I've just came back from Rome and I was amazed again how brilliant the Italian show was.
I quite liked the two Billys, Simone and Alessandro back in May, when I first saw the Italian show, and I knew back then that I would go back and watch it again. Unfortunately Simone left the production, which is a huge loss for the audience. Simone was a great Billy, I really wanted to see him again (I knew by the time I booked this trip that he wouldn't perform)
His leaving is not only a loss to us, the audience, but it puts a huge pressure on Alessandro, who has to perform every night, on Saturdays two times 3 hours with with no rest.
Boo to the Italian production's management.
That's said, even the must be tired Alessandro gave us perfect performances on both shows (I watched the matinee and the evening shows on Saturday). And he did not really rest between the shows, because he and Christian (Michael) came to the theater's foyer to meet with their friends and fans, giving autographs and taking photos.
There was a new cast member, Arcangelo he played the Tall Boy on both shows, but he's also playing
Billy Michael (In May Alessandro and Simone played the tall boy)
There was no there was no Mr. Braithwaite this time. Maurizio Semeraro had an accident (if I understood correctly he had broken/hurt his leg) and his understudy was an actress, so we saw a
Miss Braithwaite instead.
Michael was played by Christian Roberto, and he was superb. His performance was extra funny, he's one of the best Michaels I've ever seen.
My favourite part of the Italian version was the dream ballet scene. It was more dream like, than the London version
Although there was no flying, it was not missing from it.
The scene began by all the walls turning and the other sides were mirrors. Billy was looking himself in the mirror when suddenly his older self appeared on the other side. He ran away and when he went back his mother appeared on the other side of the mirror. then the mirror walls were lifted and Older Billy came to the stage and began to dance with Billy. Again: no flying, but a very good choreography. At the end older billy finished in the back and took a bow to the imaginary audience (well, a theater was projected there)
My only concern about this scene was that Billy's dad came too late to the stage, by the time he was on stage, Billy had finished dancing, so he could have not seen it. But otherwise it was a brilliant interpretation.
The show has finished in Rome, but you can still catch the tour
http://www.ticketone.it/biglietti.html? ... p=1&xtcr=1