In the same way that the musical Annie developed an army of mop-topped little girls able to belt Tomorrow to the last row of the balcony, the stage version of Billy Elliot has generated a passel of pre-teen boys, all expert at ballet, tap, hip-hop and character dance. And if they are as energetic and talented as J.P. Viernes, the Asian tot who opened in the title role to kick … [Read more...]
Billy Crystal’s ‘700 Sundays’ is a gem
I never saw Billy Crystal’s one-man show 700 Sundays when it was on Broadway. Yes, I knew it had won a Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event of the 2004-05 season, but what could it be other than an extended stand-up comedy routine? Plenty, as it turns out. The show, which clocks in at a running time of almost three hours (including intermission), is actually a quite … [Read more...]