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Friday 21 June 2024

Musical Review: Les Miserables (Sondheim Theatre, London, U.K.)

 

Les Miserables

Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed fully-staged new production of lyricist Alain Boublil and acclaimed composer Claude-Michel Schonberg’s Les Misérables, the West End's longest-running musical, at the Sondheim Theatre, is undisputedly one of the world’s most popular musicals. This revolutionary Tony Award and Laurence Olivier Award-winning West End musical, opened last September 25, 2021, will run until March 29, 2025 (see trailer here). It premiered at the Barbican Centre on October 8, 1985, then transferred to Palace Theatre on December 4, 1985, before transferring to Queen's Theatre (now Sondheim Theatre) on April 3, 2004. Since that time, it has been seen by over 130 million people worldwide in 53 countries and in an impressive total of 22 languages (including Hungarian, Korean and Catalan).  

Check out “Sondheim Theatre”

The Sondheim Theatre


The 2:30 PM performance we attended lasted 2 hours 50 minutes including a 15-min. interval.  With lyrics by librettist  Herbert Kretzmer and music by Claude-Michel Schonberg, the magnificent, sung-through score of Les Misérables includes a number of unforgettable songs. The stirring, hush and intimate I Dreamed a Dream, its best known song, was made famous through numerous cover versions by artists ranging from from Katherine Jenkins, Elaine Page, Neil Diamond, Aretha Franklin to Susan Boyle (in her viral audition for Britain's Got Talent) and even our own Lea Salonga. 

The author (left) with wife Grace and son Jandy


“Master of the House,” sung by the filthy crooks the Thénardiers (who scam all their customers), was such a fun, naughty and raucous number, after a string of sad ones, that we were more happy to spend a bit more time in their company, getting a party along the way.

“Do You Hear The People Sing?,” the musical's finale, with its clear cut, repeated lyrics and insistent beat, was so effective as a revolutionary call of action that its been taken up by real-life protesters. “On My Own,”  the tortured ballad sung by Eponine, with its big, wrenching key changes, was the key moment to express her anguish at Marius Pontmercy not loving her back. 

“Bring Him Home,” a shiver-inducing prayer by Jean Valjean parying for Marius Pontmercy's safety, for Cossette's sake, is a musical beauty, with simple lyrics that still lets the conviction of his words ring out. The mammoth musical number “OneDay More,”    the most epic ending to an act, was an extraordinary feat, with the  characters , using their own counterpoint melodies, using their own distinct vocal lines.  

The performance included gunfire, smoke and flashing strobe light effects.  The use of camera and sound recording equipment was strictly prohibited.

A gripping scene from the musical


Based on the great 1862 humanitarian novel by Victor Hugo (with original text by Alain Boublil and additional material by James Fenton), this timeless story of transformation, passion, unrequited love, broken dreams, sacrifice, and determination, in 19th-century France, is a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. 

It tells story of Jean Valjean, who rebuilds his life after 19 years in prison. Though still pursued, for decades, by his nemesis prison inspector Javert, their epic cat-and-mouse journey takes them from the French fields to the gritty Parisian sewers.  He finds redemption while all around him, young revolutionaries fight for their own rights and freedoms. 

Milan Van Waardenburg, the Dutch leading artist, makes his West End debut as Jean Valjean (since March 11, 2024) after having recently led the award-winning Netherlands and Belgium production of Les Misérables, receiving critical acclaim and a nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Musical in the 2022 Dutch Musical Awards. 

Milan’s previous theater credits include the role of Prince Hans in Disney Theatrical Production’s Frozen in Germany, Dimitri in Anastasia, both in Germany and The Netherlands; Lieutenant Frederic Charles and Quasimodo in Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Herbert in Tanz derVampire, both on tour across Germany. 

Katie Hall plays Fantine, the impoverished factory worker who turns to prostitution to be able to pay the Thénardiers to care for her illegitimate daughter, Cosette. Katie studied at the National Youth Music Theatre and her theater credits include:

Katie regularly performs as a soloist in numerous concerts internationally, including The Golden Age of Broadway at the BBC Proms; with Voices of the West End, The Three Phantoms, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and Stavanger Symphony Orchestra; at the Cheltenham Music Festival; and on BBC Radio 2's Friday Night Is Music Night.    

Her television credits includes: Josh (BBC);  Eurovision: Your Country Needs You (BBC) and I'd Do Anything (BBC), both spearheaded by Andrew Lloyd Webber.   Film credits include Les Misérables (Working Title Films) directed by Tom Hooper.   Most recently, Katie starred as Fantine in the new UK and Ireland Tour of Les Misérables. Incidentally, Filipina singer and actress Rachelle Ann Go also played Fantine from March 2, 2020 until April 20, 2020 and, again, from July 27, 2020.

Stewart Clarke, who played Javert (the police officer who relentlessly pursues Jean Valjean to bring the escaped convict to justice) since January 29, 2024, studied at the University of Warwick Theatre.  His stage acting credits include:

 

His film and television credits include ‘Guiseppe Zangara’ in The Moonstone (King Bert Productions for BBC) and ‘Young Man 1’ in Easy Virtue (Ealing Studios). In 2020, Stewart was nominated for an Laurence Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical, for his performance in Trevor Nunn’s Fiddler on the Roof in the West End, following its run at The Menier Chocolate Factory.   

Will Callan, making his West End debut as Marius Pontmercy, a student revolutionary and friend of Eponine, who falls in love with Cosette.  Will attended the Youth Theatre, LIPA 4:19 for 8 years from the age of 8, whilst also performing with The Liverpool Empire Youth Theatre from 2014-2021. During this time, Will performed as the lead in Jesus Christ Superstar, Les Misérables and Chess and also played lead roles in Rent, Fame the Musical and West Side Story. Will is also a singer-songwriter who performs, produces and writes his own music, with over 3.3 million streams to date on Spotify alone. Straight out of sixth form college in 2021, Will made his professional debut as Marius Pontmercy in the recent UK & Ireland Tour of Les Misérables and is delighted to be continuing his journey. 

Lulu-Mae Pears marks her West End debut as Cosette, the daughter of Fantine who has grown up to become a young woman of culture and privilege after being adopted by Jean Valjean.  She is a graduate of ArtsEd, London (2022) and Tring Park School for the Performing Arts (2019). Her credits, whilst training, include Lysistrata in Lysistrata Jones (ArtsEd); Ensemble in Bandstand (ArtsEd); and Graziella in West Side Story (Ljubljana Summer Festival, Slovenia). Her workshops include Mary-Jane Gumm in Chasing Rainbows (Denis Jones); and Chelsea Green in Charley the Musical (Caroline Frericks). 

Amena El-Kindy makes her West End debut as Eponine, the daughter of the Thénardiers, who becomes a ragged street waif and secretly loves Marius Pontmercy.  She studied at the University of Chichester Conservatoire in Musical Theatre and her theater credits include Avalon in Robin Hood (Liverpool Everyman Theatre), Shirelle in Beautiful– The Carole King Musical (UK Tour) and Robin Hood: The Legend. Re-written (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre). 

Luke Kempner plays Thenardier, a second-rate thief who runs an inn, where he cheats his customers and, later, becomes the leader of a gang of street thugs and con men in Paris.  Luke is an acclaimed stand-up comic, impressionist and actor widely recognized for his popular sketch videos which have amassed over 10 million views online. His television credits include a regular hosting, on Channel 4’s Steph’s Packed Lunch, Love Island Aftersun, Spitting Image, The Last Leg, Big Brother’s Bit on the Side, Deep Fake Neighbor Wars, Stand-Up Sketch Show, Murder in Successville, The Imitation Game, and Celebrity Karaoke Club. Luke’s many voices are also regularly heard on The Now Show on BBC Radio 4.  

His theater credits include: 25th Anniversary tour of Les Misérables, Avenue Q and South Pacific  as well as starring in the West End production of Idiots Assemble: Spitting Image The Musical and his brand new Edinburgh Festival Fringe show, Gritty Police Drama: A One-Man Musical which follows success with previous shows including The Only Way Is Downton. Luke also co-hosts the Shit, I Married a Twin podcast with The Mac Twins. 

Claire Machin plays Madame Thenardier, Thénardier's unscrupulous wife and collaborator, who abuses Cosette but dotes on her own daughter, Eponine.  Claire was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Cora in The Girls. She was nominated for an Off West End Award for Best Supporting Female in a Musical for her role as Whore/Claire in Amour. Claire also won and was nominated for the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for her role as Gladys in Memphis.  Her other theater credits include:

 

In 2017 Claire also performed her one woman show An Old Fashioned Love Story at the New London Theatre and has also been involved in various workshops supporting new writing.  Her TV/film credits include Grandma Who in The Grinch Musical (NBC); Mrs Nathan in Vanity Fair  (ITV/Mammoth Screen); Louise in Miss Marple (BBC); Sharon in The Ritz (BBC); and Les Misérables (Working Title Films). 

Djavan van de Fliert plays Enjolras, the leader of the student revolutionaries and a friend of Marius Pontmercy.  Djavan studied at ArtsEd, London and his credits, while in training, include Lysistrata Jones in Bandstand (Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Theatre) while his theater credits include Kristoff in Disney Theatrical Production’s Frozen (Drury Lane).  He is the recipient of the VandenEnde Foundation Award and Ian Fleming Award. 

Rounding up the cast are Annabelle Aquino (Ensemble), Hazel Baldwin, Brad Barnley (as Factory Foreman/Brujon), Michael Baxter (Swing),  Emily Olive Boyd (as Madame), Rosy Church (as the Old Woman), Ben Culleton (as Courfeyrac), Matthew Dale, Matt Dempsey (as Bamatabois/Lesgles/Babet/Dance Captain), Sophie-May Feek, Matt Hayden (as Montparnasse), Tom Hext (as Grantaire), Christopher Jacobsen (as Combeferre), Jessica Johns-Parsons (as the Wig Maker), Yazmin King, Sam Kipling, Anouk van Laake, Harry Lake (as Jean Prouvaire), Sarah Lark, Ellie Ann Lowe (as Factory Girl), Ben Oatley (as Joly), Adam Pearce (as Bishop of Digne who shelters Jean Valjean, after his release from jail. and gives him absolution), Jordan Simon Pollard (as Claquesous), Jonathan Stevens (as Feuilly), Ollie Benson/Theo Wake/Ollie Wray/Dexter Pulling (as Gavroche, a streetwise urchin who later joins up with the revolutionaries), Clark Young/Ivy-Rae Battams/Mila Isaacs (Little Cossette), Phoebe Williams (Swing) and Saskia Sibley/Olive Harrison/Poppy Jason (Young Eponine).  

Andreane Neofitou crafted the  authentic French wardrobe, with a staggering 392 costumes, encompassing 85 wigs and 5,000 individual clothing pieces, required.

  • Directors: Trevor Nunn and John Caird
  • Choreography: Kate Flatt
  • Set and Image Design: John Napier
  • Lighting: David Hersey
  • Sound: Mick Potter and Andrew Bruce.

This brilliant new staging has taken the world by storm and has been hailed by The Guardian as “a thrilling inspiration,” The Daily Telegraph's David Cavendish, in December 2018, as “the reborn dream of a production, looks and sounds fresher than ever,” The Sunday Telegraph as the “perfect theater in a perfect theater,” The Times as "dazzling staging and megawatt performances" and the Huffington Post as the “Les Mis for the 21st Century.”  

The whole cast 


Les Misérables:  Sondheim Theatre,  51 Shaftesbury Avenue  corner Wardour Street, City of Westminster, London W1D 6BA, United Kingdom. Coordinates: 51.511944°N 0.132778°W. Monday – Saturday: 7:30 PM, Thursday & Saturday: 2:30 PM. Seats on the side of the Grand Circle are classed as side view restricted while seats from Row R back in the Stalls and Row H back in the Dress Circle may be restricted view due to the overhang and may not have a view of the top of the stage. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by and sat next to an adult ticketholder (18+). Children under the age of 3 will not be admitted. Latecomers may not be admitted until a suitable break in the performance. You may not bring food or drink purchased elsewhere. 

How to Get There: The nearest train station is Charing Cross while the nearest tube station is Piccadilly Circus (take Shaftesbury Avenue along where the famous illuminated signs are. The theatre will be on your left about 100 m. along, just after the Gielgud Theatre). 

The nearest bus stops are serviced by numbers 12, 14, 19, 38 (Shaftesbury Avenue) and 6, 13, 15, 23, 88, 94, 139, 159, 453 (Regent Street). Night bus numbers: (Shaftesbury Avenue) 14, N19, N38; (Regent Street) 6, 12, 23, 88, 94, 139, 159, 453, N3, N13, N15, N109, N18, N136.

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