Archive for Musicals.Net Musicals.Net |
| Eppie-Sue |
... don't jinx it. | ||||||||
| Orestes Fasting |
Oh come on. Laura Kalpakian's Cosette... the musical! It would be the best thing since Carrie. |
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| Fiwen9430 |
Noooooooooo! That is a scary thought. I haven't read it, but if Inspector Karamazov's summaries on Abaiss� are anything to go by... |
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| Quique |
If I had a choice between a really craptastic film version but the original production restored in all its former glory and a great film version but keep what we have now and accept any further schizo changes the loopy creative team decides on at any moment's notice, I'd choose the former. | ||||||||
| MizH |
I'm looking forward to the tour. I live in Scotland and get to see the London production very rarely, maybe once or twice a year. I'm seeing it a few times in Edinburgh. I can't wait to see JOJ as Valjean again, and with Earl Carpenter as Javert. | ||||||||
| Eppie-Sue |
This link was posted on WOS... good to read an actual review instead of "zomg DREAM CAST I wanna have a recording"...
http://pechesdevieilesse.blogspot.com/2010/01/cardiff-miserables.html |
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| Quique |
Wow, an actual review where the response isn't "It's amazing!! Cause, well, it's Les Miserables!"
Interesting review and obviously not surprising. The searchlight thing sounds bloody awful. I thought they were basing some of the design on John Napier's originals? I knew there wasn't going to be a mobile barricade or revolve but I thought they'd probably try to recreate some of the grey cobblestone and brick set of the original. |
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| l'ivrogne transfigur� |
I hope this is true. |
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| SnowWhite4518 |
Spoken lines. ewww. | ||||||||
| Eppie-Sue |
There is a huge, huge discussion on WOS about how here on MdN, we are only fans of the London production and don't care about Les Mis�rables. I would like to address that... posting on WOS doesn't really make sense to me as most of it is anonymous...
I think the problem that most of us - me, too - have with the tour is that it's getting a hype the London production hasn't been getting at all, while it is just as good and incooperates the idea of the original show much better than the tour. It's not that we fear the tour might take something from the West End production, it's that people act as if it's the "new thing", whereas the West End is the "old thing" that might as well be forgotten about. I'm not against a tour recording, as long as it's just that - a tour recording. Not for the 25th Anniversary. But what are the chances of the powers that be making two individual recordings, one of the tour cast and one of an actual "Dream Cast" of the last years? So for us, who are very much aware of how much quality (very much up to par with the legendary Tenth Anniversary Concert) there has been on the West End in recent casts, it seems as if not only the casting and marketing is being neglected, but the fact that it's the 25th Anniversary on the West End as well. There has most definitely been a lot of thought put into the tour and especially the casting, but that's what makes me disappointed - it's obviously possible to do that, so why not put more thought into, say, the casting of the lead roles instead of just taking two Les Mis veterans and hoping everything will go well? They don't work well together at all. I would have been very sad to see the tour being a disappointment, because I like the general concept of bringing it to those who can't go and see it in London. But it's the fact that it's being regarded as the new thing, the "Dream Cast", the most wonderful production that is superior to the more simple original production, that can just be ignored. From the audios, it is quite evident that they were going for a more modern "rock" sound - something that wasn't needed. I can't recall anyone ever complaining about the original score or arrangement. About the whole "Dream Cast" thing - I'm not saying people can't call it "a Dream Cast", but it's not THE Dream Cast that should be recorded for the 25th Anniversary. Of course those arguments are going to be countered with comments on how other actors on the West End are more suited for a part, have a better voice, a better interpretation, and maybe even deserve to be in an actual "Dream Cast" recording more, simply because of their devotion to the show and how much they brought to "Les Mis�rables" as a musical, as a production and as an overall experience. (Yes, if those arguments come up, David Thaxton keeps popping up. Why on earth wouldn't he?! It's partly because he is the prime example of a "Dream Cast" Enjolras in general, and partly because he happens to be in the current cast; but there are others who have done so much with their parts, Gina Beck, Hayden Tee, Jackie Marks, ... that are just being ignored. There are understudies that are currently on the West End stage, Antony Hansen in particular, Natalie Day, too, who blow away every other performers I - and many others - have heard in those roles in the last years.) (Yes, of course I'm very worried - and biased - about the London production. But it's mostly that I don't think the tour is an improvement, and that I love the original score and the current cast very much and would hate to see it all go unnoticed in favour of a production that, while being very good, is not what Les Mis�rables really is about to me. And I'm going to get defensive, obviously. Like others are completely unreasonable about the tour being Teh Best Thing Eva. It's not about any kind of hatred, it's just making me very, very, sad.) |
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| l'ivrogne transfigur� |
I've just been reading some of the tour thread on WOS, and I must say that some of the reviews worry me a bit. Especially the bits about Rosalind James:
and
R&B, bluesy riffs???? That's just not Eponine for me.
Almost every Fantine is miles ahead of Susan Boyle. I will probably, unfortunately, also always compare Fantine's to her, but she will almost always lose.
Of course, I'm also pleased about all the positive comments. Especially about Gareth Gates, about whom I must admit I had a few reservations. I'm also glad that the sets and design are working well. I really can't wait to see it for myself. The endless arguments about dream cast recordings are getting a bit tiring, simply because they have become so circular. There aren't any new points being made, just people reiterating each other's opinions. I think the problem is that people are confusing the dream cast argument with a london cast v tour cast argument. Which it is not. I want to see a dream cast made up of people from lots of different casts, chosen on who is most suitable. The other problem is people like David Thaxton who keep getting dragged into the debate. While I understand that he does illustrate a point, he just provides an excuse for those who want a tour dream cast to argue that the rest of us are being biased and want "our cast" there. I wish people would stop turning the debate into london v tour, as it is getting absolutely nowhere. |
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| MizH |
I hope they release a recording to mark the 25th anniversary. I'm not too bothered about what cast they use, as long as they're good. I haven't actually seen the tour cast yet, so I can't comment on them. A dream cast recording of former London/Broadway cast members would be lovely, but I'd be disappointed if a lot of my favourites weren't on it. I think most people would be.
I don't think there's much point comparing the touring production to the London production. They're different productions, but it's still Les Mis. They're not in direct competition, as most of the time, they're playing in different ends of the country, so are catering for completely different markets. In the long run, I think the tour will benefit the London show. If people see the show on tour and like it, then they may want to see it in the west end when they're next in London. |
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| Quique |
The tour is fine. But I hope the 25th anniversary rumors are not true and the West End production gets all the brouhaha it deserves come 8 October.
But marketing--uh, I mean--celebrating the tour at the Barbican on that day would be like...like celebrating the 50th anniversary of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, by screening the sparkly and newer 1998 Gus Van Sant remake (with new film score, no less!!!). That'd be so...FAIL. 
Sorry for the random analogy, it's just that I found this a short time ago: http://geekgirl.com.au/blog/2009/12/24/psycho-50th-anniversary/ and am still reeling from its awesomeness. *HUGE Hitch fan* Omg. At any rate, I'd love to see the tour and I wouldn't be a negative Mary throughout the performance either, despite bluesy 'Ponine; boom boom orch; and riffs-galore.  Chances are, I'd enjoy it more than I care to.
Then I'll go back to clinging onto the original for dear life! Ahh. |
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| Eppie-Sue |
Review by The Times!
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/stage/theatre/article6982982.ece ... first, I have to point out something. FAIL. EPIC FAIL IN PICTURE AND SUBTITLE CHOICE. xD Those are, I assume, the Th�nardiers (I really don't like the costumes, especially his, but let's ignore this for a second). So, we've got the Th�nardiers at "Beggars at the Feast", and the subtitle goes:
... hm, I don't know about you... but... Overall, an interesting review, it's good, but realistic, which I like. And "But then almost all the performers are as strong as those I�ve seen in London" obviously makes me want to ask which performers he has seen the last time he went, but I guess it doesn't really matter, it's just out of interest. It's great to hear a positive review that doesn't completely forget that there is talent in the West End as well. (Although it doesn't really say much about the tour, come to think of it.) |
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| flying_pigs |
Hehe, I was just on my way to post that!
I'm assuming that's the first picture to be released. |
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| Quique |
Cooool. Thanks for that!
The description of the sets is great. One thing I wonder is if the show has an overall dark look to it or a lighter, softer look? Obviously, I envision my Les Mis dark and gloomy but in an evocative way (like the original! XD). While obviously not as important, I do find lighting and set design to be just another layer of expressive art that should manage to blend with the score and achieve harmony. A bright, light look would clash, imo. It really depends on the artist though. I definitely believe a talented artist can make even a soft pastel colored Les Mis work if he/she manages to balance it just right. I just hope it isn't like the Miss Saigon 2005 tour in which much of the lighting design felt out of place, loud, and obtrusive. Yes, I notice everything, lol. Sometimes I wish I didn't, cause then I'd probably enjoy it more. Ignorance can be bliss. One of the most torturous memories to date is when I saw a community production of Evita, in which EVERY element in "Buenos Aires" clashed so violently, the senses were bombarded, and I just about *died* -Lighting consisted of two very harsh spotlights shining from the wings. No, not above like normal spotlights but from the mother freaking winggggggs.  This created harsh shadow on the walls of the set. It was visual diarrhea.
-Costumes looked as if made by someone's feet. HORRIBLE. -Eva's voice was loud and shrill. My eardrums will never be the same. -The dancers consisted of a high school chick who wore way too much make up and some other broad twice her age. -Choreography was trotting like cattle round and round Eva...for the duration of the song. They occasionally lifted their legs. Wow, the variety. 
-The set was a horrid recreation of the original. Some of the rails were obviously silver spray painted broom handles. -Orchestra was a drumset (a loud one, at that) and a piano. Um, um...help? -The sound was shit. So sorry for veering off. But, yeah, somehow I doubt the tour will be anywhere near that in quality. I'm not expecting the tour to outdo the original. But I hope it compliments the material well. EDIT: Oh and I agree on the EPIC FAILURE of the pic sub. Omg. |
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| aquirkofmatter |
Personally, I thought it was too dark. The Millennium Centre is huge and I was row E of the stalls (which is still about 12 rows back!) and found it difficult to make out the actor's faces because there were few lights - yet I was still further forward than the DC overhang. I'm like you, Quique, I notice tech-y things, and one thing that really bugged me about the lighting was that there were only two main followspots - in the Finale, the only people you could see clearly were Marius and Cosette kneeling at the front, there was very little light on the others; which seemed odd to me probably because I'm used to London where it's all very bright at the end. Understandably, they can't have too many lights, just because they have to rig and de-rig everything when they move venues; but even so, it could've been a little brighter, I think! |
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| Eponines_Hat |
Did anyone else feel like this was being reviewed as a 'regional production'? It sounded like the reviewer didn't really expect the show to be as good and was surprised that " almost all the performances were as strong" as the London Cast (note - not BETTER but as almost as good as." Interesting.... Oh and the tour Eponine sounds awful. Well... just not Eponiney. R&B??? wtf???? Will see the show Saturday, though, so I hope I am going to be proven wrong![/i] |
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| MizzieFan |
I am not sure if I like this production ... I mean, I heard some audios, but not really sure. One thing is definitve - I love Earl, as I always did when he was still in London and I don't like R&B Eponine. Oh come on?! This isn't Les Mis�rables ''Modern version''.
And I have a feeling that everyone kind of screams and their voices are angry .. This is what they mean by saying it's a ''Darker'' production? |
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| Eppie-Sue |
http://photos.thelowry.com/LesMisrables
TOUR PHOTOS. HUH. I know I'm always criticising, but do the costumes look fake to anyone else? And Jon looks like Phoebus from Disney's Hunchback. Love the picture of Katie at the wedding, though. And the face of the guy on the left of Jonjolras in the "flagwaving" picture. That surely must be Joly. ETA: somehow, the link isn't working for me anymore. huh. |
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| MizzieFan |
I just saw photos. Well, I have to agree with Eppie - Sue that dresses look ''fake''. Don't know, sort of plastic?
And as much I thought I would hate to see blond Cosette I now think that she is really cute! At least in the Finale scene. Oh God, what a beautiful picture of Earl! I Am not really fond of Jons' wig ... But maybe it's just the picture and maybe it looks better live. But I am still all sceptic about the tour. |
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| operafantomet |
Erm... I rather liked the costumes (though I do prefer the originals).
I found it cute that Cosette still wears her blue dress, only now it's blue instead... What is it about Cosette and light blue dresses? I've seen it in three productions a row now (non-replica), and they all look too bright or glossy or... something on stage. |
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| realitybites |
(sharp intake of breath) these are not flattering photos of the production. I was looking forward to Manchester but now I'm nervous. Are there any others? Maybe I'll shut my eyes and listen to the music. |
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| flying_pigs |
Wtf, it let me view three photos then just stopped working! Btw, pretty sure that's Jamie Muscato as Prouvaire in the flag waving picture! |
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| Eppie-Sue |
I've got the links to every picture except the one with Jon, JOJ and Gareth Gates, which didn't work for me in the first place... and the BatF one, which we already kind of knew.
so here we go. PICSPAM. 
xD I'm sorry. There have been worse wigs. But ... oh Jon. xD 
EARL. <3 it does look like he's ... holding a latern, though 
Hm hmm. Would it have killed them to give him a period-appropriate wig? 
can't help but think that the costume looks like a, well, costume. 
Love the gate, not too sure about the dress... looks... like a costume, too. 
... hate the dress. Yes. Hate. 
Man. I love him already. |
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| flying_pigs |
Thank you!
Overall it looks great but a few random points: -Jon looks um....different. -I thought Earl was holding a lantern too! It reminds me of the finale picture with the 2005/06 cast which made it looks as though Shonagh Daly (Eponine), was holding one of the candles. -JOJ looks kind of like a jester in the WHID picture?! -Katie looks gorgeous in her costumes! -And yes, I like my Marius' to have wigs of some kind! ETA: Decided Jon looks like a lion..........or someone with one of those 80s haircuts! |
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| Vanessa20 |
My thoughts:
*Overall, I think the production looks great. I'm glad that they're actually doing different things with the sets and costumes - I was afraid that the hype was false advertising and that it would just be the original production again with a tiny bit of tweaking, a la the Broadway revival. *Agree with Eppie Sue on Jon's crazy wig, but I think JOJ's WHID costume looks perfectly fine. It just has a little more color than the original, which isn't unrealistic, is it? (remembers the Brick describing Valjean at that point as wearing a coarse yellow shirt and blue trousers) *I think the dresses generally look fine (no worse than some of the real 1830s dresses I've seen photos of ), but I don't quite know how I feel about the Thenardiers' BATF costumes. Her feathers might be a little much and his collar looks too cartoony.
*I'm reserving judgement on Fantine and Cosette's dresses until I see how they look onstage, but Katie does look adorable. Lately I've been toying with and drawing sketches of different costume ideas for the women of "Les Mis" (not the men, though - too difficult to be creative), and I've been very drawn to the idea of Cosette's maturing process being reflected by her costumes and hair. E.g. her wearing a conservative, girlish dress in Act I, with her hair down, but then a prettier, more fashionable and mature dress during "Every Day," and finally a sophisticated, tasteful yet not too conservative wedding gown, with her hair up (or just the girlish dress but then the wedding gown). It looks like that's exactly what they're doing here - confirmation, anyone? I'm really hoping I can see this production (screw you, UCLA, for keeping me trapped in California!  ) and the sooner the better.
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| Eppie-Sue |
I don't think Cosette has enough on stage time to display her character development through dresses. If I had to choose dresses, I'd go for the subtle, black one in The Robbery, then all prettied up for the Rue Plumet Scenes, dark again for Every Day, seeing as it's not a particularly happy time what with Marius being almost fatally wounded, and then a gorgeous wedding dress.
But I have to admit, I love the black dress somehow. It works. And I want Cosette to have dark brown or black hair... I don't care about Eponine's hair colour at all, but seeing that picture of Katie reminds me too much of a Disney princess. Her character gets almost no substance, and then she gets a beautiful dress and is a blonde... I dunno. Katie looks amazing, though. |
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| Quique |
I like the look of the show so far. And I see a few design elements from John Napier's original have carried over (most obvious one being the Rue Plumet gate).
Fake-looking/plastic costumes have always been a pet peeve of mine. I wonder why they allow such a look to slip by? Thankfully, only a couple look like that. And maybe they look better live. Like satin, or something. Cosette's original black dress is so beautiful. Have you guys ever seen it up close? I passed it when I went on a backstage tour of the Imperial back in the day and it looked absolutely gorgeous. I wanted to slip it on!! I always imagine anything Les Mis related as having a very gritty appearance and it's cool to see that in these photos. The only pic that strikes me a bit...meh...is the "Stars" one. A little too...literally staged? Not a very good word choice, I know, but I have the perfect word at the tip of my tongue. Can't remember. Ah, well. Now if only we could see some wide shots. These are only closeups. I'm interested in seeing what the whole stage picture looks like. But, so far...looks pretty good. And now if only they'd reinstate the original orchestrations (no, I will NEVER hush about this  ), I'd be a happy camper and the show would have a stronger impact on everyone, even if it's only on a subconscious level--but that's what great orchestrations do and that's what they've done all these years in the West End.
But, whatev. Nice, purdy looking tour, nonetheless. |
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| Katfeyrac |
The photo that was missing (taken from the official FB page):
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| Eppie-Sue |
That is just begging for a caption. | ||||||||
| riverdawn |
I have to saw one thing for Jon's wig here:
While it's certainly not a great wig, it is considerably closer to how I would imagine Enjolras than a lot of other Enjolras wigs I've seen in pictures. 
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| Orestes Fasting |
"Will someone tear these two apart? This is a barricade, not a circus!"
(Not going there with the pervy captions. Not going there.) Jon Robyns' Fabio wig is awful. What were they thinking? Javert, Marius, and Eponine costumes look ok to me (although Eponine's boots look a little too kickass to belong to a street waif). JOJ's prologue costume looks way too circus-y. The red would've worked better with, uh, something besides the yellow. Mixed feelings on the Cosette and Fantine costumes--this is where the costuming department really had a chance to go to town on the period dresses, and I feel like they could've done better. The wedding dress looks way too modern to me, like a polyester wedding dress with 'fanciful' sleeves added. I can see that they're going for 1830s with the neckline and the ridiculous sleeves, but that isn't the impression it gives. Maybe with some lace and detail work... I dunno, I'm not a costuming expert, but it doesn't do it for me. The In My Life dress does a decent job balancing historical accuracy and attractiveness (oh god 1830s women's fashions were hiiiideous), but the relative simplicity of the cut combined with the apparent richness of the fabric (is that taffeta?) looks... odd. Also, is that a hoopskirt?! The Fantine dress kinda has the opposite problem... I feel like the pattern would've worked on faded cotton or linen or something, and the shiny fabric might've worked with a more subtle pattern, but the two together don't work. |
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| l'ivrogne transfigur� |
I never did understand why, when they did insist on giving Enjolrati (e.g. Thaxton in this video) horrible wigs, why they didn't at least make them blond.
Still, Jon's wig doesn't really quite work somehow... |
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| Quique |
Fantine looks as if saying her prayers before bed.
I mean, with the nightgown and all... |
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| Quique |
Review from some Spanish site. Here's the English translation:
http://www.todomusicales.com/content/content_english/1803/les-miserables-celebrates-its-25th-anniversary-in-london-with-an-excellent-tour-production/
Looking on the bright side: a new album is a wonderful idea. |
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| Quique |
You should've gone there.
It would've likely continued brightening my mood after having read the review I posted above, grr. |
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| MizzieFan |
The review Quique posted kind of pisses me off. Don't know why, but ... Oh God, how can't they get it?! Get what? That Les Mis�rables isn't some kind of R&B Jazzy show. You simply CANNOT turn it into a Jazzy show.
Yet I am glad they are thinking about releasing an album. We need more albums of Les Mis�rables nowadays, not many have been made in this decade or am I wrong? But still ... What's with returning to the glory? To me it seems that West End still holds 'The Glory' of Les Mis�rables. |
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| Eponines_Hat |
Rather than spam this thread with a super long and detailed review I have put in on a new thread. That way anyone who is bored enough to read all 2 pages of it can do so - and I won't bother anyone who couldn't care less
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| Elbow |
Just by mistake booked a ticket for the matinee in Manchester a week Thursday. Oops. | ||||||||
| l'ivrogne transfigur� |
Haha - join the club. I have a Manchester ticket I don't want as well! | ||||||||
| sohopad |
What a shame you took tickets away from people who would have genuinely given the show a chance, rather than writing it off before they'd even seen it.
Perhaps you could offer them to someone who will appreciate them more than you do. I'm sure there would be lots of takers. |
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| l'ivrogne transfigur� |
I didn't mean that I didn't want it because I don't want to go. It's just that I booked it a while back (because I was very keen to go and wanted to get a good seat) but I now have a commitment I can't miss on that day. I would love to be able to offer it to someone else, but I opted to collect it from the BO, which requires my card - so it's not really possible. |
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| mm10 |
I saw on the other thread that the touring version is going to Paris - I hope this isn't a stupid question but will it still be in english? | ||||||||
| l'ivrogne transfigur� |
Yeah - it's the identical production, so still in English.
Which is a bit of a shame really - I'd love to see it in French in Paris (despite not understanding much French at all!) |
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| Elbow |
Wow, okay. When I said I "by mistake" booked a ticket, I meant I booked a ticket when I shouldn't have done since I can't really afford it, and I have things on that day that I should be doing, instead of going up to Manchester to watch a musical that I've already seen 60+ times. But yeah, clearly I am an awful person for buying that ticket, when you know, there are other people who want to see it, who won't necessarily be as critical of it as me. |
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| Violet |
Some of the cast were interviewed on BBC Radio Wales and talked of the possibility of them learning one of the songs in French. I'm not sure how that would fit into a show mainly in English, or if they'd save it for a bonus track at the curtain call.
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| Eponines_Hat |
Ooohhh... I am thinking One Day More from the TAC.... |
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| Eppie-Sue |
... if you don't want it... HERE RIGHT HERE. I'll take it. How on earth did you get a matinee ticket, it told me they didn't have any left! D: @l'ivrogne transfigur� - can't you call the BO and explain? Maybe something can be arranged... I want to see it now, but I can only do matinees... |
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| l'ivrogne transfigur� |
Yeah, I might do that - but I'm still vaguely hoping I can get out of this other thing, although that's not looking very likely. I guess I could try to persuade them to send the tickets to me, and then if I can't go, I could give them to someone else as they probably won't check the name on the door. [It's for BB33 in the stalls for the matinee on the 30th Jan, if anyone is interested] |
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| Elbow |
They released more tickets last night, they had a few left when I rang up today! |
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| Eppie-Sue |
VERY INTERESTED.
ETA: omg looks like I'll be seeing the tour then after all. O.O |
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| flying_pigs |
David Lawrence was on as Javert tonight. Anyone there? | ||||||||
| Elbow |
Oh, so there is definitely for sure going to be a cast album. Which I imagine will be the"25th Anniversary" recording. How unfair 
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| Eppie-Sue |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQH6tn-tGZ0
Did Cammack actually say "I wanted the best possible cast!" - shouldn't he, like, ALWAYS want that? Or am I being naive here? ETA: from the WOS North West review. "Katie Hall is fine as Cosette but very old school in terms of delivery which is at odds with many of the contemporary touches." THANK YOU KATIE. I love you, girl, I truly do. Pfh, "old school", bloody hell. |
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| Eponines_Hat |
http://www.thepublicreviews.com/les-miserables-25th-anniversary-production-palace-theatre-manchester/
Interesting... |
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| flying_pigs |
It would help if they had spelt the character's names right. Fontine? Cossette? | ||||||||
| riverdawn |
The writing in that review is so bad, I had to stop after the first few paragraphs. | ||||||||
| Eponines_Hat |
Did Cammack pay someone to write this review? It would be interesting to know when this reviewer last saw the original show. It least I agree with their view on "Fontine"! |
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| Quique |
I'm always wary of reviews that read more like defiant gushings while snubbing a production the reviewer himself says is no surprise it's nearing its 25th anniversary.
It's cool he liked it. Although I have my own strong opinion on people who prefer the new orchestration over the original, I will happily agree to disagree. Dude should have felt inspired to write out an actual review though. I mean, if it moved him that much. But whatevs. |
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| Eponines_Hat |
I've been paying more attention to this after reading your earlier comments. It is really different, isn't it? Is it faster, too? The saddest part IMO is the new opening. I love that rush of excitement when I hear "duuuh- duh, duuuh-duh" at the beginning of the show! |
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| Quique |
Nothing will be as amazing as the original opening. One of the sweetest memories of seeing the show live is those opening notes and that almost surreal feeling I'd get as the house lights dimmed and the Cosette projection would fade out. John's arrangements just deeply satisfy me. The man has lent his talents to the show since its inception in Paris and one would think that he'd be the most qualified to step in and do any re-orchestration. I still think Cameron has gone senile and thinks it's 1985 and is currently opening the show for the first time, lol. EDIT: Was browsing through my iTunes just now and came across a few tracks of one of the more recent cast recordings. You want to hear a ~*new*~ orchestration...that actually does the show justice and stays true to the spirit of John's original orchestral score AND is played by half the number of musicians that were used in the original Broadway production? Oh, and did I mention that it doesn't squeeze the show of its character nor does it give it a cheap 'feel'? In fact, some parts are prettier than the original. Look no further than the 2008 Quebec cast album of Les Miserables. No, I wouldn't call it a completely new orchestration but it's adapted heavily in some parts and other parts are rearranged. "The Letter" is so beautiful and the completely new intro to ODM is glorious. |
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| RWF |
I don't think so, but he (or she) posted it on WOS as well: http://www.whatsonstage.com/board/index.php?showtopic=13179&st=170 |
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| beyondthebarricade |
Okay, what is up with that review? I mean, seriously. I had to skip who knows how many paragraphs so I wouldn't puke, and then I found out Rosalind James' major duet is A Heart Full Of Love. No wait, it's called Heart Full Of Love. How the heck can you mix that up with A Little Fall Of Rain. Rubbish. And Stars would "haunt [her] for years to come". Um, do I need to point out to her that stars isn't a The Music Of The Night song. It isn't what you'd call haunting. And she obviously hasn't seen Jon Robyns as Marius to compare his Enjolras. Really, who wrote this? A Susan Boyle fan? | ||||||||
| Eponines_Hat |
Clearly not a Miz fan. This review offends me on so many levels - and it's not actually because I disagree with their opinion. And YES! I loved Jon!Marius. Such a better role for him. |
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| smabi |
Saw the show last night and loved it!
There was a few mess ups in the first act, but other than that it was great. I really liked the sets, but I thought the screen at the back was unnecessary. Adored Javert, and Gareth Gates as Marius wasn't as bad as I expected. EDIT: Also, forgot to mention: Wasn't too sure on the costumes. Eponine's (what seemed to be) leather gloves seemed a bit unnecessary and prefered Marius' original costume. |
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| flying_pigs |
They just announced on the Facebook group that there will indeed by an official recording released in the future.
Hmmmm, mixed feelings. |
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| Quique |
Funny, cause I get all excited at the thought of everything Cameron Mackintosh is doing right now. I had already started to accept that he was going to let the show play for another year or two in London, close it, and then pass the torch on to some other producer...whom I expected to be the one doing brand new versions and messing with the score and doing anniversary albums and all other sorts of weird shit.
But I'm excited because I never dreamed he'd invest so much into the show at this point in his career. I thought he had probably gotten sick of it and was ready to focus on other shows like Mary Poppins. It's great he loves the show so much that he's doing this for everyone. I'm sure there are only the best intentions involved and he in no way wishes to degrade the show--the one he calls his crowning achievement. But there's still the way I feel about the score, and my excitement gives way to anger/sadness. Oh, and believe me, I've tried my hardest to "get over it," accept it, and try to convince myself it's at least better than what was used in the Bwy Revival. I even sat down and listened to my ann. tour recording and made mental notes on what and how much was changed. In the end, it isn't really that much at all and I tried to comfort myself with that fact--nah, didn't work, lol. In the end, it sounds different enough to me that I feel something profound is missing. I mean, I actually feel it more than I hear it. Then I listen to one of the old cast albums and that huge void is filled, grrr. Looking on the bright side, cause I am, after all a fan who is eager to enjoy the show--not one who is hard to please and negative for the sake of being negative--I am happy to say that I don't feel nearly as upset as I did, say, last week? Heh. But maybe that's cause I've been working with the score lately and it feels as if I'm creating it in a sense...or at least recreating it. :S But no, I AM creating it!! I may not have been responsible for writing it, obviously the credit goes to John Cameron, but I'm creating MY version. 'Conducting' it the way I like; setting the tempos and directly influencing (or programming, lol) the way each instrument articulates, the dynamics, the mixing, and all that gloriously boring stuff y'all don't give a hoot about. XD But it's sooo much fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun. Anyway, here I raise my glass to the ~*new*~ tour (even tho it'll never be as good or better than the original, LOL). May it live long and prosper (but not as long/as much as the original XD). *Raises his authentic Bwy ABC Cafe shot glass* -- |
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| beyondthebarricade |
I pray that I misread something, but did you say Cameron Mackintosh is going to close the show?! |
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| Violet |
Full interview online here http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p005zrnp I think the reaction was in part because he was being asked if Gareth Gates was celebrity casting, which he was keen to refute, and rightly so based on everything I've heard so far. However, I thought only the Cardiff tickets had been on sale before his name was announced. A producer should always want the best cast, but what efforts will be made to find the "best possible cast" will vary. Hopefully they always pick the best person that auditions, but they maybe auditioned a bit more widely this time around than for most shows, not just Les Mis. But they had to find a whole cast in one go, not just replace a few principals, so it's not comparing like with like. In that interview, Cameron says that the CD will be recorded in Manchester and one of the cast tweeted to say they had a meeting about it last night. |
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| Quique |
Ahh. No! LOL. But reading that again, it does sound as if I'm saying that. Nah, I meant to say what I had been expecting. But I am pleasantly surprised he's still taking such an active role producing the show. I had read things he had said in the past that led me to think he'd eventually put the show to rest--at least under his direct association with it. So, don't worry. The London production is still very much an open end run!
On a different note, someone just said to me they knew I'd come around and realize how wrong I was. Hmm. I've always supported the tour. Only difference now is I'm no longer scratching the walls and wailing over the changes to the score, hehe. I'm still going to view the tour with a critical eye (as any true fan would). But some people think that being a fan is not having a single neg thing to say. Eh, baloney. Look at the essay length reviews in the London thread...they're that long and detailed for a reason and it's not cause they don't have a single critical thing to say. How boring would it be if everyone just said nice, pretty things about everything. Btw, I'm currently living like a miser as promised and saving like crazy! LOL. Hopefully I can keep this up and make it to Paris in June. *dies* |
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| beyondthebarricade |
Oh thank you! I almost died there. I was thinking to myself "WTF SINCE WHEN WILL IT CLOSE OMG OMG OMG OMG."
Yes... the tour. I'm in two minds whether I should go and watch it on Barricade Day in Paris or just stay in London when I go in June and watch it every single day. I hope. Anyway, I think the cast at the Queen's is better as y'know London, tourist spot, where tourists come to watch the longest running musical in the world, while the tour is just appeals to whoever is in that city or nearby. Though I suppose the tour isn't too bad too. I've been saving up too! I've been eating the cheapest available thing in the cafeteria (which is still a lot, as the food there's exorbitant). I've saved up for two tickets. WHOO (: |
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| l'ivrogne transfigur� |
Um, Paris is as much a tourist spot as London. And most people (this forum excluded) don't come to London just to see Les Mis. And it hasn't been in Paris since 92. I think, if anything, it will have a greater appeal there being a one off and all. Anyway, it's the current tour cast that'll be going - so we already know the cast. I'm not going to give an opinion on which is better, not having seen the tour cast, but I don't think you can relate the fact that the show is in Paris as opposed to London to the quality of the cast, especially given the effort and money Cammack is throwing into the tour. EDIT: http://www.citylife.co.uk/theatre_dance/theatre/reviews/17569_les_miserables_is_still_sensational#bkmmenu |
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| beyondthebarricade |
Whoops I meant that London is like the musical hot spot, and theater-goers in general will to see Les Mis, for obvious reasons. So the cast they've got there has to be good as it stays there unlike the tour where it's just a once-off type of thing.
And I've only seen the current London cast twice. Pathetic, I know. And I'm going in June when there's only like 19 days left of performance before the cast changes, so I need to see it as much as possible, yeah. Even then, I suppose I still would need to see the Tour sometime. I've heard some performances on YouTube and some flubb lines, but they should've improved and nothing beats seeing it live. And ohh I need to see JOJ, Earl Carpenter, Katie and Jon. And his wig. |
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| Eponines_Hat |
Errr... is there a decision to make here? LONDON! Paris will be great and I am looking forward to seeing the show again there, but there is seriously no competition. The tour has its merits an' all; but the London show kicks its ass! AND it's cheaper. My chatelet tix cost me �100 and I bet I will still like my BB seats better! 
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| Quique |
How pathetic is it that I check available seating for Les Mis at the Queen's almost daily? Rofl.
I got row BB14 the other day. My fingers were twitchin' to hit that PURCHASE NOW button!! |
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| The Very Angry Woman |
Sign up for the Travelzoo and Virgin Atlantic mailing lists first. Yes, I'm an enabler. |
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| Quique |
Done.
Damn you. |
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| Elbow |
Tour today. Tour today. TOUR TODAY. EXCITEMENT. | ||||||||
| Eponines_Hat |
ahhh... pretty sure there isn't a BB14 at the Queens???? There is a B14 (one of my favourite seats in the house btw) but the BB (as in dead front row) has only 6,7,8,20,21,22. BB Seats are �20 and you have to call or go to the Box office to get them. If you want B14, don't pay more than �35 for them - which is the price you can regularly get them on http://london.lastminutetheatretickets.com/ Just sharing some things I learnt the hard way
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| Quique |
It might've been B14. Could've sworn it was BB14 but that's impossible, I guess. Hehe.
I'm thinking of buying airfare first and then tickets to each show in the months that follow, and finally booking a room. If I wait to book everything at once, I'd have to wait until May and that is too close to the travel date. Gosh, making travel plans is both exciting and nerve wracking. It wouldn't be so crazy if I weren't such a crazy, picky, anal mofo. |
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| beyondthebarricade |
Okay, I probably sound like an idiotic noob here, but what so great about BB row seats? I mean, apart from getting to see the show up close. It's waaay up front, so wouldn't it be kinda uncomfortable or something, having to keep on stretching out your neck to watch it? Is it better/funner/whatever to sit there or to sit somewhere else, in let's say, row E and beyond?
And whoa the BB seats are cheap. I mean 20 pounds? I can watch the show like 10 times! So I know the norm is that more expensive tickets= better seats and view, but the BB seats still seem rather popular and it's really cheap so why's that so? |
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| flying_pigs |
Well when, like some of us here, you're seeing the show for the millionth or so time, BB is perfect! It's cheap and you're so close to the action, often feeling part of it too! I'm quite short and I find BB finenot too much stretching! And you only miss a few things, such as the Th�nardiers in One Day More and the start of ATEOTD. It's worth it just for the Barricade scenes were everything is so close! Oh and the cast come to the front and point at/scare you during ATEOTD.
I'd recommend sitting further back if you haven't seen the show that many times but definately try and sit in BB sometime! |
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| Eponines_Hat |
lol You have just answered your own question! The BEST bit about BB is you get front row for �20 - the other Stall seats a row or more behind are �60!. It's also the best for hearing the adlibbing which you generally miss if you are much further back. And seeing Enjolras' fierce eys in The Fight = WIN |
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| beyondthebarricade |
Ahha I sat in E and J, and I thought I heard some ad-libbing but couldn't make it out! Oh and this is probably very off-topic and I should be posting this in another thread, but do you get to see The Jump extremely close up if you're in BB?
Okay I'll definitely sit there sometime. Though I've only watched the show a pathetic number of two times. |
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| flying_pigs |
BB20 is amazing for the jump! It's where I was on monday and it really feels like David's going to land on you! My mum was not expecting it and let out a tiny yelp when it happened
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| Eppie-Sue |
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| beyondthebarricade |
Imagine him landing on your lap. Or in the orchestra pit. Oh yeah there's also a point during "Look Down", I think where some of the characters (I was only paying attention to Nancy- seen it twice only I know) sit on those thingys near the audience. If you get the BB 6-8/20-22 seats, are they close to the characters? |
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| Eppie-Sue |
Yes.
This is not the right topic, really. |
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| Quique |
*Does sign of the cross @ Eppie-Sue*
Shake your fist at the orchestra on my behalf!! XD Nah, really, I hope you have a good time. But not as good a time as with the WE version. Ok, ok, ok, I'll stop. XD |
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| l'ivrogne transfigur� |
If you know your posts should go in another thread then why the hell do you keep posting them in the wrong thread??? This is not even a general London thread, and it is not for any random questions you may have and certainly not for DT fangirling - the reason that whole thread was started was because people got annoyed by the spamming on here.
Let's see ... they're the very front row and as a result are restricted view - I think it's pretty obvious that they're close to the characters. And why ask questions when people have already told you the answers??? EDIT: Look, I'm sorry for snapping at you. But really... |
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| beyondthebarricade |
Well, I'm sorry if I annoyed you my dear, but seriously. I knew this was the wrong thread, which is why I stopped, if you even bothered to notice instead rambling on about what I've finished with. The posts before me already started off with talking about a seat that doesn't exist. Decided to start up on me, didn't you? And what, I only asked one bleedin question about whether the view is good, supposed to cut a conversation and dive into another different thread, was I?
I know the general view is good, but I went there a month ago and I'm not like you, skipping off to the theater with your Starbucks every other day. I was just asking whether you can see them close up in a particular scene. For God's sake, give me a break. And I'm sorry if I offended you, or whatever. |
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| Eponines_Hat |
Solution.... see new thread here
http://musicals.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=78059 (can't figure out how to link - my bad) Seriously, I really don't see the need for nastiness on here. We're all here to share our \mizzy-love and ideas about the show. So lets be nice and share the mizzy love. It would be sad if people felt like they weren't welcome on here. I can see why people get irritated by stuff, but there are nice ways to say things. Don't forget that reading something in type can be taken more harshly than you may have meant. |
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| Eppie-Sue |
I don't want to get further into this, but if you know it's off-topic, simply don't post it in that thread if you know it won't relate to the topic that is being discussed there in any way. Especially not if it's to ask a question. There is no reason to get testy, but IMHO it's simple and it's not too much to ask of everyone to realise that there are reasons why certain threads were started (e.g. the "fangirling" thread - we have been at this point before), to realise when certain posts are off-topic or a topic is beginning to get uncomfortable and to read through older posts before asking something that has already been adressed.
and this:
is simply rude, 1) because she is here VERY VERY rarely, and 2) because I, too, get annoyed by the constant "I'm so jealous" comments whenever we post about something that happened. I'm not going to feel bad about being able to go to the Queen's so often in any kind of way. And I will not feel "lucky". Grateful, yes, but not lucky. As for the tour, does anyone know if the tracks are the same as in London? Especially the ensemble tracks some principals have before they go on in their actual role? |
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| beyondthebarricade |
Well then I'm sorry for being rude. I didn't know and I'll stop those I'm so jealous comments (but what, I don't spam every comment with that), so stop ragging on me all the time.
Um, if you bothered to notice, I actually stopped asking the questions. Okay can we stop this, it's pissing me off. |
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| Eponines_Hat |
You mean as in Jon and Gates will be on as the policeofficers in Fantine's arrest etc? I noticed that all this seamed pretty much the same as with London. Along with a lot of the blocking. Might be a few changes that I missed though - it seemed like there was so much to take in with the sets and the costumes, I think I need to see the show another 10 times to really get my head around it! |
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| Orestes Fasting |
Then don't. Honestly, all of you guys have a tendency to hijack threads with London/Thaxton/tour spam. It's good that you notice and try to put a lid on it, but there's no need to get up on your high horses whenever someone fails to rein in a tendency you all have. Drag the thread back on topic and move on. |
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| Quique |
Heh. What beyondthebarricade posted didn't seem too OT to me. No biggie.
*Gives them both milk and cookies* |
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| Eponines_Hat |
@elbow - hope u enjoyed the show! Just so u know we r expecting a VERY detailed review!!!!!
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| beyondthebarricade |
*Gladly accepts milk but throws cookies away*
Actually, I think it is quite off-topic and I'm sorry about that. But you know, all this "This isn't the right thread you get the hell outta here" thing has made it even more... off. Okay we should really stop deviating further and further. So... yes. Detailed review please!
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