Re: Chat about Billy Elliot Denmark
Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2015 10:27 pm
I wrote a bit of a review of my first 2 shows here this morning. I just came back from show 3, but I'll add something about shows 3 and 4 later:
I'm writing today after the first 2 shows in Copenhagen. We still have shows tonight and tomorrow. Overall, I think this show is fantastic and I'd highly recommend it. I don't think anyone will have time to accept my recommendation and see it as the show's over in a week. I've seen the show a lot as have my travelling companions from the UK and Netherlands. who have seen it more than I have. None of us speaks a word of Danish. Rumour has it that the words and music were in Danish, but for Billy people, well as Michael would say, no one will notice.
There are 3 Billys and 4 Michaels. . Fookin' weird, if you ask me (I.m told one of the Michaels isn't really in the show).
The show is, in a word, different. The staging is largely simplified, the sets are quite elaborate, and the choreography is 100% new in every scene. Some things are missing: No newsreel, no shadow dance, no bar scene in Grandma's song, no dresses in Express, no piano jump in Born to Boogie, no Maggie Thatcher puppets etc. I really only have one criticism of the show and that's not much as there were so many pluses. I thought they lost much of the magic as Billy starts learning to be a real ballet dancer in Solidarity. Maybe it was there for the taking if they had a real ballet star as Billy. I don't think they have anything like a National Ballet School in Toronto to draw on and they can't pull out someone "fully formed" like a Myles or Marcus. Do not get me wrong. Both Billys were fantastic. Childrens' casting directors are brilliant. If one aspect of one's talents are a little less developed than others, they make up for it. Nicholas (the 11 year old) is still perfecting his ballet skills, but his singing is, to say the least, stunning. I think they're all chiorboys, as Carl (the 13 year old), sang just as well. Nicolas could turn a smiling face into a river of tears in a second. It was quite something.
Just going through some of the scenes. Grandma's Song, again simplified, but there were real nice touches focussing on her relationship with Billy. They danced together and hugged and it was really sweet.. Express really brought out the cameraderie betwwen Billy and Michael in a way I don't think I've ever seen in other productions. Born To Boogie worked really well. Billy got tossed all over by Mr. Braithwaite and he was having a great time. I think I forgot to mention. that Mrs. Wilkinson was the best dancer of any I've ever seen. Jackie Elliot was the best singer. Angry Dance was something else. Yeah, it hurt a bit not to have a total focus in Billy doing his best most intricate stuff. He left the stage for some time as miners had a major battle with police. Billy did dance on an oildrum and garbage can as well as on top of a police car which was ulimately turned over and set on fire. You can really feel the heat from the front row.
Second half, briefly: Dream Ballet worked great. Tradional staging aided by a terrific older Billy. They cut some time out of the audition sequence. Electricity sounds so beautiful in Danish by 2 wonderful singers. Really innovative dancing, particularly the second night with some moves I'd never seen before. I remember when the Tour was being tweaked and people were afraid they'd drop the finale. Well, I was afraid they'd do that here. But not only was it not dropped, it was way way better than New York, London or Toronto. Smallboy started it and ended up tap dancing up a storm. They didn't wear tutus, just union jack shirts. Michael wore well... a union jack dress.
I'm writing today after the first 2 shows in Copenhagen. We still have shows tonight and tomorrow. Overall, I think this show is fantastic and I'd highly recommend it. I don't think anyone will have time to accept my recommendation and see it as the show's over in a week. I've seen the show a lot as have my travelling companions from the UK and Netherlands. who have seen it more than I have. None of us speaks a word of Danish. Rumour has it that the words and music were in Danish, but for Billy people, well as Michael would say, no one will notice.
There are 3 Billys and 4 Michaels. . Fookin' weird, if you ask me (I.m told one of the Michaels isn't really in the show).
The show is, in a word, different. The staging is largely simplified, the sets are quite elaborate, and the choreography is 100% new in every scene. Some things are missing: No newsreel, no shadow dance, no bar scene in Grandma's song, no dresses in Express, no piano jump in Born to Boogie, no Maggie Thatcher puppets etc. I really only have one criticism of the show and that's not much as there were so many pluses. I thought they lost much of the magic as Billy starts learning to be a real ballet dancer in Solidarity. Maybe it was there for the taking if they had a real ballet star as Billy. I don't think they have anything like a National Ballet School in Toronto to draw on and they can't pull out someone "fully formed" like a Myles or Marcus. Do not get me wrong. Both Billys were fantastic. Childrens' casting directors are brilliant. If one aspect of one's talents are a little less developed than others, they make up for it. Nicholas (the 11 year old) is still perfecting his ballet skills, but his singing is, to say the least, stunning. I think they're all chiorboys, as Carl (the 13 year old), sang just as well. Nicolas could turn a smiling face into a river of tears in a second. It was quite something.
Just going through some of the scenes. Grandma's Song, again simplified, but there were real nice touches focussing on her relationship with Billy. They danced together and hugged and it was really sweet.. Express really brought out the cameraderie betwwen Billy and Michael in a way I don't think I've ever seen in other productions. Born To Boogie worked really well. Billy got tossed all over by Mr. Braithwaite and he was having a great time. I think I forgot to mention. that Mrs. Wilkinson was the best dancer of any I've ever seen. Jackie Elliot was the best singer. Angry Dance was something else. Yeah, it hurt a bit not to have a total focus in Billy doing his best most intricate stuff. He left the stage for some time as miners had a major battle with police. Billy did dance on an oildrum and garbage can as well as on top of a police car which was ulimately turned over and set on fire. You can really feel the heat from the front row.
Second half, briefly: Dream Ballet worked great. Tradional staging aided by a terrific older Billy. They cut some time out of the audition sequence. Electricity sounds so beautiful in Danish by 2 wonderful singers. Really innovative dancing, particularly the second night with some moves I'd never seen before. I remember when the Tour was being tweaked and people were afraid they'd drop the finale. Well, I was afraid they'd do that here. But not only was it not dropped, it was way way better than New York, London or Toronto. Smallboy started it and ended up tap dancing up a storm. They didn't wear tutus, just union jack shirts. Michael wore well... a union jack dress.