Tag Archives: Broadway in Cincinnati

Kylend Hetherington as Billy in BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL. Photo by Kyle Froman.

Links to all reviews can be found on the BTC REVIEWS page. Blog postings, links and more are available on my FaceBook fan page. You can receive updates on Twitter from @BTCincyRob.

BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL presented by Broadway in Cincinnati through Jan. 29. You can read the show description here.

If you are on the fence about whether or not to see BILLY ELLIOT during its two-week visit to Cincinnati, I’d recommend you take the plunge. If not, you may be missing one of the best productions of the season.

This was my first time seeing BILLY ELLIOT, and it was a bit overwhelming trying to take it all in. It is one of those productions where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts and most of its parts are very good.

The Script
Based on the 2000 movie, from what I remember the book for the musical hits most of the major plot points. There are many themes running throughout the show: following your dreams; the importance of friendship, family and community; the heart of the working class, the importance of teachers and the arts; and a parents wish for a better life for their children to name a few. These themes did not feel forced or bog down the show.

Kylend Hetherington as Billy & Maximilien A. Baud as Older Billy. Photo by Kyle Froman.

The Staging/Choreography
I really enjoyed the unique staging in this production. Visually my favorite numbers include  “We’d Go Dancing, ” Billy’s “Angry Dance” and “Once We Were Kings.” For choreography, my favorites were “Solidarity” and Billy’s “dream ballet.” Both the director and the choreographer enjoyed playing with the idea of hard vs. soft throughout the production.

A couple of the scene changes did came off a bit “clunky,” but I attribute that to it being a demanding show to tour, on top of it being their first night in a new venue.

The Company. Photo by Kyle Froman.

The Cast
BILLY ELLIOT features a strong ensemble and great character work.

Opening night, Billy was played by Kylend Hetherington.  This is a hugely demanding role for any performer and young Kylend carried it well. The audience response to his solo performance of “Electricity” briefly halted the show.

I also enjoyed the emotionally strong performances of both Leah Hocking as dance teacher Mrs. Wilkinson and Kat Hennessey as Billy’s Mum.

Leah Hocking as Mrs. Wilkinson with The Ballet Girls. Photo by Kyle Froman.

Ben Cook does an outstanding job as Billy’s friend Michael. Both boys showcased their tapping skills (with a bit of help from the ensemble) in “Expressing Yourself.” Also a treat to watch was the comic antics of Morgan Martin as ballet girl Susan Parks (pictured at right in purple.)

My biggest complaint is that it was hard to understand some of the dialogue due to the heavy accents. In musical numbers, where groups of performers were singing different lyrics, it was difficult to make out what was being sung.

Kylend Hetherington as Billy & Rich Herbert as Dad. Photo by Kyle Froman.

The final number/curtain call, “Company Celebration,” is a very fun farewell from the entire cast.

For me, BILLY ELLIOT was a very enjoyable evening and definitely a show I would want to see again.

BTW here is the content advisory from the Broadway in Cincinnati website: A few mildly violent riot scenes and a 2+ hour running time may make the show unsuitable for your own youngsters, but the show’s message, content and story and content are a definite don’t-miss for ‘tweens and above.

Click here for a complete list of show times, articles and other reviews for BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL

Links to all reviews can be found on the BTC REVIEWS page. Blog postings, links and more are available on my FaceBook fan page. You can receive updates on Twitter from @BTCincyRob.

Mamie Parris as Elpahba. Photo by Joan Marcus.

WICKED presented by Broadway in Cincinnati through Nov. 26. You can read the show description here.

A quick confession. I enjoy WICKED very much. This is my fourth time seeing the national touring production and I’ll be back whenever it comes through Cincinnati. This visit I was fortunate enough to catch the opening Thursday matinee.

Heading into Cincinnati, a bug of some kind was wrecking havoc with the health of the cast. This was at least partially responsible for several understudy performers getting a chance to move into leads. The role of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz was played by Christopher Russo, Fiyero was portrayed by Timothy A. Fitz-Gerald (nice handling of the costume malfunction, btw :)) and stepping into the shoes of Glinda was Megan Campanile. Cincinnati audiences may recognize Campanile’s name. She attended CCM, leaving her junior year to serve as the understudy for Ariel in the Broadway production of The Little Mermaid, followed by the national tour of LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE THE MUSICAL as Laura Ingalls.

Justin Brill as Boq and Stephanie Brown as Nessarose. Photo by Joan Marcus.

Personally, it was very fun to see Megan Campanile as Glinda, appropriately perky and sounding wonderful. Mamie Parris’ voice is beautiful, rich and strong, inducing chills and tears as Elphaba. Each time I have seen the show, I’ve been impressed by the depth of talent that tours. This time was no exception and allowed me to relax and enjoy the show.

An added bonus to this experience was the row of grade school children, sitting in front of me, in rapt attention. The quality and theatricality of this production works as a great introduction to the magic of musical theater for any age.

Paul Slade Smith as Doctor Dillamond. Photo by Joan Marcus.

Ticket availability is limited for the remainder of the run. If you are feeling lucky, a limited number of $25 Orchestra seats will be made available by lottery daily at the Aronoff Center 2 1/2 hours prior to the performance. Names will be placed in a lottery drum and the drawing will take place 2 hours prior to show for a limited number of Orchestra tickets at $25 cash only. This lottery is available only in-person at the box office with a limit of two tickets per person.

Bring an old cell phone to be recycled and help save a gorilla! Recycling cell phones reducing mining for coltan, an ore used in cell phones, in gorilla habitats and raises money for the Zoo’s Project Saving Species. Check the link and bring your phones with you to the theatre.

Click here for a complete list of show times, articles and other reviews for WICKED.

I would love to hear what you think about the show or my review. All I ask is that you express your opinion without attacking someone else’s opinion.You can post your comments below.

Emily Behny as Belle. Photo by Joan Marcus.

Links to all reviews can be found on the BTC REVIEWS page. Blog postings, links and more are available on my FaceBook fan page. You can receive updates on Twitter from @BTCincyRob.

Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST presented by Broadway in Cincinnati through Oct. 9. You can read the show description here.

Theater fan[atics] may be familiar with FORBIDDEN BROADWAY, “a cabaret revue sharply spoofing show tunes, characters and plots of contemporary and current Broadway musicals.” FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: 2001 A SPOOF ODYSSEY included the number, “Beauty’s Been Decreased,” a song lamenting the downsizing of the musical on Broadway. As goes Broadway, so does NETwork’s current touring production.

First what works. The show would totally fall apart without a strong Belle. Thankfully, Emily Behny has the talent to handle the role. Fun and appropriately over-the-top comic performances are turned in by Logan Denninghoff as Gaston and Andrew Kruep as an acrobatic Lefou. Julia Louise Hosack also gives a strong vocal performance as Mrs. Potts. However, the Beast’s solo and a personal favorite, “If I Can’t Love Her,” received a Henry Higgins-esque talk/sing rendition. A style that I never enjoy on stage.

Photo by Joan Marcus.

Unfortunately the energy level of Belle, Gaston and Lefou is not matched by the enchanted inhabitants of the castle. Because they are heavily-costumed, the characters of Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts and Madame de la Grande Bouche need to work harder to bring spark and personality to these animated, inanimate objects.

What doesn’t work for this production is the quality of the costumes and set.

The weakest costumes for the named characters include French maid Babette, who looks like, well, a French maid even when under the enchantment. Madame de la Grande Bouche is transformed into a wardrobe in name only. Also troubling are some strangely placed buttons on the front of the Beast’s pants.

Hugo, Laverne and Victor from Disney's animated film, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME.

As for the set, the pieces for the town work well and feel true to the movie. Conversely, the castle pieces come off as flimsy and cheap. Platforms that sag under the actor’s weight. Spiral railings that appear  to be made out of plastic tubing. When a high-backed chair was manually set on stage for the ballroom meal, the back of the chair, literally, swayed back and forth several times. The set changes within the castle are handled by cast members dressed as gargoyles. I understand the reasoning behind this, but it didn’t really work for me. Perhaps the costume designer got their films mixed up.

The shortcomings collide in the musical number, “Be Our Guest.” The 16 or so-person ensemble works hard but the number feels flat. There is ALOT of gold fabric on stage. The knives, the salt/pepper shakers, and (I think they were) napkins, all gold. What wasn’t gold? The plates were made of white fabric stretched over a circular frame held aloft by the female ensemble. Which worked until they were folded (???) around their shoulders in the choreography. The number also included the only appearance of the pink “carpet” (why?), although the word “welcome” on the costume would indicate it was a pink door mat, to do some tumbling during the dance break.

Also disappointing was the final battle in the castle. The comedic side of the fight, between the mob and the enchanted items, was totally cut. Instead it goes immediately into the confrontation between Gaston and the Beast, which seemed a tad bit too long and violent.

Bottom line. For young or inexperienced theater-goers, this production of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST will be satisfying. If you have seen previous productions, or if you expect the spectacle of THE LION KING, you will probably be disappointed.

Click here for a complete list of showtimes.