Les Misérables - Sondheim Theatre

Removing the chandelier did the touring production of Phantom no harm! In fact, I found it a far superior production to the London one.

A barricade that revolves is not an essential part of Les Mis - the average theatre goer won't notice if the barricade revolves or is pushed on. The story can still powerfully be told either way, it's just a different set design. And your comparison makes no sense as the barricade isn't being lost, it just isn't revolving anymore!

Technology advances, artistic styles advance, and theatre has to move with the times to keep attracting the casual audiences that underpin its revenue. That is all this is, and sad as it is for hardcore fans, the commercial justification is blindingly obvious.





They will choose a legendary show, which is either of them. The vast majority won't know or care whether the staging used to be different, they will be booking for the name recognition of the show, not what the set is made from! Even if you do think the set is "cheap" (which is entirely subjective), plenty of shows with little or no set are huge successes (look at Come From Away, for example) and they don't have the phenomenal brand recognition that Les Mis has built up over so many years, revolve or no revolve.

I would not be at all surprised if Phantom is quickly the one that starts to look tired (arguably it is already).


I get that fans of the show are sad to see the original staging go, and don't see the point in changing it. Yet many of the same fans have been complaining for years that the show is a pale imitation of the original already, so to the objective bystander complaining about refreshing it makes no sense. And you have to step back to be that objective bystander to understand how the general public will feel about the changes, which really is that the vast majority will either not know, or if they do they won't care - the music and plot that they recognise will still be there, and that is what counts, and what gives the show the recognition that underpins its box office.

So last night i saw Les Miz for the 30-something time. Its the show that got me hooked on Musical Theatre and the show i have seen the most in many places across the world and it's also the show i have the most recordings of. I couldn't not be there for the closing of the original production.

I haven't seen the show in about 8 years and i thought the final show was fantastic. Watching the show again made me realise just how good the original staging is. Not just the revolve and barricades, but also the lighting. There are so many great, iconic pictures created through the production. The lighting and smoke at the start of At The End Of The Day, the female ensemble in Lovely Ladies, staying on the middle as the revolve goes around them, Marius, sat alone at the start of Empty Chairs, the male ensemble on the barricades, the shutters in On My Own... i could go on.

Unlike others, i didn't think the show was too fast, i thought the sound was great, but then i was 3 rows from the front and i knew all the words before i went in, though there were a few little changes that i don't recall hearing before.

I thought most of the cast were very good, Dean Chisnall is very easy on the eye and a great voice, i don't get all the praise for Bradley Jaden and i thought Carly Stenson was just ok. I prefer my Fantine's to have a bigger voice. Toby Miles was also good as Marius.

I even cried twice, which surprised me, but the musical has been a big part of my life since 1986 and it's the end of an era. Yes the show itself will continue, and i've yet to see any other production apart from the original, so it will be interesting to see the new production at the end of the year.

That's not true. There are those of us who love the original, but don't describe the new version as a shoddy fake.

I don't think the two are exclusive. I prefer the original, but having seen several productions of the new version, think it's certainly worthy of it's place on a West End (and Broadway) stage. I just wouldn't have closed the only remaining original version to put it there.

^Can’t agree that the no-chandelier tour of Phantom was superior...completely ruined it for me,sadly

Glad to hear it...you’re welcome👍

It will be interesting to see what marketing they go with (and what they do with the mural on the wall of the theatre).

scarpia,totally agree with every word of your summation 🙂

To be fair though, the 2014 Broadway production of the new restaged version lasted longer than the 2006 revival of the original version. I think that's just Broadway/Les Mis, rather than a reflection on the new staging.

But as someone said a few pages back, I do wonder if when sales do eventually start to slow down in London (to the point of closing), whether Cameron will bring back the original version with all the hype that would go with it.

I was responding to Dave’s “cheap revival set” comment.
I totally get how the new version releases CM from paying royalties to the original creatives. He’s a businessman and without him the show wouldn’t have happened in the first place. Everyone involved in the original has made a very fine living off it for over 30 years.

The revival of Chicago, vastly stripped down was way more successful than the original,

Myself and my husband were there last night. Thought it was one of the best cards we have seen. The Thenardier’s were cracking! Had an amazing time, and it was hubby’s first last night (after opening night at Joseph on Thursday (he insists he was “papped” on the red carpet - I didn’t have the heart to tell him Gary Wilmot was behind him).

Back to Les Mis. A brilliant show ruined in part by the camera crew we were sat next to in the front row of the Dress Circle, in particular the lady sat next to me. Constantly checking her phone and texting - I assumed she was in contact with colleagues elsewhere in the building...until I snuck a look and she was just texting a friend! Then, just before curtain up on Act 2 she clambers over the back of the seat and out of auditorium along row B. She then decided to return just as the barricade is forming on stage, thus ruining the final ever time this will happen for half of row and and rows behind us! Totally unprofessional, and if the camera was picking up sound, a few expletives from my direction may have been picked up!