Les Miserables - The Staged Concert

He and earl carpenter make a right old pair aren’t they

I saw earl carpenter host a concert at the Mayflower about two years ago. He told an anecdote about the time he was the phantom for the 20th anniversary performance. Michael Crawford was attending and Cameron, knowing earl, came round to tell him no funny remarks during the curtain call speech. But earl couldn’t help starting with a frank Spencer impersonation

That would be amazing!

That is my prediction as well even though we all know he deserves a much bigger cameo! It would seem like the sensible move, to have him on as Bishop.

Of course I’m all for an alternate reality where Alfie plays Bishop and JOJ Valjean...

Plus Alexander Armstrong asked him on Pointless where his favourite place to sing JVJ or BHH - sorry I forget which - and he said ‘Wales’ 😂😂😂 - not totally convinced that was the anticipated answer

It’s sounding like they’re going to do a line up of JVJ’s at the end of the concert again.

Personally I'd like them to line up some Eponines to belt out On My Own together!

Slightly over JVJs doing Bring Him Home encore for the millionth time.....

Edit - or indeed some Javerts to do Stars. Or some Mariuses (Mari-i?) to do Empty Chairs.....
Love Bring Him Home in context in it's position in the show but it's not a fave for me as a stand alone song!

If they don’t take the opportunity for Ball to duet Empty Chairs with Rob Houchen, what a missed opportunity.

Saw it last night with some of the same reservations as many on here and was completely won over. Everyone on except Bradley Jayden. Vinny was excellent.

If you put the “show”out of your mind and focus on the event and that it’s a concert, I don’t think I’ve ever heard it sound better. I’m not a fan of comedy Thenardiers but despite a few too many ad libs in act 1 I really enjoyed Matt Lucas.

Think that’s a pause on my 34 year journey with the show. Until Cameron inevitably pulls his head out of his wallet in 2025/2030 and brings back the original.

But what a night to remember.

Saw the show tonight and Alfie Boe gives the richest vocals I have heard as Valjean. And yes, I have seen JOJ: in London in 1999; on tour; the final performance on Broadway; and several times in between. Alfie was fantastic and definitely worth the ticket price.

Perhaps. 🙄

I was there last night as well, and thought they’d all grown so much into their roles from August...and what was abundantly clear was the team effort, and love that they all have for each other. I was sat with a couple of ensemble at the recent Children In Need lunch and they had nothing but good words to say for all the leads...Michael and Alfie were clearly touched by the rapturous applause last night too. Some genuine hugs and smiles for each other and everyone.

I will have to miss it on Monday but have booked an encore showing on Saturday. 

I am not an Alfie fan but still glad to hear lots of people had a very good time seeing Les Miz with Alfie. A few friends of mine who are fans of Alfie all talk about his voice passionately, and I am only happy to listen to them and see their dreamy faces (their eyes turn to heart-shapes when they talk about Alfie's voice). 

I don't think you need to be sad when you read negative posts on this thread mine included. To me, people having both positive and negative opinions on a show or a performer is interesting and healthy. If a show or performer's shortcomings were always overlooked or pushed aside, there'd be no improvements. Even though I admire JOJ and Earl as performers, if somone wrote a negative review on them, I would read it with interest because it would give me a chance to see their performances from a different angle. 

For example, a friend showed me an Alfie fan's blog who was dissapointed that Alfie was ill and JOJ was on instead. She described JOJ's voice as "a boring". I was initially surprised but it actually gave me food for thought. A voice I consider one in a million could be boring to someone else. It is scientifically interesting, not that I know anything about the science of music.

Anyway, what I want to say is that expressing and hearing all sorts of opinions is very important to maintain standards in the world of performing arts and we should welcome lively discussions from both camps.