First, I really want to thank Todd, Musical Fanatic, angelenroute, and Moby-Dick for their beautiful reviews of Trent’s last show. I think I cried more while reading your reviews and reliving the memories than I did at the actual performance. I couldn’t possibly add anything more to what has already been said about that show, but I was also lucky enough to catch his second to last performance as well and feel like sharing a few thoughts.
I went back and forth for quite a while about whether or not I should fork out the money to attend Trent’s final show. One reason for the lengthy decision-making process was trying to decide between the more cost effective ‘fly in Sun., see the show, fly out’ plan and the more fun ‘fly in Fri., see EXTRA shows, fly out’ plan. In the end, I finally decided I could not miss the opportunity to see Trent’s final TWO performances as Billy, so on Thursday night (yes, I actually waited that long) I purchased a couple of tickets from what was left at that point. And on Friday afternoon, I hopped on a plane bound for NY and by 8:00 that night, I found myself sitting in the Imperial Theatre about to witness my fourth Billy Elliot show! I’m able to go down to the wire like that because by an incredible stroke of luck my wonderful, kind, caring, beautiful, intelligent, amazing college roomie is from Long Island and lets me crash with her when I am up there. (I don’t know why I’m bothering to suck up, she’ll never read this
) On to the show.
Friday March 5 2010
Billy: Trent Kowalik
Michael: Jake Evan Schwencke
I had the great pleasure of being seated next to a lovely couple who was seeing the show for the first time. Unfortunately, the little slip of paper you find upon opening your Playbill listing who’s playing Billy, etc. elicited from them the same reaction many people have who are unfamiliar with the show: Oh no, an understudy! I explained that in fact they were about to witness the second to last performance of a Tony award winner. They perked up considerably.
I’m not going to go through every song, just a few highlights. First up: Shine. This song has become one of my favorites. The ballet girls all do such a wonderful job, it’s impossible not to smile during this number. Being seated in the orchestra for the first time (although partial view), I was actually able to see faces and it was during this song that I noticed Sam was on for Tessa. Tessa’s pretty irreplaceable but Sam certainly was a great spastic starfish! This was my first time seeing Kate Hennig as Mrs. Wilkinson and I just looooved her! I absolutely loved Haydn as well and therefore was quite surprised at how quickly I warmed up to Kate’s performance.
This was also my first time seeing Jake Evan Schwencke as Michael and oh my goodness. He was fan-flippin-tastic!!! This child was absolutely hysterical, without being ridiculously over the top somehow. Watching him perform Expressing Yourself with Trent brought back memories of watching David B. and Trent at my first show. It seems like this show has gone through quite a few Michaels since opening only a year and a half ago, but I hope this one is around for a loooong time. I wasn’t the only one impressed. At intermission, I asked the couple next to me if they were enjoying the show. Of course they were, and immediately began gushing about how great everybody in the show was: Billy, the ballet girls, but especially “that Michael!”
This was also my first time seeing Phil Whitchurch as Dad (I know, I sound like a broken record). I was really upset at first that Greg Jbara would not be there for Trent’s final performance, but if it had to be somebody else, I’m glad it was Phil. Great voice, very funny, I was very impressed by his performance and he had me won over in no time!
Electricity. Phenomenal. I can’t believe how well Trent has dealt with his voice changing. Others have said, and I agree, that his voice has actually gotten better as it has deepened. I actually found myself closing my eyes and just listening as he sang. I really hope he sticks with his vocal training because he’s got a great foundation on which to build and that could be his ticket to a great career on Broadway, if that’s what he wants. And of course his dancing was absolutely breathtaking as well. During the lengthy and well-deserved ovation he received, the woman next to me leaned over said “I can’t imagine anyone being better than that.” Indeed. And that’s when the waterworks started. I think that’s when it hit me what a huge loss the show was going to suffer when he retired. I don’t mean to belittle the other Billy’s for they are all
enormously talented, but I can’t imagine anyone personifying Billy Elliot they way Trent Kowalik did and he will be missed tremendously. Much to my surprise, I didn’t cry too much during Sunday night’s farewell show, and I think it must be because there was nothing left after all the tears I shed at this moment.
It was a fantastic show, I’m so glad I was able to attend. Earlier in the evening, I had told the couple next to me that this was my fourth time seeing the show and they were astounded that anyone would see it that many times. When the show came to an end, sadly, and everybody was shuffling to the exits, the last thing the woman said to me was “I could see that a few more times!”
I really do feel like it was an honor and a privilege to have witnessed Trent’s final two performances as Billy Elliot, the role he was born to play. I say “witness” because it really did feel like I was witnessing an historic event or something. Trent, the impression you have left on your coworkers, BETM, and everybody lucky enough to see you perform will be felt for a long time to come. Congratulations on every success you have already achieved and best wishes for your future. Knock ‘em dead, Trent!
