March 2015 Reviews - London

[CJ-Rochester]

Thank you for that excellent review, jmh2014!

[Billy Whiz]

Thank you for that excellent review, jmh2014!

Thanks also to emcpow for their wonderful review.

[porschesrule]

Thank you emcpow & jmh2014 for your terrific reviews that all accounts describe as a wonderful final show for Elliott, Zach and the Westoe Ballet Girls. It surely was a fitting ending to the Billy careers of those talented young performers who have given so many hours of joy to so many people.

Best wishes to all of them as they continue on to their future pursuits.

[jtsw1]

Thank you for the reviews! You emphasized all the points I was wondering about and a few I hadn't even thought of yet. Thank you!

I wonder why they did no name-change in the final scene? Is that US-exclusive?

[CJ-Rochester]

Thank you for that excellent review, jmh2014!

Thanks also to emcpow for their wonderful review.

Yes thanks also to emcpow. Somehow I missed seeing that review earlier. So glad to hear Elliot and Zach had a great final show.

[Billyfan8905]

Thanks jmh2014 for the review, I just want to add couple of things that made me an impression yesterday.

Yes, Zach was brilliant...again. Don't you get bored of being that perfect every time, Zach? There's big future ahead for you lad, big future.

For the now countless times I've seen Elliott on stage I can't say it was his very very very best performance...but boy... it was probably the most touching one. Yes, second part was somehow 'unreal' as usual - with Elliott being even a bit better than the adult ballet dancer in "Dream Ballet", flawless Electricity with some additional flips and spins (I noticed he does that lately) and so on.. but the first part was a bit different.

Now, I've seen more than one Billy sharing a tear or two for real during "The letter", but Elliott was not one of them. Never noticed, or decided to ignore, the pause after “Well you’re coming back, aren’t you?” but this just supports what was yet to come. 80, maybe even 90% of the audience was of people who had watched the show hundreds of time, people who know every line and all the lyrics by heart (so nothing to be surprised of)...but Elliott getting upset was NEW. And it was obvious it wasn't just an act - he was really feeling it...and if the crowd usually gets emotional for just couple of minutes, yesterday, people were sobbing and sniffing pretty much until the end of B2B. This wasn't everything though. Of course he is going to miss the show, but I was expecting for him to cheer up a bit with "No, she just me mom" or with the boogie dance. But you could have sliced the sadness in the air all the way until Chris (Tony) dragged Elliott up on the table. The barely moaned 'No' that followed was probably the most heartbreaking moment and simply sent everyone in tears again - second time in 5 minutes - never seen that before, seriously - never.

What followed was the most powerful angry dance I've seen so far (and believe me I've seen many). It was like all this pain escalated to a new type of emotion. I don't know if it was actual anger, sadness, disappointment or whatever, but all the moves (even the screams) were coming from deep within him. I've seen 6 Billys (most of the multiple times) and all of them were fantastic. For the first time though I felt I was not watching BETM but 'Elliott Hanna The Musical"....and I am sure I was not the only one who felt it. The ELECTRICITY was definitely there. After it, I was not sure if I should clap and shout or hug the stranger next to me instead for simply sharing that moment with me...

Another thing I will not forget was all the ballet girls crying at the stage door after the show. Most people may think of BETM as just a show and all these kids as actors who are performing 'jobs', but in fact this is where they have fun and meet friends.

Great job kids, you will be missed. Cheer up and best of luck in future. I know we will see you shine at some point somewhere else, I just hope this would be soon.

Reverence to all of you,

[Billy Whiz]

I wonder why they did no name-change in the final scene? Is that US-exclusive?

They used to do that at the VP but it has not been done for a couple of years now - sadly

[Billy Whiz]

Here are a few photos from last night.

[ogio]

I also made it along last night and felt privileged to have seen Elliott and Zach's farewell. There was a real buzz in the theatre. I agree about the letter scene, very emotional. Ruthie's "p**s off before I start to cry" was a bit late as she was already off!

It's hard to believe that Elliott is just 11, and leaving at the age most Billy's just begin. A real talent.

On a side note, I was surrounded by ballet girls' families (the grandparents who interjected during David Massey's speech) and was 5 seats from Redmand Rance!

[jmh2014]

What followed was the most powerful angry dance I've seen so far (and believe me I've seen many). It was like all this pain escalated to a new type of emotion. I don't know if it was actual anger, sadness, disappointment or whatever, but all the moves (even the screams) were coming from deep within him. I've seen 6 Billys (most of the multiple times) and all of them were fantastic. For the first time though I felt I was not watching BETM but 'Elliott Hanna The Musical"....and I am sure I was not the only one who felt it. The ELECTRICITY was definitely there. After it, I was not sure if I should clap and shout or hug the stranger next to me instead for simply sharing that moment with me...

From his reaction at the end you could tell he knew he had just performed something very special.