Billy Elliot- Trent Kowalik's Last- 3.7.10
Billy Elliot- Trent Kowalik's Last- 3.7.10
WishingOnlyWounds2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/25/08
#1Billy Elliot- Trent Kowalik's Last- 3.7.10
Posted: 3/8/10 at 12:53am
I'm going to keep this short being I know quite a few people were there so I'm sure many will contribute to this thread; also I'm quite tired so I'll probably add more later on.
WOW! What an amazing night!! The energy in the theatre was so powerful and moving; the show started with a speech by Stephen Daldry, he spoke about how Trent is the longest running Billy and by the end of his bit was choked up.
Trent- well, I'm so happy I got to see him, he was the only original Billy I hadn't seen. He was brilliant and simply left me speechless. He will surely be missed.
Now, I'm not going to go on about the whole cast as my views on them have been written before, but: Philip Whitchurch, I loved him. I adore Greg Jbara as a performer but I just wasn't left with the best feelings all the times I saw him as Jackie, I thought Philip played the role excellently.
Will Chase had been out the past two times I've seen it but he too was wonderful!
Mere Louise was on as Grandma and was brilliant!
This was by far the best performance I have ever seen of Billy, Thommie Retter said himself that this was the best performance he was a part of and Tessa Netting said many were going all out. The show had quite a few in song standing ovations as well as countless cheers.
Bye Trent, we'll miss you!
2008: Feb. 18- Rent, Feb. 19- Curtains, April 18- Xanadu, April 22- Wicked, April 26- Legally Blonde, May 31- Wicked, June 13- The Little Mermaid, June 28- Wicked and Young Frankenstein, July 2- The Little Mermaid, July 6- A Chorus Line and Legally Blonde, August 16- Xanadu, September 13- Legally Blonde and 13, September 28- Xanadu and Spring Awakening, Oct. 12-GYPSY and [title of show], Oct. 19- Hairspray & Legally Blonde, Nov. 9- Wicked and 13, Dec. 14-13, Dec. 26- Billy Elliot, 2009: Jan 1- Shrek, Jan 2- 13 and Wicked, Jan 4- 13, Feb 17- In The Heights, Feb 19- Billy Elliot, Feb 22- Sweeney Todd (tour), March 28- Mary Poppins, April 4- Mamma Mia!, April 15- Jersey Boys (on tour), April 25- next to normal & 9 to 5
May 1- Billy Elliot, May 3- Spelling Bee (tour), May 8- Chicago, May 21- Wicked, June 6- Everyday Rapture, June 23- The Wiz, June 25- Hair July 15- Shrek, August 9- Wicked, September 7- Rock of Ages, October 11- Next To Normal, October 23- The Marvelous Wonderettes, November 7- Ragtime November 29- Dreamgirls, December 25- Billy Elliot, December 30- Finian's Rainbow, 2010: January 9- Bye Bye Birdie, January 16- Memphis February 17- The Phantom of The Opera, February 18- God of Carnage, March 7- Billy Elliot, March 31- American Idiot
Updated On: 3/8/10 at 12:53 AM
#2Billy Elliot- Trent Kowalik's Last- 3.7.10
Posted: 3/8/10 at 1:02am
Also there and what a GREAT show it was! One of the best I have seen of Trent!
I loved that the energy was there but it was in no way disrespectful or distracting like say, the performance of Hair I saw this afternoon.
Trent got standing ovations after Angry Dance and Electricity of course, and the entire audience jumped up after the Finale.
Merle was on for Grandma. She's very good and brings nice movement to the role but I still prefer Shelley comedically.
#2Billy Elliot- Trent Kowalik's Last- 3.7.10
Posted: 3/8/10 at 1:21amI caught the show last night, and I must agree that Whitchurch is terrific in the role. I was part of the camp that didn't care for Jbara.
"If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it." -Stephen Colbert
#3Billy Elliot- Trent Kowalik's Last- 3.7.10
Posted: 3/8/10 at 1:22amI wish he wasn't on against the Oscars, or I so would have been there. Funny how that pic in the OP is so different from what Trent looks like now. He's an amazing Billy and I hope we'll see him again soon. Maybe he can come back and play the older brother years from now!
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
#4Billy Elliot- Trent Kowalik's Last- 3.7.10
Posted: 3/8/10 at 1:37am
Just want to contribute that I attended tonight as well.
I bought a partial view orchestra ticket; when said ticket price was shared with the tourist I was seated next to who paid more than double for his seat with a discount code, I could tell he was slightly disappointed. Not to worry I assured him, he was going to experience an extra special show and I explained the night's circumstances. Immediately following the incredibly electric response to the "Angry Dance," he turned to me and thanked me profusely, asking for further recommendations for his visit!
I last saw the show in February '09 for a second time with Trent as Billy, and that was the performance I wanted to remember BILLY ELLIOT by. When his last performance date was announced, I immediately bought my tickets as I knew that this insanely talented kid was going to get a thrilling send off, and I'm so glad I did.
What a night.
yankees1253
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/21/07
#5Billy Elliot- Trent Kowalik's Last- 3.7.10
Posted: 3/8/10 at 2:33pm
I agree with all of you, it was a emotional night. Will write a review later after i do some reasearch for a paper and a term paper.
Will add instead of small boy giving flowers to trent at curtain call it was tessa netting(spastic starfish susan parks) gave him the flowers.
Also, former orginal ballet girl Sharon Percy-Heather Ann Burns was in attendance last night as well. Other Ballet girls were so happy to see her. Admitted she does miss performing in the show.
At intermission the back of the orchestra you could not even pass loads of girls spotted David Alvarez and he was taking pictures/signing playbills for tons of girls. Yes he has a new haircut now.
#6Billy Elliot- Trent Kowalik's Last- 3.7.10
Posted: 3/8/10 at 2:37pmOh yeah forgot to mention David Alvarez was there, and of course Stephen Daldry! Mr. Daldry gave a great speech before the show and I'm sure it'll be up on youtube soon.
#7Billy Elliot- Trent Kowalik's Last- 3.7.10
Posted: 3/8/10 at 3:25pmI was there last night as well and it was a great performance. I hadn't seen the show since the summer so it was my first time seeing Philip Whitchurch and Will Chase (Will was out the last time I saw the show) and also my first time seeing one of the new Michaels. It was a very emotional show and the energy coming from the audience was great (but not in a disruptive way, as bits of Hair yesterday unfortunately were). Trent was the first Billy I saw waaaay back in the 2nd week of previews so it was nice to be there for his final performance.
Videos