349 posts
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Post by kimbahorel on Oct 7, 2019 9:48:38 GMT
I have said this about the show ever since I first watched it. I know as been said it is a concert staged version and set up as such. But I really don't like it I don't think concert style works for the production. I know there are shows which were created in a way to be like a concert. But I don't get the same overwhelming admiration for this version as most people post about. I find it very distracting when everyone stands there and sings to the audience I don't feel any emotion from it. I also find the stage way too cramped. I hate they lower the lights if you have upper circle seats it blocks out half the stage for half the show.
Quite franlkly the only reason I am attending shows now is because its going to be quite possibly the last time in a long time of me seeing a fave performer of mine on stage.
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883 posts
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Post by longinthetooth on Oct 7, 2019 12:33:08 GMT
I saw this for the first (and last) time on Saturday and was totally blown away! It was the singing and orchestra that did it for me. Everyone around me was saying the same thing. I would go again in a heartbeat if I could, but left it too late to get a decent seat, and would need to sell a kidney to afford one of the few left on the dates I could manage.
That said, I understand what people are saying about singing out to the audience, but after the first few moments it didn't matter. And, yes, some performers do interact more than others (as MissMillie said earlier, Bradley Jaden was outstanding in this regard). I know Alfie can't act for toffee, bless him, but for me that was made up for by his amazing voice.
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Post by Dr Tom on Oct 8, 2019 22:15:27 GMT
Very lucky to have been there tonight for the 34th Anniversary Concert. A hot crowd so I suspect many of them knew it was a celebratory night (unlike me, who just got lucky).
Matt Lucas was ill, so Stephen Matthews made his debut as Thernadier. Well, his concert debut, I know he’s played the role before. He was excellent. Sang better than Matt, most of the same scripted ad-libs, but he had his own flourishes, a few lines I don’t remember hearing before and a good comedy fall at the end. Glad he got to go on and I got to see him.
I was in Row E of the Grand Circle. The view wasn’t great, thanks to angles and leaners, probably no better than the Slips (where you could at least lean forward). Also had a shuffler next to me who kept making the chair squeak. And lots of people with the annoying habit of clapping before the singing stops at the end of songs. But putting that aside, a decent audience.
Excellent sound, with the exception of some mic cracking.
Can’t really fault this overall. It’s that strong a production.
And all faults forgiven when Michael Ball gave his after show speech to celebrate the anniversary, along with streamers, leading a chorus of Happy Birthday and announcing that Cameron had got everyone champagne. Cue plastic flutes and bottles of Taittinger being passed along the rows. I stopped after the second glass but there was plenty more circulating to drink.You don’t get that every night!
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Post by ghw on Oct 9, 2019 14:31:58 GMT
Seeing this on Friday, Row J Centre Stalls! Managed to get them at a heavily discounted rate so I can't wait!
Do we know if they encore One Day More after the bows every night? or was that just for the gala?
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1,929 posts
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Post by LaLuPone on Oct 9, 2019 14:39:20 GMT
Seeing this on Friday, Row J Centre Stalls! Managed to get them at a heavily discounted rate so I can't wait! Do we know if they encore One Day More after the bows every night? or was that just for the gala? Just for the gala. |
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883 posts
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Post by longinthetooth on Oct 9, 2019 17:05:01 GMT
Well, I lied. I have sold said kidney and am going again in a couple of weeks. This time will be seeing JOJ, so will be interested to see the difference between him and Alfie. Also, Carrie HF was off sick on Saturday, so looking forward to seeing her.
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Post by miz on Oct 9, 2019 17:46:45 GMT
Well, I lied. I have sold said kidney and am going again in a couple of weeks. This time will be seeing JOJ, so will be interested to see the difference between him and Alfie. Also, Carrie HF was off sick on Saturday, so looking forward to seeing her. Well done for selling your kidney. I would love to hear your thoughts after your next show. |
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Post by sagiirl on Oct 12, 2019 0:21:24 GMT
Saw this tonight. Alfie off ill and JOJ on. I thought it was fantastic. The cast are amazing but JOJ is really phenomenal. Very well behaved audience in the rear stalls...
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on Oct 12, 2019 22:18:30 GMT
Alfie off ill both shows today and people have travelled long distances and aren't happy... I can understand being disappointed, but I don't see the need to @ him on Twitter saying how devastated you are.
I'm sure he feels bad enough already without Elaine from Edinburgh sticking her five pence in.
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Post by Sean on Oct 13, 2019 16:28:09 GMT
Who is playing Marius while Rob is away?
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Post by 141920grm on Oct 13, 2019 16:50:09 GMT
Who is playing Marius while Rob is away? Craig Mather. He plays a sweeter, softer Marius and sounds wonderful. Lots of understudies on this past week- Matt, Alfie, Lily, Shan falling ill one after another- I was at Weds matinee and Stephen Matthews & Katie Kerrr (u/s Thenardiers) had such great natural chemistry. It was Craig's first show too and he smashed it. Dare I say this cast left a much more favourable impression than the principal one.... Cammack should let the covers go on more often. (For selfish reasons- I want to see Earl as Javert again) |
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Post by nefertari on Oct 13, 2019 17:51:36 GMT
I think Craig would make a lovely Marius if I hadn’t seen Rob first. I was at the 34th birthday. Rob was just fantastic. As for Craig, I’ ve seen him on Wednesday and Thursday and could tell he was progressing. But every time he sang(or should I say ”said”) “Cosette, I don't know what to say” the audience burst into laughter. And when Eponine died, I’m sorry to say that it looks as if it was him who just killed her.
Also, we were not very fond of Holly-Anne as Cosette. She's a very pretty girl but really needs to control some of her little movements on stage. A bit too much. We saw Lily on Tuesday and she was perfectt.
We went to the show 3 nights in a row but never saw Matt. Not feeling sorry at all since Stephen Matthews made a wonderful Mr Thenardier. Love him, and Katie Kerr!
My son has always been a huge fan of Alfie Boe but on Thursday he’s totally blown away by JOJ. He told me that “JOJ is the best JVJ ever. He brings this role to the next level”. This is the opinion of a 9-year-old boy but I couldn’t agree more.
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Post by 141920grm on Oct 13, 2019 20:37:36 GMT
But every time he sang(or should I say ”said”) “Cosette, I don't know what to say” the audience burst into laughter. And when Eponine died, I’m sorry to say that it looks as if it was him who just killed her. Also, we were not very fond of Holly-Anne as Cosette. She's a very pretty girl but really needs to control some of her little movements on stage. A bit too much. We saw Lily on Tuesday and she was perfectt. Haha oh dear! Our audience didn't laugh at that part thankfully, personally I find Craig's portrayal wholesome and sweetly sincere, in comparison to Rob who seems to go for the Eddie Redmayne-esque cute and awkward route. Both are great singers don't get me wrong! Lily is fantastic, having improved vastly since I first saw her in August, and totally deserves being brought onto the Sondheim production. Haven't had the opportunity to see Holly-Anne! |
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Post by daisy24601 on Oct 13, 2019 22:23:52 GMT
My turn to see this tomorrow, as long as JOJ is there I don't mind about the others so I wonder who I'll get!
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Post by miz on Oct 14, 2019 7:34:16 GMT
I am seeing 4 JOJ shows this week.
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Post by MrBraithwaite on Oct 14, 2019 7:39:14 GMT
Finally saw this last Monday when I was in London for a week. As everything has been said already just some quick remarks:
JOJ - what a celebration of the role of Valjean, perfect from start to finish.
Michael Ball - definately not right for that role, Stars and Javert's Suicide were okay, but the whole performance filled with weird acting / singing choices. Still generally like him, so it was okay, but not great.
Matt Lucas and Katy Secombe - favourites of the audience, great comedic performances, enjoyed them very much.
Personal surprises were Enjolras (Bradley Jaden - what a voice!) ad Eponine (Shan Ako - very straight musical theatre-voice, not very soul-y, liked that).
I thought Marius, Cosette and Fantine were adequate, but nothing special. While everyone else was on fire as if it was their first performance, these three felt like they were on their 734th...just one day more.
Ensemble was great, as the whole production was cast for the singing voices it made a fantastic sound and I especially enjoyed the very clear diction.
Thoroughly enjoyed the evening, especially after my last visit to the Queen's Theatre some time ago, which was one of the worst shows I had ever seen. I will keep this in my heart as one of the greatest Les Mis experiences I have had live, since I don't expect to see the new version in London any time soon.
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Post by 141920grm on Oct 14, 2019 10:45:19 GMT
I am seeing 4 JOJ shows this week. How?! Doesn't he only do 3 shows/week for this concert 😂 Tell me your secrets (as I'm sorely tempted to do the same) |
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Post by couldileaveyou on Oct 14, 2019 11:09:14 GMT
I am seeing 4 JOJ shows this week. How?! Doesn't he only do 3 shows/week for this concert 😂 Tell me your secrets (as I'm sorely tempted to do the same) He's on for Boe tomorrow and Wednesday's night as well |
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Post by 141920grm on Oct 14, 2019 12:08:13 GMT
How?! Doesn't he only do 3 shows/week for this concert 😂 Tell me your secrets (as I'm sorely tempted to do the same) He's on for Boe tomorrow and Wednesday's night as well Oh, of course! Good for him, and lucky miz...! |
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Post by danb on Oct 14, 2019 12:56:54 GMT
Regret to announce that Dawn has been hospitalised this week after a melodramatic ‘cry for help’ Basset’s vitamin overdose. Between Ken cutting her off, and then when she managed to sneak out with Anita from next door-but-one, Alfie was off. After muttering something about having to get his Lexus out at night, Ken drove up west to pick them up. He then heard her up in the night and found her shoving handfuls of jelly goodness into her gob claiming ‘she wanted to end it’ as it ‘wasn’t fair’ as it ‘finishes soon’. Ken rightly pointed out that she would be seeing Boe on every date of his upcoming tour with Balls, that his credit card was at its limit and so was he. Bit much I thought but bless him...
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Post by londonmzfitz on Oct 14, 2019 13:12:30 GMT
Craig Mather was a favourite Marius of mine at Queens Theatre (also one of the shortest at 5ft 9in - as featured in the Les Mis MAD Christmas show). His understudy was Fra Fee, who also made a lovely, young and earnest Marius! 2012 so google says.
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Post by miz on Oct 14, 2019 22:21:14 GMT
Craig Mather was a favourite Marius of mine at Queens Theatre (also one of the shortest at 5ft 9in - as featured in the Les Mis MAD Christmas show). His understudy was Fra Fee, who also made a lovely, young and earnest Marius! 2012 so google says. Yes, I thought he was one of the best Mariuses I had seen when he was the principal Marius, but tonight, he seemed to have lost his sparkle somehow. His fellow cast members used to tease him about his height but 5ft 9 is not that short,is it? Marius cannot be tall, anyway, as he has to be carried by JVJ. |
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Post by lou105 on Oct 14, 2019 22:35:23 GMT
Wasn't that cast known as the "short cast"? Alfie Boe isn't tall so they cast accordingly with Craig Mather, and Hadley Fraser as Javert, or so the story went.
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879 posts
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Post by daisy24601 on Oct 14, 2019 23:01:34 GMT
A wonderful evening. I went to my cheap grand circle slip seat with low expectations but it was totally fine. I could see all I needed to and was comfortable enough. Well worth the price!
JOJ lived up to expectations, and comfortably remains my favorite JVJ. The amount he gives to the character just standing at a mic, what a talent. The whole cast are a masterclass in musical theatre.
And the orchestra are fantastic, it was nice to be able to watch them, to see those beautiful melodies I listen to so often being played.
Ugh, I love Les Mis.
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Post by miz on Oct 14, 2019 23:38:18 GMT
A wonderful evening. I went to my cheap grand circle slip seat with low expectations but it was totally fine. I could see all I needed to and was comfortable enough. Well worth the price! JOJ lived up to expectations, and comfortably remains my favorite JVJ. The amount he gives to the character just standing at a mic, what a talent. The whole cast are a masterclass in musical theatre. And the orchestra are fantastic, it was nice to be able to watch them, to see those beautiful melodies I listen to so often being played. Ugh, I love Les Mis. I was also in the gods'slip tonight and I too ❤ Les Miz. I have seen Les Miz about 100 times (yes, I am a litte mad), more than half of which with JOJ. Tonight was my 9th show in the current run, and I was hit anew by how impossibly great JOJ was as JVJ. His rare talent still makes me cry right from the prologue. |
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