Greg Jbara and Emily Skinner in Billy Elliot
Greg Jbara and Emily Skinner in Billy Elliot
Greg Jbara and Emily Skinner in Billy Elliot#1
Posted: 12/25/10 at 9:14amHow much longer are they gonna be in the show? I'm planning on going spring break.
Greg Jbara and Emily Skinner in Billy Elliot#2
Posted: 12/25/10 at 9:19am
Jbara is with the show through June, I believe, and Skinner has a year contract, so she'll still be with the show come spring. However, I just saw the show again two weeks ago and Jbara was majorly walking through it. It might be time for him to move on.
Skinner, on the other hand, is perfection.
Greg Jbara and Emily Skinner in Billy Elliot#2
Posted: 12/25/10 at 9:21amThanks a bunch!
Greg Jbara and Emily Skinner in Billy Elliot#3
Posted: 12/25/10 at 11:11am
Totally disagree with you, AC126748.
In what way is Emily Skinner perfection? Not to be harsh, but every time I've seen her accent has been all over the place, and she speaks to the audience instead of the other actors on stage. And sure she sings the **** out of it, but it kind of feels out of place for Billy Elliot. It's sad, I really wanted to enjoy her.
And as for Jbara "walking through it", I have also never found that, but maybe you saw him on an off night or he was sick.
Greg Jbara and Emily Skinner in Billy Elliot#4
Posted: 12/25/10 at 11:44am
Of the many times I've seen the show, I've never thought Jbara was walking through his role. It's always been a very passionate performance (despite his tendency to opt for ridiculously long dramatic pauses.)
Greg Jbara and Emily Skinner in Billy Elliot#5
Posted: 12/25/10 at 12:02pm
Kev---I agree with you re: Greg Jbara's performances. I've always enjoyed them and think he is perfect as Billy's Dad. His timing, expressions, etc. are very emotional and well executed. (IMO)
I didn't enjoy Emily's performance as much (only saw her once--but will hopefully enjoy it more the next time). I felt that her vocal clarity wasn't great. Some of her words were not distinct and difficult to understand. Maybe it was my seats? (3rd row, orchestra)?
Greg Jbara and Emily Skinner in Billy Elliot#6
Posted: 12/25/10 at 12:54pm
Taylor, Emily definitely didn't employ any of those characteristics in the performance I recently attended (two weeks ago). Her accent was steady and authentic; she never mugged or played overtly to the audience; she sang the s*it out of the score; and her final scene with Billy brought tears to my eyes. I've seen the show with each of the Broadway Mrs. Wilkinsons (and several of the understudies) and none ever made me cry in that scene.
I am a fan of Jbara. Maybe he was having an off day. Actors do sometimes get bored when they have been with a show for so long.
Greg Jbara and Emily Skinner in Billy Elliot#7
Posted: 12/25/10 at 3:39pm
Well, I'm glad others enjoyed Skinner's performance. Like I said, I really wanted to. When I saw her for the second time a man I was talking to at intermission had the same concerns: came off completely cold and speaking to the audience. And her accent is not the correct geordie accent for the show. (Unless she's greatly improved in the last 3 weeks)
As for dramatic pauses, BE has many that I have a problem with, none of which are Jbara's. Which specific moments did you have a problem with? All of the pauses he does take have a comedic or story telling purpose. Want to talk about unnecessary long, comedy killing pauses? Kate Hennig took that to the extreme as well as the current Debbie.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/16/06
Greg Jbara and Emily Skinner in Billy Elliot#8
Posted: 12/25/10 at 4:10pmI agree with Taylor. I have never had a problem with Greg. I have only seen Emily once, and I think her accent has somewhat of a Russian sound to it. I don't know. I have been told that Emily is used to a bigger theater which may be the reason she is over playing Mrs. W.
Greg Jbara and Emily Skinner in Billy Elliot#9
Posted: 12/25/10 at 4:25pmExactly Sgv. A problem that should be worked out with the creative team.
Swing Joined: 10/21/06
Greg Jbara and Emily Skinner in Billy Elliot#10
Posted: 12/26/10 at 12:23amI've heard so many vastly different opinions about Emily's Mrs. Wilkinson, but I didn't have a problem with her or Greg's performances. I've only seen Greg once, but I've seen Emily three times (once in Chicago, twice on broadway) and I think she's only improved. I will admit, in Chicago I found her accent quite muddled and all over the place and very difficult to understand at points. The most recent time I saw her in New York, although she was apparently sick, I think she gave (and is giving) an excellent performance. As mentioned, she kicks the crap out of the score and I have no problems understanding her and was also very moved by more than one of her scenes. After seeing Greg's understudy, I was very happy to be seeing him, I find him very charming on stage and he didn't seem to be "walking through it" at all. I think both of their performances are very worth a visit.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/04
Greg Jbara and Emily Skinner in Billy Elliot#11
Posted: 12/26/10 at 11:44am
Matt, here's a link to Greg's BE schedule through June, including all his contracted days off. - Barb
See this page at Greg's web site
Greg Jbara and Emily Skinner in Billy Elliot#12
Posted: 12/26/10 at 8:40pmI have tickets for 6/29 and he's scheduled thro' the 26th. What are the odds that he'll re-up?
Greg Jbara and Emily Skinner in Billy Elliot#13
Posted: 12/28/10 at 2:34pm
I saw the original cast of Billy Elliot shortly after it opened and revisited it again a few weeks ago because I wanted to see Emily Skinner. The particular Billy I saw certainly wasn't as vocally strong as one of the original ones I saw, but I was impressed with his acting and dancing. Jbara is still giving what I regard to be a campy performance (I realize he has his fans, but I don't get the appeal). I was certainly impressed with Emily in the role. Granted, I have been a fan for a long time so came in a but biased, but I certainly appreciated that the role was finally well-sung (though I realize it does not need to be). She also had great chemistry with the Billy at my particular performance. Nice acting and a well-rounded performance.
For what it is worth, I sat in the last row of the mezz and I didn't have an issue understanding her spoken dialogue, but I can usually handle thick accents quite well. I can't comment on the accuracy of her accent though.
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