Billy and the Killers NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (23)
See it if You like the psychological and physical outcomes of socities views of 'hard-core' music and what goes on in the lifestyle of the artist.
Don't see it if You dislike more intense music, limited staging, and actors playing multiple roles.
See it if You want to see a fairly simple murder mystery with some good music mixed in. This would be great as just a cast recording.
Don't see it if You're sensitive to sound because it's a small space and the music is loud. Also the story isn't that great and ends up pretty obvious.
See it if Rockabilly opera with talented singers appeals to you. Slight convoluted plot adds to energy.
Don't see it if You abhor loud music
See it if you enjoy LOUD rock. Story is rough but it's highly supported by some great music/musicians, singing (w/harsh & dark lyrics), & ok acting.
Don't see it if you can't handle the above. It's not BIG other than some excellent musicians who act AND sing, plus 4 great band-mates supporting the cast. Read more
See it if you like interesting intense theatre mixed with rock music and unique staging
Don't see it if you dislike rock bands or dislike dark bloody tales
See it if you want an intense and dark teen love story from leads who can really sing
Don't see it if you're not a fan of rock music or dark, slightly exaggerated storylines Read more
See it if you like a rock & roll show with a play mixed in.
Don't see it if you don't like loud music and don't love small theaters.
See it if you like angst-driven garage band music &"trailer trash" narratives that reveal the heart in characters who often are judged to be heartless
Don't see it if you like strictly linear story; you don't like couplet-rich indie rock. The story has lumps to be ironed. Characters act out-of-character. Read more
Critic Reviews (3)
“But then the music stops, the dialogue returns, and it's back to dullsville, with Shankman's nonlinear story mostly vacillating between the insipid and the inane. Although one part does cover both bases: the explanation for why Billy is in that orange jumpsuit. It seems a detective (Paul Sadlik) thinks he killed someone, and neither Billy's ex-con father (Tom O'Keefe) nor his shifty lawyer (Sean McDermott) can prove him innocent, at least not until a groan-inducing deception is revealed.”
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"A lackluster and mopey affair...This production is guilty of several crimes. These include harboring an uninteresting minor, operating a fog machine with intent to choke, lyric writing without a poetic license, and, most egregiously, failure to rock when given the right of way...All the cast is under-served by the score. Stopschinski’s music had the audience sitting still for 100 minutes while Shankman’s lyrics are a downward spiral of end rhymes."
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"The music is 80’s rock, which if it weren’t so loud and had better lyrics would have been enjoyable. It is well sung...Another problem is the songs do not seem to fit the plot...The book is generic and the dialogue thin...The direction does not help, as the dialogue breaks into song for no reason at all except to put on a concert...If you are looking for an indie pop concert, this will be up your alley. If you are looking for a musical with substance, you might find want to bring a aspirin or two."
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