Day 110
I can't really explain it. That's where to begin this reflection...with a line from the show. When in doubt, quote Billy himself. The scene it comes from arrives late in the stage musical, when Billy is asked what it feels like when he's dancing. His love of dance is indescribable, no matter how many words he's able to piece together to explain himself. And at some point, he can't even keep describing it. He has to just burst forth in dance to show his questioners what he means!
Well, rest assured, I am not
attaching a video of me dancing! It just isn't my preferred art form, and it's definitely not a skill I possess.
But when you ask me why I've seen this show so many times, I will find myself circling through phrases
just as Billy does, rattling off anything I can think of to help you
understand. And for me, those phrases would include: teaches you to just
be yourself, to believe in yourself, to not listen to the establishment, to
scream out against injustice and discrimination...helps you see things differently
and appreciate the differences in people, helps you smile more at the silliness
of life, and cry more at the awful goodbyes we all go through...guides you to
live more, laugh more, and chase your dreams however you must in order to
achieve them.
I've seen the movie dozens
of times, and I've experienced the stage musical 56 times worldwide (London,
Broadway, and many cities up and down the east coast on tour). The
musical has so much to offer so many people, but for me, the story is also familiar.
My dad was an old-school, Irish-born lower-middle class guy with a very strong work ethic, a love of drinking and smoking, and a penchant for anger. He also carried a heavy heart over the loss of his first wife when his kids were still very young. Though I had a best friend named Michael growing up, it was always me who was the poof, so to speak, and it was very difficult for me to fit in with my peers. My mom was my friend and my greatest supporter, and though I still speak to her often, I lost a great light in my life when she died. I'm no dancer, but my hopes for a successful career as a writer are still propelling me forward all the time. (You can support the arts by buying my books!) There are plenty of differences between my life's story and Billy's, but the movie and subsequent stage production have enough similarities to make me feel very much at home.
My dad was an old-school, Irish-born lower-middle class guy with a very strong work ethic, a love of drinking and smoking, and a penchant for anger. He also carried a heavy heart over the loss of his first wife when his kids were still very young. Though I had a best friend named Michael growing up, it was always me who was the poof, so to speak, and it was very difficult for me to fit in with my peers. My mom was my friend and my greatest supporter, and though I still speak to her often, I lost a great light in my life when she died. I'm no dancer, but my hopes for a successful career as a writer are still propelling me forward all the time. (You can support the arts by buying my books!) There are plenty of differences between my life's story and Billy's, but the movie and subsequent stage production have enough similarities to make me feel very much at home.
But why do I obsess so much
about a story like this one? Because beyond all the similarities, there's a killer script by Lee Hall. I admire his
language and storytelling so much, and I'm constantly amazed and inspired by
his ability to make me laugh, then cry, then laugh, then cry, over and over
again throughout the show (and the film). That kind of emotional roller coaster effect
is far from easy to produce, and it's certainly helped by the amazing actors
who I've seen in the stage musical over the years.
And when it comes to amazing, this show has it all, not least of which because the boy who plays Billy has to convince us from the beginning that he has some basic skills, but no training at all, and by the end, he has to have shown us how much hidden talent he had inside him, ready to burst forth for all the world to see.
Billy Elliot The Musical is no longer on Broadway, and the Tours are done now too, although there are some incredible regional productions popping up here and there. Most of you who read this won't be able to go see the show anytime soon, but some of you will (Londoners and Europeans all over have a lot to celebrate still!), so none of what I write here is to convince you to go see the show right away. It's just to help you understand some of the many reasons I kept going back time and time again to witness its magic live.
The musical is gone from the New York scene for a while now, but the movie is still available. Check it out when you get a chance, or watch it again if it's been a while. I think you'll see why so many people have seen it worldwide, and why the subsequent musical won as many Tony Awards and other prizes as it did. It's an inspiring story about possibility, willpower, and promise, and it's guaranteed to have you flying with joy by the time it's over!
Stage Musical Commercial
Original Movie Trailer
And when it comes to amazing, this show has it all, not least of which because the boy who plays Billy has to convince us from the beginning that he has some basic skills, but no training at all, and by the end, he has to have shown us how much hidden talent he had inside him, ready to burst forth for all the world to see.
Billy Elliot The Musical is no longer on Broadway, and the Tours are done now too, although there are some incredible regional productions popping up here and there. Most of you who read this won't be able to go see the show anytime soon, but some of you will (Londoners and Europeans all over have a lot to celebrate still!), so none of what I write here is to convince you to go see the show right away. It's just to help you understand some of the many reasons I kept going back time and time again to witness its magic live.
The musical is gone from the New York scene for a while now, but the movie is still available. Check it out when you get a chance, or watch it again if it's been a while. I think you'll see why so many people have seen it worldwide, and why the subsequent musical won as many Tony Awards and other prizes as it did. It's an inspiring story about possibility, willpower, and promise, and it's guaranteed to have you flying with joy by the time it's over!
Stage Musical Commercial
Original Movie Trailer
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