Billy the Musical

More a play with music than a musical, "Billy, the Musical" is based on the novel “Billy Liar”. Set in a fictional Yorkshire town, it tells the story of ‘Billy Fisher’, played with energy by Lee Passmoor, over one day in his dysfunctional life in 1960. He is frustrated with his mundane existence and daydreams of imaginary worlds where he is the President, Marilyn Monroe (who lives in his cupboard) and of being a successful script writer for TV. In doing so he confabulates ‘facts’ and lives out his life accordingly to these fabrications of his mind – often with very humorous outcomes. He manages to find himself with three entirely contrasting girlfriends (Barbara, Rita and Liz) played respectively by Claire Bidnell, Charlotte Archer and Libby Kennedy. Billy’s working life as a clerk at the undertakers fetches him into direct confrontation with his boss ‘Shadrack’ performed with great characterisation by Gary Eglington whilst having a paternal eye kept on him by life-worn ‘Councillor Duxbury’ (Gary Blackbird).

Musical orchestration was not the easiest to follow for the cast with lyrics often deliberately not fitting the rhythm of the music especially in such songs as ‘Remembering’ sung with great feeling and spirit by Billy’s mum and dad, Alice and Geoffrey (Margaret Smith and Malcolm Quinn). It was in his home life that we really witnessed Billy’s confused personality as the reality was strict, straight talking Yorkshire grit parental advice, when in Billy’s mind they were all upper class toffs who eat kedgeree for breakfast. The scene where the family, including matriarchal Gran (Annette Morris), quickly flipped between reality and Billy’s imagination was reminiscent of the schoolmaster scene in Blood Brothers and a joy to watch.

Set was simple but effective and relied upon projected images to show locations such as the football match, the local Roxy and the railway station. Costumes and hairstyles of the characters were authentic to the period. For a first night the orchestra were a little loud in comparison to on stage action but that is something easily overcome for the remainder of the run. Songs, whilst not well known, were quite tuneful and catchy - especially my favourite number, the humorous “Witch’s Song” that emphasised the differing personalities and singing styles of Billy and Barbara.

Did Billy break out of his humdrum existence in the end? – I’ll not reveal that secret.... Well done Dryburn.

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