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San Diego Reviews

Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2017 11:15 pm
by andrewcraig
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/ent ... story.html

Very good write up The reviewer had seen the original London version and the professional tour that visited in 2103,but thought this show much closer to the original London show.

I have an extra ticket for Friday, Sept. 29th!!!!!

Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2017 5:03 am
by tzwicky
I'm so glad we got a review of this BETM so quickly. I feel much better going down to San Diego to see a couple shows this weeks end with such a good review. Hooray!

So, as indicated by the title, I have an extra ticket to the Friday, Sept. 29th, 8 PM performance of BETM at the Spreckels Theatre in San Diego.

It'll be either B-112 (left end of center section on the aisle) or B-2 (right side on the aisle). I have B-112 on Thursday which I am using myself and if I love that seat, I'll sit there again on Friday night.

But both seats are aisle, second row.

It's a $65 seat but it's free for a Forum member.

I'll hand it over to the first person who messages me on the Forum. Please only take the ticket it you are using it for sure.

I'll hand it over around 7:30 at the box office on Friday.

I'll check my mail constantly till the deal is concluded at which time I'll post that it has been promised.

It's always interesting to meet a Fellow Billymaniac.

tzwicky

Ticket has been given away.

Re: Billy Elliot' soars at the Spreckels

Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2017 10:47 pm
by andrewcraig
REVIEW: ‘Billy Elliot the Musical’ is inspiring, has terrific cast

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/pom ... story.html

Re: San Diego Reviews

Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2017 4:50 am
by andrewcraig

San Diego Musical Theatre's BETM is really, really good!!!

Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2017 7:24 am
by tzwicky
It's been quite a while since I tried this, but the production of BETM on stage at San Diego's Spreckles Theatre really, really warrants special effort on my part.

It has been a long time since I've seen such a strong production of BETM at a regional venue. I'd started to think the magic I experienced several hundred times at London's Victoria Palace Theatre might never again happen for me. How wrong I was. I am thanking the Billy Ghods!!!

From simple things like the sound design to the expansive Billy Elliot Orchestra hidden away under or off the stage (chock full of interesting and delightful riffs I know were added for this show alone) and a wide and deep stage full of thespians of all ages, again, the overpowering thing I brought away from the show was power and voice and inventive staging all adding up to majestic hours in the audience. I am soooo glad I'm going back on Friday night to see it again.

Among standouts in this cast are Charlie Garton playing Billy, Joy Yandell playing Mrs. Wilkinson, the superhuman (more about that later) Zachary Gunthier playing Adult Billy, Tom Brault playing the softest George ever (as opposed to the Bully George I've seen hundreds of times), Mackernan Jarman playing Michael and Aaron Schueler as Posh Boy.

Charlie Garton's Billy is consistently fun to watch and displays moments of brilliance as he dances around the stage. I'd long ago grown despondent thinking I'd never see a Billy use the entire stage, side to side, back to front. The strongest scene for this Billy has got to be Dream Ballet -- even without any high wire bits. Instead, Charlie and Zachary Gunthier do the whole number on the ground and it's just insanely, breathtakingly beautiful. In fact, Zachary stands in for the wire in this production. About half the time he and Billy are flawlessly mirroring their moves and in the other half Zachary is holding Charlie over his head, at his side, tossing him to and fro in a manner that's sure to cause backaches even in the audience. Mr. Guntheir has upper body strength in spades and I was just floored by this inventively choreographed number. Very smooth.

Joy Yandell belts out all the best lines as Mrs. Wilkinson. She's my fave Mrs. W this year. Solid pipes. Her jump-rope tried to kill her tonight but she persisted and made it work.

Mac Jarman was loads of fun as Michael. The kid is a veritable clone of Johnny Whittaker in looks but has all the hallmarks of the best Michaels I've seen.

Aaron Schueler played Kevin (blink and you'll miss him) but shone on stage as Posh Boy in full ballet togs doing exercises with Billy in an expanded audition scene. Aaron is listed as a Billy understudy and though it would be tacky to wish to see him in this way taking on the full Billy Elliot role, if he and his parents can find him a BETM anywhere in the US, they owe it to him (and us) to go for it.

This production of BETM has slaked my thirst for a magnificently staged, brilliantly choreographed version of the show.

The little things were managed flawlessly. The Geordie dialect was heard in every role. Charlie Garton spoke like it came naturally to him.

The various sets were quite stunning. The pieces moved in and out easily with nary a squeaky wheel interrupting the sound design. The dancing dresses must have been 8 or more feet tall. Scary tall.

Maybe I'm going mellow with BETM. This production was stellar from start to finish. I just can't find anything to carp about so I won't. Plus this hotel charges for the internet and I think I'm about to tick past $30.

tzwicky

Re: San Diego Musical Theatre's BETM is really, really good!!!

Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2017 9:01 am
by porschesrule
Great review tzwicky! Sounds like San Diego has a winning production of BETM.

One comment...

You mention "Aaron is listed as a Billy understudy and though it would be tacky to wish to see him in this way taking on the full Billy Elliot role, if he and his parents can find him a BETM anywhere in the US, they owe it to him (and us) to go for it."

Aaron has already had the opportunity to dance in his dream role. He is a former regional Billy in the CYC (San Diego) production of BETM last summer, where he alternated in the title role with Luke Garbacz.

You can find more about him at https://betm.theskykid.com/meet-billy-e ... -schueler/

I shoulda checked with the Oracle of all things BETM

Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2017 10:05 am
by tzwicky
I am the eternal student.
Shut my mouth.
Now I am sad because I missed Aaron's Billy.

tzwicky

Re: San Diego Reviews

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2017 1:45 am
by andrewcraig

Re: San Diego Reviews

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2017 6:45 am
by andrewcraig

Re: San Diego Reviews

Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 11:28 pm
by kport
Despite Monty Python's best efforts, Billy Elliot exists

The comedy troupe torched the idea 30 years earlier
https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/201 ... ly-elliot/#