My Thoughts on BILLY ELLIOT — Page 3

I agree with the comment about appreciating the score more once you've seen the show. When I got the CD several years ago, I played it once and sort of wondered what all the hollering was about. Having actually seen the show now, the CD sounds great.

I also agree re: the Angry Dance. I was paying so much attention to everything that was going on around Billy that I wasn't focusing on him. On the CD, it's really powerful stuff. I hope I get to see it again before official opening and I'd be very happy if Alvarez was again the Billy, although I'd be happy to see either of the other two. It certainly has woken up this season, so far.

---

As regards to the score: It still strikes me odd how utterly mediocre I find the score to "Billy Elliott" when I fully admit its the best musical I've seen in fifteen years (I saw it three years ago in the West End). Not that I hated the music or lyrics, some are quite nice. But its the staging, the heart, the politics, the characters...that's what makes the show so special. It moved me to the point of tears. And though the musical numbers just merely rise above 'okay', they all are directed so beautifully it doesn't really matter. I'm actually afraid to see it again in New York as my original viewing was so emotionally complete; I fear it won't stand up to the memory.

Sauja, as I mentioned in an earlier post, I too was not overwhelmed by the score when I got the CD. Having seen the show, my feelings are totally different. It's interesting how it can work the other way around, too. I was enthralled with the scores of Rags and Mack and Mabel based on their recordings. When I finally did see the shows, I was disappointed. So, I guess it can work both ways.

---