At the outbreak of World War One, Joey, young Albert's beloved horse, is sold to the cavalry and shipped to France. he's soon caught up in enemy fire, and fate takes him on an extraordinary odyssey, serving on both sides before finding himself alone in no man's land. But Albert cannot forget Joey and, still not old enough to enlist, he embarks on a treacherous mission to find him and bring him home.
The puppetry of the horses was beautiful. Very realistic. I stopped looking at the puppeteers and just looked at the horse as if it was a real animal. This is because of the skills of the puppeteers as well as fixed points and actors reacting to it as if it were real.
The story was very moving. Quite simple but it never felt dumbed down for kids (the production was advertised as being suitable for 12yrs and up).
Real committment by every single member of the cast meant the intensity and reality of the story was always held high, even when the theatricality of the production could have made us remember we were really in a theatre.
The actor who played the lead character, Albert, had a strange held back husky voice which I think was put on and it really worked. It was like that little something Philippe talked about that makes us imagine around the character. It gave Albert a youthfulness but it also did something else I can't quite describe. It definitely made me love him and care about him.
Again I was reminded of Caucasian Chalk Circle because of the epic story, the large cast (I counted thirty five), and the songs interspersed in the story. I have been so impressed by The National Theatre. The quality is outstanding. I want to be a part of it!
Went for a stroll through Oxford Circus before meeting Chris for a Thai dinner and going to Billy Elliot.
Yorkie - Not For Girls. (Shame! They're really good!)
Also went into Hamley's Toy Shop. Kids' Heaven. Parents' Nightmare.
One of FIVE floors of toys!
I'd heard great things about Billy Elliot The Musical but I actually didn't really like it. I got pretty bad seats this time round - right at the back of the grand circle - and although we snuck up further to the front the view was still no good. You could down into back stage and the performers did not perform up to us as all. So I felt very left out and thus wasn't connected with the story.
At half time we snuck right down to the Stalls and got great seats and suddenly the show became much more enjoyable, but I dunno, I didn't really like it overall. However there were some good performances and little Billy Elliot was amazing! What a talented little bugger!
The Victoria Palace Theatre.
His father's choice in sport.
Billy's angsty dance against a police brigade.
Impressing the ladies.
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