March 2011 Reviews - Toronto

User avatar
porschesrule
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 9368
Joined: Fri Jun 12, 2009 2:02 am
Location: Rhode Island, USA

Re: March 2011 Reviews - Toronto

Post by porschesrule »

Here's the Globe & Mail's full review (the critic submitted some notes on the show last evening). Another positive review!

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/art ... +Canada%3A
Todd
Dad
Posts: 1664
Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2009 6:05 am
Location: Kansas City, USA

Re: March 2011 Reviews - Toronto

Post by Todd »

porschesrule wrote:A decidedly mixed review by this critic from The National Post, who I think misses the point in a number of ways:

http://arts.nationalpost.com/2011/03/02 ... d-motions/
Yes, I think it's safe to say he doesn't get it. Anyone who calls "Solidarity" a "dumb number" clearly doesn't understand what the show's trying to convey there. He did indeed seem to be taking everything literally. He acted puzzled as to why the miners would be dancing and how they ended up joining in with the ballet girls' dance lesson.
User avatar
porschesrule
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 9368
Joined: Fri Jun 12, 2009 2:02 am
Location: Rhode Island, USA

Re: March 2011 Reviews - Toronto

Post by porschesrule »

And another positive review of Tuesday night's opening from the website canada.com entitled "A successful Atlantic crossing: Toronto premiere of Billy Elliot reaffirms ballet musical's greatness":


http://www.canada.com/successful+Atlant ... story.html
User avatar
porschesrule
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 9368
Joined: Fri Jun 12, 2009 2:02 am
Location: Rhode Island, USA

Re: March 2011 Reviews - Toronto

Post by porschesrule »

Another great review of Opening Night, from Theatromania.com

http://www.theatromania.ca/2011/03/bill ... sical.html
User avatar
ERinVA
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 17964
Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2009 1:33 am
Location: Williamsburg, Virginia, USA

Re: March 2011 Reviews - Toronto

Post by ERinVA »

shimmyshimmy wrote:
ERinVA wrote:I agree that the reviewer misses the point. I find it interesting that a bona fide theatre critic could be so literal minded. I think, to be honest, that he just wanted to distinguish himself from the pack.
Well, as I said on the other thread, no one reads the National Post. Perhaps he thinks that being provocative will gain readers.
I find it interesting that there is no way to post a comment on Cushman's review. Could it be that he doesn't want to be put in the position of having to actually defend what he says? Hmmm...... Wonder why! 8-)
Ellen



"I don't want people who want to dance; I want people who have to dance.”
-George Balanchine 1904 -1983


To follow the forum's Twitter at http://twitter.com/BEForum, click on the direct link in Applies to All Forums above.
User avatar
porschesrule
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 9368
Joined: Fri Jun 12, 2009 2:02 am
Location: Rhode Island, USA

Re: March 2011 Reviews - Toronto

Post by porschesrule »

The Hamilton Spectator offers this review of the show:

http://www.thespec.com/whatson/article/ ... as-it-gets
User avatar
porschesrule
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 9368
Joined: Fri Jun 12, 2009 2:02 am
Location: Rhode Island, USA

Re: March 2011 Reviews - Toronto

Post by porschesrule »

This review is done by the website "Mooney on Theatre":


http://www.mooneyontheatre.com/2011/03/ ... oductions/
cincinnati
Tall Boy
Posts: 190
Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2009 1:42 pm

Re: March 2011 Reviews - Toronto

Post by cincinnati »

This reviewer is an idiot........
Todd wrote:
porschesrule wrote:A decidedly mixed review by this critic from The National Post, who I think misses the point in a number of ways:

http://arts.nationalpost.com/2011/03/02 ... d-motions/
Yes, I think it's safe to say he doesn't get it. Anyone who calls "Solidarity" a "dumb number" clearly doesn't understand what the show's trying to convey there. He did indeed seem to be taking everything literally. He acted puzzled as to why the miners would be dancing and how they ended up joining in with the ballet girls' dance lesson.
alexandre
Small Boy
Posts: 35
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2009 4:06 am

Re: March 2011 Reviews - Toronto

Post by alexandre »

I have just spent a splendid five days in America Junior Canada after a torrid 31 hour journey from the other side of the planet. Such a novel experience to have your accent not understood in yet another supposedly English speaking country :? . But a fine country it is and what a splendid city Toronto has been.

Currently I’m in NYC and am trying to knock out this review quick, so apologies for its lack of structure, internal logic, proper grammar, erudition etc.
Now, here are some reasons why Canada is better than USA… :lol:
These are in no particular order, but number one IS number one.


1) Cesar Corrales and Dillon Stevens are performing.
I’m too shy to have a sig line that lists how many BE shows I’ve seen but suffice to say the number is around the speed limit of the Gardiner Expressway, while the number of different Billy’s I’ve witnessed is around the actual speed of the Expressway in peak hour :roll: .

The performance I saw last Wednesday evening from the front row centre was “The One”. Never in the four different countries I’ve seen BE has there been a show quite like it. There were minor imperfections (like a weak throw causing Mrs. W’s keys to not make it over the stage right scenery :!: ) but these only served to highlight the majesty elsewhere. Also unfortunate was that my travelling companion KiwiT and I were right in the line of the camera that projects the MD, thus many unusual expressions of awe were broadcast to the musicians and back up singers. Indeed one of the singers made mention of this after the show! But it certainly was one that warranted those contortions of content.

Dillon is like ball lightning on stage; tiny, electric and shining with the wattage of the sun. What an absolute riot! It surely cannot be long before he gets signed up to the lead in some wacky sitcom like Layton Williams and Frank Dolce.

I had seen Cesar’s very first three shows last year in Chicago and wrote at the time that a new star of the Billy-verse had arrived. The promise that he showed then has all been fulfilled.
The dancing, oh my god, the dancing. His movements resonate with the beating of angel’s wings :oops: . As an aspiring balletomane :ugeek: , seeing such superior skill in one so young takes your breath away. The turns with arms in second, impeccable tours en l’air, the grand jumps, the wonderful lines; it all has to be seen to be believed. It’s a rare combination to pair exceptional dancing with terrific acting yet this is what we have here. The darting eyes while on the floor in Solidarity, the perfect timing and facial expressions, the wild wobbling before adopting an attitude stance; just some of the great moments. And the singing is spine tingling, marvellous control over a changing voice.
I’m told Cesar is entering the twilight of his BE career with only 11 more shows left. Just as the setting sun produces a stunningly coloured sky, so shall the final few Cesar performances produce many awesome moments.
My friends, wherever you are in the world, you must make it over to Toronto to see this combination. Truly this is the show they do in heaven :D


Ack, time has bested me as I’m running late for a matinee on Broadway. More impertinent thoughts to follow! :mrgreen:
User avatar
CJ-Rochester
Site Moderator
Site Moderator
Posts: 4671
Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 4:35 am
Location: Rochester, NY

Re: March 2011 Reviews - Toronto

Post by CJ-Rochester »

Thank you for posting this great review alexandre! It does not seem hasty at all.
alexandre wrote: Just as the setting sun produces a stunningly coloured sky, so shall the final few Cesar performances produce many awesome moments. ... Truly this is the show they do in heaven :D
This was beautiful, and so poetic! :D
:/
Post Reply

Return to “Reviews - Toronto”