Billy Elliot: An entertaining, uplifting ride
The Kelowna Actors Studio caps its season with a spectacular production of Billy Elliot the Musical at the Kelowna Community Theatre.
The larger venue allows Billy Elliot to soar across the stage and into the audience’s hearts.
The show made the transition from screen to stage in 2005, with music by Elton John. Billy Elliot the Musical opened on Broadway in 2008, winning 10 Tony awards in 2009.
Vernon’s Jonathan Fraser-Monroe takes on the title role of Billy Elliot, a boy from a County Durham in northeast England during the coal miner’s strike of 1984-85.
The mood of unrest is set by projecting news reels.
Billy finds himself in a mostly male household, living in a working-class mining town where boys box and dancing is for girls and poofs.
Fraser-Monroe, who began dancing at three years old, lights up the stage with his moves including ballet, tap and even the Moonwalk. However, his voice hasn’t yet gained the range for some of the songs he performed.
While Billy Elliot the Musical pulls at the audience’s heartstrings, notably during Billy’s scenes with his dead mother played by Delphine Litke, there are also plenty of laughs, from the slapstick humour in boxing to Billy’s grandmother played by Susan Skinner, who squirrels food away around the house.
Caden Hergott, who was seen last year playing Michael Banks in the Kelowna Actors Studio’s production of Mary Poppins, was a huge hit. The 11-year old took on the role of Billy’s friend cross-dressing friend, Michael.
The Expressing Yourself number with Billy and Michael had the audience laughing, especially the dancing dresses on hangers.
The role of Mrs. Wilkinson, who recognizes Billy’s talent for dance, is played by Karlisa Hiebert.
Wilkinson, who had an outstanding assortment of gaudy neon dance outfits, runs the dance class that follows Billy’s boxing class and pushes Billy to follow his dream. Desmond Parenteau plays Billy’s working class father who is trying to keep his family together after his wife’s death.
Parenteau offers a realistic portrayal of a parent who has to accept and support that his child might not follow the path expected of him.
There are a number of standout scenes, including one in which which Billy takes to the air while dancing to Swan Lake with his older self, played by Kurt Werner of Ballet Kelowna.
The Once We Were Kings number, with the men expressing their solidarity as they return to the mines after a hard year is particularly moving.
Billy Elliot’s inspirational story exudes a strong sense of community, whether it is the miners swearing unity or the town rallying behind Billy Elliot to give him a chance to escape.
Be warned: There is coarse language in this production.
Billy Elliot continues tonight at 7:30 and Saturday at 7 at the Kelowna Community Theatre, located at Water Street and Doyle Avenue.
Saturday’s show starts a little earlier to allow the audience to catch the fireworks downtown, which start at 9:30 p.m.
Get your tickets at Kelowna Tickets in Orchard Park mall, by calling 250-862-2867 or online at KelownaActorsStudio.com.