Billy Elliot, Thursday 10/16/08, w/Alvarez as Billy

[ivanguy]

Posted: 10/17/08 at 11:49am

Went to see Billy Elliot last night with David Alvarez playing the lead.

Say what you want about his ethnic background, but him and his stage brother certainly looked related! Enough said about that ....

First of all, the median age in the theatre was hovering around 70. Is that all who can afford the theatre these days?

My second biggest pet peeve of the night: only half of the audience had taken their seats by the time the lights went down. Most of the audience was still trying to find their seats and the show was starting. The house manager better get their act together and let people sit down before dimming the house lights. I haven't seen management that bad since I saw a movie on a Saturday night at the Angelika. Are we on auto-pilot here? Geesh ...

The audience behavior that night is deplorable! Three cellphones went off. People were "shushing" each other - maybe had something to do with all the old people there. AND - the guy right behind me had a plastic f*cking bag on his lap that he had to rattle through the entire second act. After the show, I told him to leave the bag at home next time. He said I must have "sensitive ears."

Oh, the show ....

It was great. Not fantastic great ... but good. The first act is definitely stronger than the second. David was good as Elliot ... his strongest point is his dancing. He had better form than the guy playing his older self! Very impressive dancer. His singing? Eh .... needs work. I certainly wasn't blown away by him. The kid playing Michael was fantastic. And the one playing "Little Boy" was wonderful. Definitely a favorite of the night. I don't see what the big deal is about the woman playing Mrs. Wilkinson. Not as memorable as the woman who played her in the film. Why'd they bring her over from London? None of the voices in the production were noteworthy. The little girls were fantastic and the choreography was downright amazing. If this show deserves a Tony, it'll definitely get it for the choreography. Usually, you know a Tony Award worthy performance when you see it (Christine Ebersole in GG, Jane Krakowski in Nine, Patti Lupone in Gypsy) ... but here .... no performance really blew me away. But overall, it was a great production. It was just hard to beat the razzamatazz of "Expressing Yourself" - one of the best Broadway moments evah!

So, can it with all your racist comments about the casting of Billy, but focus on their performance.

And for f*ck's sake, unwrap your candy before the curtain goes up and leave your plastic shopping bags at home - or at least put them on the floor.

And wait for the curtain call. What's your rush? You got a plane to catch? I love the fact that the show ends (rather uneventfully, I might add), the rude people get up and out of the theatre before the curtain call, and then there's 15 more minutes of show. I hope those rude a$$holes missed it all.

I'm not sure this is the end-all-be-all theatre event of the year. It was good. It starts out slowly, quickly builds towards the middle of the first act, but then peters out by the end. And yes, the language is strong - but don't let that hold you back from taking your kids. If anything, the message is wonderful and it's a pretty fun night out at the theatre.
Updated On: 10/17/08 at 11:49 AM

[sgv123]

Posted: 10/17/08 at 12:02pm

Was the finale in?

[ivanguy]

Posted: 10/17/08 at 12:51pm

Yes.

And I enjoyed watching all the RUDE theatre go'ers leaving as the curtain came back up for it!

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/17/08 at 12:59pm

"I haven't seen management that bad since I saw a movie on a Saturday night at the Angelika. Are we on auto-pilot here? Geesh ... "

Sounds like excellent management to me. Dimming the lights is the ONLY way to get people to finally get their arses in their seats. Otherwise, the show starts late and you cannot keep the actors waiting in places.

Bravo to the house manager!

[ivanguy]

Posted: 10/17/08 at 1:02pm

Uh, you weren't there.

We got to the theatre at about 7:40 p.m. It took FOREVER to get to our seats. It seems like they opened the house late. It's not as if people were milling about, socializing & table hopping. They were just trying to get to their seats.

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/17/08 at 1:12pm

uh, and that's how you get them to hurry to their seats, especially when you're running late, as you said.

[ivanguy]

Posted: 10/17/08 at 1:30pm

Since when is arriving 20 minutes before curtain considered "late?"

We were EARLY!

And it took FOREVER to get into the theatre. Something was certainly off.

And here's a suggestion ..... try dimming the lights a BIT but not starting the show when 50% of the theatre has yet to sit.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 10/17/08 at 1:40pm

I don't know if you experienced this, but I had a problem getting to the men's room during intermission. There's only one on the second floor, which must be reached by a LONNNGGGG flight of stairs. The kicker was, that people were being instructed to go up via either railing, with only the middle (no handrail) available to people trying to get downstairs. While I'm not totally disabled, I do have a problem with stairs and rely on using a handrail. A kindly gentleman offered me his arm -- but otherwise, I'd still be up there. Can't this be re-thought somehow?

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/17/08 at 1:44pm

True, I wasn't there, but from 8 years in theater management, I've found that the only way to speed things up re seating is by the use of the lights.

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/17/08 at 3:29pm

Both times I saw shows there, the staff was not only nice but on top of things. The evening I saw August: Osage had to be a nightmare for them with cell phones and talking and they handled it quite well without disturbing patrons. I actually talked to one usher during the second intermission and thanked her. I had no problem getting to my seat either time but the last time, the lobby just seemed to be in a state of confusion. They couldn't decide what to do with the Will Call line which at first I was farther back in and then all of a sudden I was told to step up to the window. But again, nice staff.

Updated On: 10/17/08 at 03:29 PM

[ivanguy]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 4:30am

"True, I wasn't there, but from 8 years in theater management, I've found that the only way to speed things up re seating is by the use of the lights."

Maybe there's one other way to use lights besides just TURNING THEM OFF!

Do you have dimmer switches in your apartment or house or just on/off switches?????

And for the restroom situation .... I totally know where you're coming from! The men's room line was awful! And they DON'T give people enough time to pee! You'd think at $110 a ticket, they'd give us some rights!!!!! Give us time to take a leak for f*ck's sake!!!!! We paid for this night - give us some respect!