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Post by theoracle on Nov 5, 2019 21:43:39 GMT
I'm sure this has probably come up in the past & I apologise if it has (I'm new-ish around these parts!) but if you could choose your dream/definitive cast for Les Mis, who would you choose? Time & age doesn't matter in your dream cast productions by the way! JVJ: John Owen Jones Javet: Philip Quast Fantine: Ruthie Henshall Cossette: Katie Hall Eponine: Frances Ruffelle Enjoloras: Ramin Karimloo/Bradley Jaden Marius: M Ball Thenardier: Steven Meo M. Thenardier: Katy Secombe or Jenny Galloway For me... JVJ: Colm Wilkinson Javert: Earl Carpenter Fantine: Sierra Boggess Cossette: Judy Kuhn Eponine: Carrie Hope Fletcher/Lea Salonga Enjolras: Ramin Karimloo/Bradley Jaden Marius: Rob Houchen Thernadier: Matt Lucas Madam Thernadier: Emma Thompson (I know she hasn't done it but she would be fantastic) |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2019 21:46:47 GMT
Graham Norton in La Cage was celebrity stunt casting. I was there one NYE and because of all the cast illnesses, he was brought in a week or 2 before he was actually due to start.
Suffice to say, he was under rehearsed and terrible. i kind if felt sorry for him being thrown on so early.
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Post by indis on Nov 5, 2019 21:50:22 GMT
For me... JVJ: JOJ/Killian Donnely Javert: Tam Mutu/Bradley Jaden/Leo Roberts Fantine: Celinde Schoenmaker Cossette: Zoe Doano Eponine: Eva Noblezada/Lea Salonga Enjolras: Anton Zetterholm Marius: Rob Houchen Thernadier: the actor from the 10th anniversay (forgot the name) Madam Thernadier: Wendy Ferguson
and if i could ask a wish/dream : Harriet Jones as Fantine
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Post by miz on Nov 5, 2019 22:28:32 GMT
Furet, JB can't act. He can sing, has a big voice and is incredibly handsome, but, I could not call his performance in this musical acting.
If the paring of PQ and RA can't draw the crowed, what was the world coming to? was what I was thinking.
As for the casting of AB in the semi-staged version, I agree that it makes a perfect commercial sense. He is a far better known JVJ than JOJ. And I certainly don't blame him for being cast.
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Post by Dave25 on Nov 5, 2019 23:06:58 GMT
Off topic and probably one for the unpopular opinions thread, but I have never got the love for Ramin Karimloo at all. *runs and hides* I share this opinion. I think Ramin does not sing, but howl. Hysterically. Constantly. Never is a note relaxed. The thing that irritates me the most of that, is that nearly all of his notes are so tense/hysterical that they are above the actual note it should be. he's always sharp. For example, the words: "secretly, secretly" in Phantom should be sung in a very seductive, silky, way, and it should be the same note. Ramin starts the first "se" already a note too high, elevating the "cret" to a whole different note, and the "ly" is 3 notes higher. This man is completely creating his own melodies. When I watched Les Mis with him as Valjean I was completely stunned that in Valjean's Soliloquy, NOT 1 note was on key. Not 1. I couldn't handle it. Also, in the 25th Les Mis concert, his Enjolras makes me laugh, it's a complete parody. |
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Post by 141920grm on Nov 5, 2019 23:49:48 GMT
At risk of being crucified for being a snob I have to agree, Ramin as a musical theatre actor in my opinion is another example of hype preceding talent, he's extremely expressive but frequently over-emotes which negatively affects his singing. He's a bit painful to listen to, as someone with perfect pitch. And thank god getting the pitch right is not a debatable matter, you're either singing in tune, or you're not.
I'm sure he's probably amazing in other less musically/singing-based roles.
(uhh slightly off-topic but now I'm very curious to hear a vocals-only track for POTO 25th just to torture myself, I'm watching a clip of it right now and it does feel like my brain is automatically adjusting Ramin's pitch to match the orchestra's......)
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Post by David J on Nov 6, 2019 0:40:11 GMT
Dream cast, based on whom I've seen live
Jean Valjean: John Owen Jones/Geromino Rauch
Javert: Jeremy Secomb/Tam Mutu
Fantine: Rachelle Ann Go/Sierra Boggess
Thenardier: Steven Meo/Martin Ball (though if there was one who put the comedy first and worked for me it would be Tom Edden)
Mme Thenardier: Vivien Parry
Marius: Craig Mather
Enjorlas: Bradley Jaden
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Post by indis on Nov 6, 2019 4:27:01 GMT
funny that some here don’t like Ramins Voice, i do
but if we can share opinions here without gettinf roasted: What is so good about Frances Ruffele? her voice is so squeaky like Donald Duck 🤣 and even worse is Colm Wilkinson: singing like he is chewing gum all the time with no special voice colour at all🤷🏻♀️
that had to get out: only good vibes from now on again 😊
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Post by carmella1 on Nov 6, 2019 4:34:01 GMT
I saw Ramin in LM when he was supposed to be so wonderful. There were 3 of us all disappointed in his performance. Hadley Fraser was wonderful as Javert and much better than Ramin. And I have heard BHH sung much better than him by others without his name. When ALW put him on the dvd of Phantom it literally made him.
And previous up the thread I was reading how some people thought Hugh Jackman was good. Possibly the worst sung JVJ of all time.
How can anyone forget David Thaxton's Enjorlas just wonderful. And a great Javert as well.
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Post by indis on Nov 6, 2019 6:17:41 GMT
never saw Thaxton as Enjolras but as Javert he was „ok“
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Post by nefertari on Nov 6, 2019 7:24:28 GMT
China January 2020 with Earl Carpenter and Jeremy Secomb I am seriously thinking of flying over to Shanghai to see this show. I am a big fan of the 3 Phantoms, and I welcome the new member, Mr. Secomb, as I remember being very much impressed by his Javert. I didn't know he has also played the Phantom. It makes the show 3 Phantoms and 2 Javerts. The problem is how to purchase tickets. At the moment, the website seems to allow only Chinese people to purchase tickets. I just checked the website. And yes you need to have Wechat Pay or Alipay to buy tickets. Front row ticket costs £142. Almost twice the price of the Lesmiz concert. I give up. >.< |
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Post by miz on Nov 6, 2019 8:02:30 GMT
I am seriously thinking of flying over to Shanghai to see this show. I am a big fan of the 3 Phantoms, and I welcome the new member, Mr. Secomb, as I remember being very much impressed by his Javert. I didn't know he has also played the Phantom. It makes the show 3 Phantoms and 2 Javerts. The problem is how to purchase tickets. At the moment, the website seems to allow only Chinese people to purchase tickets. I just checked the website. And yes you need to have Wechat Pay or Alipay to buy tickets. Front row ticket costs £142. Almost twice the price of the Lesmiz concert. I give up. >.< Thank you for checking the website. Do you read Chinese? My last resort will be to fly out to China just to buy tickets directly from the theatre. But that might make me look like a mad person... |
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Post by nefertari on Nov 6, 2019 8:35:05 GMT
I just checked the website. And yes you need to have Wechat Pay or Alipay to buy tickets. Front row ticket costs £142. Almost twice the price of the Lesmiz concert. I give up. >.< Thank you for checking the website. Do you read Chinese? My last resort will be to fly out to China just to buy tickets directly from the theatre. But that might make me look like a mad person... No problem. Yes I am Chinese and read Chinese. I left a message at the ticket office social media wondering if they have other payment choices. No one’s answering me yet. I’ll let you know if there’s any. |
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Post by eponineserrand on Nov 6, 2019 8:54:15 GMT
funny that some here don’t like Ramins Voice, i do but if we can share opinions here without gettinf roasted: What is so good about Frances Ruffele? her voice is so squeaky like Donald Duck 🤣 and even worse is Colm Wilkinson: singing like he is chewing gum all the time with no special voice colour at all🤷🏻♀️ that had to get out: only good vibes from now on again 😊 I like her because I think she's most like Eponine in the book. I was truly heartbroken for her and she's the only person who's made me truly sob when she dies. Frances gave me the impression of an innocent person caught up in this tough life and suffering from unrequited love. The more modern Eponine's sing beautifully but for me lack the same emotion in their voice. Sounds an odd thing to say in musical theatre but they project and sound too perfect to be Eponine for me. In my opinion the best performers are the ones who can make me feel their story - although I know this is a highly debatable subject! |
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Post by David J on Nov 6, 2019 8:58:47 GMT
Dream cast, based on whom I've seen live Jean Valjean: John Owen Jones/Geromino Rauch Javert: Jeremy Secomb/Tam Mutu Fantine: Rachelle Ann Go/Sierra Boggess Thenardier: Steven Meo/Martin Ball (though if there was one who put the comedy first and worked for me it would be Tom Edden) Mme Thenardier: Vivien Parry Marius: Craig Mather Enjorlas: Bradley Jaden Oh and before I forget Carrie Hope Fletcher as Eponine |
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Post by miz on Nov 6, 2019 9:09:57 GMT
Thank you for checking the website. Do you read Chinese? My last resort will be to fly out to China just to buy tickets directly from the theatre. But that might make me look like a mad person... No problem. Yes I am Chinese and read Chinese. I left a message at the ticket office social media wondering if they have other payment choices. No one’s answering me yet. I’ll let you know if there’s any. nefartari, thank you so much ! 😘 I will keep checking this thread. At the moment, a return ticket to Shanghai can be had for under 700 pounds and I wouldn't mind a weekend in Shanghai but it is a long way. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 6, 2019 9:54:31 GMT
No problem. Yes I am Chinese and read Chinese. I left a message at the ticket office social media wondering if they have other payment choices. No one’s answering me yet. I’ll let you know if there’s any. nefartari, thank you so much ! 😘 I will keep checking this thread. At the moment, a return ticket to Shanghai can be had for under 700 pounds and I wouldn't mind a weekend in Shanghai but it is a long way. You could probably hire JOJ for a one to one singing demo for that kind of dosh! |
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Post by miz on Nov 6, 2019 12:01:58 GMT
Ha ha ha. I would have thought they get paid something like 5000-10,000 a night (just my guess). At any rate, hiring JOJ seems to be indeed possible. A few years ago, I read on his website or somewhere that he was performing at a corporate function.
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Post by Being Alive on Nov 6, 2019 12:04:59 GMT
I think you're way off miz - the lower figure is not far off what Ball and Boe are being paid a week for the concert so with the best will in the world, JOJ isnt get that for a concert! |
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Post by miz on Nov 6, 2019 12:10:35 GMT
Off topic and probably one for the unpopular opinions thread, but I have never got the love for Ramin Karimloo at all. *runs and hides* I share this opinion. I think Ramin does not sing, but howl. Hysterically. Constantly. Never is a note relaxed. The thing that irritates me the most of that, is that nearly all of his notes are so tense/hysterical that they are above the actual note it should be. he's always sharp. For example, the words: "secretly, secretly" in Phantom should be sung in a very seductive, silky, way, and it should be the same note. Ramin starts the first "se" already a note too high, elevating the "cret" to a whole different note, and the "ly" is 3 notes higher. This man is completely creating his own melodies. When I watched Les Mis with him as Valjean I was completely stunned that in Valjean's Soliloquy, NOT 1 note was on key. Not 1. I couldn't handle it. Also, in the 25th Les Mis concert, his Enjolras makes me laugh, it's a complete parody. As I said, I love Ramin as a musical theatre performer (but I am not keen on his indie-folk band), but what Dave25 says makes sense to me. A technical analysis of a performer is very interesting although I myself can't even read music let alone having perfect pitch. I don't think comments like these are snobbery at all. They are educational as far as I am concerned. |
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Post by miz on Nov 6, 2019 12:38:37 GMT
I think you're way off miz - the lower figure is not far off what Ball and Boe are being paid a week for the concert so with the best will in the world, JOJ isnt get that for a concert! Ohhhhhh. |
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Post by maggiem on Nov 6, 2019 14:00:04 GMT
Cineworld aren’t showing the concert screening, so guess I won’t be going! Oh yes they are. I've just booked for Leigh! |
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Post by nefertari on Nov 6, 2019 14:08:33 GMT
No problem. Yes I am Chinese and read Chinese. I left a message at the ticket office social media wondering if they have other payment choices. No one’s answering me yet. I’ll let you know if there’s any. nefartari, thank you so much ! 😘 I will keep checking this thread. At the moment, a return ticket to Shanghai can be had for under 700 pounds and I wouldn't mind a weekend in Shanghai but it is a long way. I’m sorry it seems they’re answering neither questions nor phone calls 😑. Based on social media feedback this ticket agent is awful. I think you are very likely to get a ticket at the theatre but I really don’t recommend you do that. I’ve seen some fans complaining about “no orchestra” on stage, only one piano + one cello. £140 is way too much, needless to say the extra £700 in your case. For Chinese fans this might be their only chance in a life-time to see JOJ so they have no choice, but you do.☺️ |
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Post by miz on Nov 6, 2019 15:07:43 GMT
nefertari, thank you so much for your kind help. If I remenber correctly, I used to pay around 30 pounds for a ticket for this concert. So, you are right. The current prices are a bit ridiculous. I had better wait till the concert comes back to the UK.
I am still glad to notice that JOJ and Earl seem to be getting due recognition they deserve in East Asia.
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Post by sophie92 on Nov 6, 2019 16:04:07 GMT
Cineworld aren’t showing the concert screening, so guess I won’t be going! Oh yes they are. I've just booked for Leigh! They weren’t on the day tickets went on sale everywhere else (and were saying on Twitter that no screenings were planned) |
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