Billy Elliot

[paul]

After seeing the Billy Elliot show in Toronto, I've been watching other Billy's on youtube, everyone I have seen seems to have an extraordinary multi skilled talent to be able to dance, act, sing. For all who have seen Billy Elliot, have you got any favorite actors?

I can't remember who starred Billy in the Toronto show?

FDL ?


I found this from Liam Mower, he done a good job at it.
[youtube][/youtube]

[LennesSL]

Love this song !!! Electricity..

Didn't get to see Billy, when I was in Londen for Libera. No time!! But I heard it was very good??

[paul]

Love this song !!! Electricity..

Didn't get to see Billy, when I was in Londen for Libera. No time!! But I heard it was very good??

I enjoyed the show in Toronto, so i'm planning to see it again in London.

[paul]

Love this song !!! Electricity..

Didn't get to see Billy, when I was in Londen for Libera. No time!! But I heard it was very good??

Love that song to, it's sung with so much passion.

I enjoyed the show in Toronto, so i'm planning to see it again in London.

[LennesSL]

I enjoyed the show in Toronto, so i'm planning to see it again in London.

Nice .. In the netherlands it isn't on stage.. Don't know if its ever been.

But the song Electricity is song by some boys. Who were running for a leading part in the musical "Kruimeltje".

[youtube][/youtube]

It's dutch. But the same lyrics as in english. I love it .. (Been there when they recorded it )

But I'm going off topic ..

Hope you enjoy Billy in Londen

[fan_de_LoK]

I can't remember who starred Billy in the Toronto show?

FDL ?

It was JP Viernes

[paul]

I can't remember who starred Billy in the Toronto show?

FDL ?

It was JP Viernes

Thanks, I knew you would remember.

[Rebecca (:]

I havent had the chance to see Billy Elliot live yet, but i hope i get to one day! on the note of the talented actors in it, one of my friends who is in the musical I'm in tonight stars in it right now... I might go see his show sometime soon!

[Yorkie]

In the netherlands it isn't on stage.. Don't know if its ever been.

But the song Electricity is song by some boys. Who were running for a leading part in the musical "Kruimeltje".


It's dutch. But the same lyrics as in english. I love it .. (Been there when they recorded it )

But I'm going off topic ..

Hope you enjoy Billy in Londen

Rumour is in Billy World that they are looking to do a version in Germany and another in the Netherlands. The London, New York, Toronto & US Tour shows are all done by the same company (i.e. the people behind the film) as was the shows they did in Australia. However there has been a Korean show done under licence and I suspect that will be the case with BETM if it hits Germany/Holland.

No, I don't have a favourite Billy - they are so insanely talented that to pick one over another can only be done for fairly shallow reasons. Although that said I do like some boys versions of a dance better than others as they all do slightly different versions based on their strengths.

For the first time in a few years the London show has a 'street' Billy (i.e. a kid who specialises in street dancing) rather than the more traditional 'ballet' Billy. I understand that at the end of his Electricity rather that the pirouettes he does a wall flip.

[Yorkie]

I havent had the chance to see Billy Elliot live yet, but i hope i get to one day! on the note of the talented actors in it, one of my friends who is in the musical I'm in tonight stars in it right now... I might go see his show sometime soon!

You had your chance and you blew it off in order to see big fat green witches screetching about the stage with a clockwork dragon

[liberavieve]

I've seen Billy Elliot four times with various friends and family, and I don't think that anyone I've been with has had a bad word to say about the show as a whole. Though, as has been said, all of the actors I've seen in the role of Billy have been great—they have to be; they carry the show—they came to the role with different strengths and weaknesses, and with that in mind, I do have a favourite portrayal.

The actor that I saw in New York didn't exactly have the finest voice I've heard from a Billy, and he really struggled with the Geordie accent. That said, though, he was quite expressive and consistent in his acting, and his dancing was truly impeccable. One look at him in motion was enough to tell even a dance-ignorant audience (and I include myself in that) that he was coming from some very serious, very classical ballet training.

London Billy No. 1, the only 'street Billy' I've seen, surprised me on a lot of levels. I knew that he was one of the more 'popular' Billys at the time, but because I was seeing him very near to the end of his run, I expected to see someone who towered awkwardly over the rest of the child cast and had to struggle through his songs thanks to a changing voice. I also expected him to be perhaps a bit rough in terms of his ballet, since he came from a gymnastic and hip-hop background. I was (happily) wrong on all counts. This Billy didn't look at all out-of-place, and he certainly didn't sound it; he had an excellent, clear voice that, if it had in fact started to change, didn't show any signs of having done so. Plus, if I hadn't known that I was seeing a 'street Billy,' I probably wouldn't have been able to tell; though he flipped and tumbled like the gymnast he was, his ballet was skillful and confident. This Billy seemed to have the audience absolutely wrapped around his finger, and the friends with whom I saw the show raved about him for weeks.

I saw London Billy No. 3 very early in his run— within his first two weeks, if I remember correctly. A few of the people in the queue, speculating about which actor would be in the role that day, waxed rhapsodic about how little, pure, and innocent this boy was thanks to his age and inexperience in the role. (Not necessarily my preference in the portrayal, but that's another matter.) His inexperience showed a bit too much for me, as he seemed to break character quite often in order to mug for the audience— to pull a face, for instance, in order to cue them in to a joke or to get them more excited. I often felt that I was watching 'Billy No. 3 as Billy' rather than just 'Billy.' Like all of the West End Billys I've seen, though, this boy had a lovely voice and probably could have walked into any choir in the city and found a place there. I've heard that by the time his run as Billy ended, he was stellar all-around, and part of me wishes that I could have seen him when he was a bit more comfortable with the part.

Dean-Charles Chapman was my London Billy No. 4, and I mention him by name because I, who can obviously be quite a harsh critic, have absolutely nothing critical to say about the performance that I saw from him. Dean-Charles was truly fantastic as Billy. I think that for me, he was Billy; I never once felt like I was watching 'Dean playing the role of Billy Elliot.' It's possible that his complete, convincing ownership of the role had to do with his years-long involvement with the cast. He could just be supremely talented. Regardless, he sang beautifully, danced gracefully, and acted with a humanity that never, ever made his emotions or motivations seem forced or artificial. That's a tremendous accomplishment for an actor of any age, but for a twelve- or thirteen-year-old? Just awesome.

[Yorkie]

Dean-Charles Chapman was my London Billy No. 4, and I mention him by name because I, who can obviously be quite a harsh critic, have absolutely nothing critical to say about the performance that I saw from him. Dean-Charles was truly fantastic as Billy. I think that for me, he was Billy; I never once felt like I was watching 'Dean playing the role of Billy Elliot.' It's possible that his complete, convincing ownership of the role had to do with his years-long involvement with the cast. He could just be supremely talented. Regardless, he sang beautifully, danced gracefully, and acted with a humanity that never, ever made his emotions or motivations seem forced or artificial. That's a tremendous accomplishment for an actor of any age, but for a twelve- or thirteen-year-old? Just awesome.

Nice write up Liberavieve, enjoyed reading that. Maybe I'm the one out of whack but I don't tend to favour any of the Libera boys (although I will champion those I think get unfairly overlooked) and I wouldn't do the same with a Billy. I think if you have favourites you leave yourself open to disappointment when they leave or miss a show.

And on to Dean CC - the only member of BETM to have appeared in the very first show in London on 31st March 2005 and still appearing in the show today.

Of course he wasn't Billy back then he was playing small boy and when his time in that role came to an end he said he would be back and return he did some years later (after taking dance classes) to appear as Michael. After a few months as Michael they realised he had what it took to 'be' Billy and they took him out of the show to step up his training. Dean is a very popular Billy in London.

[youtube][/youtube]

[youtube][/youtube]

[Yorkie]

After seeing the Billy Elliot show in Toronto, I've been watching other Billy's on youtube, everyone I have seen seems to have an extraordinary multi skilled talent to be able to dance, act, sing. For all who have seen Billy Elliot, have you got any favorite actors?

I can't remember who starred Billy in the Toronto show?

FDL ?


I found this from Liam Mower, he done a good job at it.

Have you bought the BETM cast recording yet Paul? Liam is the one singing Billy's songs on that album. He often slips out of his Geordie accent but because his normal accent is broad Yorkshire very few people notice

Liam's story is not unlike Billy's - he grow up in a northern town in a working class family, his dad and brothers all played rugby and Liam took up Ballet. He got in to the Royal Ballet School and split his time between classes at RBS and performing in the show until it got a bit too much for him (aged 12) and he left the RBS to concentrate on BETM.

Many people think he is the ultimate Billy and he was most certainly it's first big star

[Murkskis]

Excellent review Liberavieve!
Are you a professional critic in the real life ?

And thanks to Yorkie for finding these YT clips!
I think I'll try to get to another musical (Billy, Wicked ...) when I visit London the next time!

''Have you bought the BETM cast recording''- is there a link available?

[paul]

After seeing the Billy Elliot show in Toronto, I've been watching other Billy's on youtube, everyone I have seen seems to have an extraordinary multi skilled talent to be able to dance, act, sing. For all who have seen Billy Elliot, have you got any favorite actors?

I can't remember who starred Billy in the Toronto show?

FDL ?


I found this from Liam Mower, he done a good job at it.

Have you bought the BETM cast recording yet Paul? Liam is the one singing Billy's songs on that album. He often slips out of his Geordie accent but because his normal accent is broad Yorkshire very few people notice

Liam's story is not unlike Billy's - he grow up in a northern town in a working class family, his dad and brothers all played rugby and Liam took up Ballet. He got in to the Royal Ballet School and split his time between classes at RBS and performing in the show until it got a bit too much for him (aged 12) and he left the RBS to concentrate on BETM.

Many people think he is the ultimate BETM and he was most certainly it's first big star

Not yet but its on my must have list

Dean from Essex! I can tell from the accent that its not so far from me.

good review! liberavieve