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Billy Elliot Musical Reviews
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| 1 |
Where is T. Rex? Review by: Hardy, Feb 1, 2013 |
What happen to the music of T Rex?
I was very disapointed that they totally skipped the original music by Marc Bolan / T. Rex. This was one
main reason to buy the tickets to the musical, which
i would never have done had known that they changed
all the music to songs that have nothing to do with
the original movie.
Hardy |
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My recommendation:
Go see if you get a chance
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I saw this show with:
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| 2 |
Exciting and Innovative Review by: CGR, May 14, 2012 |
I have no idea what show the people who didn't like "Billy Elliot" were seeing. I've now seen the show eight times (five on Broadway, once in London, once in Chicago and last week in Los Angeles). I'm not a "Billy Elliot" obsessive--I just happen to be in the cities where and when it is playing, and always am glad for another opportunity to see this amazing show.
Too many fat jokes? This is the biggest complaint someone has? There were ... read more exactly two fat jokes in this three hour show.
The dancing is some of the most exciting ever seen on a Broadway stage, and the choreography is innovative and inventive.
I have many original cast CDs, but "Billy Elliot" is the only one I listen to on a regular basis. Elton John and Lee Hall have really captured the spirit of the times, the place and what these people were going through.
As stated in the program, Lee Hall grew up in Northern England during the time of the strike, so his lyrics and script for the show are spot on, and really give a sense of place. You feel like you are going through these times with the people on stage.
I've seen maybe 400 Broadway shows in my time, given that I was born and raised in NYC, and this is definitely in the top three, if not #1. A show that will make you laugh, cry, sing out and could very well change the way you think about what you are doing with your life. It is one of the most uplifting shows ever. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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| 3 |
Mediocre music, boring dancing and too many "fat" jokes. Review by: RainInLA, May 14, 2012 |
| I did not enjoy this musical. I suppose I was expecting more ballet and this may have lead to my disappointment, but I found the music mediocre and sets and costuming gaudy. There's too much "modern" dance and tap dance. Not nearly enough beautiful ballet for my tastes, considering the film this musical is based on. My husband's biggest issue, and I agree with him, are the incessant fat jokes they use against a heavy dancer in the ballet class.... read more. We both thought it was tasteless and bigoted. I thought making fun of overweight people was as unacceptable as being racists these days, but apparently the Lee Hall hasn't gotten that memo. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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| 4 |
Review by: , Feb 9, 2012 |
| Oh my gosh don't waste your time. My wife who goes to every broadway play in town (this is Pittsburgh) said "this is the first play that people didn't stand to applaud until almost the very last curtain call". I'm not an expert in this field but the actors WERE HARD TO UNDERSTAND, MUSIC WAS AVERAGE AT BEST, NOT A MEMORABLE SONG THE ENTIRE NIGHT. Story was cute but really not worth the $170 spent. I would have been dissapointed seeing this at ... read more theater prices of $20. Real sleeper, slow points, too much swearing with many children in the audience when a balet teacher doesn't need to swear and smoke during class and doubt if that happened in 1984. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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| 5 |
No cigar for this one! Review by: Dinah, Dec 27, 2011 |
| The dancing was good but not as good as other musicals I have seen. The acting was OK and the story itself was mediocre and very disjointed and hard to kaap up with. I would give the whole experience a C+ and would NOT recommend people spend hundreds to see it, unless they are given free tickets.....it is entertaining. Smile. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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I saw this show with:
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Recommended for:
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| 6 |
Fantastic representation of life in 1980's County Durham Review by: Cath & Dave, Dec 21, 2011 |
| My wife and I watched Billy Elliott on Broadway in August and we loved every minute of it, in fact it was the highlight of our stay in New York. I chuckled to see the review indicating that it is set in London. Billy Elliott is set in County Durham during the Miner's Strike in the mid-1980's. Whilst I accept some of the language was colourful, this, I believe was a necessary inclusion for the stage adaptation to be true to the original ... read more film and to give the audience a flavour of working-class life during the miner's strike at the time. As I lived in County Durham at the time of the Miner's Strike I can say the show was excellent and the American actors did a fantastic job. The show seemed to be very well received by the audience |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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| 7 |
Review by: JoanE, Dec 15, 2011 |
| This show was captivating. We were a group of adults and older children and everyone enjoyed it and we raved about it all the way home. Really teaches you something about life, and you walk away feeling you have learned a valuable lesson about being yourself and living the life you dreamed of. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Large Group
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| 8 |
Review by: , Dec 13, 2011 |
I didn't like this show, very slow to start.
The young boy was wonderful and the rest of the cast.
I would not recommend it.
The language was ruff. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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Large Group
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| 9 |
Mediocre at best considering the cost Review by: sgill79, Nov 29, 2011 |
| Not sure exactly what I expected given all the hype but it wasn't even close. Very disappointing. Mediocre music, not enough dancing, fragmented story (and it would have been helpful if even a summary of the story was in the playbill). Just an odd show. The father all of a sudden embraces the trip to the audition? Very draggy in places, the flow from one scene to the next was puzzling more often than not. And the profanity was totally ... read more unneccessary given the number of young children there. I would have been mortified if I brought a young child to this supposed "family" show. I would recommend seeing it if very discounted tickets were available, otherwise pass. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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I saw this show with:
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| 10 |
Not Really for Kids Review by: Chubby Theater Goer, Oct 27, 2011 |
| This is an ok show for me. But what I don't understand is why is there so much swearing in this musical? I understand it takes place in working-class London, but you'd think they tone it down a bit since the star is a dancing kid and so most of the audience would naturally be families with young kids? Sure enough, I was sitting in back of such an audience and have to watch in agony at the mom trying to explain to her kids about the cursing. ... read more Then a scene with Billy yelling at his father and calling him a "Bastard". Wow, a total palm in the face there. But they were just getting started. Sexual innuendos like the girl asking Billy if he wants to see her privates (ok, I forgot the exact term she used). And no kid is going to understand the story since it's quite political and comment about social classes and labor unions. Is there nothing on Broadway for kids except the overproduced and overpriced Spider-man? Ok, so the kid is obviously a great dancer but the music is just passable. How it won so many Tonys including Best Musical is beyond me, though. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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Alone
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| 11 |
Must Be Seen Before It Closes Review by: HP, Oct 15, 2011 |
I am saddened that this show is closing after a relatively short run of three years, especially when "Phantom" has been running for 300 years, "Jersey Boys" has been screeching for seven, and "Chicago" running with third rate stars for fifteen.
This show is a must-see, especially with only a couple of months left on Broadway. It is everything a Broadway show should be--exciting, creative, innovative and inspiring.
The amazingly talented ... read more cast brings the phenomenal choreography to glorious heights, and the story and morale is really uplifting.
People can pick at little things like a few swear words being used and that the show is three hours, but that's missing the bigger point, which is that this is theatre at its best. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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| 12 |
PHENOMENAL BROADWAY MUSICAL! Review by: MeMeGlen, Sep 26, 2011 |
I have seen many many Broadway shows over the past 55 years...my parents started taking me when I was 10. I now take my 8 year old granddaughter as often as I can. Of all the shows that I have seen, I would have to say that Billy Elliot is one of the best. We saw it on Saturday and we both just LOVED IT! Yes, some of the "profanity" is not necessary, but it's nothing that any of us have not heard before and there are much more positives about ... read more the show than this one negative.
Myles Erlick, as Billy, was making his Broadway debut and he was amazing! All of the children involved in this production are amazingly talented, as are the adults, and they all deserved the several STANDING OVATIONS that they received. This is a PHENOMENAL show..........
DO NOT MISS IT! ! ! |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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| 13 |
Possibly The Best Show Ever On Broadway Review by: BdwyBoy, Sep 26, 2011 |
For the people that give "Billy Elliot" an "OK" or less, I'm really not sure what kind of show they would think is better. This show has it all--amazing dancing (with choreography that is creative and inspired, unlike a lot of shows), music that really catches the flavor of the time and place, and a (true) story that is incredibly uplifting.
The show follows the same story line as the movie, in that we see that Billy's father, once he ... read more sees him dancing, realizes that this boy has talent and might have a real chance to get out of their hell hole of a life. That's what turns him around, and the show makes that perfectly clear. It's not necessary to have everything spelled out--it's a three hour musical, not a twelve hour marathon.
You can have "The Producers", "Wicked", "The Book of Mormon" and other shows that are either junk or merely light entertainment. "Billy Elliot" is the real deal. The best show on Broadway in well over a decade. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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Recommended for:
Anyone
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| 14 |
An OK production Review by: Alex, Sep 26, 2011 |
This is Ok - not good, not bad, just ok.
The dancing is good but honestly, given that the show is about dancing, I expected better. The music is ok but not memorable. A big problem was that the music was so loud that we could often not hear the lyrics. There is a number at the dancing school which looked like it might be good but none of us could hear a single word.
The story leaves something to be desired as well. ... read more The big problem is that is wraps up too suddenly and too neatly. The father who originally opposes Billy's desire to dance comes around without much work from Billy and his teacher. All in all, the story seems to have been passed over in favor of dancing, which as I mentioned, is not amazing.
This might be fine for bargain price tickets but full price is too much. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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Amazing! Review by: WTC, Sep 17, 2011 |
| This was my first time seeing Billy Elliot. I live in NY and have seen A LOT of Broadway shows. I have to say this show was in my top three I have ever seen. Absolutely amazing! Joseph Harrington was brilliant as Billy. An absolute must see! |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
Family
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Recommended for:
Anyone
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| * Review is an opinion of a BroadwayBox user and not that of BroadwayBox.com and BroadwayBox, Inc. |
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