BILLY ELLIOT - First Preview - 10/01/08

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 12:40am

The sold out crowd at the Imperial Theater tonight was more than excited for the first official New York preview of BILLY ELLIOT...and we were more than pleased by the end of the show. While this show may not be Elton John's best score, the storyline/book of this show tears at your heart strings and ultimately draws the audience in and totally succeeds as a Broadway musical.

The sets were fine for the most part. The best set piece was Billy's bedroom, which emerged from underneath the center stage and grew to almost the top of the stage. Stunning. Also, the lighting for the big dance numbers was truly fantastic. The costumes were OK...appropriate for the show, but nothing groundbreaking.

The ensemble was excellent. All the kids (and there were a ton of them) were true professionals and they could all act and dance very well. The adults were also fantastic...nice to see David Larsen (the lead in GOOD VIBRATIONS) working again. He is also a cover for Tony. "Solidarity" was astounding. The direction/choreography of the number contributed to me getting chills...and I don't care for that song so much on the cast recording...it works so much better live.

Leah Hocking was touching as Dead Mum. Her song in Act 1 with Mrs. Wilkinson and Billy was beautiful. Thommie Retter was great as Mr. Braithwaite and had a lot of fun during his dance number "Born To Boogie." Santino Fontana was fine as Tony...would love to see David Larsen's take as well. Frank Dolci was on as Michael and he was absolutely hilarious. "Expressing Yourself" was a great showcase for him.

Carole Shelley was fantastic and Grandma. She sold her (really poorly written) song "We'd Go Dancing" in the beginning of Act 1. Plus, she had a bunch of great lines...her acting was superb. I'm thrilled that she was cast in this show.

Greg Jbara was perfect as Dad. He was so mean and nasty to Billy at the beginning and then during the audition process, he began to soften up and accept Billy and by the time "Electricity" happened, Greg's entire demeanor had changed. It was a transformation right in front of our eyes. Incredible. Congrats to him.

Haydn Gwynne was brilliant as Mrs. Wilkinson. She delivered every line to perfection and her big numbers "Shine," "Born To Boogie," and "Dear Billy" were wonderful. Congrats to her on making the move from the London production to the New York production. She fits in perfectly with the rest of the cast...and yes, she did get entrance applause from this first preview audience.

I had the pleasure of seeing Kiril Kulish as my first Billy...and he was astounding. The director Stephen Daldry came out before the show started and told the audience that this was Kiril's first time performing on stage ever, and the first time they were running through the show without stopping. Well, it went off without a hitch. Kiril is a brilliant dancer and a wonderful actor as well. He was able to carry the show on his shoulders with no problem at all. A natural. His "Angry Dance" was absolute perfection. His dream ballet with his older self made me cry, as did "Electricity," and I *never* cry at the theater. But those scenes and his performance moved me so much. As a gay man, who was at first not accepted by my father, but then ultimately accepted by him for who I am, the story really hit hard for me...and I loved it. One slight hitch...at the end of "Born To Boogie," Kiril is supposed to do a backflip off of the piano and he did it, but with a little help from one of the stagehands...he'll get it down to a science with more practice I'm sure! Congrats on a successful first performance ever on any stage. Wow. A home run.

As I had mentioned earlier, Elton John's score was kind of a mixed bag...not nearly as strong as his work in AIDA, but much better than LESTAT. My favorite songs are "Shine" and "Electricity," but as I mentioned earlier, I really enjoyed "Solidarity" while watching it on stage. The score also works a lot better while watching it on stage than listening to the CD. Now that I have the backround of how the songs fit in with the book, I may enjoy the cast recording more. The book of the show, by Lee Hall, was brilliant...I was immediately drawn into the show and allowed it to take me on a journey. Truly wonderful.

Congrats to the entire cast and crew of BILLY ELLIOT. Even though the economy is going down the tubes right now, people will still be shelling out $135 for a ticket to see this show. It will be a huge hit, and will likely win Best Musical and Best Lead Actor (joint nomination for all three). Tonight's audience absolutely LOVED the show and I can't wait to hear others' reactions on this board. Get tickets while you still can.
Updated On: 10/2/08 at 12:40 AM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 12:45am

I'll definitely be going to see this tomorrow and then again in November...great to hear it's so good.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 12:51am

I can't wait to see this!
Thanks for the review.

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 12:54am

Grandma's Song is my favorite! Everybody's got an opinion I suppose. I'm glad it's in such great shape. I'm coming from Chicago to see it tomorrow!


kmc

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 12:58am

Well, I suppose there won't be a student rush? Maybe a lotto? Also, was there a show curtain?

Posted: 10/2/08 at 12:59am

WAT... exceptional review!!! Thank You!!!

[B3TA07]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 1:03am

See, and I love the score on the CD and haven't seen the show. Glad you enjoyed it though, I can't wait to see it!

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 1:05am

Thanks for the review, but I disagree that Elton John's AIDA score is strong in any way. I'd say BILLY ELLIOT's score is John's most effective job at writing a truly dramatic score. It's pretty fantastic, only comparable to his movie songs for THE LION KING.
Can't wait to see this.

[willep]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 1:08am

WAT, many thanks for the review! i have been eagerly waiting up for it, so now i can go to bed...but boy i really want to see this show....ahhhhh i hope it works out somehow, but tickets aren't the most affordable thing when one is a college student but i am sure as heck gunna try to figure out a way :-x ahhh i want to see this show!! :-P

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 1:19am

I didn't care much for the show when I saw it last year in London, but this production is FABULOUS! I have not yet read WAT's review (I will do so shortly) but I saw him there and we were in agreement when we checked in afterwards.

Love the show. Will definitely be seeing it several more times.

Everyone in the show is EXCELLENT. Greg Jbara is superb (as ALWAYS).

And those of us who were there tonight will be saying for the rest of our lives, "I saw Kiril Kulish on his very first night performing on Broadway!" He is going to be a huge star. Truly outstanding. Pure joy.

Updated On: 10/2/08 at 01:19 AM

[JbaraFan1]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 1:28am

Thanks, WAT! Loved reading your review, the entire thing, but of course I especially appreciate what you wrote about Greg. As someone who knows him and has for a long time completely believed in his abilities as an actor of great range (not just as a comedy actor, as some tend to view him), it's so good to read comments like yours and like somethingwicked's. I KNEW Greg could blow the role of "Dad" out of the water, and it sounds like he's doing exactly that.

I hate crying in front of people, but to be honest, I'm tearing up here a bit.

PS miss pw, awesome!! :) Updated On: 10/2/08 at 01:28 AM

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 1:40am

but I disagree that Elton John's AIDA score is strong in any way.


- i would disagree with that as well.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 1:43am

JbraraFan1, I talked to Greg after the show and said the same thing. "I loved you in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, but this just really allows you to show your range."

He effects Jackie Elliot's transformation over the course of a mere 3 hours so naturally and effectively, you can't help feeling his pain and suffering as well as rejoicing his redemption.

And his voice! His solo ballad is a tearjerker.

I am SOOO happy that Greg is in a show that is going to be a big, big hit. He's tremendously talented, but he is also a lovely human being. My spirits are so lifted when one of the good guys gets what he deserves.

YAY, Greg!!!

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 1:44am

don't get me wrong...the score to billy elliot is very good...I just fell in love with the entire score to Aida on first listen...

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 1:51am

I think the score is the weakest thing about the show.

My one-word summation of Kiril: "Divine."

[pharmer2000]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 3:34am

Was at the first preview, and I am in total agreement with WAT. I will not repeat what was already said, but i just gotta say "WOW". The entire cast is awesome and Kiril is absolutely amazing. They should all be very proud. I will see this show again and again, I am sure.

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 3:55am

Very well-written review, but I must second the opposing opinion that "Grandma's Song" is, in my opinion, easily the best song in the show.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 4:55am

Brilliant review as ever

So for someone from the UK who has seen Billy a few times i have a few questions!

Did the act 2 songs about Maggie Thatcher get cut?
were the accents softer than our UK production, and did you get the list of slang words in your Playbill explaining what they mean?

[BroadwayProducer2]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 6:33am

I saw the first preview and it was really great.
Everything in this show is great: the story, sets, music, lyrics, choreography. I really liked the colors on the stage, the light design was perfect, it was really amazing, it’s impossible to explain, you have to see it live.
Kiril Kulish was great. I want to compare him with Liam Mower from the original London cast. He was as brilliant as him, the same level. Excellent job! And Electricity was performed brilliantly!
I think that is the show level of Wicked, but real drama, not fairytale. Well, not a big surprise I guess, because they have the same producer – Universal.
The whole production is amazing, not worse than original London production for sure. And yes, they all speak with British accent, and Maggie Thatcher song wasn’t cut! Everything is there!
I swear it is the best show Broadway can offer this season. No doubt it will win Tony for the best musical of 2009! I just can’t even imagine what musical can be better then Billy Elliot!
My video review on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hyiWv-_cPQ
Have a nice day :)

YouTube: Billy Elliot Broadway Review

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 6:42am

Was there a curtain?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 7:26am

WishingOnlyWounds2, prior to the start of the show, there is just a scrim that covers the dimly lit stage, but a traditional red curtain comes down at the end of it and opens the second act.

[LeaGirl]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 8:28am

One slang word seemed to be changed - and it's when Debbie and Billy are in the bathroom talking - "fanny" does not mean the same thing here as there and the joke would have been lost entirely on the audience, so they did change that.

The accents seemed slightly toned down from when I saw it in London but they were still extremely strong. And the video explaining the situation at the beginning seemed longer to me, but I might have been wrong about that.

I don't think anybody in the audience had any trouble following what was going on - they set everything up so the situation was extremely clear. No list of slang words or anything.

It was seriously great - I loved it. They were all turning in pretty fantastic and well thought out performances for a first preview - I can't wait to see what it is like in a few weeks.

[BroadwayBoy2]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 8:46am

Thankyou for your review.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 8:51am

I'm seeing this Saturday matineee -- your comments have whetted my appetite for a show I was already dying to see.

[chrysler99]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 8:57am

WAT, great review!! thanks.

having seen Billy in London two years back, I fully agree with you on Solidarity. If you just hear the song, it's okay. but the complexity of the staging and the intermingling of the dancing kids with the police and the coal miners was just incredible. perhaps my favorite moment of the show.

alas, I have to wait till December to see the show here.