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Post by horton on Mar 16, 2016 14:11:05 GMT
Caught up with the tour at Plymouth last night. It was quite a long train journey to get there but the good news is: It's in pretty good shape!
The show is still probably the best British musical of all time- sure Phantom is lush and Les Mis is epic- but Billy Elliot is intensely moving and profound in its portrayal of 1980s politics and the decline of a community and industry. Plus it's bloody entertaining!
This tour is a little scaled down- a slightly smaller cast and Billy's bedroom rolls in from the wings rather than coming through the floor, but there's plenty of money on stage!
The cast work hard- Annette McLaughlin is more Haydn Gwynne than Ruthie Henshall whilst Martin Walsh is a very solid, sincere Dad with a great voice. Daniel Page- from the original London cast- most convincingly captures the spirit of that show as the hilarious Mr Braithwaite- and he's a big lad to be dancing as he does! But what he demonstrates is the difference between being in at the beginning like he was, and coming in new and "re-activating" roles other people made. Like musical theatre Chinese whispers, there's a lot of times when it feels like cast members are walking in other people's footsteps- Grandma is the most noticeable example: the problem is, if you haven't got a genuine really old biddy, it's just not as impressive when she bursts into wild dancing. (Same problem as Mrs Henderson- when a middle-aged woman overcomes the ravages of old age, it's just not as impressive as when a real "old girl" shows she's still "got it"- like the irreplaceable Ann Emery, or old legends like Dora Bryan). The principals are like facsimiles of memories long gone. (It's not as bad as the Wicked tour where it looks like every step, look and syllable is choreographed and performed robotically).
Sadly, the Billy I saw wasn't quite up to the quality of any of the boys I ever saw in London- I know the show only opened recently but he didn't convince as being "exceptional" as the story demands.
Other plus points include fantastic sound and a really first-rate chorus of young girls of all shapes and sizes. Overall, though, it's just a little disappointing that it doesn't quite hit the heights of the West End production- especially since the tickets are West End prices!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2016 6:28:13 GMT
I'm particularly worried about the prices at Bradford.They'll have to do some serious discounting to fill the Alhambra.It's the same for the Wicked tour.
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Post by grannyjx6 on Mar 23, 2016 23:06:39 GMT
I'm particularly worried about the prices at Bradford.They'll have to do some serious discounting to fill the Alhambra.It's the same for the Wicked tour. I didn't know the Alhambra did any discounts? We're going and paying full whack (which isn't quite as much as the West End, but not far). |
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Post by daniel on Oct 20, 2016 10:30:13 GMT
Just announced, Liverpool Empire, 9-27 May 2017.
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19,778 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 30, 2016 23:20:23 GMT
Gosh that's a good show isn't it? Press night in Manc tonight. Loads of a-listers on the red carpet, 1 x Corrie, 2 x Hollyoaks and a BBC Breakfast. There was also a couple of old geezers in dirty macs but I think they were waiting to stagedoor  Packed house, free souvenir brochures for all, exciting performance. |
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Post by crabtree on Jan 15, 2017 11:11:33 GMT
caught Billy last night, and this really does not seem a provincial tour at all. Yes there are fewer cast, and the set is modified but it looks epic on the Palace stage. And I still marvel that a boy can hold the stage for three hours, singing, dancing, and acting - with the added complication of an accent. truly amazing. 'Solidarity' has to be one of the best staged numbers in musical theatre. Dancing policeman and miners should not work, but heck it's brilliant. As I watched happily from the front row, part of me was wondering about backstage - so little wing space and all those children and the army of chaperones. It must be so well stage managed on stage and off - on stage it just flows. actually flows better than it did when I saw it in London. Billy's bedroom was not playing ball and left a huge hole in front of the rampaging ballet girls. fortunately the stage manager was on stage as quick as a flash to stop the herd of tulle disappearing into the darkness. But do catch this tour - it is an amazing piece of work, and the fact that it is touring is even more remarkable. Well done to all.
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Post by moelhywel on Mar 7, 2017 23:34:53 GMT
Just back from the first night of this in Birmingham and not having seen it on stage before (only the cinema broadcast of the stage show) I hadn't got anything to compare it with but to say that I was impressed is an understatement. There were one or two slight hitches with the scenery and the sound system played up a few times but these apart it was a splendid evening. The energy of the entire cast was impressive but especially that of the boy playing Billy. To be able to dance ballet and tap with some gymnastics thrown in, and sing on top of that is more than you would expect from such a young boy. The standing ovation at the end was well deserved. Also Daniel Page as Mr Braithwaite got a round of applause with his dance which came as a total surprise from someone of his size. Highly recommended.
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Post by daniel on Mar 7, 2017 23:39:36 GMT
I was also there tonight and thought it was just stunning. Second time seeing the tour, after two times in London. One thing I did notice though - one of the ballet girls in Billy's class was being played by an adult - is this normal (I've never noticed it before!) or was it more likely an emergency swing situation?
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Post by LXQ41.GO. on Mar 9, 2017 1:40:05 GMT
Within the tour version there are actually two adults (Abbie Louise Harris & Georgina Parkinson) in the ballet girl group. One has a named character (Sharon I think is played by Abbie) whilst the other acts as the head ballet girl who brings on the props if that makes sense? The tour has been like this from the start. The role of small boy is also normally played by the smallest ballet girl.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 9, 2017 12:44:03 GMT
That's really interesting BigBrightBeautifulWorld, I never noticed that when I saw it a few weeks ago.
I'm sorry to add negativity here, but I was very underwhelmed by this touring production. The cast were going through the motions I felt without much life and it was merely an "ok" performance, when I know this show is much better.
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Post by matilda1 on Mar 9, 2017 23:14:26 GMT
What do people think of Scott Garnham's performance. I've always been a fan, having seen him in Les Mis.He has a great voice. I must admit, I found his Tony disappointing. He just did't seem to have the presence somehow to play this big character. Maybe he is a better singer than he is aa actor.
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421 posts
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 10, 2017 8:33:24 GMT
I agree matilda1, he made no impact at all in the role.
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Post by Phantom of London on Mar 10, 2017 9:32:17 GMT
I posted this in another Billy Elliot thread:
Post by Phantom of London on Jul 8, 2016 at 9:39pm
Saw this in Cardiff on Wednesday.
After seeing this in London many times, Broadway three times and once in Chicago.
Obviously for a tour they couldn't dig a big hole in the middle of the stage for every venue for Billy Elliot's bedroom to appear, they had to improvise here and this bit is simply wheeled on from the side, the set is very realistic of the one in London.
The miners' strike film wheel at the beginning with little boy has been axed.
With all musicals in time they evolve and can get better, this was the case with Billy going to Broadway, they kept the best bits of London and imported changes for the better from Broadway, one of these was the goosebumps moment in the end of act 1, "angry dance"' where you had the Billy dancing with much angst, after missing auditions, against the picket line, with National Coal Board shields, with this as Billy was dancing against the strikers you have Margaret Thatcher's voice boom "these are the wreckers of our society, they must not succeed", it brings more context to the piece. They did this exactly at the Tony Awards, if anyone wants to you tube this.
From the London production Michael Heseltine is still a wanker, this was taken out for Broadway and indeed the panto scene.
One of my favourite pieces is Tchaikovsky's Swan Lane, the advantage in London you had dry ice jets come out of the stage floor and flood it with ice,they couldn't replicate this for the tour and not enough dry ice was used, so the lake effect was lost, but Billy flying as a (young swan), it was still great.
Generally the cast you get on tour are sub standard to London, pay is less, staying in hotels is not everyones cup of tea, away from their families, therefore you don't attract top talent, but I thought the lady playing Mrs Wilkinson was brilliant and the bloke playing Tony was superb, he deserves his break after playing in Title of the Show above a pub. Billy was excellent as all the children were.
In my top 3 of the best musicals ever written. I urge all to see it.
Subsequently I have seen this in Manchester, where it is still as good as ever.
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Post by samjane92 on Apr 20, 2017 12:50:19 GMT
Looks like Anna Jane Casey taking over as Mrs Wilkinson based on her latest instagram post!
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