On October 3rd 2011, Les Miserables celebrated its 26th anniversary making it
the longest running musical in the West End. With the show having been
performed in numerous places around the world it has also been translated into
twenty one languages and performed in thirty eight countries.
The story
follows Jean Valjean who is sentenced to 19 years in prison for stealing some
bread.
On his release he is taken in for the night by a Bishop who feeds him and provides him with shelter for the night,
Jean Valjean gets up in the night and steals from him. He gets caught but
the Bishop assures the authorities that they were a gift and he didn't steal
them. The Bishop then tells Jean Valjean that he will have to change his ways
because God has given him a second chance. Jean Valjean then takes on a new
name and makes a new life for himself; he becomes a very successful business man
and adopts a child, Cosette, who was given to him by her mother Fantine.
Fantine was fired from her job because she was supporting a child who lived
with two carers, she turns to prostitution but is saved by Jean Valjean and her
dying wish is to have Cosette taken in by Jean Valjean in his care. Jean
Valjean has to pay the two pub landlords who have used all the money they have
received from Fantine on their own daughter, Eponine, to take Cosette off their
hands.
Cosette grows up to be a beautiful young woman but she and Jean
Valjean can't leave the house often as Javert, an inspector, is still haunting
Jean Valjean from when he broke his parole. When walking through Paris
Cosette bumps into a boy, Marius, and they instantly fall in love. Eponine
doesn't realise that it's the child who lived with her and used as a slave and
is distraught when the love of her life, Marius, falls for Cosette. Eponine
is used as a massager between Marius and Cosette but because she loves him she does it anyway. The revolution comes
upon them and when Eponine comes to the barricade to see Marius for which might
be the last time she gets shot. The battle gets in full swing and most of
them die in the fight. When Javert is saved from execution at the barricade by
Jean Valjean he commits suicide by jumping off a bridge. Marius gets saved by
Jean Valjean and then marries Cosette.After the marriage Jean Valjean dies
from old age. So that's the story in a nutshell (Believe it or not!).
The show
sounds very depressing and dull but its uplifting and is a beautiful piece of
theatre. The design was good, especially the Barricade. The score was
beautiful; the iconic songs are still as alive as ever. The cast were also
good; Jean Valjean was Christopher Jacobsen who was wonderful.
He plays the role
very well and his vocals were astounding, I think his interpretation was spot
on. Understudies were also on for Marius and Enjolras who were played by Fra
Fee and Scott Garnham. Fra Fee and a beautiful voice and played a young but
experienced looking Marius which was lovely to see as he brought so much
character to the role, and the exact same can be said about Scott Garnham who
played Enjolras with passion and strive through out.
Hadley Fraser as
Javert was great, he played the role with great strength and the contrast
between him and Jean Valjean was fantastic. Cameron Blakely as Thenardier
was a brilliant comedy relief, along with Katy Secombe who played Madame
Thenardie who was fantastic! Had me in hysterics when ever she was on!
Caroline Sheen was good as Fantine, nice voice but for me when Fantine sings
she is showing her pain and when Caroline sang she was very soft in her vocals,
but still a good performance. Lisa-Ann Wood was exquisite as Cosette, vocals
were beautiful and played a pretty, innocent Cosette who was a pleasure to
watch.
Alexia Khadime was brilliant as Eponine, her bold voice was a lovely
addition to the cast and added a nice variety aspect to the cast. The
ensemble were also brilliant, the big numbers like 'One Day More' and 'At the
End of the Day' were incredible.
The show is still a good asset to the West
End and I'm sure it'll run for years and years, it may need a little bit of a
re-modelling as the production does seem to be getting a little tired but its
still good. A recommendation to all musical theatre fans and non musical theatre
fans. Its a beautiful piece of theatre with a wonderful score.
Rating: ***
Les Miserables is currently playing at the Queens Theatre
