Bloggers' Reactions to the show

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ERinVA
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Re: Bloggers' Reactions to the show

Post by ERinVA »

Sure it is! The blogger, who is American, doesn't understand panto, and neither do most other Americans. If the American audience was familiar with panto, then George's routine in the American versions of the show would probably be quite different.
Normally held around Christmas, pantomimes, though performed in other countries, are distinctively British in their use of buffoonery and slapstick comedy. The productions are usually based on children’s stories as far as I can tell and staged for family audiences with maximum audience participation.

Hence, the producers of Billy Elliot dropping one in to explain the use of foul language throughout the show not only by the adults but also by the children. In addition, the pantomime is brilliant at setting the miners up as goodies and the government of the day, led by Margaret Thatcher, as baddies.

Clever indeed, but had it not been for my English connection, the pantomime would have gone straight over my head. If you ask me, it would have been less risky to explain use of the language on the website and programme and present evil versus good in a more straight forward way.
I do take serious issue with her contention that the panto element was included only to justify the use of foul language. That's just ridiculous!
Ellen



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-George Balanchine 1904 -1983


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Yorkie
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Re: Bloggers' Reactions to the show

Post by Yorkie »

ERinVA wrote:Sure it is! The blogger, who is American, doesn't understand panto, and neither do most other Americans. If the American audience was familiar with panto, then George's routine in the American versions of the show would probably be quite different.
:lol: It was a pantomime joke, Ellen :D

http://ethelsmith.hubpages.com/hub/Pant ... -yes-it-is

One of the actors on stage will say at some point in the show "Oh no it isn't" and the audience will shout back in unison "Oh yes it is". Maybe you have to be British ;)
MRS WILKINSON IS A RIGHT COW!
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ERinVA
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Re: Bloggers' Reactions to the show

Post by ERinVA »

"Oh no we're not!" I get it now. :D
Ellen



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


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porschesrule
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Re: Bloggers' Reactions to the show

Post by porschesrule »

This blogger saw the London show and loved it:

http://rurusdiary.tumblr.com/post/11712861426
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angelenroute
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Re: Bloggers' Reactions to the show

Post by angelenroute »

porschesrule wrote:This blogger saw the London show and loved it:

http://rurusdiary.tumblr.com/post/11712861426
I found it very intriguing to read the lines, "I know that Billy Elliot is such a cliche production to watch, I kinda had some pre-thoughts on what it would be like - a couple songs and a few kids and a boy prancing around the stage in tights".

1) As a New Yorker, it makes me wish people said that about the Broadway version. Phantom gets called a "cliche production", but who cares because Phantom's lines are down the block every performance. Although one wonders if maybe Billy could have kept the doors open a bit longer if they kept the doors shut a bit longer, so the line goes out the door every performance!

2) Why do people only expect "a boy prancing around the stage in tights"? The publicity of this show has been horrid. There are online ads galore, but people don't really GET it. How many publicity people must have dropped the ball?! How hard is it to sell this amazing story to New York??!! Ugh.

So happy though that the London show and this blogger have finally come together! I hope he/she becomes a member of our forum soon! =)

Sean

"Good writers define reality; bad ones merely restate it." -Edward Albee
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ERinVA
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Re: Bloggers' Reactions to the show

Post by ERinVA »

This very positive review of the Broadway show with Peter is by two writers for Splash Magazines.

http://www.lasplash.com/publish/Enterta ... tre-ny.php
Ellen



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


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porschesrule
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Re: Bloggers' Reactions to the show

Post by porschesrule »

This blogger recently saw the show in NY and makes some interesting comparisons to her experiences at a Maine Arts camp:

http://www.maineartscamp.com/blog/?p=476
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porschesrule
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Re: Bloggers' Reactions to the show

Post by porschesrule »

This blogger saw the Broadway production of BETM and loved it, though he didn't get into a detailed review:

http://www.samhermes.com/
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dongringo
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Re: Bloggers' Reactions to the show

Post by dongringo »

porschesrule wrote:This blogger saw the Broadway production of BETM and loved it, though he didn't get into a detailed review:

http://www.samhermes.com/
His enthusiasm for the show is just as good as a detailed review. He would make an excellent forum member.
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ERinVA
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Re: Bloggers' Reactions to the show

Post by ERinVA »

Here's an interesting blog about a visit to the London show with Ryan on as Billy:

http://londontheatrecalifornia.blogspot ... al_14.html
Ellen



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


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