Some forty years on from its debut performance, Les Misérables continues to pack in audiences around the globe and yes, it is every bit the unmissable phenomenon it has always billed to be. Touring the UK and Ireland with new staging, costumes, direction, and orchestration from its 25th-anniversary celebrations, Les Misérables, or simply ‘Les Miz’ to its army of fans, is a must-see for every musical theatre aficionado.
Beginning in 1815, we meet Jean Valjean – or Prisoner 24601 (an outstanding Dean Chisnall) being granted parole after 19 years of hard labour as part of a chain gang. In this prologue to the first act, we see him struggle to re-enter society because of his need to display his ticket of leave. He is taken in by the holy Bishop of Digne (Earl Carpenter), who he almost immediately betrays by stealing some valuable silver belonging to the church. After being caught by police, the Bishop refrains from putting in a complaint, and Valjean once again goes free, though this time decides to change his ways and become a better person.
Cue title card and that amazing, so familiar, sweeping music which takes us eight years into the future where Valjean is now Monsieur Madeline, an influential factory owner and mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer, and a journey begins. With a series of events that lead Valjean to hand himself in to authorities in order not to see an innocent man punished, Les Misérables unloads epic showpiece after showpiece.
Whether it be the haunting bars of the iconic ‘I Dreamed A Dream’ from the tragic Fantine (here wonderfully played by Katie Hall) to the jaw-dropping, epic ‘Who Am I?’, each act presents strong showstoppers that’ll leave you gasping for breath time and time again.
The hugely impressive set and image design from Matt Kinley – so massively ambitious for a touring production – it’s easy to see why his creative input now fills auditoriums across the globe, including in the West End and on Broadway. From revolving buildings to projected caves and forced perspective, and eventually the climactic scenes on the barricades, this is some of the most impressive set designs we’ve ever seen on a stage. It’s mind-blowing. Paule Constable’s lighting also adds so much, particularly as the revolution rises up at the end – a poignant and hard-hitting sequence that resonates so much with current events taking place across Europe. It will leave you in tatters.
The West End’s longest-running musical is that for one reason; it is outstanding in almost every way – from its top-quality performances to the wondrous staging. An unmissable stage production that should, at some point in life, should be seen by all. Again and again.
Les Misérables plays the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton until 26th March before continuing on its UK and Ireland Tour.
Les Misérables
Summary
An epic, three-hour immersive experience that captivates throughout. You’ll be singing the songs for days after – one of the essential musical experences.
