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Lee Hall Discussing BETM with Elaine Page on BBC Radio 2

Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 12:00 pm
by ERinVA
This should be on right about now:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0375bzt

Re: Lee Hall Discussing BETM with Elaine Page on BBC Radio 2

Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 12:22 pm
by kport
ERinVA wrote:This should be on right about now:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0375bzt
It is; it can be found here for those outside the UK:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006wqwz

Re: Lee Hall Discussing BETM with Elaine Page on BBC Radio 2

Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2013 12:26 pm
by ERinVA
Thanks for the extra link, kport. But there is actually no problem listening to the player on the link I gave. BBC Radio 2 doesn't seem disturbed that folks outside the UK can hear their programming, unlike BBC television, which wants to make sure that everyone has paid for their services before watching.

Re: Lee Hall Discussing BETM with Elaine Page on BBC Radio 2

Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 2:18 am
by accessmenj
Very interesting. Thanks for finding this ERinVA.

Lee Hall reveals that the songs were written by him before he wrote the book adapting the film to be a musical. He further stated the songs told the story, instead of being add-on music that had to be fit in, as in other musicals.

This explains why the songs are so perfect for the story. It also explains why so many critics "missed it" and were disappointed when they expected the songs to be spectacular and overwhelm the plots. Elton and Lee wrote the songs to enhance the story of Billy and the miners, not to steal the scene. This is why Billy Elliot The Musical is the best.