Dear Billy, I am proud to have known you.

[Laura Shannon]

Before seeing Billy Elliot at the Orpheum, my experience with dance was limited to a tap dance to the song “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” when I was four, but let me tell you, Billy Elliot is no Crystal Community Center dance class.  The best way to describe the musical about an eleven-year-old aspiring male ballerina is that it has heart. The characters invoke real emotions, and hearts are warmed by the Tony Award winner.

 

The show takes place during the 1984 coal miner's strike in Northern England. Billy, a motherless young boy, takes up ballet by accident and finds that he has a gift for dancing. Raised by his coal-mining father and brother, Billy is accustomed to a very traditional view on masculine. In fact, gender roles play a huge role in the musical. In "Grandma's Song" (a song that has Billy's grandmother reminiscing on her 33 year marriage), Grandma states, "Suppose times were simpler back then; women were women and men were men". Eleven year old Billy's interest in dancing is considered feminine. Another look into gender roles in the show is Billy's homosexual best friend, Michael's, habit of cross-dressing. In a society were little boys are expected to do "manly" things such as boxing, these activities were deemed taboo. The musical is adapted from the 2000 movie of the same name, however Elton John's score seems a bit lackluster at times. The music, despite complementing the beautiful story well, is rather unlistenable when there is no dancing accompanying it.

 

Even if the music is rather subpar, it's performed fantastically. The role of Billy is shared by five boys (Daniel Russell, Giuseppe Bausilio, Kylend Hetherington, Michael Dameski, and Lex Ishimoto), with different actors playing the role each night. On opening night, Lex Ishimoto, the youngest of the boys at 12, performed the title role. Ishimoto captures the audiences' hearts within the first ten minutes and never gives them back. Countering Lex's Billy, is Griffin Birney (sharing the role Jacob Zolonky) as Michael. Birney gives his character charm and becomes one of the most enjoyable performances of the show.  It is a rare occasion when children have top billing over adults, but Elliot's adult manage to shine even in the shadows of their more adorable co-stars. Faith Prince radiates in the role of Billy's headstrong dance teacher, and Rich Hebert gives a touching performance as Billy's father.

 

The highlight of the show was, of course, the dancing. As a girl who can never seem to get into ballets, I wasn't expected to be blown away. I was wrong. The choreography is beautifully touching and always suits the scene. Ishimoto's dancing ability was mind-blowing (especially taking into account his ripe young age) as was the rest of the cast's. Did I tear up during when Billy (and the older version of himself) danced to Swan Lake? Yes. Did my jaw drop  to the floor during  powerful Angry Dance? Yes. Did I want to get up in the middle of Electricity and profess my intense love for Lex? So badly.

 

Billy Elliot is probably the most precious thing I have seen in my life. Never have I wanted to give someone a hug as badly as I did that night. Never have I regretted quitting dance after the fore-mentioned debacle as badly as I did that night. And never has my heart been so warmed as it was that night.

[Dudley Voigt]

Wow Laura! You have a great lead, as David says below, it really personalizes your review and sets up you last two paragraphs well.  The repeated use of questions in the second to last paragraph and of "never" in the final paragraph is also really strong.  It's a great device that you also use well to give us additional information.  So, how can you bring this same artfulness into your two middle paragraphs?  I like your statement Paragraph 1 about having heart and invoking real emotions -if that were your thesis, how could you use those middle paragraph to support it?

Excellent job here Laura!

[David Premack]

Hi Laura,

 

I typically have been commenting just on the reviews of my Southwest kids, but I am so anxious to read what everyone has to say about their experience, so I am pleased to see your review up here early, and I am just thrilled with your reaction.  I immediately am drawn to your words as you draw a parallel to your own life.  Theatre is best experienced, in my mind, when we share in the feelings of the characters, and the fact that you no longer dance but regret it speaks to the grim ending Billy thinks he has come to as well.  I like that you take aim at the music's weaknesses instead of simply basking in the glory that this production makes the audience feel.  Your ability to find parts of a show that you deem the most heartfelt experience of your life, certainly point out your critical eye.  Overall, really nice job.  The magic of this story certainly has touched you, and as a reader (and a fellow audience member), I share in your deep admiration for the story, the characters, and Daldry's message to all of us.  I look forward to reading more of your reactions as the program continues.