Billy Elliot untransferable- Page 2

[Jwaa]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 3:40pm

Im going to see it on Friday

AND
im seeing Tick..Tick...Boom tomorrow!

Am a londoner myself so will let ya know what I thought!
X

[hyperchet]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 4:04pm

how many young boy's parts are there? what is the vocal range required?

[Chloe]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 4:20pm

There are two main parts, Billy and Michael. Billy sings more than Michael, but neither has a huge amount. Billy has to be an incredible dancer, though, and Michael taps. The song keys were adjusted for each of the three Billys in the show right now, as they have different ranges.

[Speed]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 4:33pm

devonian- if you were born in London, then how do you have a sense of what a non-Londoner would understand or not understand?

again.... I ask the question... if you were able to understand and enjoy it, why do you think the rest of us would not be able to understand and enjoy it? on that note, I know Americans who have gone to London to see it and have loved it. It just seems a little snobby to imply that us Americans won't get it.

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 6/5/05 at 5:48pm

I am Greek and i only had a vague idea about the miner's strike ! That didn't stop me from LOVING and enjoying the show ! It is a wonderful emotional experience and anyway the strike is quite explained in the show, in the sense that we see the miners having a really hard time because of the government's hard stance. You don't need to know all the political details to empathize with them ! After all, not many people knew the exact history about the student revolt in France, but that didn't stop Les Mis from becoming huge !

[devonian.t]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 7:58am

Speed, I thought observation, experienceand critical analysis were the key ingredients of empathy. I put myself into the position of those people around me who needed significant levels of translation and explanation during the intermission and after the show.

I dare say quite a few people will be able to follow, but I doubt that in its current form it has the cross-over accessibility to make a huge hit. The accents, for instance, are very hard to penetrate, even for Londoners, (again, an observation based on comments by audience members).

This is not about IQ, it's about fairly obscure cultural references which reduce the universality of the show overall. I don't think I ever said U.S. audiences were too dumb. The obstacle is in the show itself. Furthermore, it is very clear that many shows fail to transfer the success they have achieved on the other side of the Atlantic: Starlight Express ran for 18 years in London but sank without trace on Broadway; The Producers is struggling, barely months into its London run; A Chorus Line never matched its American success in London. The Dance of the Vampires is still running in Germany!!!

Incidentally, Greek, I dare say most audiences would struggle to understand Les Mis if it were sung in a thick Geordie accent!

[Sister George]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 8:13am

It's definitely transferring to Broadway. Whether they will re-tool it for the American market in order to make it succeed? Let's hope so.



Why? It's this kind of insular attitude that creates the Ignorant American stereotype.

In London, Angels in America, which is very specific in it's location and politics enjoyed a long sold out run at the National Theatre

[alterego]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 8:19am

The rest of the world has for years had to adapt to American sensibilities when producing American shows, maybe it's time for Americans to adapt to (understand) the rest of the world.

[QueenMuppet]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 8:25am

'It's definitely transferring to Broadway. Whether they will re-tool it for the American market in order to make it succeed? Let's hope so.'

Well, let's hope not! I would literally kill myself if this show was 'Americanized', just like The Full Monty.

I personally don't think it would work on Broadway. Just like Blood Brothers, Billy Elliot is a very British show. I was sitting next to Americans in the show and they missed half the show and didn't get lots of the jokes. Before people start crying, I'm not saying they didn't have the IQ, just not the background or they had real issues with the accent.

I'd be surprised if the show opened on Broadway. Elton John is already working on another show for the American market, why would he risk taking Billy over the pond? I don't see it happening...

QM