Billy Elliot the musical in San Francisco-Reviews..Mixed- to-Negative?

[jovie27]

Posted: 7/1/11 at 5:04pm

So, Tuesday night Billy Elliot, the musical opened at the Orpheum Theater in SF.

What do you all make of these reviews, would you say mixed-to-negative, or mostly positive?


Review: ‘Billy Elliot’ – All that glitters is not gold | Stark Insider
www.starkinsider.com
Admittedly, Sir Elton John has composed some of the most memorable pop melodies of our time, but he fails to deliver a single one for this disappointing, albeit often entertaining, extravaganza.


Review: "Billy Elliot" dances its way to San Francisco | deadAWESOME
www.deadawesome.net
I can hardly tell stage left from stage right, but I do know a good show when I see one. If you catch Billy Elliot at the Orpheum Theatre, you'll know it too.

Thank goodness Billy Elliot dances well | Leslie Katz | Entertainment | San Francisco Examiner
www.sfexaminer.com
Billy Elliot, the character, is a smokin’ dancer. “Billy Elliot the Musical” isn’t so hot.The drama, sentiment, passion and excitement that permeated the excellent 2000 movie starring Jamie Bell as the young dancer and Julie Walters as his crusty ballet teacher don’t pervade the touring version of ..

'Billy Elliot' review: mesmerizing adaptation
www.sfgate.com
RATING: (POLITE APPLAUSE) Billy Elliot: Musical. Music by Elton John. Book and lyrics by Lee Hall. Directed by Stephen Daldry. Through Sept. 17. Orpheum Theatre, 1192 Market St., San Francisco. Two hours, 55 minutes. $...

alf Moon Bay Billy Elliot dazzles on Market Street
www.examiner.com
The Broadway hit Billy Elliot The Musical just opened in an astonishing display of stagecraft, singing and dancing at the Orpheum Theatre on Market. Ballet danc

Review: 'Billy Elliot' in San Francisco - San Jose Mercury News
www.mercurynews.com

Review: 'Billy Elliot' in San Francisco

From its hard-nosed themes to its electric choreography, "Billy Elliot" flies higher than any other Broadway musical in recent memory.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/1/11 at 5:12pm

About time some people started to see this bloated, overrated show for what it is.

[jovie27]

Posted: 7/1/11 at 5:29pm

it's a sweet, great show...but did not expect some of the harsh reviews that I read.

[ahhrealmonsters]

Posted: 7/1/11 at 5:51pm

"About time some people started to see this bloated, overrated show for what it is."

Amen, Adam.

[FlyingMonkey1223]

Posted: 7/1/11 at 6:07pm

It wasn't very good, and the kid who played Billy at my performance sucked. The only part I liked was the finale of ACT 1.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/1/11 at 6:10pm

I've never seen any Billy that was great at anything but dancing. I was pretty annoyed that they won the Tony Award....they were not excellent performers; they were excellent dancers in a manipulative, adequate musical.

[alex2155]

Posted: 7/1/11 at 6:20pm

"I've never seen any Billy that was great at anything but dancing. I was pretty annoyed that they won the Tony Award....they were not excellent performers; they were excellent dancers in a manipulative, adequate musical."

I'm confused...from this statement ("I've never seen ANY billy...")
it seems you've seen the show a few times. Why would go see an "adequate musical" more than just the original time you saw it?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/1/11 at 6:40pm

Inital Time. Within a few months of opening
2nd time on a girls weekend. (6 months later)
3rd time with my children (their choice) (Another month later)
4th time field trip (students' choice) (Just in April)

I didn't say I hated it, I just don't think it's the best thing out there. (and as you can see....3 out of the 4 times were really for the people I was with.)

Updated On: 7/1/11 at 06:40 PM

[xxdrewboy85xx]

Posted: 7/1/11 at 6:41pm

I really don't understand why so many people don't like this show. I think its frickin brilliant! Maybe I am biased because I am a dancer and the movie is one of my all time favorites, but I think its one of the best musicals of the millenium. Stephen Daldry is a genius- its no wonder he's been nominated for an academy award for ever film he's ever directed thus far.... and his stage work is just as equal.

However, I never saw the production in the states, but I saw it in London with the the Original Cast ( Liam as Billy) and I haven't been so mesmerized by a show since when I saw Cabaret with Natasha and Alan and The Goat with Sally Field and Bill Pullman.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/1/11 at 6:47pm

Drew...NO show is going to make 100% of the people that see it fall in love with it -- ever.

Start a thread here based on ANY hit musical of the last 10 years and I guarantee you will find people that both love and hate it -- with everything in between. That shouldn't make your affection for it be any different.

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 7/1/11 at 7:46pm

I had an extremely emotional reaction to this show, and rank it as one of my favorite I've ever seen. However, there is no question that the original cast had a LOT to do with it.

NO ONE can play Mrs Wilkinson like Haydn Gwynne. She, Greg Jbara, and Santino Fontana had such an incredible connection to the material, and the Billys weren't half bad either. I still remember the snow scene very vividly, and of course, the scene where Mrs. Wilkinson tells Billy goodbye - the woman was just out of control. Will Chase excluded, I did not feel the same connection to the show after the replacement cast had gone in.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/1/11 at 8:20pm

I have a feeling the tours are getting sloppier, losing focus, and less tight, as often happens. By the time a show has been touring awhile audiences are like, "really, this is it?"

I saw the Bily OBC in previews twice and was very moved. Yes it manipulative and the score is a lot of pop drivel at times, but I was emotional. I enjoyed it. I still hate the big Tutu dance ending-it kills the sweet emotional end of the show.

I feel that the OBC was so close, had worked so hard and was so emotionally connected it was pouring over the audience.

I have no desire to see the show again and lose the initial feelings.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 7/1/11 at 9:02pm

Finally people are realizes how mediocre this show is.

NEXT TO NORMAL > BILLY ELLIOT

[rougeduck]

Posted: 7/2/11 at 12:26am

Next To Normal > > > > Billy Elliot


Hell, even Rock of Ages >.

[Brick]

Posted: 7/2/11 at 1:02am

And SF critics are mostly a joke. I've never even heard of those first couple reviewers. And a critic from Half Moon Bay?

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 7/2/11 at 1:25am

I disagree with the poster who said nobody could play the part like Hadyn Gwynne - Geneveive Lemon as Mrs.Wilkinson was absolutely amazing in the Australian production - in fact, the whole cast were probably above Broadway standards...I wish I could remember the name of the guy who played Billy but he sure could sing, dance AND act.

I always imagine the original cast to be superior, but it's not always the case - I'm definitely curious as to how Faith Prince is playing the part!

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 7/2/11 at 2:34am

Betty, I COMPLETELY agree with you about that tutu dance.

I saw an early preview with no curtain call, aside from Billy having a star bump. SO much more effective.

[gypsy4]

Posted: 7/2/11 at 3:09am

JP one of the Billy's is from Half Moon Bay. I I enjoyed the show there our some terrific moments in the book and score ( Born To Boogie, Electricity, Angry Dance, Expressing yourself, and The Letter) along with Peter Darling's choreography which absolutely magnifacent but is it Elton John's best no! I'm not even a fan of elton's (I always Imagine what Alan Could do with the material) Did they dumb down moments from the original film yes! (Jamie bell will always be in My book the Billy Elliot) did it deserver best musical thats up in the air did stephen Daldry restage the film on stage, yes! but to sum it up there is something Moving, inspiring emotional Thrilling about a 13 year old leading an entire show the energy that each Boy puts out each night is beyond words and at times chill full thats what makes the show.

PS: Faith is doing a fabulous Job as Wilkinson.

Updated On: 7/2/11 at 03:09 AM

[gypsy4]

Posted: 7/2/11 at 3:09am

double post
Updated On: 7/2/11 at 03:09 AM

[Mike3]

Posted: 7/2/11 at 3:15am

I saw this tonight. I was quite disappointed. Not the show I remembered. Everyone seemed to be pushing so hard; it was very difficult to connect.

I too really appreciated Genevieve Lemon as Mrs. Wilkinson, but Faith Prince was a highlight for me tonight.

Lex Ishimoto performed as Billy. He dances beautifully. His singing is adequate. I found his acting distracting.

I don't remember them hamming it up when I saw this before. It was quieter, and much more moving.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 7/2/11 at 6:40pm

I saw the Wednesday matine and I loved it. This was my first time seeing it. The staging was brilliant, and the dancing was beautiful. The story had some holes (I didn't know that the brother was the brother until halfway through Act 1) and I thought the music was too loud in contrast to the voices. The accents were fine, because I could still follow. I didn't expect many moments in the show, such as the (SPOILERS) dancing clothing or Billy's aerial ballet. But the show was breathtakingly stunning and I was near tears multiple times. I thought Faith Prince did a great job.

Also, the mostly canned band was obvious with the strings to the point where it was cringe-worthy.

[flyinghighwithwicked]

Posted: 7/3/11 at 11:01am

I think it's probably just all the hype surrounding the show. Everyone says it's the best thing ever written, I saw it after coming from WICKED, which is my favorite show, and I just didn't understand why people loved it so much. I thought it was...good. I think it has a very strong book, and SOME great music, and the dancing blew my mind. But I thought it was just too long, and maybe it's because I was tired, but I didn't love it as much as people told me I would. Act 2 dragged a bit. I want to see it again to see if I like it better cause I have friends who saw it on tour and liked it a million times more than on Broadway.

[kyl3fong2]

Posted: 7/3/11 at 12:51pm

I saw the show last night here in San Francisco as well, and I really liked it too! It was phenomenal, and the children's dancing was flawless!

[BAYSTAGES]

Posted: 7/3/11 at 3:20pm

Which San Francisco critics do you read who are not jokes in your book, Brick?

[broadway_show_fan]

Posted: 7/4/11 at 11:06am

I haven't seen the tour or any other production than Broadway, but I've seen the Broadway production tons of times - with each of the original boys and 8 others. I love the show and think the best Mrs. Wilkinson I've seen is actually Liz Pearce. Joel Hatch is a fantastic dad as well as Greg Jbara's, and I love Will Chase and I'm sad to see him go next Sunday.

dramamama611 - If you are looking for a current Billy who is a true triple threat, please please please catch Tade Biesinger. His first performance was stellar and he looked like he'd been doing that show for a year now. His dance is strong even though he's so little. His acting is top-notch and will make you laugh until you cry, then cry until he has you laughing again. And his voice! He matches pitch like a boy choir singer and has a gorgeous vibrato that will make you melt. I highly suggest him - and no, I'm not related or anything. I just haven't seen a Billy this good in so, so long.