New Actors Studio musical is a show you absolutely must see
Billy Elliot is absolutely — without any hesitation — the must-see theatre production of the summer.
That will come as no surprise to the legion of fans who await every Kelowna Actors Studio show with unbridled enthusiasm.
The Kelowna-based company has a well-established formula: take Broadway/Hollywood hits like Cabaret, White Christmas, Sister Act, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Mamma Mia (the 15th anniversary season 2017-18) and take advantage of what seems like an unending wealth of local talent.
Billy Elliot, the international smash-hit musical, is no exception. When you reflect on Thursday’s opening night performance — to an almost sold-out Kelowna Community Theatre — you are left to wonder where they find such incredible talent.
The epitome is Jonathan Fraser-Monroe who plays the title role of Billy.
This Grade 7 student has just joined KAS, but as artistic managing director Randy Leslie puts it: he is “the best Billy a director could ask for.”
Fraser-Monroe has been dancing since he was three. He studies ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre, hip hop, Ukrainian (Zirka) dance and performs with the Canadian School of Ballet.
Royal Winnipeg Ballet offered him an entrance scholarship to join its professional training division. He is learning to play the piano in between soccer practice and games.
And he’s got the drive, spending months at vocal and acting lessons in preparation for this demanding role.
His youthful voice isn’t yet as strong as others in this outstanding cast, but boy can he dance. One of many highlights, perhaps the most impressive, was his pairing with Kurt Werner, a dancer with Ballet Kelowna for the past five years, who plays the older Billy.
The pairing of these Kelowna dancers echoes the unforgettable Billy Elliot theme of a young boy — a diamond in the rough — reaching for his dreams and as an adult, living his dream.
What a dream role for Fraser-Monroe and it might have taken Werner back to his days as an aspiring youth.
Thunderous applause from an appreciative audience easily topped the enthusiastic response to Fraser-Monroe’s earlier tap dancing performances (one while skipping rope).
This emotional journey is set against the backdrop of the 1984 coal miners’ strike in England. It’s the ultimate mashup — the fusion of disparate elements as striking miners and Bobbies battle in the midst of a ballet class of young girls and Billy.
Fraser-Monroe is not only learning how to sing and act (and improve his already-significant dancing skills) but getting lessons from some of KAS’s most talented performers.
Karlisa Hiebert, who plays the lovable but abrasive ballet teacher Mrs. Wilkinson, was part of the Canadian national tour of Les Miseables before joining the Ellis Street company.
Desmond Parenteau as Billy’s dad has performed in dozens of productions over the years. Susan Skinner is Grandma (Miss Andrew; Mary Poppins),Tiernan LafleurJohnson is Tony (Nick Carraway; The Great Gatsby), Caden Hergott is the funny and unforgettable friend Michael, Gracie Field is Debbie Wilkinson, Mark Sorestad is George, Andrew De Pieri is Big Davey,
Delpine Litke is the late mum and Kirk Holland is Mr. Braithwaite.
This play has a little of everything and some of the funniest scenes ever witnessed on stage: the cross-dressing scene with Billy and Michael was hilarious, topped only by the dancing dresses and pants.
The reading of a letter from Billy’s mum tugged at the heartstrings and brought tears to the eyes of many.
This show brought Broadway to life in Kelowna. Long live Kelowna Actors Studio.
Warning: this play includes colourful adult language including numerous F-bombs.
Billy Elliot continues at Kelowna Community Theatre through Aug. 5. Tickets are available from Kelowna Tickets at 250-8622867 or in Orchard Park Shopping Centre, and online at KelownaActorsStudio.com.
Due to the BC Day fireworks on Aug. 5, the performance is 30 minutes early at 7 p.m.