Les Miserables - The Staged Concert

Does anyone know why Simon Bowman departed the production?

Found this video of Gala Premiere curtain call speeches, with Cameron Mackintosh and both Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg present.

I think it started at the 25 th anniversary. I was there too and I still remember my heart turning stone cold watching people going crazy for Mr Boe's BHH. I'm perfectly happy with a mid-show standing ovation in a more show-biz type show or light-hearted one, but for me, Les Miz is different. IMHO, it demands and deserves a deep emotional engagement from the audience and a mid-show standing ovation breaks the spell. No actor or singer is greater than the show itself, especially a masterpiece like Les Miz. To me, he will forever remain as someone who vulgernised BHH. I say this risking being skinned alive by his fans.

I perfectly know that Mr Boe has a beautiful voice. I have seen him in both the ROH and Coliseum, but so does Jonas Kaufman. If a singer can give an operatic rendition of a musical aria, that doesn't make him a genius. To me, what JOJ can do with his voice, facial expressions and hands deserve lot higher praises and recognition. His hands alone can express a lot.

Finally got to see this tonight and omg, I’m still shaking. Les Mis has always packed a punch but tonight was on a whole other level. JOJ was riveting and CFH was actually outstanding, bringing something really special to Fantine that makes you feel like you’re hearing I Dreamed a Dream for the first time all over again.

I went in mainly wanting to see Rob Houchen and he didn’t disappoint either, I was misty eyed during ECAET. Michael Ball was a great fit for Javert I thought, bringing much rage and darkness to the role. The biggest applause seemed to go to Matt Lucas and Katy Seacombe though who had the audience in stitches. All in all, it was clearly a very special production with the company really making the point that this is a great show and they all came out to prove it. 5 Stars

I should have gone last night, had one of the £17.50 slips but wasn't feeling great and the HEAT in London, I'm afraid, did for me. I got into a tepid bath at 4pm and stayed there for a happy hour, deciding my sanity was worth more than a sticky/stinky tube and a nosebleed seat. Bah.

On the mid-show ovations, first time I witnessed it was Guys & Dolls at the National, 1997, when Clive Rowe sang Sit Down You're Rocking The Boat which was the most extraordinary performance (winning an Olivier Award). I have seen mid-show ovations since (Gypsy with Imelda, Funny Girl with Sheridan) but that was a stand-out performance and absolutely worthy of bringing the show to a standstill. The Alfie fans are very vocal on Book of Face and - as my earlier review on this thread - Alfie's performance is (my opinion) superb; Alfie has been cast as he will bring in fans, and those fans will want to make it known (yeah, touch of the Alfie, Alfie, look at me!) they are impressed.

I did make a comment on one of Alfie's fan sites when he was in Les Mis years ago that I couldn't understand why the fans were applauding over the final big note of Bring Him Home - we all know it's coming, why drown it out - and next time I went it didn't happen.

Thanks theatremonkey! I did have a look at your site before purchasing (as always) and decided to go ahead. As I've seen it already I wanted to make sure the other people in the group had the better views, so if it's easier for them to lean in the lower numbers and restrict my view perhaps that's the way to go. 

I would love it to be Earl Carpenter but he has had to ‘double up’ roles anyway so sadly unlikely to be him - lucky for no.2 cover who probably thought he would never get on - tho Leo Roberts is in the cast and he played a mighty fine Javert when I saw him at Queens ... 🤔

I was there last week and the programme still had Simon listed so don't think they've changed it. I can double check later though!

Went last night and really enjoyed it. Not seen the show live since it was at the palace, so don’t have a big attachment to it. Mr Ball can’t do menacing and Mr Boe is stiff as a board, even if he sounds like a dream, but the rest of the cast were terrific and it was lovely to have such a big cast making a great sound.

I did hate my fellow audience of screamers, clapping before the end of the songs, standing up at the drop of a hat, entrance applause, mouthing the words and singing along. It was a bingo of annoying behaviour.

Has anyone sat at the back of the stalls for this? I’m in Row U on Wednesday and wondering what I’ll miss.