Billy Elliot The Musical by Goodspeed Musicals - A Review

Dedicated to my childhood ballet teachers

East Haddam, CT - Goodspeed Musicals closes its 2019 season with a touching and well-executed production of BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL. The show features a book and lyrics by Lee Hall and music by Sir Elton John. Michael Gennaro is the executive director of the musicals presented at the beautiful Goodspeed Opera House on the Connecticut River.

BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL is based upon the 2000 movie BILLY ELLIOT, written by British writer Lee Hall. The musical version premiered in 2005 in London and ran through April of 2016; the American Broadway production ran from 2008 to 2012. The show has been sent all over the globe, including Mexico City.

The director of the Goodspeed production Gabriel Barre describes the story of Billy as one of “passion, finding your purpose, and summoning the courage necessary to follow your dreams and create your own destiny.” He adds that it is also most certainly a father and son story deals with the loss of the matriarch, tolerance, and forgiveness that uses the dramatic event of the real 1984 Miners Strike in northern England as a scene for this family struggle. The dancing talent of Billy signifies the beauty that can be found in such a darkened place as a mine shaft.

The actors took to the stage ten minutes before the show began and incited the sections of the press night crowd as the last arrivals took their seats; they returned to the stage during the last minutes of intermission as well.

Liam Vincent Hutt, a 13-year old Equity actor from Fort Myers, Florida, danced the role of Billy Elliot on press night and remained a “bairn” for the part of Billy, while still ballet dancing with the appropriate amount of grace and skill. The young actor appeared in the national tour of ELF THE MUSICAL and is a recipient of a Young Artist Award. Mr. Hutt shares the role of Billy with young Equity actor Taven Blanke, whose passion for musical theater and dance began at the age of eight and who has appeared in numerous productions with Clubhouse Academy in CA. He dedicates his performance is dedicated to all little boys with a love for dance.

Equity actor Sean Hayden (national tour of MAMMA MIA!) played the role of Dad, Billy’s widowed father in his Goodspeed debut. Jon Martens (Young Charlie in the US Tour Asia of KINKY BOOTS) took on the role of Billy’s friend Michael. Gabriel Sidney Brown (national tour of LES MISERABLES) played Billy’s elder brother Tony with both strength and heart in his Goodspeed debut.

Equity actress Barbara Marineau (SWEENEY TODD at Goodspeed, FOSSE/VERDON on FX) stood out in the role of Grandma, and made the most of her musical number “Grandma’s Song.” Mrs. Wilkinson was played wonderfully by Michelle Aravena, who has appeared on Broadway in A CHORUS LINE, JERSEY BOYS, ROCKY and A BRONX TALE. The Equity actress is a fine dancer and nailed the strong personality of “Miss,” the dance teacher.

The dance teacher’s daughter Debbie is brought to life by Erica Parks (BILLY ELLIOT at Seacoast Repertory Theatre) who is also a world class tap dance champion. Richard Costa returned to Goodspeed after 25 years to play the roles of Mr. Wilkinson and a Posh Dad. Eric Gratton played Mr. Braithwaite and served as fight captain in his Goodspeed debut. Julia Louise Hosack covered the roles of Lesley and a clipboard woman,

Featured in the ensemble was Rachel Rhodes-Devey (Goodspeed’s THE MOST HAPPY FELLA) as Billy’s late Mum who appears to him when he needs her. Jesse Swimm (SCHOOL OF ROCK on Broadway, FIDDLER at Goodspeed) played the role of George. Also in the ensemble were Billy Cohen, Emily Larger, Connor McRory, pit supervisor Simon Pearl, young Willliam Daniel Russell (Goodspeed’s THE MUSIC MAN,) Byron St. Cyr (ON YOUR FEET at WBT) who appeared as Big Davey.

Nick Silverio (Goodspeed’s LA CAGE AUX FOLLES) stepped out of the ensemble to dance beautifully as Older Billy and a dancer at the ballet academy, and also served as dance captain. The Ballet Girls included Tess Santasiero (BECAUSE OF WINN DIXIE,) Margot Anderson-Song, Amy Button, and Camiel Warren-Taylor.

Gabriel Barre, who directed AMAZING GRACE at Goodspeed, directed this production that fit the small stage of the opera house with fine use of the aisles. Mr. Barre explains that the Goodspeed production is not a replica, but featured their own set design, costume design, lighting design, and especially all-new choreography.

The scenic design of Walt Spangler is that of a gritty and highly functional town hall in Easington, England in the early months of 1984, making the most of the limited space. The hard-hats of the miners have a strong presence in both acts. The costumes designed by Jennifer Caprio (FALSETTOS on Broadway) fit right into the space created by the set and still allowed the dancers to move.

Hair and wig design by Mark Adam Rampmeyer (BECAUSE OF WINN DIXIE) helped bring the actors to the period. Dialect coach Jennifer Scapetis-Tycer, who is on the faculty of UConn’s Drama Department, made sure everyone sounded British enough to fit the location. Lighting was designed by Jason Kantrowitz (STARMITES on Broadway) with sound design by Jay Hilton.

Music direction is provided by the venerable Michael O’Flaherty, now in his 28th season as Goodspeed’s Resident Musical Director. As always, the musicians sounded wonderful in the pit in front of the small stage. The all-important inspired choreography was designed by Marc Kimelman (A BRONX TALE on Broadway and the national tour.)

BILLY ELLIOT runs 2 hrs and 50 minutes including a 15 minute intermission Goodspeed gives the show an Age Rating: PG-13 for mature themes, harsh language, and some violence. Language Warning: Please note that due to the authors' need to honestly portray the tough people of the Northern England mining community where our story takes place, as well as the extremely hard times they are going through, the published version of this script, which we have licensed, contains some harsh language, including some profanity.

Nancy Sasso Janis has not ballet danced for a very long time. She has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues and posts well over 100 reviews each year. In 2016, her membership in the Connecticut Critics Circle began and her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted not only in the Naugatuck Patch but also on the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the NEW CCC Facebook page.

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