Boy star raises the barre in a tale of talent and triumph
IT’S one of the grittiest, most emotionally charged performances I have seen in a theatre. I’ve witnessed some pretty hard-hitting scenes over the years from Empty Chairs at Empty Tables in Les Mis to Mrs Johnstone’s heart-breaking Tell Me It’s Not True in Blood Brothers, but I didn’t expect the semipermanent lump in my throat I had throughout Billy Elliot.
It’s an uplifting and inspiring tale which has been beautifully translated from screen to stage.
Lewis Smallman, one of four insanely talented youngsters cast in the role of Billy, truly excels.
The 12-year-old had a commanding presence and took the audience on a spellbinding journey through the hardship of his character’s life and the painful struggles he faced.
His ability to have the audience crying with laughter one minute and suppressing tears the next was sensational and showcases the incredible actor he is, as well as giving glimpses of the enormous star he could become.
Lewis further demonstrated his acting credentials with a pitchperfect County Durham accent and his dancing ability with big flashy numbers – in both tap and ballet – to a standard that would rival Darcey Bussell.
Like young Billy, Lewis is just starting his career but it is clear that big things lie ahead.
Set in the midst of the miners’ strike in 1984, Billy is stuck in his dead-end life; his mother having died, his gran battling memory loss and his dad and brother embroiled in the devastating dispute that put the pressure on thousands of men trying to put food on the table for their families.
Billy unexpectedly finds himself at Mrs Wilkinson’s ballet class, stumbling upon it after boxing lessons.
It soon becomes apparent that he has a natural talent but in his backwards world, where men mine and women dance, he has to overcome a barrage of obstacles before he can be the star that he deserves to be.
One of the most memorable moments of the show is when Billy performs an intricate, perfectly placed dance to Swan Lake as his future grownup self (played by Luke Cinque-White) dances alongside him.
Young and old pirouette, jeté and chassé around the stage with complete precision, culminating in a spectacular aerial finale, with young Billy dancing through the air on a wire. After prolonged applause the audience continued their awe-struck appreciation of the art they had just witnessed with a standing ovation.
Lewis’s captivating performance of Electricity was both heart-warming and energetic and summed up the inspiring – yes, of course it’s sentimental but it is uplifting too – nature of the entire show.
But it’s not just Billy that makes the show so special. The kids in general are great to watch and provide a lot of comic relief through their innocence and surprising swearing.
Some of the biggest laughs of the night came from Elliot Stiff who played Michael, Billy’s best friend who likes to dress up in women’s clothes (just like his dad).
In a wildly flamboyant number called Expressing Yourself, Michael and Billy parade around alongside gigantic dresses, bringing fantastic humour to the production. Annette McLaughlin played the role of Mrs Wilkinson with gusto and aplomb.
Seeing a unique talent in Billy, Mrs Wilkinson works tirelessly to push him to achieve and to make his father realise the better life Billy could have if he would allow him to pursue his dreams.
McLaughlin strikes the perfect balance between comedy and sincerity as the one person who truly believes in Billy.
It’s a feel-good show with an incredibly talented cast, so get your dancing shoes on and head down to the Playhouse this month to catch a glimpse of this must-see production.
Until October 22.