filmclassics44
Seeing this musical makes me incredibly sad, why? Because I never got the opportunity to see the amazingly skilled and talented dancers portraying Billy Elliot live! I never got the chance to see this specific performance in theaters either. Let me say this: Billy Elliot is so much more than a SPECTACULAR show!The first time I watched this performance, I couldn't help but believe every single moment, making it even more impressive since it was a live performance, and there were no second takes. Elliott Hanna, oh my goodness, this guy was born to be a star! He was 11 when playing Billy here! And he is perfect! His smile is so genuine, his personality is so love-able, and don't even get me started on his dancing. I'll just say this, Elliott is going places! The other members of this cast are just as brilliant, including Ruthie Henshall (Fantine from the 10th anniversary of Les Misérables) as Mrs. Wilkinson, Deka Walmsley as Jackie Elliott, Chris Grahamson as Tony Elliott, Liam Mower (one of the ORIGINAL Billy's), Zach Atkinson (AMAZING) as Michael, and Ann Emery as Billy's Grandma (HILARIOUS). This musical take on the just as touching 2000 film really brings Billy's dreams to life through the brilliance of Elton John's music; You truly root for the characters, you feel for Billy during "Angry Dance" and feel his passion in "Electricity." You also feel Jackie's pain during "Deep Into the Ground." I still cannot believe this was a filmed live show, and of course I'm envious of everyone who was able to see it! There's so much happiness, sadness, excitement, and hilarity that's so perfect in this show. And also, the finale of this show seriously took my breath away from excitement! The original masterful Billy's: Liam Mower, George Maguire, and James Lomas appear along with the other magnificent Billy's: Scott McKenzie, Aaron Watson, Rhys Yeomans, Tom Holland (Peter Parker/Spider- Man in Spider-Man: Homecoming), Ollie Gardner, Fox Jackson-Keen, Ryan Collinson, Matthew Koon, Josh Fedrick, Kaine Ward, Dean McCarthy, Layton Williams, Harris Beattie, Harrison Dowzell, Josh Baker, Leon Cooke, Redmand Rance, Ali Rasul, Ollie Joachim, and Matteo Zecca! These guys will literally make you jump for joy as you cheer them on, they really know how to fly, literally!!!!!!!!!!!!!Hands down, one of the best Broadway shows ever, it will transform your bad day into a good one, and you will wish you took ballet after you watch it!
fordmodelt Ford
OK, here's the one big downside: this is a film of the actual stage show, and it simply can't adequately convey the full stirring power of the big male voice numbers. Cranking up the volume on the TV remote for those songs still doesn't quite cut it. Smaller gripes include the camera angle cuts that are a bit annoying at times, and you wish the director had chosen not to keep chopping and changing angles quite so much, and maybe stuck with more straightforward angles that didn't occasionally cut off Billy's feet during dance sequences. Yes, the 'f-bomb' is liberally sprinkled through the dialogue, but it's in keeping with the setting. Also, occasionally the accent is a bit hard to understand. And it's a staged show, so it's not aiming for realism. So don't start comparing it with Billy Elliot the movie. This is much more about the dancing with a whole extra dimension added with the songs. The movie was great. The stage show is great. But they're great in different ways despite both telling the same story.Having said all of that, Billy Elliot the Musical is my family's all-time favourite stage show. It has everything: stunning choreography, fabulous singing, great comedy, an emotional underdog story and the whole thing is told against the backdrop of a painfully real episode of massive social upheaval. Unless the stage show is on in your city and you can afford to go and experience it in person (preferably more than once), watching this filmed version is the next best thing.The Swan Lake sequence where child Billy dances with 'future Billy' is just the most brilliant piece of choreography, stunningly executed. And the Electricity solo by child Billy where he comes out of a long dance sequence with multiple pirouettes, then has enough breath left to continue singing and finally finish with another series of pirouettes is just astounding.Watch this filmed version of the stage show. Later you can buy the CD and crank up the volume to really appreciate the power of the big male voice numbers. And when the stage show comes to a city near you, plan to go. At least once.
