As you walk into London’s Victoria Palace Theatre your imagination begins to run wild. I compare this sort of feeling to reading a book and then going to see the screenplay - will the director have done the authors words justice? Will the set look as you imagined it? or will the thrill of an imagination be forgotten?
The theatre is full of people discussing the event which is about to take place, as we hear the final call bell the sense of urgency fills the air as the last remaining punters take their seats and we all relax into a world which we have no control over. As the orchestra strikes up the chills run down my spine and we begin our journey with Billy Elliot. The fact that the musical is home grown makes me feel even more inclined to enjoy the show, the talent that oozes from the young boys that play Billy is astounding and also adds to the magic of the piece as each section of the show begins you wish it never to end however your intrigued to know what comes next.
The set is a simple one using movement more to make the show work. His house just a staircase with a bed at the top of it and a table at the bottom highlighting the lack of anything material being present in Billy’s life - this also an element that sets the adrenaline running through your body.
As each number begins you feel that it can never beat the last, the chorography and composition of each song are spectacular allowing the musical to take the story of Billy Elliot into a completely different league to what the film did. Each character fills an area of an average persons life making the story easy to relate to especially those in the performing arts world.
‘Electricity’ has to be the musicals most famous song. It highlights the part of the story where Billy takes matters into his own hands because that’s what he feels inside. He tackles his and his fathers problems taking the form of dance to do so, this really his the peak of the show the piece allows the audience to get behind Billy and feel his emotion and the fact that this is done by a 12 year old boy makes it all the more special. He tackles his demons on stage in front of the whole audience, to his fathers dismay Billy has no intention of caging his feelings for anyone, as he gets into the song you can see the love sparkle in his fathers eyes as he begins to realise that this is his child’s dream and he must get behind him and encourage him to fulfil it.
The magic of Billy Elliot - The Musical is felt through out the theatre and if it portrays one message to us as an audience it’s that we make the life that we live, we must follow our dreams and aim high - if a 12 year old boy whose family live on the breadline can believe in himself then so can everybody else.
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Gabrille,
ReplyDeleteYour descriptive piece is very good within the first two paragraphs. It is easy for the eye to read with simple yet effective language being used and clearly layout. I love the imagery of the theatre filling up with ‘people discussing the event which is about to take place, as we hear the final call bell the sense of urgency fills the air as the last remaining punters take their seats and we all relax into a world which we have no control over.’ This makes you feel like your sitting in your seat watching this all happen around you waiting for the show to begin.
I feel after the first two paragraphs I felt the imagery and the picture I am as a reader is trying to creating with your words is lost.
I think if you describe more about sights, smells, sounds, and tastes within the theatre from the audience’s reactions to describing the scenes. Or maybe descriptive words about the ballet movement that is performed will keep the readers picture building.
You slip into marketing style within your paragraph about 'Electricity'. Bring this song to life with your words try and rein-act this section, describe Billy's feelings. Put your feeling of when you watched this song into words.
I like your last paragraph although I feel this section may work better within your marketing piece, or make it more descriptive like 'The magic of Billy Elliot ripples through the red velvet seats of the theatre, warming each audience member to be enriched by Billy’s story to believe in our dreams, to chase our dreams and never lose the tight grip we have hold of them.' what do you think?
I also feel the Youtube clip should not be use as this is a descriptive writing piece that needs to paint a picture with your words for the reader. You working so hard to create this will be spoilt and the image will be lost once the reader watches the clip. What do you think?
Very good start, it is a very strong topic/ event to write about with lots of different angles to be explored. Keep up the hard work; you have done the hardest part, getting up your first draft, just a few adjustments here and there.
Laura