BWW Reviews: BILLY ELLIOT National Tour in Denver

Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions brings the 2009 Tony Award-winning Best Musical BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL to the Buell Theatre from May 11 through June 5. Based on the international smash-hit film and featuring music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, choreography by Peter Darling and direction by Stephen Daldry, BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL has earned critical acclaim on Broadway including 10 Tony Awards.

BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL is the joyous celebration of one boy's journey to make
his dreams come true. Set in a small town, the story follows Billy as he stumbles out of the
boxing ring and into a ballet class, discovering a surprising talent that inspires his family and
his whole community and changes his life forever.

So what else can be said about BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL after rave reviews from London to Broadway and across the nation except for the reviewers are so right and this show deserved every Tony it has earned. Elton John is a true musical genius and a master manipulator, pulling at the heartstrings of every emotion. Watching the magic unfold, it is obvious he put a lot of thought into every song and that is one of the reasons this show is so remarkable.

I have only said this once before (with the Lion King), but in several aspects I believe this musical is even better than the movie. I have a few observations that support this personal theory. The first is the character of Billy himself. While Jamie Bell does an exceptional job as an actor in the movie version, it is clear he is not a dancer. The musical version of Billy Elliot (which rotates four actors in the role) allows us to observe a more complete character arc and get a real feel for Billy's passion. Our Billy on this particular evening, played by Giuseppe Bausilio from Bern, Switzerland, was perfection, plain and simple. This young man's performance brought me to tears. His dancing was magnificent, his acting superb. As a spectator, you come to appreciate why Mrs. Wilkinson, played by the outstanding Susie McMonagle, is willing to sacrifice so much for this boy - she sees
something special and believes in him.

The other observation has to do with the miners' strike, one of the longest strikes in British history. While the strike is slightly glossed over in the movie, it is one of the driving plotlines of the musical, and what a beautiful touch. Witnessing a song-filled, impassioned version of an angry uprising is moving beyond words. When the dad makes the ultimate sacrifice for Billy, it is not only his to make, but the entire town's as well. It is touching moments like these that have captivated audiences' minds and hearts since Billy first hit the stage with his feet moving and his heart soaring.

Another excellent touch that I think makes the musical better than the movie is having Billy's deceased mother (Beverly Ward) appear and actively participate in his life. As a man who lost his grandmother at an early age, I can relate to the gravity of the loss. I used to talk to her all the time, so Billy's interactions with the maternal figure gone-too-soon delivers an emotional punch that I think most people can relate to on a visceral level. Is this theatrical mechanism an obvious ploy to jerk the audience's tears? Absolutely! Does it work? You bet!

The producers also gave several minor characters some of the best show-stopping numbers of the production. Mrs. Wilkinson (Susie McMonagle), Grandma (Patti Perkins), and Michael (Jacob Zelonky) are to be commended for spectacular performances that help drive home the emotional experiences of these characters' lives. They had fun with their roles and were spot on with their musical numbers. The young actresses in the ballet class provided a comedic and playful element to the show and were simply delightful to watch.

While their accents made it difficult to understand in the beginning, the brain is an amazing thing and after twenty lines in everyone was enjoying the show to the fullest. As a dancer myself, the highlights of the performance for me were when Billy dances with his future self and when Billy describes to the Royal Ballet Academy how dancing makes him feel. These scenes are breathtakingly exquisite to watch.

This show is officially in my top five all time favorite musicals. You do not want to miss this one so jump, leap, turn and plié down to the DCPA and get your tickets today. BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL plays at the Denver Center now through June 5th. For tickets or information, contact the box office at 303-893-4100 or visit www.denvercenter.org or www.billyelliottour.com.

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