From Lip Balm To Broadway
A Stage Bern-ing Performance
Turning Expectations Into Swiss Cheese
The Giuseppe Bausilio Revolution
I cannot appropriately describe Giuseppe Bausilio’s dance abilities, as I’m definitely not a dancer. But I do know amazing when I see it, and I absolutely saw exactly that every time I saw this boy perform. Some fans are able to see a Billy perform many times, others only once. For me, the lucky number was three.
My first time seeing him perform was on an unusually warm and beautiful winter’s day in Charlotte,
North Carolina on January 30th of this year. As I approached the cast board inside the lobby of the Ovens Auditorium, I knew whoever I was going to see would be new to me. Other than seeing Kylend in the role of Tall Boy in New York, these were all Billys I’d never seen perform the part. And there was his name in big letters: GIUSEPPE BAUSILIO. I literally gave a fist pump and a “yes!” out loud as some friends had already told me they’d caught Giuseppe and loved him. Needless to say, I loved him too.
After that show, he was so kind and sweet with all of us looking for autographs and the chance to tell him “well done”. An attractive, well dressed woman who looked a bit like Giuseppe was taking video of his time with the fans. “Excuse me, are you Giuseppe’s mom?” A big smile and a nod, her enthusiasm and pride pouring out as she thanked me for my praise of her son. Soon afterward they left and walked to their car, while we decided where to go for dinner. Before we came to a conclusion, a car came by slowly behind us with Giuseppe waving wildly out his passenger-side window delightfully shouting his thanks to us again for our attendance and support. A moment I’ll never forget, that’s for sure!
Flash forward five months, and the news was grand: Giuseppe Bausilio from the North American Tour would get a chance at The Great White Way! I started telling fellow fans right away that they just had to see this kid. His talent and enthusiasm were huge and I just knew everyone would love him. I got myself a cheap but good partial view Orchestra seat for
his Broadway debut on July 3rd and sat in awe as the amazing performer I’d seen in January proved that like a fine Swiss wine, he’d gotten even better with age. Okay, okay, so I have no idea what Swiss wines are like, but I'm gonna go with that anyway.
And sure enough, just as I'd promised, my fellow Billy fan friends were beyond impressed with him as well.
But Giuseppe’s talents were never the only thing about him that impressed the audience both inside the Imperial and at stage door. His enthusiasm, his friendliness, his outgoing personality and smile are trademarks of
Giuseppe the celebrity. His parents have raised him to be a complete gentleman and so incredibly professional and friendly with fans. And because Jacob Clemente’s final performance in the role of Billy was later on the same day as Giuseppe’s Broadway premiere, I suspect the fan girls who loved Jacob found a suitable outlet for their glee in Giuseppe as well!
It was that night after Jacob’s last show that a few of us ran into Giuseppe and his mother in the parking lot next to the Imperial. We were walking to our car with Thommie Retter, and they were on their way to Jacob’s party nearby. Thommie called to them and asked if they’d take just a minute briefly with his friends (us). Once again, it was with no impatience or worry that they stopped in their tracks and spent a few minutes with us, and were very, very sweet.
In late September I was on the street near the Billy tent on the day of the
Broadway Flea Market when I bumped into someone. I turned around to apologize and there he was, big smile, passing by to hang something up on the outside of the Billy tent. “Hey Giuseppe!” He was working really, really hard that day. It was so nice to see a volunteer that young putting in as much or more effort than the adults. He was literally working constantly, shouting out the deals to the crowd, telling people the price of things, changing their money and posing for photographs virtually nonstop. His parents’ YouTube channel captured some of that here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idpzI-WvLWI
And then the day came so quickly.
This past Sunday, November 6, 2011, Giuseppe Bausilio’s finale in Billy Elliot The Musical on Broadway had arrived. It was such a short run on Broadway compared to many, but of course he was an original Chicago Billy, and then toured the country with the North American Tour. Many fans saw Giuseppe perform in Chicago, on Tour, and/or on Broadway, and many tried to be there for his final performance in the role the last TWO times it was scheduled. But with two extensions, all of those couldn’t be there on Sunday. I’m happy to tell you though that at least 15 Billy super fans were there, most are Forum members and a few others I see pretty often.
Now because this is a long review, I hope you’ll understand the lack of detail about the show in general. I do, however, want to tell you about some highlights.
1)There wasn’t a speech before the show, which did annoy both cast and crew, but all made up for that soon enough!
2) We applauded for Giuseppe when he first came on the stage with Dad.
3) A bunch of us applauded for his back attitude pose after he says “chin” in Solidarity. He raises his one leg higher than his thigh and those in the know say it’s just phenomenal. Certainly looks impressive from a layman’s point of view too. Will just add too that Giuseppe is very, very muscular. You don’t see it in his arms as much, but his legs are just massive (in the good way for legs to be massive lol). You can tell he trains really, really hard, is totally dedicated to his craft, and keeps himself in perfect shape.
4) One lady near me (there for her first time I later learned) applauded for his spins across the stage in Solidarity too. She sat in the row in front of me and I could tell she was just blown away by the show and by Giuseppe. In fact at Intermission I tried to talk to her, but she was overcome with tears just at the experience of witnessing the show’s first act!
5) Giuseppe's voice was STUNNING! His singing was so beautiful!!! I'd heard tell of the way they changed the duet at the end of Deep Into The Ground with Dad and Billy singing "against" each other, but wow!!! Those few seconds hearing them sing together immediately jumped onto my "best ever" theatrical moments list! Absolutely gorgeous voice throughout the show and especially highlighted in that brief scene.
6) Huge applause at the end of Dream Ballet. You know that point when he spins into an attitude position in Dad’s face? Well it was just perfect and stunning!
7) Huge applause and a mostly full theatre standing ovation after Electricity. Many cheers and long applause and very much deserved.
8) Hug from Debbie (Brianna) even though Giuseppe wasn’t expecting it/had his back turned to her when she did it. =)
And then at the very end a little boy on a bicycle rode out on stage.
“Oy, Dancin’ Boy!”
Giuseppe climbed back on stage and kissed his friend on the cheek. “See ya, Jack.”
“Yeah, see ya, Giuseppe.”
Curtain, tears, and loud applause.
At the near-silent start of the Finale, one of our fan friends shouted out Giuseppe's name which made us smile and laugh and put a huge smile on Giuseppe's face as well.
At the final bow, Small Boy brought Giuseppe a bouquet of flowers, and “Dad”, played on Broadway by theatre vet Daniel Jenkins, came to the front of stage and told us we could sit for a minute as he began a very brief but very inspiring and emotional speech. His pauses and the emotion in his voice helped make it even more special.
Remember too as you read this that many in the audience still didn’t know that it was the final performance for this amazingly talented young man in this amazing show. I will have to paraphrase, so here’s just some of it as best I can remember. Don’t read it too fast either so you grasp the way we heard it:
“Born in Bern, Switzerland, he created and successfully marketed his own lip balm in order to pay his way here to the states. He speaks FIVE languages. He’s performed in three North American productions of the show. …………………And tonight, Giuseppe Bausilio has just performed the role of Billy Elliot for the
final time.”
Gasps of disbelief, awws, and sighs came from every direction. These were followed by an applause that grew louder and louder, then a spontaneous and universal standing ovation came next. People shouted and whooped, cheered his name and an occasional “Bravo!” It was a beautiful, emotional, and most deserved tribute to this incredibly talented young man!
Stage Door
Between welcomes from Giuseppe’s mom Sônia and from Thommie Retter (Mr. Braithwaite) who asked Sônia, all of the super fans there were invited to walk over and attend the cast party for Giuseppe at Sônia’s new studio space nearby. It was really exciting walking over there with Giuseppe (his flowers in hand), his mom, and their friends. We were not just casually invited in but made to feel very, very welcome as well. Sônia encouraged us multiple times to mingle and enjoy ourselves which we all did very, very much. It was a really, REALLY wonderful time! She told us that the fans have all meant so much to them throughout this beautiful journey. And of course that message is meant for all of you too!
Giuseppe Bausilio was an awesome and awe-inspiring Billy Elliot, and he’s only JUST getting warmed up! I know I speak for all when I say I can’t wait to see what blessings await him in the future!!! Bravo, Giuseppe! Bravo!!!
Sean
Sean Patrick Brennan/angelenroute
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Giuseppe's Photo Countdown:
http://www.billyelliottheforum.me.uk/fo ... =30&t=3138
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Giuseppe’s Official Website:
http://www.giuseppebausilio.com