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By BrendaL-21, 11 January 2010
It's been a long time since I've become so completely enraptured by something that I find myself combing the internet for hours on end - drinking up every last bit of information about my new obsession. But lo and behold, that time has arrived, and I find myself utterly addicted.
My name is Brenda, and I'm a Billy-aholic.
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I went to see Billy Elliot: The Musical in London's West End while studying abroad in London last semester. And basically, it blew my mind.
Billy Elliot tells the story of a young boy growing up in England during the Miner's Strike of the 1980s, and it's in the midst of this trying time that Billy finds his passion for dance. The musical tells the story of Billy's struggle to realize his dream of becoming a ballet dancer.
"And then I feel a change, like a fire deep inside
Something bursting me wide open, impossible to hide
And suddenly I'm flying, flying like a bird
Like Electricity, electricity
Sparks inside of me, and I'm free, I'm free"
These are the words the Billy sings when he describes how it feels when he dances.
And dance he does.
The sheer amount of skill that the young actors portraying Billy have to show is absolutely incredible. The boys who perform the main role in Billy Elliot not only have to master ballet but tap dancing and acrobatics as well. Now slap on some acting, singing - and let's not forget the difficult Geordie accent that they have to learn, too - and you've got a monster of an task for a wee lad of 12 or 13 to undertake.
No show in musical theatre has ever been quite so demanding of its child lead. Sure, there's shows like Annie and Oliver, but the weight and responsibility of Billy Elliot's success rests primarily on the shoulders of one child - who, in the course of the three-hour show, appears onstage for all but perhaps two or three scenes. Did Annie or Oliver have to master two types of dance, acrobatics, and a fake accent on top of singing and acting? I think not. Director Stephen Daldry, in fact, likens performing the role of Billy to "playing Hamlet and running a marathon both at the same time".
But watching these tiny bundles of sheer talent on the stage isn't the only thing about the musical that will take your breath away.
Billy Elliot is a musical that's full of heart. In the three hours that I spent in London's Victoria Palace Theatre, I laughed, I cried, and I cheered like a madwoman. Highlights of the show include a number with Billy and his - shall I say effeminate? - best friend who enjoys dressing up in women's clothing; a number where Billy tell his ballet teacher, Mrs. Wilkinson, about his mum; and a beautiful pas de deux where Billy dances with his older self in a beautiful scene with music from Swan Lake.
To be fair, the score is probably the weakest element of the entire production - though that's not saying much, as it is still very, very good. Elton John's compositions for Billy Elliot may not be as instantly memorable as songs from shows like Les Miserables or Wicked, but that's not to say I haven't had the songs on constant replay in my head for the past three weeks.
Music and dancing aside, however, Billy Elliot's script is another spectacular part of the show - full of heartwarming, tear-inducing, and belly-laugh scenes that are superbly acted. There's a fair few swear words and British-isms, but I say they only add to the unique character of the production.
* * * * *
Gaga as I may be about the musical now, I'll admit that prior to seeing it, I had let my misguided preconceptions about musicals get the best of me and was quite hesitant to go at first. I'm not a "Musicals Person" and am thus generally unwilling to see a show unless I'm already familiar with it. On top of that, my apprehensions about seeing the Billy Elliot musical production also stemmed from the fact that I had loved the original movie so dearly. I loved the script, and I loved the cinematography; but most of all, I loved the cast - especially Jamie Bell as Billy. I refused to believe that Billy Elliot: The Musical could possibly be as good. I just didn't think that I could accept a different version of the story, and I (very) wrongly assumed that I would be let down by what could only be an overly-campy and cheesed-up musical version of the movie.
Let's just say I learned my lesson...the good way.
Besides the necessity of keeping an open mind, another lesson I learned after seeing the show is to always do my research before making snap judgments. Since seeing the show last month, I've learned a great many things about Billy Elliot that I'm pretty sure would have eased most of my apprehensions about the musical and made me more willing to see the show.
Billy Elliot had, unbeknownst to me, already premiered in London's West End a full four years before I went to see it - and to rave reviews. The show even received the prestigious Laurence Olivier award for Best Musical in 2006. Cut me some slack for not knowing about the Olivier award, but shame on me for not even knowing that Billy Elliot had just won the Tony Award for Best Musical (among many others, like Best Actor) just this past year.
There is so much about the musical that I want to write and gush about in this blog. But that would perhaps reveal too much of the true extent to which I am obsessed with this show, so I'll refrain from scaring you into thinking I'm some Billy Elliot-obsessed freak (which I am).
I hope, however, that in reading this simple blog your interest is piqued and that the next time you find yourself in either London, Sydney, Chicago, or New York, you'll go buy a ticket and see Billy Elliot.
I promise you won't regret it.
For more about Billy Elliot: The Musical...GO DEEP!
1. Learn more about the musical at its main website: http://billyelliotthemusical.com/
2. Watch a quick preview for the musical: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_IbkzwZi5o
3. Want to see just how talented the boys playing Billy need to be? Check out the documentary, Finding Billy at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YlAYI4W8uI
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