Billy Elliot ao Vivo

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.

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

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!

What an incredible ten year run coming to a close April 9th, 2016. From a man who never wrote songs combined with a man who embraces the production of fine art through any medium as collection of ideas and abilities. This movie is an epic example of how a decade of work can shine. Elliott, and every Billy, brought with them very little skill for this monstrosity of a role. What were you doing at 12? The stage, music, lighting, and fiery audience gives you a feel as if your a drone buzzing about the airspace of the Victoria Palace Theatre. There is not a character you wont be able to connect with. A tasteful buffet of all dance styles. Grab a box of Kleenex. Have watched it more than ten times now. Includes bonus performance. If you can't get to London get it to your TV.

OK, here's the one big downside: this is a film of the actual stage show, and it simply can't adequately convey the full stirring power of the big male voice numbers. Cranking up the volume on the TV remote for those songs still doesn't quite cut it. Smaller gripes include the camera angle cuts that are a bit annoying at times, and you wish the director had chosen not to keep chopping and changing angles quite so much, and maybe stuck with more straightforward angles that didn't occasionally cut off Billy's feet during dance sequences. Yes, the 'f-bomb' is liberally sprinkled through the dialogue, but it's in keeping with the setting. Also, occasionally the accent is a bit hard to understand. And it's a staged show, so it's not aiming for realism. So don't start comparing it with Billy Elliot the movie. This is much more about the dancing with a whole extra dimension added with the songs. The movie was great. The stage show is great. But they're great in different ways despite both telling the same story.

Having said all of that, Billy Elliot the Musical is my family's all-time favourite stage show. It has everything: stunning choreography, fabulous singing, great comedy, an emotional underdog story and the whole thing is told against the backdrop of a painfully real episode of massive social upheaval. Unless the stage show is on in your city and you can afford to go and experience it in person (preferably more than once), watching this filmed version is the next best thing.

The Swan Lake sequence where child Billy dances with 'future Billy' is just the most brilliant piece of choreography, stunningly executed. And the Electricity solo by child Billy where he comes out of a long dance sequence with multiple pirouettes, then has enough breath left to continue singing and finally finish with another series of pirouettes is just astounding.

Watch this filmed version of the stage show. Later you can buy the CD and crank up the volume to really appreciate the power of the big male voice numbers. And when the stage show comes to a city near you, plan to go. At least once.