Review: Les Miserables

Musical: Les Miserables

Venue: Queen's Theatre, London, UK

Date: 21st December 2011 at 14:30

Cast: Christopher Jacobsen (u/s Jean Valjean), Hadley Fraser (Javert), Caroline Sheen (Fantine), Cameron Blakely (Thenardier), Leanne Rogers (u/s Madame Thenardier), Alexia Khadime (Eponine), Craig Mather (Marius), Lisa-Anne Wood (Cosette), Liam Tamne (Enjolras), Adam Linstead (Bishop/Grantaire), Madeline Banbury (Little Cosette), Rebecca Jo Roberts (Little Eponine) and Marc Wadhwani (Gavroche)

Rating: *****

Review:

Les Miserables is London's longest-running musical and probably my most favourite musical. I saw a production of it in August 2010 and though I loved the show, I felt a bit unfulfilled despite the strong cast and an impeccable production. However, that could not stop me from going back to it when I have the chance and with Ramin Karimloo taking over the lead role of Jean Valjean, I was very much interested.

I got my ticket from tkts booth for 39 pounds for a seat in the premium section in the dress circle which provide a different but excellent view of the stage and it gives me a chance to fully take the show in. I remembered that my last visit, I didn't get to see Simon Bowman as Valjean and got the brilliant Jonathan Williams instead. Who said lightning never strikes twice? I arrived at the Queen's to find out that Ramin would not be playing the role the whole week and the performance that day would be played by an understudy by the name of Christopher Jacobsen and he was absolutely brilliant! His "Soliloquy" towards the beginning of the show was truly amazing and full of emotion and his "Bring Him Home" was beautiful. Dare I say that Christopher's Valjean was even better than Jonathan's whom I saw last year and I even doubt if Ramin could do a better job, but that's just a thought.

Christopher Jacobsen as Jean Valjean
(seen here during "Bring Him Home")

Hadley Fraser was our Javert and I wasn't too fond of him when I saw him as Raoul at the 25th anniversary celebration of The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall. I found him to be more suitable to the role of Javert and I liked him more than Norm Lewis whom I saw last year. His voice and acting was great though I wish he wouldn't slur through the words of "Stars" as much.

Hadley Fraser as Inspector Javert during "Stars"

Caroline Sheen, Cameron Blakely and Leanne Rogers (covering for Katy Secombe) played a wonderful Fantine, Thenardier and Madame Thenardier respectively, especially Cameron Blakely who delivered one of the best "Dog Eats Dog" I've heard (and I usually hate that song). I also enjoyed the lover couple in this production, Craig Mather and Lisa-Anne Wood as Marius and Cosette much better than Alistair Brammer and Lucie Jones whom I saw last year. I couldn't believe that this was their West End debut especially the fantastic Craig Mather who possessed a charming personality and a wonderful singing voice, notably in "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" and his reaction during "A Little Fall of Rain" was very heartbreaking. Meanwhile, Liam Tamne played a good student leader Enjolras and he had great stage presence and voice though not as good as Killian Donnelly but his last "Free" was perfect. (Can I say that he reminds me of an adult version of Nick Jonas?)

Caroline Sheen as Fantine performing "I Dreamed a Dream"

Lisa-Anne Wood and Craig Mather as Cosette and Marius
during "A Heart Full of Love"

Liam Tamne as Enjolras during "One Day More"
(seen here with Hadley Fraser, Alexia Khadime and Craig Mather in the back)

My biggest disappointment of the night was Alexia Khadime as Eponine, one of my all-time favourite roles in musical theatre. First of all, it doesn't really make sense that Eponine is black since her parents are white and Little Eponine (which is seen just before "Master of the House") is white. That aside, I don't like that Eponine has short hair because it made her iconic hat kinda pointless whereas before she would hide her long hair inside that hat. Actingwise, I found Alexia's performance to be very shouty and recited and was nowhere near as good as her predecessor Samantha Barks. Her singing voice, though able to hit every note, was not my cup of tea. I think it was just a matter of her voice selection choice because I really like her voice when it was sung softly (i.e. in the harmony at the end of "A Heart Full of Love") but it seemed that she always chose to sing everything else in full boyish nasal belting voice which was not really pleasant to listen to at all though I must say that her "pretending" in "On My Own" was really something.

Alexia Khadime and Craig Mather as Eponine and Marius
during "A Little Fall of Rain"

I also must mention the excellent children's cast at my performance especially Marc Wadhwani who played a charming Gavroche and *SPOILER ALERT* he played the death scene really well. *SPOILER ENDS* His "Little People" interaction with Javert was just cute and excellently done. Madeline Banbury played a lovely little Cosette, too bad her "Castle on a Cloud" was cut short by a verse. Why?

The overall production was fantastic and the new sound system that they just installed earlier in the year sounded amazing and I felt that it was a lot better than when I visited the Queen's last time. I didn't notice that the they altered the boxes to be part of the scene last time I was here but from where I sat, I was able to take in the feel of it very well. The material of the show was perfectly crafted, the book, the music and the lyrics as well as the production design and the use of the turntable and the iconic barricade. By the end of the Epilogue, I was all in tears and was so moved, yet uplifted, by the story and the message that the show carries.

Craig Mather (as Marius), Alexia Khadime (as Eponine),
Lisa-Anne Wood (as Cosette) and Alfie Boe (as Jean Valjean)
during "Look Down/The Robbery"

"Master of the House"
(seen here with Matt Lucas and Katy Secombe)

"Lovely Ladies"

"At the Barricade"

My latest visit to Les Miserables this time just reconfirms me why I love this musical so much and why it was able to last this long on the West End and become such an important part of musical theatre history. Les Miserables is a must-see for all musical theatre fans. Yes, it has become commercial over the years, but it's a great piece of theatre that should be seen and kept running for at least another 25 years. I would wholeheartedly see it again anytime anywhere if I have the chance and so should you!

MUSICAL NUMBERS

ACT ONE

Prologue... Company

Soliloquy... Jean Valjean

At the End of the Day... Unemployed and Factory Workers

I Dreamed a Dream... Fantine

Lovely Ladies... Ladies and Clients

Who Am I?... Jean Valjean

Come to Me... Fantine and Jean Valjean

Castle on a Cloud... Little Cosette

Master of the House... Thenardier, Madame Thenardier and Customers

Thenardier Waltz... Thenardier, Madame Thenardier and Jean Valjean

Look Down... Gavroche and the Beggars

Stars... Javert

Red and Black... Enjolras, Marius, Grantaire and Students

Do You Hear the People Sing... Enjolras, Students and Citizens

In My Life... Cosette, Jean Valjean, Marius and Eponine

A Heart Full of Love... Marius, Cosette and Eponine

One Day More... Company

ACT TWO

On My Own... Eponine

A Little Fall of Rain... Eponine and Marius

Drink with Me to Days Gone by... Grantaire, Students and Women

Bring Him Home... Jean Valjean

Dog Eats Dog... Thenardier

Soliloquy... Javert

Turning... Women

Empty Chairs at Empty Tables... Marius

Wedding Chorale... Guests

Beggars at the Feast... Thenardier and Madame Thenardier

Finale... Company