Billy Elliot stopped 5 times...free tickets were given!

[jovie27]

According to ATC:

"Mucho tech problems in the first act, primary due to the stage elevators. Stopped dead five times for retooling, which obviously hurt the flow. But the cast was great, especially Kiril Kulish, when called on to repeat his "angry" dance, sans scenery.

Stephen Daldry took the mic at intermission, and told us to hold on to our tickets, and return anytime for free. Not sure how that will work, but we'll definitely take him up on it. I think I might have liked it a lot, but the interruptions were deadly."

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Wow. Almost went tonight too...this is a huge technical piece. I hope they iron out the set kinks.

[jovie27]

I think this was the first time...so not to worried...because this seems like it barely happens.

As for 9 to 5 I heard like everyday it happened!

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Well when I went on Thursday, they stopped the show during ANGRY DANCE due to set problems (I describe it in full in my review...https://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=980684&dt=58&boardid=1 .) and it did kill the flow of the dance....and last night it went off without a hitch.

[tmz814]

I was at the show tonight and just got home.

One full stop was when the house set was supposed to come up (with billy in bed, grandma at the stove, and Tony at the table). They stopped during the boxing scene (right when the kids were doing their press-ups). Then they had to stop again during "Expressing Yourself" and twice during "Angry Dance".

I felt bad for everyone involved, especially when the audience started getting fed up and even started booing every time the show was stopped.

Steven Daldry came onstage at the end of intermission and gave a speech explaining what was happening and then the second act went off without a hitch. They didn't do the mega-mix after the curtain call either.

It was an interesting evening. :)

[JbaraFan1]

I felt bad for everyone involved, especially when the audience started getting fed up and even started booing every time the show was stopped.

Oh my gracious! They actually booed?? That's a bit much. It's in previews for crying out loud. I can understand becoming frustrated (and I bet director, cast and crew were even more so than the audience!), but booing??! IMO ... rude!

[tmz814]

Yes.. They booed when that show was stopped during "Angry Dance". Someone also yelled "refund" at one point. I felt really bad, especially for the performers onstage who not only had to get themselves back into character after the stops (sometimes without the scenary/props they needed) but also had to listen to booing. I mean it is a preview. People need to know what they are getting into when buying tickets to a preview. I mean you never expect a show to be stopped 5 times, but you can't go to a preview and expect a perfect show.

[theatreguy]

What do you mean they didn't do the mega-mix after the curtain call? When I went on Thursday there was only the mega-mix and not any real curtain call to speak of (Billy was the only one who really had a chance to bow and actually acknowledge the applause). Have they changed it since then?

[tmz814]

I think it was because the show was running 15 min late due to all the stops. The entire cast came out to bow. Then they dropped the red stage curtain. When it came back up the lighted BILLY sign was there and Kiril took a solo bow. Then he motioned for everyone to come onstage and they took another bow. Then Steven Daldry said "Come back and see us again" and everyone walked off-stage. I think this was just for tonight because of all the stops...

[EponineThenardier]

Wow, considering how the set is I'm not surprised that it might have some technical difficulties...it must be a B*itch to operate.

Does Billy still run up the stairs as the bed/house comes out of the floor?

[Q]

As long as they insist on full price for 'previews', the audience expectation will be what it is.

[Luckydave14]

When Tarzan was in previews, they were smart by only charging $75 for top seats. That was also a very technical show, and I'm sure they had some glitches during previews. Maybe more shows should start charging less for previews.

[tmz814]

I agree. I think some people don't really understand what previews mean either, unless they go to the theatre a lot. Maybe if the prices were lower for previews people wouldn't come in expecting the show to be perfect. And I think booing was super rude, but considering how much orchestra seats for a Saturday night cost at BE (I think it's around $136) I am not really surprised that some people got upset.

[best12bars]

I agree with Q on this. Previews never used to be full price, and for a good reason. They were still working things out.

So, if they're working things out and charging you a full ticket price now, you have every right to get upset when there are so many glitches during a performance.

[Ed_Mottershead]

I was at the matinee yesterday and it went without a glitch. David Alvaraz was on and danced up a storm.

[CateBroadway]

I WAS THERE! Got a new pair of tix. Can't wait! I wouldn't have been mad even if they didn't refund. It was incredible.

[LTinOregon]

Hi Ed_Mottershead: I was also there yesterday afternoon and saw David Alvarez; like you said, he danced up a storm. Also, his acting was incredible, and so was the reaction of the audience, many of which stood up and gave him a big ovation even before the last scene (when Billy says good-bye to his mom and walks up the aisle) ended. Alvarez brought the house into tears. I heard that during his dress rehearsal, the house stood-up and gave him a big ovation after his "Electricity"
I also went last night to see Kiril Kulish. He has a nice voice, and is an excellent dancer too. However, even though there were some technical problems, and they had to stop five times, it seems to me that Kulish was not deep in the character. Unlike Alvarez, he didn't look like the son of this miner worker, and he was not in tune with the rest of family. He looked more like the "London boy". This was a bit of a surprise to me because Stephen Daldry is well known for his direction of actors.
I can't wait to see Trent Kowalik; he should be able to give a stunning performance because he already did it in London.

[best12bars]

LTinOregon --- Did you just give away the ending in your post?

Nice.

I suppose it doesn't matter, since most people walk into these "film-plays" knowing the entire story from start to finish and all the dialogue, right?

But for the 2 or 3 people out there who might... just MIGHT... want to experience a "new story" or one they weren't familiar with... you just killed it for them.

[cudramacat]

I work for the merchandise company that sells the BE souvenirs and was working last night. I know the audience was upset and most of the people I encountered seemed to understand that it wasn't the actors' fault and just technical stuff (I mean how could you not understand that) but just weren't patient enough to sit through all those stops (which I sort of understand) but I can't believe they booed. That's just disrespectful because even if the boos aren't meant for the actors it still really affects the actors. Anyway, the merch is completely separate from the show so if people came up to me I directed them else where about their refund inquiries but I saw the dress rehearsal for the show and they stopped twice I think and the show was fabulous. I also heard that the matinee yesterday went really well so it's a shame that last night was so bumpy. I was glad to see that (perhaps with a few exceptions) people, even those leaving early, recognized it was a good show but just couldn't follow it with all the disruptions.

[Yankeefan007]

I thought it was funny how, before the grand finale yesterday afternoon, the cast started screaming for all the people who were walking out to "come back!"

[somethingwicked]

Yankeefan, they're actually yelling for the actor playing Billy to "come back" from up the aisle.

What was funny yesterday afternoon, though, was that poor David Alvarez had to literally elbow past several people trying to make an early exit to get back down toward the stage.

[Yankeefan007]

Well I think mine is funny too, so there! ::sticks out tongue::

The kids also had to elbow their way through the crowd following the intermission.

Nobody seemed to notice the people in elf costumes worming their way through them.

[Princeton78]

LtInOregon...
Thanks for giving away the ending.
a**.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

I completely agree about previews (at least for large technical pieces) being cheaper. $75 or $80 seems reasonable...especially for a show like BE where the top ticket is $125/$135.

[Weez]

Wait, what exactly did LtInOregon give away? A major plot twist? A shocking but exciting piece of dialogue? Hardly! Even if the show *did* have a "surprise twist ending!" where you can only fully appreciate the show if you go in blind to it, it's just plain rude to call someone an a**. At least Besty was moderately polite with his admonition.