"One day more to revolution..."

Les Misérables

Wednesday 9^th March 2011 at the Queen’s Theatre, London

Cast

Jean Valjean… Simon Bowman

Javert… Norm Lewis

The Bishop of Digne… Gavin James

Factory Foreman/Brujon… Jeff Nicholson

Fantine… Rebecca Seale

Factory Girl/Whore… Chlöe Hart

Factory Worker/Old Woman/Crone… Rachel Bingham

Factory Worker/Montparnasse… James Smoker

Factory Worker/Bamatabois/Claquesous… George Miller

Madame… Lucy Garrioch

Whores… A.J. Callaghan

                  Helen Owen

                  Francesca Leyland

                  Natalie Day

Crone… Chlöe Brooks

Little Cosette… Rebecca Barclay/Cleo Demetriou/Amelia White

Thénardier… Martin Ball

Madame Thénardier… Katy Secombe

Young Eponine… Simay Celik/Luisa Daniels/Anna Maynard

Gavroche… Sebastian Croft/Daniel Huttlestone/Oliver Gilmartin

Eponine… Samantha Barks

Cosette… Lucie Jones

Babet… Simon Shorten

Enjolras… Killian Donnelly

Marius… Gareth Gates

Combeferre… Gavin James

Feuilly… Scott Garnham

Courfeyrac… Jonathan Williams

Joly… Dylan Williams

Grantaire… Martin Neely

Lesgles… Jay Bryce

Jean Prouvaire… Matthew Seadon-Young

As a production I had been looking forward to watching for quite some time, I was delighted when my school decided to take us to see Les Miserables. I was somewhat nervous when I took my place. Would it live up to my expectations? Fortunately, my doubts were unfounded, despite a shaky start (which was all but forgotten as soon as Rebecca Seale launched into "I Dreamed a Dream"), some bad acoustics and the fact that due to our seats, the top of the stage was completely obscured by the balcony, the show was a spectacular experience.

I am not usually one to notice staging effects to any great degree, but the barricade and walls of Paris were truly a sight to behold. The utilisation of the revolve stage was particularly well-done, although at the dramatic conclusion to Javert's soliloquy, it did look almost as though he was being sucked down the plughole like a recalcitrant insect. 

But of course, the true wonders of the evening were the magnificent cast. A staunch believer that the Original London Cast was the greatest, I am now thoroughly prepared to reconsider this view in certain instances. Simon Bowman was vocally marvellous as Jean Valjean, but more noteworthy was how convincing his portrayal was of Valjean at different stages in his life, so much so that, following the initial Prologue, I could scarcely recognise him as the now respectable Monsieur Madeleine. While Roger Allam remains for me, the definitive Javert, Norm Lewis now ranks a very close second, his smooth baritone bringing menace, but also a deep soulful quality to the complex character. In an interview, Lewis once stated he would love to play the Phantom of the Opera, I say, when can he start? 

Despite dismissing him as a reality television star, I actually found Gareth Gates' performance as Marius to be suprisingly effective, as was Killian Donnelley, who made myself, as a patron, want to go up and join the revolution. The Thenardiers were an absolute riot, their physical comedy and comic delivery keeping the audience laughing, which happens very little in a play whose once labelled "The Glums". My final merits for the evening go to the stunning Samantha Barks as Eponine (a certainly tied first favourite), and Martin Neely as the drunken, but occassionally eloquent Grantaire. Les Miserables (for goodness sake, no abbreviations) remains the king of musical theatre, long may it reign!

Theatre Links

• Norm Lewis, Samantha Barks and Jeff Nicholson performed in the 25th Anniversary Concert. Simon Bowman performed as one of the Four Valjeans in the encore.
• Martin Ball  was the original Doctor Dillamond in the London production of Wicked.
•  Norm Lewis originated the role of King Triton in The Little Mermaid.
• Killian Donnelly originated the role of Jamie in Kinky Boots.