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The show was very good. The talent of the young people involved was amazing. JP did a wonderful job playing Billy (his first major part performing in his first show). The story was good but had some moments that didn't seem to fit into the overall story that well.
Just ok. Dancing was great but story and pacing were just so so. Jersey Boys this isn't.
This event is well worth the ticket price. Tommy Batchelor is a fantastic Billy, and given the quality of the performance, I'm confident the others will follow suit. The staging and choreography stand out as most unusual and innovative...in some respects, I was reminded of Miss Saigon, allowing the scenery to affford the audience both sides of an event. This performance doesn't have memorable songs that you will hum as you leave, but the music overall is very interesting and appropriate. There was a mishap early on in the play, involving a broken glass that had to be carefully removed from the stage floor. It was handled very carefully and as quickly as possible.
The talent of the young people was unbeliveable. Costume, scenery, dancing, singing was awesome.
Billy Elliot was a charming movie about a young man from an English mining town who is driven to be a dancer. Billy Elloit the Musical appears to be a statement about the labor policies of the Thatcher government and their impact on a coal mining town that happens to be the home of a young lad who wants to be a dancer. Unless British political policy from decades past is a personal passion I would suggest you rent the movie version.
I took my friends to see the most wonderful, talented theatre outing to date. The energy on that stage could not be compared to anything I have seen. The character of BIlly Elliot, played perfectly by Tommy, still has me in awe. I will rave about this musical for a very very long time to everyone I know. I'm just wondering how many times I will go back to see it again! This proves again the genius of Elton John. This is just one of the many reasons he is the best the entertainment industry has.
A tremendous show on all accounts. The show captivated our imagination and attention throughout.
I really enjoyed the show--it was all a Broadway-style musical should be. If I had any quibble, it was why three of the boys who play Billy Elliott are Hispanic, Asian, Italian? I find it hard to believe there weren't 4 boys of Anglo-Saxon heritage to play a boy who is from northern England. I'm not being prejudiced, merely questioning the casting when everything else was obviously handled with such precision. The young man in yesterday's production was very talented and capable, but I was aware he looked Hispanic throughout the show regardless of the "accent."
Billy Elliot is one of the best musicals to ever hit a Broadway in Chicago Stage.. There is something for everyone. The dancing covers many styles. The music is beautiful and moving. The cast members have wonderful voices. The acting in the show is superb. The entire cast is excellent and I could go to watch this every night of the week. It is a wonderful story and a wonderful way to spend the evening in the theater. All around it was outstanding!!
I loved the movie. The play was different enough and very well done. I loved the mix in telling the story of What was going on in Billy's life and the world around him. The staging was excellent. Great show!!!
We loved the show and what a treat to see JR have his world premier as Billy. He did an outstanding job. The show was great!
Eight of us saw Billy at the matinee Saturday. All of us thoroughly enjoyed it.
I would like to watch the movie again, to remember what I enjoyed about it the first time, that I did not enjoy about the play. We did not think the music was memorable, in other words I would not buy or download. I am not prejudice, but it was hard to accept J.P. Viernes in the role of Billy Elliot, due to the setting of the play in England. Act II was definitely more entertaining than Act I.
Do Not Miss this Musical - the talent, the music, everything about the performance was superb! I cannot wait to see it again - I fell in love with"Billy Elliot" -
There are four Billy's as many people know. We saw the very first performance ever by J.P. Viernes. He is the least experienced in the role and he filled the shoes of someone four times this size. The cast did not skip a beat with a rookie to the stage who appeared as though he had played the role for 10 years. The entire cast blew me away in their dancing, singing and acting and I was far, far from the stage.
Awesome venue, great staging. My wife and I were visiting Chicago, made for a great close to a snowy day.
We truly enjoyed the energy and warmth displayed by all of the characters in Billy Eliot. The lead actor was amazing! Hard to believe this was his debut. We enjoyed all of the dancing, especially the young girls in the dance studio. The scene with the over sized dresses was delightful! We were surprised the ending did not include events that were in the movie and we felt the play shouldn't be "over" although we enjoyed the final scene which included extensive dancing (and fun) by all of the characters. Would have preferred to see the play end with the young Billy mirror dancing with the adult man. Also, thought it was interesting they incorporated humor into the subject of homosexuality. Again, different than what we expected. Overall, great experience and a wonderful night out.
Absolutely out of this world. Saw Billy Elliot in London three years ago, then saw it in NYC this past August. Chicago's version was more than up to the task. Warm, funny, sad, intimate...hard to find the right words to describe my emotional investment in this musical. This is a must see show. I've seen all the biggies, Phantom, Les Mez, etc., and yet, it is the magical skills of a young lad [reminders to all of us when we were at that age aspiring to success in the arts when, perhaps, our parents or friends thought we were nuts, or as the show implies, "are you a fairy?"] which excels above the staging and music of the other extraordinary shows of recent years. Without a doubt you will experience the signature musical piece of Billy "electricity...electricity," from the moment of the opening number until the final standing ovations of the audience. Please don't miss Billy Elliot. I've already purchased tickets for four more show dates during its posted run in Chicago.
I was expecting a more polished show, considering all the awards it has gotten. The beginning was very, very slow. After 10 or 15 minutes I was yearning for some dancing. The meaning of the strike was not made clear, and could have been elucidated better. However, the cast was excellent, the music, though not memorable, was delightful to listen to, and overall it was a good night at the theater. I would caution everyone with tickets not to leave when you first think the play is ended. The curtain calls are almost the best part of the night.
Attended the first preview and there was some technical issues that stopped the show briefly. However, it will be in great shape for opening in April. Fantastic performances, sets and music. Simply the best in Chicago right now.