Those of you who read my blogs know that when it comes to theatre I am very picky. It wasn't always like that. When I first moved here almost twenty years ago I saw everything. From Crazy For You to Lost In Yonkers I saw them all. Some more than once. However in the last few years my taste has changed somewhat. I actually have enjoyed the plays more than the musicals. I guess I'm just sick and tired of all these movies and cartoons turned into these saturated and overproduced attempts at a musical theatre. When it was announced back in 2003 that Billy Elliot was coming to the stage I did my usual groan and thought, "Here we go again.Another successful and acclaimed movie being turned into another paint by the numbers musical." Now even though I had never seen the movie I knew I was going to hate everything about it. Therefore I avoided it like the plague. In fact I was the only person in my office to see it. Cut to nearly three years later and we get invited again. Not having anything to do on a Saturday I decided to finally give in and see what all the fuss was about. After all it did win ten awards and we all know they don't just give those to anybody.
Unless of course you count Contact,Thoroughly Modern Millie, and last year's winner Memphis. Now to all you haters out there I just have this to say. Aida, Urinetown, and the lack of competition. Oh and of course the unnecessary bias towards The Addams Family. There. I've said my peace. Now back to Billy Elliot. So there I sat in Row C of the Front Mezzanine waiting for the show to start. Knowing full well that I was more than likely going to flee the theatre as soon as the curtain went down at the end of Act One. Now I am man enough to admit when I am wrong and boy was I wrong about this show. I can't begin to tell you how much I loved this show. I will even as go as far to say that is by far one of the most well crafted and directed shows that I have ever seen.There was not one misstep. What a perfect day in the theatre. I would even see it again. That's how much I loved it. For those of you who haven't seen it yet or for those of you like me who thought it might be too British or maybe think that a show about a boy ballet dancer would be not appealing to most then I think you are wrong. I was and I have never been so happy about being wrong this much about anything in a long time. Now what does that tell you? Until next time theatre fans.
JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment
311 West 43rd Street
Suite 1105
New York,NY 10036
212-307-7050 or 1-800-451-9930
http://www.applause-tickets.com/
Facebook: Applause Theater and Entertainment Service
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