At first Billy Elliot, running until Sunday at the Jubilee Auditorium, may not catch one's eye as a broadway show as it lacks the flash and fantasy of ones like Wicked or Mary Poppins. At one point, dance teacher Mrs. Wilkinson (Janet Dickinson) informs young Billy that he is very fucking special. That one statement sums up the show perfectly.

Set in England in 1984 during the long and violent coal miners strike, the production tells the story of Billy, the youngest son of a miner, who has lost his wife and is dealing with raising 2 sons (the oldest, Tony, another miner), caring for an ailing mother and dealing with the strike. Billy stumbles into a ballet class and discovers that he likes it, and is actually pretty good at it. So unfolds the story of following a dream.

Billy Elliot works, in that it is realistic. There are several themes that people may identify with: struggling to make ends meet, labour disputes, the loss of a parent, and a part of you not being accepted. There are many emotional moments that will leave you laughing, smiling or crying - which is what great theatre should do! The grittyness, the language, the style of speech all rings true, made more evident in a scene where Billy's father is speaking with an upperclass father and the two have a hard time understanding each other.

Four boys play Billy over the course of the week, and opening night featured 14 year old Massachussetts raised Noah Parets. If the other kids are as good as Noah then regardless of who plays the title role, you will be in for a treat. It was amusing to speak with Parets briefly after the show and hear him without the accent. It is a challenging role with elaborate choreography and it is remarkable watching this young man rise to the occasion.

Billy Elliot is a must see show. I don't want to give away too many plot points, but I will say that you will be moved and inspired by the story and performances. Even writing this review stirs up the emotions that I felt from the show, it is that good. Make sure you have some cash on hand, as afterwards the cast does fundraising for Broadway Cares: Equity Fights AIDS including donation buckets, signed posters and a photo op with Billy. So in addition to a great night of entertainment, you can support a great cause.