Billy Elliot

Unless you're a fan of stage musicals, this is a big bust. The original movie was masterful, with the music selection and the direction and the cinematography. I so disliked every single thing about this stage production (with a couple exceptions). Not every single minor character needs a solo to pad it out to three hours, ffs. Mr. Braithwaite, for example. Really? Elliot Hanna was brilliant as Billy, and there were a couple set pieces that featured him that are tear-inducing. The rest of it... meh.

Billy Elliot the Musical Live is so fun and also covers important topics and issues in its area. I think it was great having the film set in 1984 with the mining strike. It was also very clever using the ballet as it wasn't normal for boys. Also the LGBT stuff in Michael's character. These are just some things that bought very real problems to the story line.

It was written well and that wasn't the only good thing about this show. I loved the stage set up and the actors in this musical were great. The talent that we see in some of the actors are phenomenal! The tap & ballet was choreographed so well. Good job to all the cast!

There's really not much that can be said about this other than it is just fantastic. The energy and talent on display here is phenomenal and we get a front row seat - better in fact, because we're often actually on the stage watching from close quarters. Kudos to Elliott Hanna, in fact to anyone who performs the role of Billy Elliott. The amount of skill, athleticism and energy required (and on display here) is phenomenal. Young Elliott is wonderful and you'll be worn out watching him! He IS Billy Elliott. All the cast are great and the stagecraft is brilliant. I would suggest that you will enjoy this more if you have seen the movie first. If I was to make one criticism, and it's not really a criticism, it is the original musical score by Elton John. It's great and appropriate and enjoyable while you're actually watching the stage show, but there are no songs that you'll be humming afterwards. It's mostly pretty forgettable. Still, that doesn't detract at all from a great show and you won't be sorry you invested 2½ hours or so on this.

The story of this musical is wonderful, and I know many people who need to see a story like this. Well done! Bravo!

Superb performance,love the 'Live' format. Twenty six dancing Billy Elliots In the Chorus line. We saw the show at Victoria Palace. The live format at ICON in Minneapolis where a smallish appreciative audience applauded right along with the audience in London's West End. Every cast member was in top form and the camera close-ups and aerial shots gave us unprecedented access. The dialog was a challenge to the Mid-West ear but the energy of delivery of the lines conveys the meaning the trauma of the CMU strike. ' Merry Christmas Maggie Thatcher' is a routine that stays in one's memory long after the final curtain. For me this was the finest night in the Cinema for a very long time.