Billy Elliot The Musical- Page 128

[Jeff3]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 5:09pm

Small point: George is from Essex, not Sussex!

Updated On: 12/31/05 at 05:09 PM

[Jeff3]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 5:13pm

I seem to have called myself Jeff3 by mistake, but for those of you who knew me from that other forum, I am in fact Jeff!

Or are there two other Jeffs?

[billyelliotknositall]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 5:21pm

NO SERIUSLY SOZ I GET MIXED UP WITH THEM I ALWAYS HAVE DONE LOL REALLY SOZ DO APOLIGISE THEY SOUND ALIKE

[Jeff3]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 5:27pm

Sorry, I'll try to break it to you gently, but I think we've all seen the last of George and James in BETM. Get used to it. It's Liam, Leon and Travis with Matthew and Colin on the back burner.

[Jeff3]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 6:24pm

I haven't got the hang of this board. I was trying to answer something of Tzickys with a different heading and this James and George thing came up again.

Anyway, Tzicky, if you're reading this I'm just clinging on to a familiar name. Unfortunately I'm out of favour on that other forum (I didn't do anything terrible!) Anyway, be sure to post stuff on here as well.

Jeff

Updated On: 12/30/05 at 06:24 PM

[Jeff3]

Posted: 12/30/05 at 6:29pm

Updated On: 12/30/05 at 06:29 PM

[Jeff3]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 5:02am

Is this true? He's making more comebacks than Frank Sinatra! Anyway, at least it means that nearly all of us will have been to at least one of his memorable final performances.
Updated On: 12/31/05 at 05:02 AM

[Jeff3]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 7:29am

I was just reading an excellent review posted by AccordCanada on another site. He labelled it "The review that made me fall in love with Billy" and I can see why.

The review contains an important misconception though. It calls BETM a "left wing musical". Now I'm not against a bit of leftwingerie, but BETM is not a left wing musical. Naturally it presents Billy's story from within the mining community and, therefore, presents the miners' adversities and puts the tragedy of the crumbling mining community centre stage. But the attitude to the community is distinctly ambivalent. After all, it is the narrow minded prejudice of the community that would hold Billy back were he to succumb.

In truth, BETM says very little about the complexities of the situation that gave rise to the miners' strike and why should it? That is not what the musical is about.

If the musical has a political message, then that message is fundamentally liberal rather than socialistic, for the play is centrally about the inspiring triumph of the individual over prejudice and conformity.

The other interesting question raised by the article is the whole thing about how BETM would work on an American stage, but some other time...
Updated On: 12/31/05 at 07:29 AM

[BE Fan!]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 8:13am

Hi everyone, happy 2006! Just to let everyone know that I went to BE yesterday, to the matinee. It was amazing of course, but now I just really REALLY want to go back and see it again. Unforch no-one else wants to go with me and I'm too young to go by myself, so I dunno when I'll next be seeing it. We had Leon and Joey, and seeing it for the second time was sooo much better. Leon has really grown into the role and made it his own, and Joey was just fabulous.
When I first saw it, as much as I enjoyed it, fo some reason I didn't remember any of the songs, but since having my OCR and listening to it 24/7, they are permanently in my head and it really made me enjoy the show more.
My friend and I went to the stage door afterwards and met Joey and Leon and some of the ballet girls. They were so friendly and so normal! They signed autographs and pictures and had a bit of chat with us, joking and laughing. I have some pictures, if anyone knows how to put them on here could they PM me and let me know so I can share them with you? Thanks a lot!
Cassie Xx
PS: Jess, good to meet you at the stage door!

[DQplum]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 10:03am

hey i was there as well last night i was with my mate jess we went to the stage door after and met Cassie was good meeting you sozi didnt talk much my mam was going mad lol she gets more exited at stage doors then i do! i think shed graduate from school of stalkers with flying colors! They were all so nice at the stage door and spent time to talk to everyone was really intresting to meet them! Leon was great and did all the dances brilliantly in electricity was he meant to fall to the ground if he wasnt it didnt matter it worked really well maybe they should do that more! :P joey was so funny as micheal! exoressing yourself has to be one of best scenes in the show although every scene is brilliant the angry dance was actually scary!!
anyway better go now Mary poppins is on (ever tried watching mary poppins and listening to billy elliot at the same time?? very intresting..)
amyxx

[Jeff3]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 4:07pm

How fantastic it must have been to be there last night!

There were rumours of a massive cast party in the Stage Door pub afterwards and of Elton John being in attendance. Was there any evidence of that going on? There was also a counter rumour that EJ is still on his honeymoon.

I know exactly what you mean about how you feel just after you've seen the show. If you stay away for a couple of weeks it can almost feel as if you're returning to normal, but as soon as you go back, you're immediately hooked and you have to go again (and again and again)! I can see a mad scramble to get that last ticket for the evening of January 7th coming on!

Finally, nice to know there is plenty of intelligent life on this site. I was beginning to have my doubts. Keep posting here!

Jeff

Updated On: 1/3/06 at 04:07 PM

[Jeff3]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 5:12pm

So, what do people think about Billy on Broadway?

I don't really know about Broadway. I know about the God-fearing, evolution-denying American stereotype, but, oddly enough, the Americans I know aren't like that! And, anyway, has New York any remote connection to the rest of the country?

So, What about the language thing? The langauge and general grittiness (the absence of vaseline on the lens so to speak) is not an optional extra in BE. It is an essential mark of authenticity. Would that have to go? I've read elsewhere that the problem would be: not that they could not get it onto a Broadway stage in that state, but that no school would be able to take a party, and that that would compromise the financial viability.

I've also heard it said that Americans would not understand the background to the story. I can't believe that's really an issue. Most Brits are fairly ignorant about the background. Practically every time I go, I find myself sitting next to someone who has to be taken through the politics slowly, in words of one syllable and with the aid of diagrams. It doesn't seem to effect their enjoyment. Anyway, the story is about the triumph of the individual against conformity and prejudice. Everyone understands that!

If I were the director, I would go for a policy of total bloody-minded refusal to change a single damn thing, but then what do I know? Stephen Daldry is a genius and I'm an idiot.

Whatever the outcome, the mortgage repayments can take a running jump. I'm on the first plane to New York to see the result!

Jeff
Updated On: 1/1/06 at 05:12 PM

[Jeff3]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 9:33pm

Anyone know a) what time of day the Box Office starts selling day tickets and b) what time you have to start queuing to be reasonably sure of getting one on a Friday? (I've been to BE like about 1 million times, but I've never bought a DT.)

Thanks,

Jeff

[tzwicky2]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 1:09am

Jeff,

By the time BE could even get to Broadway, you'll have put the mortgage in total ruin with all those trips to London, which is how it's supposed to work, I think.

Yeah, we can always get a $39 fare to NYC on some startup that thins out the fuel with ethanol and corn syrup, but you shouldn't even have that kind of money after all those trips in 2006 to London.

Lemme see. One in March, another one in June, another in October. There's half a year of mortgage payments defaulted on.

Maybe we should all insist on making some bankers into Billy Elliot fanatics. It could happen, I guess.

I think the total devotion of fanatics Billy brings out is evidenced by the fact that no one among us seems to have figured out a way to make a living from selling Fanatical Yanks air-theatre-hotel-dining packages to London. Or at least I've somehow not been targeted. How do these things happen?

tzwicky

[Brian2]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 5:10am

Hi Jeff

They open the doors for Day Tickets when the Box Office opens at 10am, but you then have to wait until 12 until the day tickets go on sale. There are a few seats on benches just inside the door, so if you are among about the first 10 people or so you can get to sit for the next 2 hours, otherwise it's a case of standing or squatting on the floor.

As to what is the best time to get there can be fairly random, just depending how many other people want to queue on the day. Usually there are only 28 tickets available per performance, which includes the few they have in the front row plus some others in the Dress Circle - alcove and side seats. Each person in the queue can only purchase a maximum of 2 tickets each, so if there are only a few in front of you, you should stand a reasonable chance of getting a ticket. If you want to make sure you get front row though, the nearer the start you are the better.

I have queued a few times and the latest I got there was about 11am once, back in the early days of the show (last May) but to be on the safe side, if you can stand the long wait, you should be ok if you aim for about 9am I'd guess. As I said though, it all depends on who else is there that day or if it is something of a 'special' event. For 3rd Dec (final night for some of the original cast) I got there just after 06.30 and there were already 7 people ahead of me. Becky, at the front got there at 05.45!

Thursdays and Saturdays offer a better chance as there are the 2 performances, 2.30 and 7.30, so there are twice as many tickets available but if you are going for the Friday and want to make sure of getting a good seat, I'd guess around 9am should be safe. Don't blame me though if you get there then and nobody else arrives until 10.30! As I said it is a bit of a gamble and you don't know for sure until you are there.

Hope that is of use.

Brian

[Jeff3]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 5:14am

Thanks Brian, that's really helpful.

Jeff

[Cam2]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 8:42am

Does anyone know who will play Billy tomorrow? (tues 3rd Jan?)

[Jeff3]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 9:15am

I just tried to ring the Box Office to get a ticket for Friday, but my call was diverted. I would have asked about Tuesday for you, but I probably wouldn't have got an answer.

I think it tends to be pot luck, though the rumours that circulate are sometimes true. I expect these are picked up from casual conversations at the Stage Door or via a friend of a friend of a member of the cast, rather than through official channels. The latest rumour is that James Lomas is back for one last performance (again) on the evening of Saturday 7th.

Jeff
Updated On: 1/2/06 at 09:15 AM

[Jeff3]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 10:37am

DQplum,

Just read your message on the fansite. I'm glad you had such a fantastic evening - who doesn't? - but also sorry to hear that it was in spite of some insensitive behaviour. I was witness on one occasion to a scene at BETM where someone in a wheelchair couldn't get the help they so clearly needed. And it's not always the people that are obviously naturally unhelpful; we all forget sometimes. Your post acts as a pertinent reminder to all of us.

I've just read this back. I hope it doesn't sound phoney.

Jeff


Updated On: 1/2/06 at 10:37 AM

[Jeff3]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 11:03am

You're driving all those James fans nuts! Will it be the matinee; will it be the evening?

Personally, I've decided to officially move on. James is, of course, my personal favourite, but I went to his official last show on September 17th and I saw him in early December. Now I'm drawing a line.

I haven't seen Travis yet, I've only seen Leon once and I haven't seen Liam since August. I'm going on Friday, so which one will it be? I'm almost BEside myself with anticipation.

Jeff
Updated On: 1/2/06 at 11:03 AM

[crazydramaqueen]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 7:14pm

hey
r u in billy elliot or just a guest in dis forum? get bck 2 me xx

[Jeff3]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 7:33pm

Hi,

Who were you talking to with that question crazydramaqueen?
Updated On: 1/2/06 at 07:33 PM

[Trina55]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 10:50pm

Jeff3,

As a native New Yorker, let me first say that I think those Bible-thumping Americans you're thinking of are about as foreign and frightening to most of us as they are to you!!! They do exist, but our country is incredibly polarized (coasts vs. middle, urban vs. rural etc.), and for the most part they don't exist here.

Back on topic, I saw Billy Elliot when I was in London in November and absolutely LOVED it. I'm SOO jealous of all of you that can go see it again and again - I'm seriously wondering if it might be worth scrapping up another thousand dollars or so (that's what my 5-day trip ended up costing me) to go and see it again!!

So in light of that, and in light of the fact that I've seen many many Broadway shows and have followed Broadway closely for at least 10 years, I'm going to state my sure-to-be-unpopular opinion: Billy will not work on Broadway.

I think it's highly likely that someone will try to bring it over, sink a lot of money into it, and fail miserably. People over here are very curious about the show and have heard a lot of good things, so i think it would sell well in advance, but once it opened it just wouldn't be able to attract enough of an audience.

I wouldn't say the language is the problem, although the image of the show as a family musical might make it a problem.

The accents would DEFINITELY be a problem, and I think you're right that toning them down would take a lot away from the show, but I guarantee they would do it.

But the real problem is the politics. It's not as simple as taking out the Maggie Thatcher song and providing a little more background on the miners' strike. The show is deeply rooted in class politics, which is something that simply doesn't resonate with Americans. Just look at Blood Brothers - it failed miserably here (only stayed open the two years that it did because pop stars were brought in), and no one here can understand why it's been so successful in the UK.

The lack of school group accessibility making the show "financially unviable" is absolutely not true - there are plenty of shows that succeed on Broadway without attracting school groups. But the people that ARE crucial to financial viability are the tourists (many of them from those scarier parts of the country) and what we call the "bridge-and-tunnel crowd" - seniors and families who come in from the suburbs explicitly to go to the theater. They might be a little put off by the strong language and the gay overtones.

I agree with you that the themes are somewhat universal, and as I've said I think it's an absolutely fantastic show. All the Americans I know who've seen it have loved it - but remember they're the ones who chose to travel to London in the first place, and have at the very least an interest in British culture. As it is now, the show could attract an audience, but not a big enough one to cover its expenses. I just know that if they bring it over to New York, they will change so much to try to appeal to a wider group that the show will end up being so much less than the original. As happy as I'd be to be able to see it again (and again and again), I think I'd just end up longing to go back to London to see the "real" version.

Trust me, I'll be the first to cheer if I end up being proven wrong! In the meantime, thanks to all of you for keeping us stateside folks up to date :)

alex

[dinocally]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 4:59am

What an intellegent and well argued appraisal on the possibility of a Broadway transfer Alex. Well done.

Makes such a refreshing change from some of the dross that seems to take over this forum.

[Jeff3]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 5:07am

Alex,

That was so interesting. Most people (like me) who write in such places are so crazy about the show that their normal critical faculties are compromised!

The thing about class conflict not resonating with Americans is extremely interesting. You may well have put your finger on it. We shall see.

I'll still be there!
Updated On: 1/3/06 at 05:07 AM