Has anybody seen Billy Elliott the Musical which is in previews on Broadway? I loved the movie!
Hi, Lee!
Yes, I've seen
Billy Elliott the Musical twice--
I saw it more than three years ago in London (in July 2005) with the amazing
James Lomas, one of the three--and many arguably believe the best--original Billys on stage.
James LomasNow, I have seen
BE again two weeks ago in previews in New York, with
Kiril Kulish as Billy. I thought Kiril excellent, but I thought James the stronger dancer and actor (he was older); he was also more desperate, more lost. Very powerful. When James had to leave the production (the Billys grow up!), he was very, very sad. Elton John took an interest in him, brought him back to London, put him in school, and he works with the production back stage.
Kiril, as I said, is marvelous; very good dancer, wonderful actor, and has a lovely affect--delicate but game.
I'll just mention that
Haydn Gwynne, the original
Mrs. Wilkinson from the London production, is here in New York, and she's fantastic. It's a great show, and all the children are really first rate.
I will also say that bringing the production across the Atlantic has changed it somewhat; the stage is a bit too big, the staging is a bit too broad, a bit too mainstream, a bit too
straight (I think), but even so, it is definitely worth it! (I'm hoping to see it again with David Alvarez--but the 'Billy Schedule' is secret, unfortunately!)
The New York production of Billy Elliot the Musical
Left to right,
Trent Kowalik,
David Alvarez and
Kiril Kulish with E. John
