Submitted by David Standing, Jan 24, 2007 10:15

A fair summary of the current state of the West End, but I have to put in a good word for Billy Elliot!

Billy Elliot does indeed feature 'forgetable songs' and is also hard-nosed and truthful- the latter points a good thing in my book. But no way is it a downer; It's about a lead character overcoming huge odds to acheive his dream, which is pretty upbeat to me. After a year and a half it remains the top London musical and is as fresh as when it opened. But I too worry that the baby will be thrown out with the bathwater with the required Broadway re-writes.

Can I also recommend the soon-to-open transfer of the Menier's production of Little Shop of Horrors at the Duke of York's, and the soon to close Frost/Nixon which is going to Broadway.

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