98 posts
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Post by haz23 on Feb 5, 2019 22:58:07 GMT
Not thrilled by this. I paid an arm and a leg to watch Alfie Boe ‘act’ in the Broadway production a few years ago and that was three hours I’ll never get back. Having said that though, he may be better in a concert version!
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1,057 posts
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Post by David J on Feb 5, 2019 23:00:07 GMT
Wow! I was half wondering whether I'll ever get a ticket for the last performance of the original version at the Gielgud.
Now that ticket for the last Queens production is even more special.
Maybe there should be a get together for those who managed to get a ticket for that last night!
Mixed about the concert cast but I'll give it a go. Maybe not an expensive seat near the front like I always bought for the Queens version.
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299 posts
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Post by bengal73 on Feb 5, 2019 23:16:43 GMT
Just bought my ticket for the last night of the current production
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on Feb 5, 2019 23:28:34 GMT
(enters room and whispers)
I like Alfie Boe!
(runs out of room)
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2019 23:30:08 GMT
I'm in row C on the final performance and I'm now looking forward to it even more knowing it really will be the end of the revolve.
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879 posts
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Post by daisy24601 on Feb 6, 2019 0:03:36 GMT
Urghhh Alfie Boe. The worst ‘actor’ ever seen on a west end stage. I can not stand him.
They should cast JOJ. He's perfect. Saw him twice as Phantom. Sensational! That man could impregnate me with his voice.
My first Valjean and still my fave ❤ |
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Post by scarpia on Feb 6, 2019 0:14:03 GMT
JOJ is a superb Valjean and Phantom. He can do no wrong in either role.
Am I the only one who finds it laughable Les Mis is being reduced to a concert version for several months? And yet the Guinness Book of Records say it'll still hold the record for longest-running musical? Makes you wonder if Cameron paid for the title!
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781 posts
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Post by latefortheoverture on Feb 6, 2019 0:19:07 GMT
Am I the only one so confused as to what is happening.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2019 0:21:41 GMT
JOJ is a superb Valjean and Phantom. He can do no wrong in either role. Am I the only one who finds it laughable Les Mis is being reduced to a concert version for several months? And yet the Guinness Book of Records say it'll still hold the record for longest-running musical? Makes you wonder if Cameron paid for the title! It makes absolutely no sense to me, it's a completely different production, as will the production at the Queen's Theatre. There will of been some work behind the scenes go keep that title as it really shouldn't be kept like that. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2019 0:46:41 GMT
Just bought my ticket for the last night of the current production Same here - cheap Upper Circle but at least I'll be there. I haven't seen the show in nearly 10 years! |
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299 posts
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Post by bengal73 on Feb 6, 2019 0:49:22 GMT
Just bought my ticket for the last night of the current production Same here - cheap Upper Circle but at least I'll be there. I haven't seen the show in nearly 10 years! Same here. See you in the cheap seats |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2019 0:50:04 GMT
Same here - cheap Upper Circle but at least I'll be there. I haven't seen the show in nearly 10 years! Same here. See you in the cheap seats I'm now wondering if you are the person who had bought the cheap seat beside the one I have just purchased! |
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421 posts
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Post by carmella1 on Feb 6, 2019 5:14:56 GMT
I never comment on understudies, but I wonder who will be Alfie's on October 16 and 17 because he will not be there.
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270 posts
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Post by stageyninja83 on Feb 6, 2019 5:27:22 GMT
JOJ is a superb Valjean and Phantom. He can do no wrong in either role. Am I the only one who finds it laughable Les Mis is being reduced to a concert version for several months? And yet the Guinness Book of Records say it'll still hold the record for longest-running musical? Makes you wonder if Cameron paid for the title! Also the article I read says the concert version will start on 10th August. If true that's a month gap from it closing at Queen's. That's certainly not continous! |
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1,057 posts
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Post by David J on Feb 6, 2019 7:44:17 GMT
Same here. See you in the cheap seats I'm now wondering if you are the person who had bought the cheap seat beside the one I have just purchased! Maybe we should turn this into a social get together |
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8,109 posts
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Post by alece10 on Feb 6, 2019 7:46:34 GMT
I will probably be excommunicated from the theatre board for saying this but I quite like the idea of a concert version and like the cast announcements. Not bothered either way about CHF but certainly like the others. I really enjoyed Alfie Boe at the O2 concert.
Also think its very clever casting as all 4 have big fan bases so it's guaranteed to sell very well indeed.
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449 posts
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Post by SageStageMgr on Feb 6, 2019 8:19:20 GMT
Gutted, but not surprised. I can’t be bothered to go back and quote the relevant parts of my posts and responses. When I saw it last year I opined that the show looked on last legs, with extremely dubious casting and an influx of much younger performers in key roles and the emsemble. I predicted closure within a year. I was told I was being dramatic, but it was always going to happen - in my near-century of LM visits around the world, my visit last autumn was comfortably the worst.
Not that I’m happy with this. I enjoyed the tour previously and it made a refreshing change to see new sets, costumes and touches of new direction from Laurence - a really strong cast (JOJ and Earl Carpenter) and a mixture of experience and youth in the ensemble. But I really did miss the revolve.
The casting of Ball as Javert, however temporarily and in a “staged concert” version (whatever that means), I take as a tacit admission of failure with the current casting policy.
Finally, this whole situation is a mess in my mind. I’m still a little confused about what is happening. The run can no longer be “continuous” if there is a month break. If it’s a fully staged concert it is a different production. If it’s a different, new “full” production that reopens, it shouldn’t count as continuous anyway.
So it closes in July at the Queens, rests for a month, opens as a staged concert in August for 16 weeks, then the touring production goes into the Gielgud?
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19,677 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 6, 2019 8:21:15 GMT
(enters room and whispers) I like Alfie Boe! (runs out of room) I thought he was marvellous in the Fishermans Friend advert. |
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449 posts
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Post by SageStageMgr on Feb 6, 2019 8:25:30 GMT
I saw this a few weeks ago. I’ve written extensively about Les Mis throughout this thread, it’s a show very close to my heart and probably my favourite ever. What I saw was the worst cast since around early 2005, when it was set to close. At that point they brought in an entire new cast and resident creative team to rescue it - and it worked, thanks to the likes of John Owen-Jones and Hans Peter Janssens. Two top quality stage performers with exceptional voices, experience and presence. It has been going downhill for years now, but this was a new low. Everyone is SO young. There was no finesse, no pacing - it was just nonstop rushing. This show has been taking liberties for nearly a decade with younger and younger casts, faster shows with more cuts and everything in fast forward, higher ticket prices and smaller bands. Frankly, after 100+ visits to Les Mis all around the world, this production really deserves to close, because the producers have lost the creative meaning of the piece and my respect.
I can’t see, short of a full blown 2005 massacre and reboot, any reason to see this production again. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2019 9:13:52 GMT
www.thestage.co.uk/features/interviews/2019/designer-john-napier-interview-les-mis-gone-backwards-become-formulaic-not-radical/John Napier's thoughts - measured, intelligent and full of great points - an excellent read. I have a personal passion for set design and Cats, Starlight Express, Les Mis, Miss Saigon and Sunset Boulevard were breathtaking and iconic. I mean clearly I am biased as these would be in my top 10 musicals ever, but I do believe he is the greatest designer of all time. And I take his point re the direction Cam Mac has gone in the last decade - although his productions are lavish and fabulous (and I do love them), they ARE formulaic. These original productions were radical - and that was wonderful. And it's completely true that having the creatives of the 'new' version all having worked on the original means that it can't help but be influenced by it - an authentic new production would have been a different matter. ANYWAY - I shall continue to lament the revolve!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2019 9:17:02 GMT
Gutted, but not surprised. I can’t be bothered to go back and quote the relevant parts of my posts and responses. When I saw it last year I opined that the show looked on last legs, with extremely dubious casting and an influx of much younger performers in key roles and the emsemble. I predicted closure within a year. I was told I was being dramatic, but it was always going to happen - in my near-century of LM visits around the world, my visit last autumn was comfortably the worst. Not that I’m happy with this. I enjoyed the tour previously and it made a refreshing change to see new sets, costumes and touches of new direction from Laurence - a really strong cast (JOJ and Earl Carpenter) and a mixture of experience and youth in the ensemble. But I really did miss the revolve. The casting of Ball as Javert, however temporarily and in a “staged concert” version (whatever that means), I take as a tacit admission of failure with the current casting policy. Finally, this whole situation is a mess in my mind. I’m still a little confused about what is happening. The run can no longer be “continuous” if there is a month break. If it’s a fully staged concert it is a different production. If it’s a different, new “full” production that reopens, it shouldn’t count as continuous anyway. So it closes in July at the Queens, rests for a month, opens as a staged concert in August for 16 weeks, then the touring production goes into the Gielgud? Interesting. You have a great point that the quality of the original had declined bit by bit over the years - but that doesn't lead shows to close. Despite this, sales remained through the roof and the Queen's is usually sold out. Joe Public don't notice the decline in quality clearly. So surely while you still rake the cash in, that is not in itself a reason for a producer to change/close? |
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Post by partytentdown on Feb 6, 2019 10:58:18 GMT
Can anyone describe what has changed or been cut over the years? I'm always interested to hear about changes made to shows and the decision process behind them.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2019 11:10:19 GMT
Can anyone describe what has changed or been cut over the years? I'm always interested to hear about changes made to shows and the decision process behind them. So there have been a few trims since the Compete Symphonic recording but they are minimal. The main issues are more subtle: - reduced orchestra over the years (although sound wise things improved when the new orchestrations were brought in as it was orchestrated for the size of orchestra it now had) - MDs seem (though for me is just a perception) to be conducting the show faster and faster so everyone gets out quicker - younger and younger casts - talented no doubt but lacking the acting subtlety and nuance that experience brings The piece itself hasn't been cut since the 90s though I don't think. I do echo others views that something was lost when it moved from The Palace. Something difficult to put into words. As certain shows fit certain theatres (Cats in New London, Starlight in Apollo Victoria) The Palace felt totally right for Les Mis and it was a holistic fabulous experience there. |
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529 posts
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Post by jampot on Feb 6, 2019 11:20:21 GMT
What is the go to cast recording atm?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2019 11:24:23 GMT
What is the go to cast recording atm? Very much down to personal preference. For me it's the 25th anniversary one - the updated orchestrations I think are brilliant - and it's really the only significant new English recording in the last 20 years (well, other than the dire film soundtrack). Of course the OLC will always hold a special place in my heart. As will the compete symphonic - some weak links in the cast but the original orchestrations sound epic with such a huge orchestra and it is the only complete recording. |
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