 rite lik yung ppl. its way culer n evry1 no wot u meen jus as gd. lol.

On second thoughts, I'm too much of an old fart!

I've just seen James Lomas's penultimate performance (nearly four months after I saw his final performance. Am I in a time warp?) I am a crazy mixed up kid when it cames to James's come-backs. Part of me thinks that he might be pushing his luck doing this weekend and I'm not totally convinced that he's been well advised; there are all sorts of things that don't really work any more. On the other hand, he's a totally, amazingly captivating performer and I could not help being excited to see his name on the board.

Anyway, the interesting thing for me this time was that I was in the front row, which was a completely different experience. I wouldn't recommend it for anyone going once only, because you find that you can only really focus on little bits of the stage at a time; it's very difficult to take in everything at once. But for someone who has seen it more than a few times, it's fascinating to get such a close up view. Knowing the broad outlines of the plot so well, you find yourself focussing on the most eccentric details, like the totally enchanting enthusiasm of the ballet dancing girl who is right in front of you.

Anyway, in keeping with the above, I'm going to give a totally lopsided review and I'm going to pick on two supporting actors who gave absolutely brilliant performances this evening. One was Joey Phillips. I've only seen him once before and that was with Leon early in his career. Tonight he almost literally lit up the stage every time he set foot on it. He has created his own special Michael persona and the portrayal is wonderfully fearless and huge fun. On an almost serious note, I think that boy could smash a million prejudices with a simple smile.

The other highlight was Tim Funnell as Tony (I hope I've remembered the name correctly; it's not in my out of date programme). He brought a tightly controlled energy and urgency to the role which was very remarkable. The drama stepped discernably up a notch when he was centre stage.

Briefly, on the rest, I've said before that, unlike one or two others, I am totally convinced by Phil Whitchurch's dad and I came away this evening feeling just as strongly about that as before. The reaction to Electricity is typical of his approach. It introduces a complexity which really works.

And everything else was as we've come to expect; nothing much more to report to old hands.

DQPlum:

Listen, the boys themselves probably don't know who is performing on this day in two week's time, so the notion that we know exactly on what day and at what time Leon will give his final performance is fanciful I fear. We think we know that both he and Liam are contracted to June. We know that June 3rd is a big day and we're kind of assuming that Liam, the last surviving original Billy (after this weekend), will do the biggie on that evening. Perhaps Leon will do the afternoon on that day, or perhaps he'll be given his own special day on some other occasion. Who knows?

Tzwicky,

London in June? Well, the difference between London and say the bottom half of France is that it might be hot, but we can't be sure. It could be kind of 16c and drizzly. Obviously it won't be cold though (unless global warming has reversed the gulf stream by then).

DQPlum again:

'Confuzzled' is such a cool word.

Updated On: 1/6/06 at 08:39 PM

Jeff,

Please do not do the "i wanna lern 2 rite lik yung ppl. its way culer n evry1 no wot u meen jus as gd. lol." thing because it's freakin' nonsense.

Ummmmm, I wonder how these people talk and write business communications betwixt themselves and garden variety creatures who must use the Queen's English and whatever it is I speak, which is Yankee English.

The stuff that looks like it wuz typed with thumbs, annoys the hell out of me. Here I was leaning in the direction of Italian as a second language, but instead it must be messages typed on blackberrys or tiny cell phones.

Damn. The stuff that pops out the other end of Babelfish makes more sense than thumbs-only on the worst day. That stuff is kind of cute the way it inverts sentence structure.

(see, I'm not criticizing anyone who types in this vernacular, just posting about it on the board, with no one in particular in mind.)

Oh, wait, I do speak a second language already, as do we all, Geordie!

tzwicky

Jeff3..thanks for telling me that, people are all saying different things on the fansite on PMs so i came on here to like confirm what im hearing! confuzzled is again my word but know i think i'll keep a look out! i think they will have different last nights for leon and liam as thats only fair! also i would have thought leon would stay longer but thats just my opinion, on account of him not being on BETM as long as liam! also i must agree, Joey is brilliant as micheal, is he doing the performances with james?

sorry if i write really badly on here! i did it really quickly on my last posts, trying to finish off portfolio, i had to make a stage of the national theatre and was in the middle of spray painting lol!! i got to make one of oliver stage then i might make on of billy just for fun! the big stage movments would b fun to do, revolving stages are easy they will be a little harder! lol
amyX
PS anyone seeing james performance tonight is so lucky! havnt seen him yet! *crys* but i will see others playing the part!

Ice Princess,

The programme is now to be called The Sound of Musicals. It will run for four Saturdays starting at 5.50 on Saturday 14th on BBC1. We know that stars of Billy Elliot have recorded something for the series (I believe it was Liam and Tim Healy), but I haven't read anything saying which of the four weeks will feature this. I'm guessing that you knew all this already and that I don't have the one piece of information you really need.

Anyway..

Updated On: 1/7/06 at 06:06 PM

As adept as I have become at being able to spot the various Billys, the Michaels, perhaps because lots of the stage door shots have them in wool caps or something, start to morph into a generic Michael.

It is my weakest Billy visual ID area. I am unworthy.

I could pick Ashley (dimples for days) out of a crowd, but, could not depend on being able to ID any of the other Michaels.

Meanwhile, Jeff3, shame/kudos for being so apt/clever/on-the-nose/correct with your quote "In answer to your other question: I don't know which Michael was kissing James tonight."

Among a show packed with moments where all I can do is sigh, that moment always hits me as a really, really obviously important moment. It's so brave/natural of Michael. And Billy's response is every bit as brave/natural.

For Ghod's sake, it's a lynchpin moment, OK? There. I said it.

Sigh ......................

tzwicky

P.S.: Earlier someplace I mentioned I had the original programme. That's not true. Though it is probably the same as the original programme, mine is the one with Leon, instead of James on the cast listing, which is the centerfold pages, easily edited. The cover photo is of the three original Billys, but mine, so far, is Leon, George and Liam.

Updated On: 1/11/06 at 07:41 PM

MY friend went 2 c billy elliot on 2nd Jan and she had travis. She thought he was ok bt app the angry dance wasent good at all. Also he fell hurt himself badly so leon took over.

Yeah i want to know wat one its one so i know to remind my self. I mean i completly forgot about it today.

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For those not on the fansite, Liam Mower and Ryan Longbottom are scheduled to perform "Expressing Yourself" on BLUE PETER (Monday, January 16, 17:000, BBC1 and CBBC).

By Tuesday morning, I hope to have the video on my multimedia list:
http://www.billyelliotthemusical.me.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=58

Accy
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Updated On: 1/18/06 at 12:33 AM

Update:

Rumour has it that Liam and Ryan will only be performing "Expressing yourself" on the extended version of BLUE PETER on CBBC, not on the shorter version on BBC1.

Both versions start at 17:00 on Monday, January 16.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/whatson/monday

Accy
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I finally have video of Travis Yates from Episode 2 of STUPID. There are links to both Putfile (playable) and Ultrahare (downloadable) on Page 1 of the Multimedia thread http://www.billyelliotthemusical.me.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=58

I also have more pics on the last page of the thread.

Accy
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See More pictures of Travis from STUPID

Updated On: 1/16/06 at 08:37 AM

I have a link (to the password-only videos) and a description of today's BLUE PETER with Liam and Ryan on my multimedia site, but I hope to have a non-password version in the next day or so.

http://billyelliotthemusical.me.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=58

Accy
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While you all sleep, I'm thrilled by the announcement about all the nominations for this year's Sir Laurence Olivier Awards, including a collective nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for George, James and Liam.

Although BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL and its stars have been nominated and won several awards in the past, this nomination is the most prestigious. Here are the nominations

BEST NEW MUSICAL
BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL - James Lomas, George Maguire and Liam Mower
BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL - Haydn Gwynne
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - Tim Healy
BEST DIRECTOR - Stephen Daldry
BEST THEATRE CHOREOGRAPHER - Peter Darling
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN - Rick Fisher
BEST SET DESIGN - Ian MacNeil
BEST SOUND DESIGN - Paul Arditti

At 13, Liam is is the youngest nominee in the 30-year history of the awards.

Here are some links:
http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/theatre/news/article339319.ece
http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/news/display?contentId=87574
http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/news/story/0,11711,1688796,00.html
http://news.scotsman.com/entertainment.cfm?id=83472006
http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=523970
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4621920.stm

Congratulations, and best of luck on February 26.

Accy
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Updated On: 1/18/06 at 11:32 PM