June 2010 Reviews - NYC

[porschesrule]

Thank you Sean for the review. Haven't seen an Alex review for a while, so it was very nice to hear your perceptions of his performance. Interesting about the wraps. From everything I've read, they are purely supportive and precautionary at this point, but I too have heard and read that he is completely back to performing his complete dance routines as before his injury (as you've noted the famed piano flip being the exception). In a recent New York Times article about the new Billys in North America, there was a photo of Alex in acro practice -- mid air -- which should leave no doubt that he's back to full steam ahead.

[Todd]

I never have seen a Billy perform in the knee wraps. Are they basically ace bandages wrapped around his legs at knee level to give support ?

[angelenroute]

1.Right before the show starts, Luke was behind the curtain at the far left side of the theatre and I saw him(my seat was far left of orch) so I waved at him and he waved back at me smiling.Can he be more adorable? So sad I heard that it was his last show .

He really was great I agree, and adorable =) ...although I heard his last show was Sunday (makes sense since I saw him Saturday too)

3.I'm not sure if I remember this correctly but was there dry ice fog working during Dream Ballet scene? I don't think it wasn't so Billy and older Billy danced without smokes.

yeah it was there...I've never seen it not on

4. When Billy kissed Michael on the cheek at the last scene, the audience did major 'awwwww' and then clapped.Clapping was unusual reaction at that scene for me so it was interesting.

Didn't hear that but I was up in front mezz that night, thanks for letting us know =)

5. During 'Solidarity', when Billy gives Mrs.Wilkinson 50p, now Billys say 'rip-off' and I think that is new to me.

Not sure how new it is, although it was new for me too =) Speaking of new/new to me, I'll have to remember to make a few notes about changes I saw in my next couple of reviews (will try and post another today).

--Sean

[Musical Fanatic]

.


3.I'm not sure if I remember this correctly but was there dry ice fog working during Dream Ballet scene? I don't think it wasn't so Billy and older Billy danced without smokes.

yeah it was there...I've never seen it not on

Sean it failed just before the wire scene. Its happened a couple of times now that I have seen.


5. During 'Solidarity', when Billy gives Mrs.Wilkinson 50p, now Billys say 'rip-off' and I think that is new to me.

Not sure how new it is, although it was new for me too =) Speaking of new/new to me, I'll have to remember to make a few notes about changes I saw in my next couple of reviews (will try and post another today).

Alex, Jacob and I think Dayton are all using this line
--Sean

Sam

[angelenroute]

Sean it failed just before the wire scene. Its happened a couple of times now that I have seen.
Sam

Oh okay, so it was working earlier and then stopped, I didn't notice that.

[angelenroute]

Part 2 of 4…

Friday, June 25th, 2010, Frabjous Day

It is appropriate that this day fell exactly 6 months away from Christmas, because we all received many wonderful gifts that day…

As dawn broke across the towering skyline of New York City, and Billy travelers slowly woke from their slumber, a full moon was an Earth spin away and all of God’s creatures paused for a split second of reflection. The day of days had finally arrived. Somewhere in Nepal, a monk gazed out at the hillside and said a prayer. In the Serengeti, a zebra looked up from his dinner and felt something electric in the air. And in New York City, anticipation was growing, growing, growing with each passing second. Zap! A bolt of lightning in the heavens pierced the haze and though unseen by most, it signaled the beginning of something very special.

They came from exotic faraway places like Australia, California, Toronto, Maryland, Tennessee, Minnesota and Long Island. Travelers from all over with different itineraries and time frames, but all with the same six hours conspicuously marked off on their calendars. They had an experience waiting for them at the end of this day’s rainbow, and with each passing hour, they walked slowly toward its awesomeness.

A co-mingling of kindred spirits began at fifteen minutes before noon for lunch in Hell’s Kitchen. The group leader who had planned the day arrived last, but just seeing her and viewing the itinerary for later in the day made everything more real. This was actually happening. Epic events were just hours away and a group meal meant that the awesomeness was already in full swing. But this was a solid lunch with a scheduled liquid lunch still planned before the day’s first of two incredible events. The group needed to feed before it could pine to shine.

Once the liquid lunch had arrived, the group knew they were now part of the vortex surrounding them. There was no escape, not that they wanted one. Consumed in the moment and the momentousness, they were suddenly lifted as one body and released into the lobby of the building where Ripley-Grier Studios lived and breathed. Like children waiting for someone to drive them to their favorite park, they laughed nervously and paced excitedly while something burst within them, like a fire deep inside.

And in a rush of energy, a wind of wow, Trent Kowalik was at once standing before them with a smile. He was probably enjoying his day up until that moment, not aware that he would walk into the lobby and be greeted by the herd so soon. A nervous “hi” with a big smile and a moment later he was 30 feet away, safely at a distance calling for help and possibly backup on his cell phone. The herd giggled and paced some more, before an angel appeared before them and said unto them that she was there to guide them upwards. She spotted Trent and safely escorted him forward. His friend David Alvarez arrived at that same moment and the angel brought him with her too. It wasn’t until they reached the 10th floor that the herd learned the angel had a name and it was Becca. Not a real angel at all, although all the beauty and personality an angel must have, she was none other than Thommie Retter’s gorgeous wife, sent from on high to bring us to the studio above.

The group was now in place and the stars had all arrived. Without realizing it, quietly while the herd wasn’t looking, their only escape route, the door that they entered through, had now been blocked by a large table. There was no way out. They were trapped. Heat. Heat filled the air and the lone air conditioner wasn’t cooling the room fast enough. It never would. Ceiling fans sat motionless above them, as if mocking them from above. “We could work,” they’d say if they could speak, “but we won’t work. No, we will not spin for you today.”

Thommie Retter was the leader of the class and knowing full well what he would soon put the group through, he smiled and laughed, making them trust him completely. Fools! They had no idea what they were in for. First though, something simple and friendly to throw the group off, make them think this would be easy. Let’s learn a song! Ha! If only that’s all it was. Songs, it turns out, are accompanied by dance in live theatre, and the dance is choreographed so well that every inch of your body needs to be moving in rhythm with both the music and your fellow dancers. The group didn’t see it coming.

Trent Kowalik was asked to start it off and teach not just the words, which most knew anyway, but also the correct accent that they should be spoken with. To his credit, he was trying valiantly, but the pressure of the moment slowed him down and before he had the chance to continue, Tessa Netting flew in to save him. God, love him. He must have known that many of those in attendance, including this reviewer, adore him like no other. But maybe…and it’s just speculation of course…but maybe amidst the glowing praise he’d heard from so many, he also remembered the power this group wielded. Maybe he knew that even though these were incredible supporters of the show standing before him, they were also the ones to point out that his shoelaces were not tied perfectly in one of his performances as Billy Elliot. What if they had noticed, for instance, the night his shirt collar was askew. Had they written about it? Would they write a review about his performance as a teacher in this very class too?

But Trentie had nothing to worry about (not that he really did worry of course). He was, as always, amazing. Tessa added lots of hilarity too, and David Alvarez, flipping genius that he is, was the one to really teach the group the correct way to speak in a Geordie accent. Yes, the young man who had learned English as a third language taught us [cue narrative transition] how to speak it correctly. Just amazing. Thommie meanwhile watched with pride and a smile from the sidelines, letting these three young performers delight us completely. We had better than front row seats. We were on stage with gods incarnate, teaching us and talking to us as if we were peers joining the show.

Thommie’s dance lessons began next, and as previously hinted, they were not easy. Some did better than others, and some, like this reviewer, failed more than others. When everyone’s kicking left and you’re kicking right, you can’t help but feel you’re making a total buffoon of yourself. I should have had more liquid lunch.

After learning a bunch of the steps, the class, divided into two room-length lines, was told it was time to switch it up. Front line go to the back, back line come to the front. If Thommie noticed me in the minutes that followed, I’m sure he would have thought, “God help us. Why do I even bother?”

In the hour or so that followed, the motionless ceiling fans mocked us more, the table that blocked the exit grew larger, and Thommie taught us more than my brain could process, even though my ears tried really hard to listen. Finally, half the class, of which I was not part of, were told to sit down and be really, REALLY supportive of the rest of us who were now going to perform this dance for them. I literally pleaded for mercy with hands folded toward them. What would they all think when they saw how horrible I was? Why was he not even trying? How is it possible that he is that bad at dancing? Somehow though, I managed 30% of the dance, enough to look horrible but at least show I was trying. When it was our turn to sit down, I told myself no matter how similarly bad the other half of the class was, I would give them a standing ovation no matter what. They applauded for me even though they were probably crying blood at the sight, so I would return the favor. To my amazement, they were great! In fact much of the class did really, really well, and I’m sure subsequent video coverage will prove that. Just don’t look at me. Or if you do, have an ocular transfusion prepared for yourself.

We were given a quick 5-minute break at that point and then the real reward came our way. 4 of the brightest stars to ever light up Broadway each performed for us. As other reviews and YouTube will have already told you, it was incredibly special being just inches from brilliance. I cannot even put into words how amazing it was sitting there watching these wonderful people perform such fantastic shows of their talent just for us! It was beyond thrilling, beyond exciting, beyond words. We were so, so lucky to have experienced those minutes of our lives.

At the end of the workshop, we each received a “Certificate Of Achievement” for having “successfully completed the Billy Elliot Intensive [you can say that again!] Workshop For Adult Fans!” Diploma style, we each went up as Thommie called our names and either David on the left or Trent on the right gave us our diploma with a smile and a handshake. It was one of the happiest moments of my life. After that, we had a group photo taken and many of us had our photo taken individually with the stars.

To say that I am grateful to Thommie Retter, Trent Kowalik, Tessa Netting and David Alvarez for this life experience would be putting it too quietly. It was huge, it was incredible, it was as awesome as awesome gets. Special thanks to hugsy2k for making this happen. You are one of the show’s greatest champions and cheerleaders, and we’re all so lucky to know you and call you our friend! This wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for you!

From the studios we headed over to the theatre for what would be a performance like none other.

To be continued…

[porschesrule]

Wow, Sean.

That has to be one of the best pieces of writing I've seen on this forum (and there are a lot of good writers here). Well written, great choices of words, very descriptive and funny as hell.

Thanks so much for taking the considerable time it must have taken to compose and post this.

What a great time the workshop was for those lucky folks able to participate in it.

[CJ-Rochester]

I completely echo porschesrule. This was amazing writing Sean. Wow!!!

When everyone’s kicking left and you’re kicking right, you can’t help but feel you’re making a total buffoon of yourself.

Sounds like you and I were doing exactly the same thing.
-Chris

[Musical Fanatic]

Sean that is an absolutely amazing review.

Sam

[gpcolo]

WOW! I felt like I too was right there in the midst of this magical afternoon. Thanks Sean for your enormously well written review. I can't wait for the rest!