LesMiserables my review final
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Euan Rose
To:Tristan Harris; Tristan Harris
Thu 12-Jun-25 18:21
Les Misérables – Let The Pe…
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Les Misérables – Let The People Sing!
Book and Lyrics by Alain Boublil
Music by Claude-Michel Schonberg
Lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer
Based on the novel by Victor Hugo
Alexandra Theatre
10th-14th June 2025
I have seen countless West End and touring productions of ‘Les Misérables’ or ‘Les Mis’ as it is affectionately known; some starring huge musical and theatrical giants too, but last night’s performance at the Alexandra Theatre Birmingham was something very special.
Last year, eleven leading amateur musical theatre companies across the UK were approached and licensed by Music Theatre International to head up the adult amateur premiere of Producer Cameron Mackintosh’s classic – something no-one ever thought would be available.
Code-named ‘Let the people sing’ each of the companies were charged with heading up the project in their regions, bringing in other societies to form one company comprising the crème de la crème of local talent. BMOS were the Birmingham company of choice and they enlisted talent from Bilston Operatic, Bournville MTC and West Bromwich Operatic.
Local companies may be competitive, but they also share a unique camaraderie which made the audience (comprising an abundance of tread the board thespians) bond with the chosen cast from first to last note. The atmosphere was as infectious as it was exciting.
Such is the difficulty of the show from the staging to the complicated arrangements that every department is challenged; and they all excelled.
Director Stephen Duckham was ably supported by two inventive movement coordinators in Aaron Gibson and Lauren Shirley, whilst Musical Director David Easto had Callum Thompson as his assistant and the magnificent Midland Concert Orchestra in the pit.
Pete Watts lighting design was simply awesome with deep rich blackness capturing the mood of Victor Hugo’s dark vision and concealing the scenes until the next reveal, with wonderous gobos on the stage giving everything from cobbled floors to the moving waters on the River Seine; even bright dazzling red, white and blue foot and arch lights shouting ‘Viva La France!’ at every opportunity. Sound supervised by Sam Burkinshaw was flawless, everyone miked up to perfection.
The LED wall operated by Ethyn James was truly effective and the perfect scenic guide for our journey. Production and stage management was as slick and professional as any West End Show moving the sparse but effective staging seamlessly.
The starkness of the multi-functional trucked towers was brought to life by a seemingly never-ending wardrobe under the measure of Susan Harris.
For the rare few of you who may not know the original story by Victor Hugo, it is set in early nineteenth century France in the period of the revolution and concerns one man’s quest for redemption.
Jean Valjean is a convict released in 1815 after serving nineteen years in jail for stealing a loaf of bread. He starts life anew but Police Inspector Javert, pursues him relentlessly with a personal mission to send him back to prison. It’s really a battle of morality between a man who believes we can all change given the opportunity and one who thinks ‘once a crim, always a crim.’
As for the two actors playing them, Wil Neale as Jean Valjean and Robbie Love as Javert both deserve bouquets of salutes and bravos! They admirably fill the shoes of the huge luminaries that have worn them over the past forty years.
In amongst the huge talent my shout-outs are Ben Evans as charismatic leader of the revolution Enjolras and young Theo Tratt as cheeky, heart-stealing Gavroche. Ismay Dudzinski-Grubb’s stunning soprano voice makes a poignant Cosette, Luke Griffiths is totally engaging Marius and Beth Dickson’s enchanting antihero Eponine effectively tugs at the heart strings. Tim Jones and Sophie Grogan make a dynamic duo as the thieving and conniving funny-but-scummy Thénardiers – their ‘Masters of The House’ number was spot on with just the right amount of pathos and brilliant comic timing.
The big numbers in this show such as ‘Do You Hear The People Sing?’ ‘Bring Him Home’ and ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ are so well known that expectation is heightened. I have to say every note was pitch perfect and performed superbly. The Act 1 finale of ‘One Day More’ was spine-tingling.
What sets this production aside from others is the sheer size of the company, all of whom are completely in the moment every time they are on stage. They are the blood running through the veins of a show that is all heart. There was nothing amateur about this amateur premiere; it was
one wonderful night to savour. It sent me and my delightful and always discerning companion home ‘hearing the people singing’ in our ears.
Unmissable! Grab a ticket if you can.
*****
Euan Rose
Euan Rose Reviews
