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I had wanted to see Billy Elliot The Musical at London’s Victoria Palace Theatre ever since it premiered in March 2005. However, at that time I was at the height of my Ya-Ya-yah craze, and even though London is really close and easy to get to I never did it because I was always saving my money for the next trip to Japan.

The Original Cast Recording of Billy Elliot The Musical was released on CD in December 2005. I bought it right away, and I listened to it twice in three years. I don’t know for some reason I just couldn’t seem to relate to it. I had seen the film, I loved the story, and Elton John had written great music for the show. But somehow something was missing for me. In my head I tried to merge the story and the music into what the musical would probably be like, and I thought it would be quite nice.

I had no idea what I’d been missing until I finally saw the show last Wednesday, and I have listened to the CD a dozen times since then.

Once again I had picked myself a great seat. Aisle seat, 3rd row center. Very close to the stage. So close in fact that I could see the peach fuzz on Billy Elliot‘s legs.

What can I say, the show was amazing, and I started quietly hating myself for taking 4 years to see it. Tanner Pflueger was awesome in the role of Billy, and the story of Billy Elliot has found its perfect medium in this powerful and mesmerizing stage production. I’ve seen it only once, so I won’t rush to proclaim it my new all time favourite show. But if I get to see it a couple of times more I’m sure it’ll be a great candidate for that position that is still occupied by Les Misérables. What makes Billy Elliot The Musical so special for me is that, like Oliver!, it makes me laugh and move my feet to the rhythm of the music. But unlike Oliver! it also touches my heart to the point where I almost start to cry. And sometimes it even manages to make me want to laugh and cry at the same time.

My favourite scene of the show, if I had to pick one from the many great moments, is probably right at the end. Billy, on his way to join the National Ballet School, said good bye to his gay friend Michael, climbed off the stage with his suitcase, and walked past me up the centre aisle. A meter or two behind me he put down his suitcase, went back, climbed back up on the stage and kissed Michael on the cheek. And the whole friggin’ theatre went “Awwww!”. That made me giggle although I had tears in my eyes.

Here’s the trailer from the electronic press kit released in December 2006. In this trailer Billy is played by Colin Bates.

Billy Elliot The Musical can be seen at London’s Victoria Palace Theatre and at the Imperial Theater in New York City. Get Tickets

The Original Cast Recording of Billy Elliot The Musical is available on CD from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.