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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 23, 2019 18:30:09 GMT
Rukaya Yes and the same as other members above I also told a friend who was in my group the other night to keep an eye on the dates but they never happened. I’d forgotten that they didn’t do it in this version. I don’t think punters should be expected to buy a programme in order to understand the story and that applies to ANY show. This is possibly the only thing about the tour/new west end version that I would rethink.
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Post by SageStageMgr on Feb 24, 2019 13:59:18 GMT
Especially if a character changes race and ages 18 years without explanation
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Post by danb on Feb 25, 2019 22:50:30 GMT
Blinkin’ heck this is good isn’t it? I was miles away when I saw it in Cardiff many moons ago so maybe a bit detatched, but second row was quite the experience. I’m 6’4” so only missed the feet of people at the back of the stage but it would be an issue for anyone much shorter. U/s Valjean on who was ace, Nic Greenshields maybe overtaking James Gant as my fave Javert and just a whole cast of pure talent. I love this staging, which almost feels like the film onstage it’s so focussed (crazy as it existed long before the film). It is more than worthy of a west end home and to ‘be’ Les Mis if it serves to keep it running profitbly in the future. It does feel a little bit Les Mis greatest hits at times, but otherwise it’s a great representation of the show.
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19,688 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 26, 2019 7:38:55 GMT
Who was the understudy Valjean? Nothing listed on the tour website. I’m going next time on Monday so wondering if Killian is having Monday’s off?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2019 7:54:32 GMT
Who was the understudy Valjean? Nothing listed on the tour website. I’m going next time on Monday so wondering if Killian is having Monday’s off? Zac Hamilton. I stopped by the theatre a couple of times when it was in Edinburgh (two consecutive Saturdays and one Friday) and he was listed next to Valjean on the cast board on the Friday. |
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Post by danb on Feb 26, 2019 8:15:03 GMT
Yep, that was he. He looks very young at the beginning but ages in typical JV style. I’ve never really enjoyed Killian, so was fine on hearing in the crowd that an u/s was on. (Didn’t see a board and there was no announcement) We had a very fresh faced u/s Mdm T aswell. Obvs if you’re a relatively well known MT name you get Mondays off. It’s Nic Greenshields should be naming his price after this. Absolutely stunning performance.
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Post by daisy24601 on Feb 26, 2019 10:57:58 GMT
Killian's days off seem completely random.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2019 9:53:42 GMT
So it's not a Friday if it's not a ticket buying frenzy!
Currently queuing on the Lowry website (booking opens at 10am) to get tickets for there.
This tour really has sold incredibly well!
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19,688 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 1, 2019 10:18:35 GMT
I was only in the queue for a minute.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2019 12:35:27 GMT
I was only in the queue for a minute. Same - got straight in when it opened - really wasn't the stampede I was expecting. I guess the Palace run has gone some way to reducing the (immediate) demand. Love The Lowry as a venue so am really looking forward to this. |
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Post by richey on Mar 8, 2019 0:36:35 GMT
Wow it really is a fantastic production. Took a while to get used to the new staging but I loved it, even with the distractions around me (separate post in Bad Behaviour thread). There's not a lot I can add that hasn't already been said,Killian was wonderful as VJ as was Nic as Javert. The projections certainly do add to a lot of the scenes, Javert's suicide is breathtaking.
I really liked One Day More, thought that worked really well and I didn't miss the revolve that much except in the barricade scenes.
Only real drawback for me was Cosette- far too goofy and lots of face pulling including during JVJ's death which was a bit off putting.
Oh and it seems a lot more fast paced than the original, boy they seemed to race through act 1!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2019 1:50:56 GMT
I saw the new touring version in Manchester and there are changes. The first death scene seems to have been toned down to make it less upsetting. Javerts double-take when the vicar says he forgot something seems not there. Has the show been made less upsetting for the snow-flake generation ? I am not sure and I am going again sitting nearer the stage to check.
A quiz question for Les Mis experts. Which characters sing At The End Of The Day in the new touring version ?
Are Eponine, Cosette and Fantine in there ?
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Post by partytentdown on Mar 10, 2019 9:35:24 GMT
the snow-flake generation I despise this phrase. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2019 12:27:09 GMT
the snow-flake generation I despise this phrase. I agree! Sweeping generalisation and rude to that generation. |
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Post by partytentdown on Mar 10, 2019 12:51:35 GMT
I agree! Sweeping generalisation and rude to that generation. Also strongly associated with racists and those who think being angry about a discriminatory society and flawed democracy, or daring to be offended by hate speech, makes you a 'snow flake'. We shouldn't use it here. |
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Post by 49thand8th on Mar 11, 2019 14:06:40 GMT
Has the show been made less upsetting for the snow-flake generation ? Are you for real? Also, there's a UK tour thread. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 11, 2019 14:16:33 GMT
Posts moved from West End thread
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2019 0:29:22 GMT
I agree! Sweeping generalisation and rude to that generation. Also strongly associated with racists and those who think being angry about a discriminatory society and flawed democracy, or daring to be offended by hate speech, makes you a 'snow flake'. We shouldn't use it here. You people are horrible |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2019 4:07:30 GMT
Picking holes in the words used in posts is nothing to do with Les Mis.
There are some posters here who are trying to damage this message board by driving away posters.
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Post by danb on Mar 12, 2019 5:20:49 GMT
Also strongly associated with racists and those who think being angry about a discriminatory society and flawed democracy, or daring to be offended by hate speech, makes you a 'snow flake'. We shouldn't use it here. You people are horrible I’m pretty sure they weren’t attacking you, more the word you used . Those that like to get offended easily like to get offended at the notion of getting offended easily, and it is all one great big circle of ‘right on’ woke-ness. We all have different limits, different buttons that get pressed by different things. I, for instance, can’t believe that I just used the word ‘woke’. It’s a message board for people to discuss their opinion, not life & death; not ‘horrible people’, just flawed real ones that don’t always say things the right way. Don’t let it stop you coming here. In answer to your original question, I saw the tour a few weeks ago in Manchester, and think that it’s more the fact that it breezes through everything at such speed that some of the more previously ‘shocking’ elements don’t get the time they need to hit home. I’m not sure it tried to soften any edges. |
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Post by partytentdown on Mar 12, 2019 8:00:29 GMT
Picking holes in the words used in posts is nothing to do with Les Mis. There are some posters here who are trying to damage this message board by driving away posters. If you don't like being called out for using language that others don't like, don't use it in the first place. Have you considered that it might be that that's driving people away? I can go into more detail about why the word 'Snowflake' is not appropriate but I'd hate to be accused of being 'horrible' again. I get you probably weren't being intentionally rude but I'm afraid I'm stubborn and I made it my New Year's Resolution to call out people saying things that aren't right. If we all did that we'd be a tiny bit of a better world. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 12, 2019 8:36:35 GMT
What’s driving people away is when people jump all over them for some perceived wrongdoing that was never intended in the first place. If people use a term or word that bothers you, try to explain why it’s problematic. There’s no need for anyone to be “calling people out” here thank you.
This is what was meant in the post about the tone of this forum, showing respect to each other and handling disagreement with civility.
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19,688 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 25, 2019 23:04:05 GMT
Saw it again tonight before it closes in Manchester. It was Zac Hamilton as Jean Valjean. He has a lovely voice but for me lacked the gravitas and emotional depth of Killian’s performance, so I’m very pleased I saw it with Killian first.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2019 23:13:25 GMT
Saw it again tonight before it closes in Manchester. It was Zac Hamilton as Jean Valjean. He has a lovely voice but for me lacked the gravitas and emotional depth of Killian’s performance, so I’m very pleased I saw it with Killian first. Ooh. I was there tonight too! I have many thoughts, may regurgitate them here sometime. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2019 15:41:51 GMT
For some reason, Les Miserables has always been on the radar, but I never actually got round to sitting down to watch it in the theatre, until last night at the Palace Theatre, Manchester. Going in I was very familiar with the material, having seen the 10th and 25th anniversaries and parts of the movie, which I eventually gave up on. Having borrowed the original London Cast Recording on CD from the library in the very early 2000's and (naughtily) bootlegging a recording onto minidisk, it became the soundtrack to my early teenage years as I walked to/from High School listening to almost nothing but this. I felt the show was well staged, with a very impressive set (quite reminiscent of the recent iteration of Miss Saigon) and very well sung, but bloody hell I'm surprised there isn't a Traffic Officer outside issuing fines after every performance because they speed at which they rattle through it is borderline absurd. There is so much that happens that you don't get any real chance to connect to any characters and as such it leaves you feeling a little indifferent as they each get picked off. The talk of orchestra cut backs and re-orchestration over the years on here did have me quite apprehensive, needlessly, as the orchestra sound epic. Rip roaring brass and very dynamic. Having indoctrinated myself on the original cast recording I'm very used to the 80s DX7 synth sounds embedded and driving the score so I was hesitant about how it may turn out knowing they'd been cut back, but where they remain they shine. Its just a shame they've been reduced so heavily. To me the rawness and dirtiness of the original synth sounds is really what sets the tone for Les Mis. Having a big sweeping orchestra is lovely but on the streets and down in the sewer it felt a little too clean. Cast were all great, although Mdm Thénardier despite being physically good was far too screechy for my liking, couldn't tell what she was singing half the time. And has anyone every questioned why the Thénardiers are portrayed as cockney all the time? Standout for me was whoever played Marius. Empty Chairs was phenomenal. He looked quite young but crikey his voice is good. Think we'll be seeing much more of him in years to come. Overall there was something a little bit jarring about it all, I think danb hits the nail on the head when he says "it does feel a little bit Les Mis Greatest Hits". Bits of the various editions of the show glued to other parts, sieged with the additional compositions of the movie soundtrack (which stylistically sounded out of place to me, probably because they were composed for screen action rather than stage, 30 years subsequently). Good to tick it off the list though. |
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