Cast
Jean Valjean-Simon Bowman
Inspector Javert-Hans-Peter Janssens
Thenardier-Mark Hedges (u/s)
Madame Thenardier-Rachel Bingham (u/s)
Fantine-Rebecca Seale
Eponine-Nancy Sullivan
Marius-Alistair Brammer
Cosette-Emily Bull
Enjolras-Mark Dugdale (u/s)
Les Miserables was one of the first musicals I discovered via iTunes about six years ago, and so I was thrilled to recieve tickets for Christmas.
Currently in its 25th Year, Les Mis still seems to be packing them in (there were about three or four empty seats around in the stalls-not bad considering it's been crazy weather here). It's not hard to see why. Les Mis is an epic show, that contains both extremely moving moments and is balanced out by some humerous moments courtesay of the Thenardiers. It has most recently come to attention thanks to Susan Boyle's rendition of 'I Dreamed a Dream' that has appeared all over the world-and is used on the current advertising (although I think 'Dream the Dream' is a little strange, Les Mis isn't exactly a story you would want to dream).
Centering around the life of Jean Valjean, a one-time chain gang member who breaks his parole to change his life-and who is being pursued relentlessly by the unmovable Javert. In his life, he comes across the factory-worker Fantine, who turns to prostitution after being sacked by Valjean's foreman, and who Valjean promises on her deathbed that he will take care of her distant daughter. This takes him to the home of the Thenardiers, pub landlords turned crooks, who are probably the real bad guys in this story. Here he takes Cosette away from being treated appalling, whilst the Thenardiers dote on their daughter Eponine. Years later, in Paris, the students-led by Enjolras, are preparing to lead a revolution against the oppressing regime in France. Here, we see the Thenardiers as mere pickpocketers, and their daughter Eponine being hopelessly in love with Marius, a student. He, in turn, meets Cosette and they fall in love instantly. The revoluton begins, infiltrated by Javert, who is discovered by the street-urchin Gavroche. Javert and Valjean meet again, but Valjean releases him, refusing to kill him. The revolution destroys all the revolutionaires-including Eponine, who dies in her beloved Marius' arms-with the exception of Marius, who Valjean carries to safety through the sewers. Javert desperatly tries to stop Valjean, but eventually caves, and decides he cannot keep living forever in the 'debt of a thief', and throws himself into the River Seine. Marius and Cosette are reunited and are married. Valjean reveals his true identity to Cosette as he dies, guided to heaven by Fantine, Eponine and the souls of those who died on the barricade.
The whole cast were incredibly talented. Simon Bowman (probably best-known for originated the role of Chris in Miss Saigon) and Hans-Peter Janssens (a Belgian regular to the West End production) were both very well suited to their roles, and both had huge and very powerful voices. Rebecca Seale as Fantine was incredibly moving, and her ability to show Fantine slipping away before the audience's eyes was stunning. Mark Hedges and Rebecca Bingham would be unrecognisble as understudies, had the annoucement not been made, Hedges being a great mix of comical and corrupt. Nancy Sullivan had a huge voice, and her portrayal of Eponine made you wish that Marius was not quite so blind to her. As Marius, Alistair Brammer was able to portray his dilemma of being caught between his love for Cosette and his duty to his friends on the barricade, although his voice was perhaps one of the weaker in the cast. Emily Bull made a very earnest Cosette and Mark Dugdale was, again, a great understudy, looking quite at home commanding a group of revolutionaries.
There were numerous standouts in the ensemble as well-particularly the Sophie Josslyn as the Factory Girl, Antony Hanson as Feuilly and whichever boy played Gavroche (either Jamie Davis, Jonathan Gardner or George Sergeant)
My only irks have nothing to do with the production:
1) Why charge for a souvenir brouchre & a programme which is basically the cast info? I bought the brouchre assuming the cast list would be inside, I was wrong...
2) Surely CamMac can afford to update the website photos etc (the photo accompanying this review I think was last year's cast-but Nancy Sullivan is the Eponine in it)....and perhaps give more ensemble info? Although at least their listed on the Les Mis site, Oliver! has no such luck
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