In North America, the audience is struggling with the story. What strike? Where is this? What are they saying (in a strange accent)?accessmenj wrote:I hated the "dead" audience at many Billy Elliot shows. This is especially evident in the First Act. Sometimes it seemed that the crowd didn't wake up until Expressing Yourself. Maybe some kids and young adults in the audience would have helped. I find it infectious to hear children giggling and laughing, and that may have gotten all the grandparent-types going.
At least in London they have the opening black and white 'movie' projected at the start. It may not answer all those questions, but it sets a rather dark and, may I say, dangerous mood. In the US production, a little boy dances to a boom box that really doesn't tell us much. An entirely different 'feel' is created. And, most likely, most of the audience do not see the historical posters until the Intermission. I have always noted a clutch of audience members desperately reading those posters at the Interval. I think they are trying to understand the story.
