Les Miserables - The Staged Concert

Any knowledge on the understudies?

Called it it was 10 but apparently going up!

We now know all about the programme but how was the performance? Staging?

So how was it for all who were there ? How were all the leads ? Having finally booked it I'm now wanting to know everything

I booked this without knowing it was the first performance..

Les Miserables is adored all around the world and has been performed literally in every corner and translated into many languages. It is the musical that speaks directly and unequivocal to the audience with recent unlicensed productions in Venezuela and Hong Kong, where it has become a call to arms.

Going in I thought this was going to be reminiscent of the Barbican 25th anniversary production which I loved, but was instead based on the 25th 02 concert production which I didn’t love, shame it wasn’t the Royal Albert Hall 10th anniversary concert production, which I simply adored.

But if you are going to go please feel free to wear your black suit and tie - a black armband if you must, but that is entirely optional to hear Alfie Boe’s and Michael Ball’s eulogy. Everyone loves Michael Ball, Alfie Boe and Carrie Hope Fisher (if you are under 21.) My issue with this evening is not with Les Miserables, which will always be a great piece of theatre and is my favourite musical of all time. But what makes Les Miserables so great is that it is so dramatic, which is entirely absent in a concert format production. I didn’t mind when they did celebrational milestone concerts in the past, as I knew you had the original at the Palace and later the Queens, to fall back on. Tonight felt like a requiem.

What stood out for me, is that Michael Ball cannot do the bad man, whether it was Sweeney in Sweeney Todd and Freddie Trumper in Chess, he is too stereotypical your nice guy, however tonight, acting wasn’t a requirement, which must come to a big relief to Alfie Boe, however he did take the roof off to the Gielgud for his big solo moment for ‘Bring Him Home,’ I tip my black bowler hat to that. I was surprised how well Carrie Hope Fisher sung and acquitted herself for ‘I dreamed a dream.’ Earl Carpenter, Rob Houchen, Shan Ako and Katy Secome were all delightful.

I mourn the turntable and Les Miserable that was.

Hope it returns for the 40th anniversary production, no one does publicity better as the producer for this, that I am assured is alive and well.

3 Stars

Is this staged at all, or is it just people sat behind a row of microphones and standing up for their parts? Any costumes? Any acted parts?

There are costumes all the parts are sung to the audience and not other cast memebers and the ensemble sit on a balcony/staired stage bit. Its made to look some what like wooden barricade/ paris scene thing. The thing I hated set wise was the lights they drop them so you basically cut off most of the ensemble sight line for a 1/3 of the show. But I liked the staircase that led down substage. Also the band are on stage risen up.

When he was in the 2016 Manilla production he said somewhere that it was the last time he was playing Javert. Disappointing but there is a press video of One day more and a recording of the confrontation on youtube from that production and you can tell he was loosing his Javert voice. And that was not long after he was in in the Canadian and broadway productions so I wouldn’t be surprised that he wanted to move on

You know what I don't care. I really didn't like it. I knew that it was going to be a concert I know that but they cut so much ensemble stuff. They have reframed songs with ensemble parts as solos (with backing vocals). They literally could have had just the leads at the show and not bother with the ensemble. They either cut scenes out of the show or all the dialoge from scenes. I only bought tickets because I found out some of my fave actors where in it. In fairness Oli and Ciaran are onstage swings and actually got more to do in the show than some of the ensemble which concidering they are the two I bought tickets for is the saving grace for me.

The only thing I liked was that they extended Turning. Performance wise... I am not going to say anything I have no words other than... I actually really loved Shan as Eponine and Lily as Cosette. Bradley has got a lot more vocal depth to his Enjolras now and I haven't seen Rob for a while I enjoyed his performance. Carrie did pretty well vocally for Fantine she was nervous I think mostly. The ensemble were great from the stuff they actually got to perform. I didnt like the wedding sat down dance it was weird. Also the flat part of the stage is too small for any more than about 10 people unless they are static. There were a lot of scenes I can't remember if the 25th Concert does this but when all the students die you have then all just stand there while the music is going. Its a bit.... okay!

My favourite review headline related to this was on Arts Desk when (sporting a rather flamboyant and implausible syrup) he was in the ENO Carousel:

'Boe out-acted by wig.'

What time did it finish?

Thanks for all the first night reports.

About 10:15.