October 2009 Reviews - NYC

[Billy Whiz]

Thanks everybody for your wonderful reviews. They are the next best thing to being there.

Keep them coming

[phoebe]

Beautifully put, maria.
It was very nice meeting you, too.

[sgv123]

Glad to see that Tommy is back, and he gave an excellent performance this afternoon. I am on my way home right now, but i will post more later--- including Alex's sense of humor.

[angelenroute]

Glad to see that Tommy is back, and he gave an excellent performance this afternoon. I am on my way home right now, but i will post more later--- including Alex's sense of humor.

Excellent tidbit to whet our collective appetite, looking forward to more, "Grandma" =)

Sean

[sgv123]

Well, I don't have time for a review right now, but......

For those of you not familiar with the Imperial lobby---there is a stair case and the merchandise stand is right against it with a space in between the 2. Well, Alex and Trent came down with one of their chaperones to get drinks from the bar. Alex and Trent stood on the stairs and Alex began "taunting" the merchandise guy asking him for his autograph asking to make it out to Alex. The merchandise guy got a kick out of it as did I. They got their drinks (water) and Alex ever so sneakily started to tilt his full cup over the ledge right above the merchandise guy's ( I really wish I new his name!) head but his chaperone caught him just before any water came out

Oh Alex!

[phoebe]

Sounds like Alex is feeling pretty comfortable already!

[angelenroute]

Perhaps it was because I also had the privilege of being there for Kiril's very first performance on Broadway just one short year ago

Although I wasn't conscious of it at the time, you're very right: Every interview we saw of Kiril from the moment he was first announced as one of the Broadway Billys, seeing him perform at First Preview (and twice more), and all of the various press photos and videos throughout his run all culminated in that final show as Billy. We watched Kiril go from might-be star to proven star and like foster parents and foster big brothers and big sisters, we were all blessed to have had this young man in our midst for the past year +. He was a natural and I'm continually thanking the theatre gods for the generosity that brought me unexpectedly into The Imperial that night.

[billybuddies4eva]

I'm back from New York Now i'm not going to write a proper review at this presice moment but I will get round to one.

Sat 24th Eve

Billy- David/Trent
Micheal - Keean

For the first half, David was Billy and he was doing a great job. However, it was announced at the begining of the second half that Trent would take over since David wasn't feeling his best.
I LOVED Express, the added glitzy touches made the scene even more outrageously hilarious and Keean was an excellent Micheal.
I actually thought the angry dance wasn't that bad. Ok, it's not as angry or dynamic as London, but I liked it since it was sodifferent and unusual.
The finale or " company celebration " , was great, I loved the big lit up Billy at the end and wouldn't mind it that came to london * hint hint *
The way they managed to make it look like billy was looking out into the auditorium during the audition scene was very clever.
I don't think he could be a star was as good on Broadway as it is in London. It's just not as powerful and poignant, but I did like the money collecting bit with all the * and this and this * bits

Now I don't know if it's just me, or can the americans just not get the geordie accent. Have they been told to tone it down so much that it doesn't resemble a geordie accent at all ? Keean did a great accent as did the man who played Tony ( I will check his name ), but Kate Hennig was not convincing enough as Mrs Wilkinson because of this and therefore, I didn't warm to her as much. Also, Trent had quite a strong american accent at times, and I was wondering if his accent has alway been like this or if he had a perfect geordie accent in London ?

Despite this, I still absolutely loved the show and wouldn't have missed seeing it Broadway for the world. There were some really nices little touches such as the shadow dance which should come to London

[angelenroute]

...I still absolutely loved the show and wouldn't have missed seeing it Broadway for the world...

Woo hoo! Though you made some excellent points about the differences and how they could still be improved upon, you still "absolutely loved" the show and as an American who's only seen the London production once, I am very happy to hear you enjoyed the Broadway version so much! Yay!

Sean

[Billy Whiz]

Hi bb4e.

Glad you enjoyed the show or was it shows?

I agree with a lot of what you have said. I too like the bit at the end of "He Could Be a Star" when they collect the money.

I do believe the accents have been toned down as it was felt the American audiences would not understand full blown Geordie. To be fair I think they are probably right.

Tony is played by Will Chase.

I thought Keean's accent was very good as well. I suppose it helps having an English father.

Looking forward to your full review.