JohnFromVermont wrote:He nearly brought the house down with Solidarity, and definitely did so with each of his dance numbers there after.
...you know his voice can take on qualities of a very strong tenor.
Hey John:
Do you think that the house is safe for today shows, I mean, was something broken after Mr. Kulish brought it down last night with each of his dances?
And, did Mr. Kulish break one or more of the theater lamps with his "tenor" voice? I mean, Enrico Caruso used to; maybe we have another Caruso here in NYC and nobody has noticed yet, don't you think?
Wow, I have totally enjoyed all your reviews and postings. Maria and I saw B.E., the matinee, on April 22nd, after having met up with a couple of the great guys from the Forum.
We saw David Alvarez as Billy and he was just terrific. As before, I love his ballet and tap dancing and I think he is primo. "The new" Mr Braithwaite, Blake Hammond, said that Thommie will be back in two weeks. (I talked to him "a minute" after the show.) I thought Blake did a great job, at any rate.
THEN....and only because we were with British and Irish visitors(!), Greg Jbara brought us in the back door for a tour backstage. Most fascinating to me was the computerized mechanism which controls Billy's flying in the Swan Lake dream scene. Of course it is still "manned" to be sure there is no hitch.
Another fun fact is that the stage is washed with a solution to which Coca Cola is added to make the floor sticky so that the dancers do not slip or slide.
I was, myself, flying high as Maria and I raced through the streets of NYC to catch our Amtrak Train back to Baltimore that night.
Congratulations Cherri on your very first review! Can't wait to see many, many more!
Thank you!
OK, here are my thoughts to add to a fabulous show:
David Alvarez as Billy, Keean Johnson as Michael, Matthew Mindler as small boy, Tommy Batchelor as tall boy & posh boy, Leah Hocking as Mrs. W.
A great, great show, as always. I had not seen the show since December, and it was great to be back. As one of my foreign friends commented, the choreography is different in every single number versus the UK version. I thought about it a bit, and then realized how true that is. That said, sometimes the differences are small, but sometimes the number is completely different. Most of the differences work just fine for me, except... Angry Dance. The US audition scene is growing on me, and I like it better and better the more I see it. And, dare I admit I actually like the US version of "He could go and he could shine" (aka "he could be a star" in the UK) better than the UK version? Oh dear... It just works better. The action takes place after Dad returns from having worked in the pits - so he has definitely crossed the picket line, and is returning to the miners welfare with a police escort. At first everyone looks at him with some level of disgust, but as soon as he starts singing, we become aware of how completely torn he feels. Greg is incredible in this scene and it is very powerful, as all the miners gather around to help out. In the UK version, Tony prevents Dad from ever actually crossing the picket line, so the intensity is not the same.
Sat in A-10 - great seat - and unlike the VPT, the stage is lower, so you can see all the action up close and personal. In fact, so up close and personal, I had a nice exchange with grandma during Merry Christmas Maggie Thatcher - she caught me clapping and singing along. It was great fun. She had a styrofoam ball (like the ones that get shot out of the tank "Maggie Thatcher" is "wearing" and shoots out into the audience - a unique Broadway touch to the show that you have to experience to believe!). Anyway, at the end of the number, she signaled for me to catch the ball, and threw it to me. I was in seventh heaven - my very own BETM souvenir!!! I was disappointed that Hadyn was not on as Mrs. W., but Leah Hocking quickly won me over. As with the UK production, the understudies do the show proud. Keean Johnson was wonderful as Michael - he is a sweet kid, fun in Express, and very believable in the winter scene as a very vulnerable youngster. Keean is adorable! Greg Jbara as Dad - wow! Love that guy, and Cherri has already told you about the magical invitation to the stage after the show. I was completely stage struck. Greg is a CLASS ACT!!!
So, a word about young Mr. Alvarez. He has grown quite a bit since last I saw him, and his voice has definitely deepened. That said, he gave a wonderful, heartfelt performance. I felt the tears well up in my eyes, just watching him dance - he is that spectacular, and graceful and elegant, and, ... Words cannot do his performances justice. His Billy is a more serious Billy, and he is clearly focused and determined. He (Billy, and I imagine David too) takes his ballet very seriously. David is a also a terrific young actor - hard to imagine that he has been performing less than six months - he is such a pro. I don't know if these children understand the impact of their gift on the audience sometimes - to be able to bring an old, well let's say middle-aged, woman to tears with their performance - what an extraordinary gift - Bravo David, and thank you!
FINALLY!!!!! I was sooooo excited to see Keean's name up on the board. If I could have picked who I wanted to see tonight, it would have been this duo and there they were. My seat was K 24, Right Orch PV, which sounds like a crap seat, but was pretty decent. Right Orch PV is the best deal in the house.
It was really fun to not only see Keean as Michael, but Tommy as Tall Boy. Tommy's such a favorite of mine that I couldn't help but be a little upset when Kiril "punched" him, lol. Anyways, back to Keean... right off the bat he reminded me the most of the movie version of Michael, rather than the David B/Frank-style Michael. Its kind of hard to describe, but Keean's Michael is very normal, so the whole women's clothing scene is actually more surprising. If Frank is indeed taking off to shoot that TV show, I hope they bump Keean up to a full-time Michael rotation. He seems like he's still finding his version of the character and getting comfortable in it, but he's got tons of potential, his final flourish during the Express Yourself playoff is great.
While plenty has been said about how amazing Kiril is... tonight really blew me away. The growth that I've seen in his acting and vocals is amazing, and his dance technique is just flawless. The applause for Electricity went on for ages today and for good reason. I don't think I'll ever get tired of watching him dance, every move is clean and precise... just wow. And Born to Boogie is usually the number I get nitpicky on, but today we were treated to a perfectly executed number. The wraparound rope thing that came in with Haydn's return actually looks really cool now, and there was fun banter between Haydn and Blake along the lines of "you're a regular Gene Kelly" and "you're such a show off" while people were getting shoes on.
Couple of random things:
* The stage set for the audition scene started flying in for the first boxing scene. It sort of hovered there for a minute then quietly disappeared.
* Eboni was out (the tiniest ballet girl with the cute poofy pigtails) but the swing was adorably tiny and graceful as well.
And I also finally bought the cookbook after the show! There's some fun pictures that I will scan in when I get my new printer next week, including the jumping Billy with a chef's hat and spatula and some funny backstage photos.
LONDON: Liam M (1), Tom (3), Rhys Y (2), Dean Charles (1); NEW YORK: Trent (11), Tommy (10), Kiril (9), David (8), Tanner (3), Liam R (3), Dayton (3), Michael D (3), Alex (2), Jacob (1); CHICAGO: Tommy (1), Giuseppe (1), Cesar (1) = 63 shows total
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maria wrote: Greg Jbara as Dad - wow! Love that guy, and Cherri has already told you about the magical invitation to the stage after the show. I was completely stage struck. Greg is a CLASS ACT!!!
I don't know if these children understand the impact of their gift on the audience sometimes - to be able to bring an old, well let's say middle-aged, woman to tears with their performance - what an extraordinary gift - Bravo David, and thank you!
maria
Well said, Maria. I couldn't agree with you more about Greg and David. They helped make my trip to New York back in November extra special with their extraordinary performances and their friendly conversation after the shows by the stage door. David does have a unique take on the role of Billy that really worked well for me, and I very much hope to see him perform as Billy again later this year.
I went over to see the US version (three shows) this week with a completely open mind knowing that there are some changes to the show we see in London but not knowing too much about the detail.
Nothing could have prepared me for the surprise. It was like that first time in July 2006 when I saw BETM for the first time. I'm only back home and more than a bit jet-lagged so I'll have to be brief. The US Billy is MAGNIFICENT. There are differences of some kind in every scene from that in London right from the very start and the music is orchestrated differently or at least with different instruments used a lot of the time, but there was not one milli-second in the entire three shows that I was not enthralled, captivated, amazed, blown away, (and all the other words that can be used) at the manner in which the show is presented on Broadway. All three shows were jammed solid with pumped-up audiences. It brought a new meaning to "unbelievable".
If I had known at the time of booking that there would be four Billys I would have booked four shows instead of three. It was great to see the three original US Billys Kiril, David and Trent in that order but, luckily, also saw the fourth Billy, Tommy Batchelor once as Tall Boy. Great reason to go back again not to mention that David Bologna was on vacation. Frank twice as Michael and Keean three times, once as Michael and Tall Boy twice. There seems to be only one Debbie, Erin. Two Small Boys (Mitchell and Matthew). To see this amazing young talent all in the one show on Broadway is such a magnificent pleasure. Each and every one of them is so brilliant and special at what they do that I can still feel the hairs on the back of my neck bristling at the memories.
Likewise, the adult cast. I hope to make some more individual comments over the next few days but suffice to say for now that they have been expertly handpicked to play all the wonderful characters we all know and love from the show. But what a giant of a man Gregory Jbara is. On the stage his portrayal of Dad is so moving. One of my favourite scenes in the London show is the pit confrontation scene with Tony and He Could be a Star. This scene has been reworked and was the real surprise package. When I heard from another Forum member that Billy was now in this scene I have to admit I was not fussed about that. Now, having seen it, I hope this is brought to London. It is brilliantly done, a tearjerker of monumental proportions and brings a whole new meaning to "Take This and This". Greg has his tenderest emotional moment in this scene and even as I write this I can feel the tear ducts opening. But Greg is more than just a great performer. He is the show's greatest ambassador and meeting him was the highlight of three amazing days in New York that I will never, ever forget.
The wonderful friendly atmosphere outside the theatre after the shows added hugely to the occasion and to all of the cast/crew that we met a big Irish Go raibh míle maith agat (1000 thanks to you). It was an enormous icing on the cake.
Don't get me wrong. I can't wait for next week's Thursday Matinee in London. I greatly missed not being there this week. But here we have two fantastic but different presentations of the same show that leave you not only breathless but wanting more and more. If only Ryanair did Transatlantic I could head over on the early flight from Dublin to New York every Wednesday in time for the matinee, then catch a late night flight back to London in time for Thursday Matinee. Now, there's a greedy thought.
Extra special to meet up with some wonderful fans (you know who you are) showing what a truly international following BETM has.
I am definitely going back to see the US Billy again and I would exhort anyone who can make it to go and, preferably, soon.
Gee patc, it sounds as though you liked the Broadway show. I can't help but agree with you that though the London and US versions are different, they are both wonderful! Glad you had a great time.
Ellen
"I don't want people who want to dance; I want people who have to dance.”
-George Balanchine 1904 -1983
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maria wrote:So, a word about young Mr. Alvarez. He has grown quite a bit since last I saw him, and his voice has definitely deepened. That said, he gave a wonderful, heartfelt performance. I felt the tears well up in my eyes, just watching him dance - he is that spectacular, and graceful and elegant, and, ... Words cannot do his performances justice. His Billy is a more serious Billy, and he is clearly focused and determined. He (Billy, and I imagine David too) takes his ballet very seriously. David is a also a terrific young actor - hard to imagine that he has been performing less than six months - he is such a pro. I don't know if these children understand the impact of their gift on the audience sometimes - to be able to bring an old, well let's say middle-aged, woman to tears with their performance - what an extraordinary gift - Bravo David, and thank you!
maria
Exactly my sentiments, Maria, when I saw young Mr. Alvarez for the firt time. His Billy flies us into another realm, and I feel that words can't describe his performances.
Well, four shows in three days! I feel rather jet-lagged at the moment so will not attempt to write anything more until I have recovered but surfice it to say I just love the Broadway production and its cast. Great to meet up with Cherri, Maria and patc, and a HUGE thank you to Greg Jbara for spending so much time with us and his back stage tour.
I can't help but agree with you that though the London and US versions are different, they are both wonderful! Glad you had a great time. 