THEATRICAL THROWBACK THURSDAY: Elton John's BILLY ELLIOT Turns 10

By: May. 14, 2015
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Today we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of BILLY ELLIOT: THE MUSICAL.

Born To Boogie

In Elton John and Lee Hall's international musical sensation BILLY ELLIOT the title character sings about the impossible to describe emotions conjured up by performing, eloquently voiced in the pivotal dramatic showstopper "Electricity". And, so goes the unique and impressive trajectory of the story of a North English son of a miner in 1984 Margaret Thatcher-ruled Great Britain who discovered a preternatural ability to excel in ballet and proceeds to audition for the Royal Academy Of Dance against his macho father's wishes. The touching tale was first told in Stephen Daldry's acclaimed 2000 independent film hit of the same name, written by Lee Hall, and soon thereafter transformed into a masterful stage musical outfitted with book and lyrics by the original screenwriter, direction by the original film helmer and music by none other than rock and theatre royalty, Elton John. Just as with Billy's understanding of dance and the electrical force it inspires in his spirit, so goes the experiences of many theatergoers who witness BILLY ELLIOT: THE MUSICAL for the very first time in the theatre, on film or on video.

Last year, as part of our exclusive InDepth InterView all about the Fathom Events presentation of the recent gala performance of the musical in movie theaters nationwide coming just prior to the 10th anniversary in the West End that is being celebrated this week, director Stephen Daldry and I discussed many of the finer points of the creation and design of the piece as it was honed and refined over the course of several workshops leading up to its West End bow in 2005 (available here). Although the musical can lay claim to having won an astounding 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Actor In A Musical, as well as 4 Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical, and a record-tying 7 Helpmann Awards in Australia, the prospects for the dramatically tricky, politically charged piece were not always as assured, though the songs were unmistakable home run hits from the very beginning. Daldry vividly recalled of the very first time he heard Elton John's "Electricity", still in its earliest form, way back in 2003: "You know, I think that I first heard it... [Pause.] I remember I was in my kitchen and Elton had just started plugging away writing it and he rang me rather excitedly after he was fiddling around on the piano and said, 'I think I've got something that you should listen to now.' So, I put him on speakerphone while I was cooking dinner."

Furthermore, Daldry pointed out that the effectiveness of the score and its ease of integration into the action of the piece - which traverses environments as dissimilar as Northern England social halls, boxing clubs, street protest rallies, a little girl's dress closet, citywide Christmas celebrations and the Royal Academy itself - resides in its authenticity to the actual songs that were sung by the real-life people being dramatically and musically portrayed. "You see, what I always loved so much about the score is that it is such a tribute - it uses so many working class traditions; from anthems to ballads to vaudeville. I mean, I just love the diversity of it - and, I thought it was something really special. I loved that each number was always so different to the last. It never felt like you were stuck in one world - it was actually exploring every world, every musical world, that in fact is explored by the real characters in the real situation in the story."

After all, embracing one's individuality is really what BILLY ELLIOT is all about - first, last and always.

So, now, go back to 2009 to see Elton John kick off the Tony Awards with a spirited rendition of BILLY ELLIOT's "Electricity".

Also, view the music video for Elton John's "Electricity".

As a special bonus, check out the trailer for the incredible Fathom Events presentation of BILLY ELLIOT.

What is your absolute favorite iteration of BILLY ELLIOT - the original film, the West End production, the Broadway production or perhaps the recent Fathom Events film of the 10th anniversary gala performance, now available in more seamlessly edited form on Blu-ray? Also, what is your most beloved song in Elton John's apt and lively score? With a property this rich, jolts of excitement and electricity are preponderant and nearly ubiquitous - and it its birthday fete should surely be fit for a king.



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