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Post by Dr Tom on Jun 25, 2019 12:47:24 GMT
Like so many others, I decided to see the show again with the revolve before it closes.
Shockingly, much as I like much of the score of Les Mis, it's a show I've rarely seen performed live. I saw it in London in 2014, then in Melbourne in 2014 and New York in 2015, with both of those being the tour version. The latter show ended in an unfortunate incident, with the lead actor falling to his death the day after I saw it, which may have rather put me off from seeing the show again.
Last night I was in the ultra cheap seat of Upper Circle A29, a partial view, but it you know the show, you can see a lot of it. Exactly the same seat as in 2014. Thankfully not surrounded by tourists translating the show like last visit. This time I was surrounded (on three sides) by an Irish school trip, with the girls turned out to be rather bored in the second half and a male voice singing along at times (turned out to be the teacher).
Two covers on for lead roles:
Adam Bayjou as Jean Valjean
Grace Farrell as Fantine
Both fine, although Adam Bayjou came across as less powerful than other people I've seen play the role. It also seemed strange to see it played with a West Country accent.
The highlight was Bradley Jaden singing Stars. A much more showstopping number than I Dreamed A Dream.
One thing I hadn't realised is just how little the revolve is actually used. But I am more used to the other staging.
Also surprised how long most of the cast are (and that this is the first job for so many), but maybe it's always been like that?
The bangs always have me on edge and I was surprised to work out there were only seven of them. A lot of them are released from what I presume doubles up as a lighting rig, really close to where I was sat in the Upper Circle, so it isn't the best place to sit. But they are all confined to quite a small section of the second half.
I won't see this again with the revolve, but I have booked a cheap seat for the concert version.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2019 14:49:22 GMT
More tickets now available on the DMT site for the final show (formerly sold out) - they are all at ridiculous premium prices though!
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1,057 posts
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Post by David J on Jun 25, 2019 15:14:22 GMT
The bangs always have me on edge and I was surprised to work out there were only seven of them. A lot of them are released from what I presume doubles up as a lighting rig, really close to where I was sat in the Upper Circle, so it isn't the best place to sit. But they are all confined to quite a small section of the second half.. Sitting at the front of the stalls the times I’ve seen this, I’ve located the sound coming from the top left arch in the set where the boxes usually are. Always gets me every time no matter how much I anticipate it I think many here agree that Bayjou, whilst not the strongest vocally, his acting in the role is very impressive. I loved the details he put into the performance such as when valjeans age was catching up with him in Valjeans Confession. I’d put him as my fourth favourite valjean |
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3,057 posts
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Post by ali973 on Jun 25, 2019 19:49:09 GMT
I heard that nothing is planned for the final show.
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Post by xanady on Jun 25, 2019 20:17:02 GMT
^I honestly wasn’t expecting anything as I think they are worried about losing ‘the world’s longest running’ title.However they dress it up,if a show closes in a theatre,then the run has ended.It is a travesty that this version is closing but once it closes,the marketing people cannot claim that the run is continuing with a different version of the production in a different theatre.That would be illogical.
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1,736 posts
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Post by fiyero on Jun 25, 2019 20:17:28 GMT
I heard that nothing is planned for the final show. I've been to a few closing nights (which this really is) and some have a fuss, some don't. It will be a shame if it isn't recognised at all but it shouldn't detract from the show. I am taking my nephew and it is his first ever Les Mis! I've explained to him a bit of the significance but he is just keen to see the show. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2019 21:06:29 GMT
I think it will be really sad if there aren’t at least a couple of speeches acknowledging the end of this landmark production.
Though sadly I wouldn’t be surprised if there isn’t anything.
Either way, lots of fans are gonna be in so I do think it will be a really special night :-)
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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2019 21:29:22 GMT
^I honestly wasn’t expecting anything as I think they are worried about losing ‘the world’s longest running’ title.However they dress it up,if a show closes in a theatre,then the run has ended. In which case, the original production ended in 2004 when it closed at the Palace Theatre. Or the Barbican. I think "The World's Longest Running Musical" is the tagline they use, which is still true. It's still the same musical. They've acknowledged this is a new version/production of the musical, but minus a few weeks here and there while they've moved theatre several times, the show is continuing to run in the West End. However, I too am sad to see the original disappear and would prefer they left the London production alone. |
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on Jun 25, 2019 21:34:29 GMT
What time does the evening performance typically end?
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Post by xanady on Jun 25, 2019 23:04:27 GMT
In the current LM touring versions programme/brochure,CM has written the historical notes himself and describes the,in his words,continuous 33 year reign of the Barbican/Palace/Queens production as the original.However in the same publication,a few pages later,Boubil and Schoenberg describe the Paris production as the original! There was a five year gap between the two productions so who is right and does it matter?
The London production that ends in a few weeks is to be replaced by a cash-in concert version and therefore not technically a fully-staged show and then by the completely re-imagined touring version.The original will close and the 33 year reign (or 38 if you include Paris) of the original will end.
As for LM’s claim to be the worlds’ longest running musical? Does this mean continuously and in what format?
Oklahoma launched in 1943.Who is it to say whether or not this show has/has not been produced non-stop around the world since then,even perhaps at an am-dram level? If so, this takes the crown from LM!
Of course what we are dealing with is semantic interpretation which is as reliable as knitting with treacle in the dark.It’s all old school carny talk.It sounds good on a billboard but means nothing in the end.
When I hear Colm Wilkinson sing BHH on his Stages CD,I remember him all those decades ago and the skin tingles at the memory.He was the original Valjean in the original LM for me and in the end the rest is mere words.
RIP Les Mis,we will never know the like of you in the same way again....in my very humble opinion!
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840 posts
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Post by Steffi on Jun 26, 2019 5:46:24 GMT
I think it will be really sad if there aren’t at least a couple of speeches acknowledging the end of this landmark production. Though sadly I wouldn’t be surprised if there isn’t anything. Either way, lots of fans are gonna be in so I do think it will be a really special night :-) There will be at least one speech. |
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840 posts
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Post by Steffi on Jun 26, 2019 5:47:17 GMT
What time does the evening performance typically end? On a regular night around 10:30pm |
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Post by kimbahorel on Jun 26, 2019 18:57:17 GMT
Bayjou doesn't do Valjean with West country accent he has a lisp that is prominent when he sings. His natural accent is south London/estuary.
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349 posts
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Post by kimbahorel on Jun 26, 2019 19:31:33 GMT
One thing I hadn't realised is just how little the revolve is actually used. But I am more used to the other staging. The revolve is used for everthing. Its active in every scene pretty much I think bar the barricade except for when Gav runs off and the when they all die. It's used for scene changes to take cast on and off front of the stage. JVJ walks againt the turn so that he is in movement but alway centre stage. It takes Fantine off when she dies. And its a big part of the two barricade pieces moving around. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2019 10:15:32 GMT
One thing I hadn't realised is just how little the revolve is actually used. But I am more used to the other staging. The revolve is used for everthing. Its active in every scene pretty much I think bar the barricade except for when Gav runs off and the when they all die. It's used for scene changes to take cast on and off front of the stage. JVJ walks againt the turn so that he is in movement but alway centre stage. It takes Fantine off when she dies. And its a big part of the two barricade pieces moving around. Absolutely - it's used pretty much constantly! Perhaps was broken the evening Dr Tom was there.... |
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Post by louonthegogo on Jun 30, 2019 14:52:55 GMT
Saw this Thursday evening for the second time. Really sad that it's being completely re-staged- it'll be regretted in the near future.
Wonderful show as always with great performances by all. This is the third show I've seen Dean Chisnall in, and he makes a wonderful Jean Valjean but in saying that, in the other 2 shows I've seen him in, he's always been the standout performer.
Little note for stage door: Bradley Jaden (Javert) sprints out the door, I think he was gone within 2 minutes of curtain calls- very impressive, he did stop for the 3 of us who had got to stage door by then, so that was kind of him.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2019 15:21:56 GMT
Bradley was the same at Wicked, he was always out within like 5 minutes of the curtain dropping.
I didn’t stage door Mis as it was such an awful, wet night and didn’t think many would stay to sign, but I bet Bradley would have been first out.
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on Jun 30, 2019 15:40:39 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2019 16:25:04 GMT
Thanks, shady23. I just needed a little break but now I'm back. |
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Post by crunchemhall on Jun 30, 2019 17:20:59 GMT
Little note for stage door: Bradley Jaden (Javert) sprints out the door, I think he was gone within 2 minutes of curtain calls- very impressive Sarah Lark (former I'd do anything) seems to be as quick as Bradley Jaden, couldn't managed to catch her in 3 times. |
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Post by xanady on Jun 30, 2019 19:43:35 GMT
Perhaps they have a bus to catch...
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Post by Oleanna on Jun 30, 2019 20:31:39 GMT
I believe Bradley Jaden doesn’t like social situations like stage door. At Wicked, he would often leave via an alternative exit.
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Post by louonthegogo on Jun 30, 2019 20:47:17 GMT
I believe Bradley Jaden doesn’t like social situations like stage door. At Wicked, he would often leave via an alternative exit. Can't blame him. There was a girl next to me talking about queues for Heathers last year were winding around the building and down the street. How could you be bothered after doing a 2 hour show going out to that? Same with Cursed Child. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2019 21:10:16 GMT
Most actors tend to commute in through mainline trains which usually finish a lot earlier than other London transport. We have night buses, and now night tubes, but not night trains.
It must be a mad dash to get from the Shaftesbury Ave/Piccadilly area to whichever one of the big stations Bradley uses for that last train of the day.
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Post by 49thand8th on Jul 1, 2019 21:26:43 GMT
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