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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 26, 2019 17:49:19 GMT
It does go at quite a lick doesn’t it? Cosette chirruping away at a rate of knots in that garden, and Eponine’s death is very efficiently dealt with. It’s still a long show though!
I think Sophie Louise Dan was concentrating more on playing the grotesque, than pronunciation of the words last night.
Where were you sat @remark?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2019 17:55:09 GMT
It definitely was quite a grotesque performance BurlyBeaRAgree that the deaths were emphatically dealt with. That first garden scene felt a bit of a chore though. Not much could be lost from the show without a detrimental effect. They could have trimmed some time from the garden scene/love montage to allow some better Red/Black development I felt. Was sat front row of the Grand. Had forgotten how bouncey and creaky it is up there. Guess you were in your usual haunt front stalls? |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 26, 2019 17:58:26 GMT
Indeed I was. It’s usually BB for BB 😬
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2019 20:40:05 GMT
Another venue added to the tour is Norwich Theatre Royal from 4th March to 4th April 2020.
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Post by Dawnstar on Mar 29, 2019 22:38:10 GMT
Another venue added to the tour is Norwich Theatre Royal from 4th March to 4th April 2020. I was waiting for Norwich, as the last tour went there, but gave up & booked Milton Keynes a couple of months ago. Still, I guess there may be a cast change before this time next year so probably safer to see it sooner anyway. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2019 20:20:58 GMT
Another venue added to the tour is Norwich Theatre Royal from 4th March to 4th April 2020. I was waiting for Norwich, as the last tour went there, but gave up & booked Milton Keynes a couple of months ago. Still, I guess there may be a cast change before this time next year so probably safer to see it sooner anyway. Yeah, I imagine there will be a cast change round about November, if their contracts are for one year. So I wonder if anyone will move from the tour, to open the new version in London in December. With the reviews Nic Greenshields is getting as Javert, I could see them wanting him for London. |
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Post by undeuxtrois on Mar 31, 2019 12:36:36 GMT
Saw the matinee yesterday, all main cast except Lee Ormesby as Thenardier, who was fantastic.
Honestly really didn't like Sophie Louise Dann in this, she was hard to understand and screeched her lines. Killian and Nic were incredible, same with Harry Apps and Tegan Bannister. The Cosette was good but her voice was a bit weak but improved in act 2
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2019 20:10:07 GMT
Returning 30 June to 18 July 2020 to the Birmingham Hippodrome.
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Post by sabrina90 on Apr 6, 2019 8:33:06 GMT
Yesterday announced that the tour is also coming to Zurich CH, January 21 - February 23 2020
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2019 10:26:57 GMT
Yesterday announced that the tour is also coming to Zurich CH, January 21 - February 23 2020 Sure that will also go to Cologne, as Miss Saigon recently did. And of course 2020 dates to return to Manchester and Birmingham. Question is, when is Bristol? Only top 6 theatre to be missed out at mo! |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2019 10:37:31 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. I really enjoyed reading this! Can't believe you avoided seeing it for so long! But always interesting to get a new perspective on the show from someone who hasn't seen it before as they are few and far between. Anyway, I also was obsessed with the OLC in the 80s and 90s and saw the show at The Palace a few times. I then sort of forgot about it for ages and became a massive fan again when the 25th anniversary tour was launched in I think 2009. In terms of the orchestration it was renewed for that and subsequently taken to London and has been the same with then. Ditto the speed. Identical everywhere since then. In fact after I read your review I dug out my OLC (normally listen to the 25th these days) and it sounded incredibly slow compared to what I am used to. Though once readjusted it was a great listen. I had completely forgotten how synth driven it was. Bit still with a large orchestra. A fab 80s combo! The time I know the least about was the London orchestrations after the move from Palace to Queen's when I think the orchestra size was reduced, the synths increased (but ??quality thereof) and there were a lot of negative reports. Though for myself I only went once in that period and I don't really remember it. Sure others will do though? Anyway, I love the current orchestration so no complaints from me! And agree, is a tour on the scale of the recent Miss Saigon one and is currently my go to UK mini break. Next going in Birmingham. (Still wish they would keep the original as it is and the two versions could exist side by side but know we have already discussed that ad infinitum!) |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 6, 2019 11:02:14 GMT
Strangely the West End production is stated as 2hr 50 minutes including a 15 minute interval whilst the tour (according to Birmingham Hippo website) is quoted as approximately 3hrs including interval. I think I was out at about 10.20pm at the Palace which would have made it 2hrs 50.
It does seem hugely speeded up on the tour, Cosette sounds almost like one of the Chipmunks, but comparing the running time suggests otherwise. The scene transitions maybe add to the tours running time without having the benefit of the revolve but it’s not anything I’d noticed.
So, what’s going on?
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Post by sabrina90 on Apr 9, 2019 17:39:43 GMT
Yesterday announced that the tour is also coming to Zurich CH, January 21 - February 23 2020 Sure that will also go to Cologne, as Miss Saigon recently did. And of course 2020 dates to return to Manchester and Birmingham. Question is, when is Bristol? Only top 6 theatre to be missed out at mo! last time I think Cologne had Les Mis was in 2017 and it was one of those "new" productions which left a lot of people feeling like they were fooled and a lot of bad press. So fingers crossed they get the actual Les Mis show this time! |
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Post by sagiirl on May 2, 2019 17:25:18 GMT
I saw this in Birmingham and thought it was amazing and the sound exceptional. My expectations weren't too high as I had seen it twice before many years ago in London and I had read so many negatives lately no revolve small barricade etc. However it exceeded all my expectations. I wasn't too sure about Killian Donnelly after seeing him in Kinky Boots but omg he was excellent and I think Harry Apps as Marius was outstanding considering he has had no West End experience and is so young. Cosette for me was not as good.
My husband had never seen it live although he knows the story and music really well so knew nothing about the revolve etc and he loved it and wants to book tickets for when it returns to Birmingham next year.
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Post by xanady on May 2, 2019 18:59:08 GMT
Saw tour in Brum last night...it felt like a send-up of the original.Actress playing Eponine thought she was in a completely different show to everyone else.So shouty.The barricade made me laugh out loud.Marius late on stage for the marriage scene,Valjean’s gun didn’t go off and threw the cast for what seemed like ages.Victor Hugo’s original paintings used for rear projections just looked like a smeared mess.So dimly-lit that I thought there’d been a partial power-cut.Thenardier’s played the whole thing like OTT panto.Set reminded me of ‘Oliver’ and not in a good way.Zero emotion in any of the songs.’Empty chairs at empty tables’,had no chairs or tables on stage just a few lanterns!! Spatial positioning of actors for ‘One day more’ just felt wrong until the walk-down and what’s with the very opening of the show on a boat???
Re-imagined for the 21st Century apparently but felt like a cheap fake.Just my humble opinion obvs.
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Post by indis on May 2, 2019 19:05:26 GMT
and thats the version coming to the Queens theatre?
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2019 19:08:51 GMT
Saw tour in Brum last night...it felt like a send-up of the original.Actress playing Eponine thought she was in a completely different show to everyone else.So shouty.The barricade made me laugh out loud.Marius late on stage for the marriage scene,Valjean’s gun didn’t go off and threw the cast for what seemed like ages.Victor Hugo’s original paintings used for rear projections just looked like a smeared mess.So dimly-lit that I thought there’d been a partial power-cut.Thenardier’s played the whole thing like OTT panto. Set reminded me of ‘Oliver’ and not in a good way.Zero emotion in any of the songs.’Empty chairs at empty tables’,had no chairs or tables on stage just a few lanterns!! Spatial positioning of actors for ‘One day more’ just felt wrong until the walk-down and what’s with the very opening of the show on a boat??? Re-imagined for the 21st Century apparently but felt like a cheap fake.Just my humble opinion obvs. Ha. Must admit when I sat down, looking at the preset I also thought I might have wandered into the wrong theatre and ended up at Oliver! |
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Post by Dawnstar on May 2, 2019 19:35:25 GMT
what’s with the very opening of the show on a boat??? |
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Post by xanady on May 2, 2019 20:01:15 GMT
Thanks,Might be historically correct but the original works so much better and fits the song lyrics better imo.
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Post by Dawnstar on May 2, 2019 20:03:08 GMT
Oh, I prefer the original production too (not seen this tour yet but did see it in 2009) but felt in the interest of fairness I should point out that there is a reason for the boat, the director didn't just throw it in for the heck of it!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 4, 2019 10:11:26 GMT
I think that opening on the boat with the waves crashing up looks stunning and works brilliantly. It’s also the same opening as the film which will be familiar to many.
I don’t think the backdrops, no matter how subtly lit, could be any more dreary than those dreadful brown shutters in the original.
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Post by andrew on May 4, 2019 10:20:56 GMT
Is anyone else tempted to go and see the original production one last time before they break it down? The dreary shutters! The cobblestone revolve! Icons of the stage!
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Post by Deleted on May 4, 2019 10:49:03 GMT
Is anyone else tempted to go and see the original production one last time before they break it down? The dreary shutters! The cobblestone revolve! Icons of the stage! God yes! Booked for final performance and also for one next month. Umming and ahhing as to whether should book a third! When it's gone it's gone..... |
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Post by daisy24601 on May 4, 2019 11:40:14 GMT
I'm tempted too, but then I'm also thinking about the concert and not sure about doing both.
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Post by xanady on May 4, 2019 12:16:22 GMT
^Really really strange that the tour programme in Brum specifically refers to Valjean’s I9 year’s suffering on the chain gang and then in the show we get the Boat scene.I wasn’t expecting the boat scene as the programme notes told otherwise.I think that we need to see Valjean’s personal suffering and it seemed to me that the relentless hard-labour of breaking rocks for example day after day seems to me more taxing than being part of a rowing crew where one is sitting down and may be able to go through the motions and slack off a bit from time to time.Just rang a friend of mine who has a great deal of sailing experience and explained the scenario to him and he thinks I am VERY mis-guided and wrong in terms of the comparison of the two types of physical exertion and says that rowing on the sea in horrendous conditions is incredibly taxing so I will bow to his greater wisdom.Lighting was so dim on the night I saw it that didn’t even see any waves crashing unfortunately and maybe I do need to head to Specsavers lol as my eye-sight has deteriorated in the last few years.
The Hugo paintings may have seemed like a good idea in a planning meeting but on stage looked like a five year old had smeared paint haphazardly all over the place imo.Again maybe the lighting design didn’t work for me?
I was blessed to see the very first original cast in this show back in the day and sadly sometimes it’s a case of ‘if it ain’t broke,don’t fix it’ ,but then I felt the same about seeing CATS on tour after the New London version.Maybe I belong in a museum preserved in aspic 😆
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