Billy Elliot - Le Musical Live

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.

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.

For some reason, I find that this musical version (based on the Oscar nominated 2000 movie) packs a far greater emotional punch. Perhaps it's because it's live or that they're able to expand a little bit more on the story but I found every scene involving Billy and his late mother just ripped my heart apart. Ruthie Henshall is a national treasure and was fantastic playing Mrs. Wilkinson as was Deka Walmsley who played the father. Credit must go to Elliott Hanna who was an incredible Billy who was (at the time) the youngest to assume the titular role. The stamina required to be a stage performer still blows me away and seeing all these actors literally caked in sweat while performing immensely difficult dance routines while singing persistently for 3 hours makes me appreciate just how incredible these performers are.

I'm sad I was never able to watch this in the theatre before it came to an end but I'm thankful they released an edition on DVD. The acting, cinematography, the script, the clever lighting and tricks, the costumes, the music all make this one of the best musical stage productions ever to be made.

Oh and the Tom Holland cameo at the end where all the past and present Billys performed a specially choreographed routine was brilliant. People often forget that this was where he started his career and I'm thrilled he took the time to return to the role for this special occasion.

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!

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