#1
Posted: 4/16/05 at 2:40pm
What a delight it was to get to see this show in London on 7 April! The Victoria Palace is a beautiful old theatre and just the right size for a big crowd without forfeiting intimacy. BILLY ELLIOT: THE MUSICAL is Stephen Daldry’s vibrant transfer-to-stage reworking of his 2000 movie hit. The basic plot is identical, but much of the "grit" of the 1980’s miner's strike in Britain is reduced and told stylistically through song and montage by book author and lyricist Lee Hall. The music by Elton John is totally functional and often enough downright inspired. Songs serve as militaristic musical mantras of the working class people who populate the story. Perhaps not very original, but they serve their purpose.
“And the stars look down and see the struggle
And the stars look down and see the pain
And the stars will lead to where light shines again
Where we’ll stand as one, beneath the sun …”
“Solidarity, solidarity, solidarity forever,
All for one and one for all …”
Other musical numbers are appropriately placed to explore each major character's plight. Mrs. Wilkinson gets her big chance to “Shine” as she routinely attempts to inspire the group of gangly girls in her ballet class.
“Give em the old razzle dazzle
Turn on the old pizzazz
There’s no time for shilly shally
Give it backbone, give it welly …”
Again, maybe not terribly original, but very entertaining. The song begins with Billy dodging the dancing in an effort to give the hall keys to Mrs. Wilkinson, and ends with him unwittingly prancing about with a big pink feather fan along with the girls. Haydn Gwynne as Mrs. Wilkinson is a sheer delight. Her character is spot on, in the manner of Julie Walters in the movie, but this time she’s thin and not afraid to let her hair down and let herself go.
Gwynne’s other big song is “We Were Born to Boogie,” an energetic dance number in which she joyously joins Billy in expressing his new-found talent.
“We weren’t born to stand still
Aint a question of will
Gotta move, it’s a fact
You were born to react
We were born to boogie …”
It really gets good when stodgy Mr. Braithwaite (Steve Elias), who has called Billy a wanker on two previous occasions, joins in the boogie. Very fun and very funny.
The actors who play Dad and Tony (Tim Healy and Joe Caffrey) are fine in their roles, but their ages appear closer to Billy’s grandfather and father than his father and brother. Dad’s singing of a poignant folk-type song at the pub adds regional flavor to the story, which is set in northeast Britain.
Ann Emery is a cast standout as Grandma. Her rendition is gutsy and absolutely charming, especially in the song she sings to Billy to tell him what a bastard his grandfather was. If she had it to do again, she sings, she would do it on her on, and her way. She is an inspiration to Billy to follow his own road.
Another inspiration to Billy is the appearance of his “Dead Mum.” As in the film, he treasures a letter she wrote to him when he was a baby, but here she makes a visual and vocal appearance at key points in the story. “The Letter” is an emotional and gorgeous moment.
“Please, Billy, know that I will always be
Proud to have known you
Proud that you were mine
Proud in everything
You must promise me this, Billy …”
“And the stars look down and see the struggle
And the stars look down and see the pain
And the stars will lead to where light shines again
Where we’ll stand as one, beneath the sun …”
“Solidarity, solidarity, solidarity forever,
All for one and one for all …”
Other musical numbers are appropriately placed to explore each major character's plight. Mrs. Wilkinson gets her big chance to “Shine” as she routinely attempts to inspire the group of gangly girls in her ballet class.
“Give em the old razzle dazzle
Turn on the old pizzazz
There’s no time for shilly shally
Give it backbone, give it welly …”
Again, maybe not terribly original, but very entertaining. The song begins with Billy dodging the dancing in an effort to give the hall keys to Mrs. Wilkinson, and ends with him unwittingly prancing about with a big pink feather fan along with the girls. Haydn Gwynne as Mrs. Wilkinson is a sheer delight. Her character is spot on, in the manner of Julie Walters in the movie, but this time she’s thin and not afraid to let her hair down and let herself go.
Gwynne’s other big song is “We Were Born to Boogie,” an energetic dance number in which she joyously joins Billy in expressing his new-found talent.
“We weren’t born to stand still
Aint a question of will
Gotta move, it’s a fact
You were born to react
We were born to boogie …”
It really gets good when stodgy Mr. Braithwaite (Steve Elias), who has called Billy a wanker on two previous occasions, joins in the boogie. Very fun and very funny.
The actors who play Dad and Tony (Tim Healy and Joe Caffrey) are fine in their roles, but their ages appear closer to Billy’s grandfather and father than his father and brother. Dad’s singing of a poignant folk-type song at the pub adds regional flavor to the story, which is set in northeast Britain.
Ann Emery is a cast standout as Grandma. Her rendition is gutsy and absolutely charming, especially in the song she sings to Billy to tell him what a bastard his grandfather was. If she had it to do again, she sings, she would do it on her on, and her way. She is an inspiration to Billy to follow his own road.
Another inspiration to Billy is the appearance of his “Dead Mum.” As in the film, he treasures a letter she wrote to him when he was a baby, but here she makes a visual and vocal appearance at key points in the story. “The Letter” is an emotional and gorgeous moment.
“Please, Billy, know that I will always be
Proud to have known you
Proud that you were mine
Proud in everything
You must promise me this, Billy …”
RIP glebby <3
Updated On: 4/24/05 at 02:40 PM
Also is your icon from the show?
yes, my avatar is a pic from the program of the Billy we saw :) 
