OK, let's dispense with the profanity right off the bat. Since Billy Elliott the Musical premiered in London's West End in 2005, parents across the globe have been taken aback by the show's gratuitous cursing and allusions to all things carnal. Some have even grabbed their kids and bee-lined for the exit before the end of the first act.
I am proud to say that at the show's opening night at Seattle's Paramount Theatre, I was not one of them. Like the title character's boxing teacher says near the end of the show, I support the arts even if they include things I may find offensive.
That said, and even in spite of the Paramount's clear warning about profanity in the show, I found myself pretty much in a constant wince throughout the three-hour production. I sat in my seat knowing, just knowing, that my 12-year-old son was seated just above me in the mezzanine acquiring a whole new nasty vocabulary.
So. An overzealous use of profanity is one concerns I bring to you about a show which frankly dazzled and amazed my kids and me. Talk about an oxymoron.
The show is recommended for kids ages 8 and up, but I would rate it PG-13, with an emphasis on the "parental guidance" part.
Profanity aside, I was dazzled and amazed by the tremendous talent and enthusiasm of this touring cast. Led by Lex Ishimoto who gives a flawless performance and shows incredible dance artistry as the show's title character, this show is chock full of amazing kid actors and dancers. My kids and were wowed by how fast some of the tiniest ones could move.
As we left the theater my daughter – who really loves the couch – mentioned that she sure would like to have a passion like Ishimoto clearly does. That boy was born to dance. Inside I was leaping (though not as high as most of the dancers in this show) thinking that she might finally land on a hobby she will stick with.
The story is basically Flashdance set against the 1984 coal-miners strike in Britain's Margaret Thatcher era. (And may I say that a number in which a stage full of singers wish Mrs. Thatcher dead is really hard to explain to a 12-year-old. "Isn't that terrorism?" my son asked. Huh.)
Billy Elliott is an 11-year-old coal miner's son whose mother has passed away. While his dad and older brother join all the other men in town in a strike against the mining company they work for, Billy is expected to take boxing lessons. This will, we can presume, prepare him for the rough and tough world of a miner.
There's just one wee problem. Billy Elliott is a wuss and he hates boxing. Instead, he loves to dance. After meeting a bored but inspiring dance teacher, Billy learns he is built for the ballet. The two work in secret to prepare him for an audition with the Royal Ballet Company. Of course, when his father finds out, there is heck to be paid. No son of his is going to be a "puff" (the British slang word for homosexual).
Of course there is a change of heart – it wouldn't be a Broadway musical (a 10-time Tony Award winning musical) without one or ten of those. Eventually Billy's dad and brother and his entire town rally behind him. He is, after all, one of the lucky ones. He is a boy with a talent that might, just might, take him out of this dying town.
It all ends gleefully, touchingly, if a tad cliché-ly. All in all, it's a heart-warming story of love and talent triumphing over bigotry and depressed times. I think the story is one that would inspire any kid – especially if he is mature enough to understand the role of the union, the hardship of a strike and the possibility of a dad out of work for a year or more. In fact, I would wager that many kids today might relate to this story. My kid's dad was out of work for a year due to the current recession and the kids both worried about him. Still, the union story here is a complicated one. If I were to do it over, I'd have given my kids a history lesson prior to our attendance.
At three hours, Billy Elliott the Musical is too long, and the show gets off to a sluggish start. In the production's favor, energy levels pick up dramatically as it moves along and the dancing is riveting enough to hold your attention and make you forgive the less exciting moments.
There is one scene in particular that I wish everyone could see – everyone, no matter their age. It is the scene in which Billy and his friend Michael dress up in women's clothing and dance and sing to their heart's content. Their message: There is nothing wrong with a boy dressing up in girls' clothes, nothing wrong with being an individual and following your own heart and dreams.
This is in fact a recommendation in favor of Billy Elliott the Musical. It is a great show, fully deserving of its Tony Awards. The cast, especially the kids, is stellar and the dancing mind-blowing at times. It is simply a cautionary recommendation. Take your older kids, preferably those in their teens. Leave younger kids at home unless you are dying to hear them parrot a whole host of English slang.
IF YOU GO
Where: The Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St., Seattle.
When: Through Sunday, April 3.
Cost: Regular seats $80-$115; student/educator/senior (62 and over) rush: one $25.00 ticket per I.D. one hour prior to show time, cash only, not valid Saturday evening or in the loge or VIP section.
Contact: www.stgpresents.org; 1-877-784-4849.
Caveats: The threatre's recommendation is for children ages 8 and up. Seattle’s Child's recommendation is PG-13 for heavy use of profanity.
Cheryl Murfin is an editor at Seattle’s Child.
