Billy Elliot - Why The Hate

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 1:03pm

I'm not defending the show. I'm just wondering what problems people have with it.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 1:09pm

This thread is going to very quickly turn into a Next to Normal vs. Billy Elliot debate, just so you know.

I've made quite clear what side of that fence I'm on, so I won't say it again!

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 1:11pm

It has one of the most bland and unmemorable scores in recent years. A truly less than mediocre score.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 1:22pm

I'm aware of that, adam.

While I agree that Next to Normal is the better score, I also happen to enjoy the score of Billy Elliot as well.

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 1:28pm

The score is a combination of 80's pop and Claude-Michel Schönberg with synthesizers. Thankfully and rightfully it did not win the Tony.

[Scott Briefer]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 1:30pm

I am upset at The Billy Elliot company because I have tickets from April that I was unable to attend and although they have a past dating policy, I have been trying since April to exchange these tickets and as of this morning, they still haven't honored them. The response is, hold onto those tickets and as soon as we have some seats...
Updated On: 1/13/10 at 01:30 PM

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 1:30pm

So you're saying I'm nuts for enjoying the score?

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 1:32pm

No at all. Everyone has different tastes.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 1:32pm

Oh...ok. Just checking.

Sorry for being snarky :)

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 1:39pm

So besides the score, what other issues do people have with Billy Elliot.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 1:53pm

There should have been a few cuts. It's too long, and unecessarily so. People complained about the original Ragtime being over-produced, this show has the most unecessary central set piece that is absolutely irrelevant to the show.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 1:56pm

All my friends who dislike it call it "too mainstream". I disagree and firmly stand on Billy Elliot > Next to Normal in that ridiculous dug into the ground debate.

[MichaelUK92]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 2:36pm

I agree that the score is extremely weak - and so thankfully did not win the Tony for Best Score, I have no idea how or why It was nominated.

Although I don't like the show, I cannot doubt it's choreography. Personally, the story doesn't appeal to me and add that to a bland score and static set = Not the best production.

I agree it's a "good" production with it's merits but not deserving of the hype.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 2:39pm

I think you hit it on the head, taylor; a lot of ~theatre fans~ think it's too mainstream. The score isn't as good as Next to Normal's, and it's not as innovative a show, in terms of plot. But I happen to think it's a very good show. And as a show, I think it's definitely superior to Next to Normal. (I would take out that central set piece, though.)

[hicaesar]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 9:52pm

hmm... I personally like Next to Normal and Billy Elliot. I would hardly call Billy Elliot Mainstream... Wicked is mainstream, Billy Elliot, not really.

Perhaps the Producers of the two shows could have teamed up and Billy could be a boy wants to dance but can't due to the fact that his mother is suffering from depression since his older brother died. Then it would really make sense for him to sing Electricity as his mother is in shock therapy.

[FeelingElectric2]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 10:45pm

I like Billy Elliot, but I love Next to Normal.

I have alot of friends who are just you average tourists. Out of those that have seen both, many enjoyed Billy for the spectacle that it is, but a few said that the music was boring (except for Solidarity) & someone recently told me that they would have rather just stayed and watched the movie instead.

With Next to Normal came many diverse opinions, most of them positive. What they loved the most were the performances, and the music (they kept singing the lyrics) They expected it to be like Billy Elliot (huge musical numbers etc) but they expect all shows to be like that. They were taken by surprise (their first musical with a small cast) and but they came out enjoying the show and feeling "moved".
Those who disliked it just wanted to see a spectacle.



Updated On: 1/13/10 at 10:45 PM

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 10:54pm

I didn't like the cheap feel good curtain call after a very poignant ending. It felt like the producers felt too worried that people would be left with a "negative" feeling so they tacked in that schlocky tutu number. Total disrepect for the audience IMO.

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 10:54pm

1. It’s a terrible adaptation of the movie.
2. Terrible Score (could we please get a key change at the end of a song, or have more than one point of view in a song?)
3. Repetitive “I want to dance.” “You can’t dance” “Montage of Billy Getting Better”
4. The first act is as long as the movie is itself
5. The night I saw it everyone was just yelling at each other.
6. The adaptation did nothing for the miners, so when were forced to go back to work it wasn’t moving.
7. The show couldn’t decide whether or not it wanted to be spectacle or actually tell the story at hand.

But those are just my opinions.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 10:57pm

I agree with lavieboheme, the show has an identity crisis. It goes from small and touching to blowing the rafters off with effects. One minute it is a theme park show, the next minute a touching dramatic musical. I enjoyed BE, but it has many problems.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 11:00pm

I don't know how anyone can call the score to BILLY ELLIOT "weak." Please explain. I think it's memorable, suitable, works, a great partnership with choreography, and just fine. I hardly find anything 'wrong' with it.

Is the show over-produced? I think certain aspects, like the central set piece, are not necessary, but I don't think they HARM the show.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 11:07pm

I don't know how anyone can call the score to BILLY ELLIOT "weak." Please explain.

Only because you asked...

1. The whole thing is cheesy 80's music with too many synthesizers.

2. The lyrics are never more than pedestrian and do nothing but scratch the surface. The lyrics in Electric, should be, well, electric. They should jump out at you, explaining why dance is so important to Billy. The best he could come up with is that it's like a fire deep inside you, impossible to hide. Really?

[sgv123]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 11:09pm

Those lyrics from Electricity are from the movie.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 11:11pm

I'm really wondering WHY Billy Elliot is the phenomenon that it is. Is the story of a dancing boy really that catching to cause all this commotion?

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 11:15pm

The Stars Look Down: Terrible opening number. The night is saw it there was smatter of polite applause at best. If we take a page of out of Shakespeare’s book the authors need to get us hooked in beginning and this song just didn’t cut it.

Grandma's Song: Why? What was the point of this song? To develop a character that is basically dropped after this, and in the movie her dementia was much worse.

Solidarity: The best song in the show.

Expressing Yourself: This song really points out the indenter crisis this show has. Are we supposed to be watching two young boys dealing with gender roles, or watching a scene that would fit right in at Pricilla Queen of the Desert.

Born To Boogie: A weaker version of Solidarity

He Could Be A Star: I think this is only song that had more than one person singing a different verse, but instead of driving the argument forward they just repeated the same thing over and over again.

And I think that was my biggest problem with the score is that Elton didn’t write a song in show that developed character and moved the plot forward, and every time a song started up it was like wrench was thrown into the production

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 1/14/10 at 12:49am

Don't mind, Captain Hooker. He/She just hasn't gotten any in a few months - too busy dealing with piggy banks and product fulfillment (long story...)

Capn. Look at your effing post: "I don't know how anyone can call the score to BILLY ELLIOT "weak." Please explain. I think it's memorable, suitable, works, a great partnership with choreography, and just fine."

What stands out to you? Perhaps the "I think" part of it. Maybe? Who knows. Nice try, Capn Hooker. xoxo


ETA: the score is the biggest pile of sh!t I've ever heard. Saw this on Broadway and on the West End.... I like the show but the music is absolutely dreadful. Elton John should be ashamed.

Updated On: 1/14/10 at 12:49 AM