[chocchipcookie26]

I've read some posts on here from people who don't like it... but there is no stable thread.. which seems a shame.. i think it is wonderful, have seen it 8 times. Does anyone else agree?
Post your thoughts about the show

[jon01]

Must be good if it's been running for almost 5 years and has opened on Broadway!

It's very different and very British, one of those emotional shows, when you're laughing one minute and crying the next...

[Allie]

I've only recently been to see it for the first time, as before it never really interested me. I enjoyed it, I thought the talent of the kids was out of this world but the story/score was nothing exceptional.

I'd go and back and see it, but I would rather go and see something else if I had a spare few hours

[chocchipcookie26]

I don't like the show. The first time I saw it I was surprised and disappointed by how little of the music I liked. Also on that occasion the role of Billy was played by Layton Williams (who is black) and this casting was a problem for me. As I understand the story, Billy should be a little boy like every other little boy in the North-East and him not being white immediately sets him apart from the other children and makes it a different story. Not necessarily a better or worse one, but a different one. But regardless, the main problem I had with him was that he just wasn't very good.

So I went again on a comp a few months ago. Different Billy, but the show has the same problems for me, the biggest being the underwhelming songs.

I know lots of audience members and critics love it but it's not for me.

Really? I've heard great things about Layton.. i don't know if his skin colour would matter to me or not.

I know the score isn't the best (But also for me, well, many people say Les Mis has the best score, i don't think that's has a great score either.. hugely overrated - WestSideStory, i think, is by far the best score there is) but i think the wonderful storyline and talent of the kids makes up for that.
It's so raw and gritty.. for me there are too many big, belty and camp (can't really think of the right words!) new shows at the moment (Wicked, Legally Blonde, Sister Act etc) and Billy is different from all of them...whilst the music isn't memorable or special.. i think the show, as a whole, is. I can't really see rough Geordie miners singing things similar to West Side Story or Sondheim songs... so although i love and appreciate good music, in Billy, the lack of it just doesn't matter for me.
It's not as popular as it is because of it's score.

x

[Muppet]

Also on that occasion the role of Billy was played by Layton Williams (who is black) and this casting was a problem for me. As I understand the story, Billy should be a little boy like every other little boy in the North-East and him not being white immediately sets him apart from the other children and makes it a different story. Not necessarily a better or worse one, but a different one.

I think this article could back up your arguement Jimbo, questioning Billy's ethnicity:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7281107.stm

I have seen Layton perform on a number of occasions and in my opinion he is undoubtedly a superb dancer, singer and actor, but I understand your opinions on this subject and can appreciate why this was an obstacle for many audience goers.

I am a huge fan of BETM (as you know chocchipcookie!) and have seen it more than a handful of times!

It is like an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish. It's inspirational, it's heart-warming and it's potentially life-changing! I would recommend everyone go see it (except Lady Thatcher!).

[VelmaMaureen]

For some reason I've never got round to seeing it. The score isn't paticularly exciting for me, though.