Archive for Musicals.Net Musicals.Net |
| eponine5 |
London Cast ChangeI'm surprised this hasn't been mentioned yet here, but the last performance of the current cast is this Saturday the 20th This has been my favourite cast since the 2005-2006 one and it'll be so sad to see them go. I'll post here about anything they do in their last matinee (a few members of the cast sounded pretty excited when I spoke to them about it a while ago). Is anyone else seeing any of their last performances?
Having said that, sooo many of them are staying on next year, here's the new cast: Leaving: Allyson Brown (thank you!) Jon Robyns Jackie Marks Jimmy Johnston Leanne Dobinson
Lucinda Collins Emma Dukes Matthew Gent Lorraine Graham Keith Anthony Higham Gareth Nash Alastair James Taylor Tabitha Webb Richard Woodford Staying: David Shannon - Jean Valjean (until October 2009, will not perform on Mondays) Earl Carpenter - Javert (until 31st October 2009) 
Nancy Sullivan - Eponine David Thaxton - Enjolras
Rebecca Seale - takes over as Fantine (she was very good when I saw her, although not particularly exceptional. Hopefully she'll have improved through rehearsals) Greg Castiglioni Killian Donnelly Mark Dugdale - 1st cover Enjolras Katy Hanna - Swing/1st cover Factory Girl Mark Hedges Gavin James Sophie Josslyn - Factory Girl/2nd cover Fantine/2nd cover Mme Th�nardier Brenda Moore - Swing George Miller Helen Owen - 1st cover Eponine/2nd cover Cosette Simon Shorten - 2nd cover Jean Valjean Jonathan Williams - 1st cover Jean Valjean Joining: Alistair Brammer - Marius Katie Hall - Cosette Rachel Bingham - Crone/1st cover Mme Th�nardier Chloe Brooks - Ensemble Amanda-Jane Callaghan - 1st cover Cosette (love her! Shame she's not covering Eponine again  )
Natalie Day - 1st cover Fantine Joe Evans - 2nd cover Marius Daniella Gibb - 2nd cover Eponine Antony Hansen - Feuilly/1st cover Marius Jeff Nicholson - Factory Foreman/Brujon/1st cover Javert So happy to see him back! I'm praying he'll take over as Javert in October!
No idea who Madame T will be... |
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| Catherine |
Re: London Cast ChangeYay!!! Earl and George are staying!! Might try and persuade mum to let me go as a birthday present... |
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| Orestes Fasting |
Yay, Thaxton's staying!
Les Mis is going to be my excuse to go see half of Europe, isn't it. "Well there's a production in Copenhagen--and one in Lausanne--and Thaxton's staying in London so I have to see that--" And the other half will probably be covered by me finally getting to see my favorite bands play live. Not that I need an excuse to see half of Europe, but man, for all I really want to get to Paris for my year abroad, I probably won't be spending many weekends there. |
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| Eppie-Sue |
 excellent reasoning. You have yet to see Thaxton, then?! Oh, enjoy (Enjoyras.  )
I remember the endorphins that spread through my body when he told me he was going to stay on. Would have been a pity. But, but, but... Jackie Marks and Jimmy Johnston are leaving - no! They were brilliant as Th�nardiers. That's sad. And it looks like the former understudies are going to take over the roles? Let's see how they do.
Not so sad about Allison Brown and Jon Robyns leaving, hopefully the new Marius won't be totally "outsung" by Thaxton. Leanne Dobinson was okay, I thought, so I'm not that sad about her leaving. And about Shannon and Carpenter only staying until October - wow. After that, only Sullivan and Thaxton of this season's main cast will be on... Hopefully, Jonathan Williams will take over Valjean, he was great when I saw him last week! Random side comment: What about John Jo Flynn?! I loved his Montparnasse and there's no mention of him anywhere... hm As for "Is anyone else seeing any of their last performances?" I saw the performances on 10th, 11th and 13th June, so I guess I have seen some of the last, and overall it's kind of sad to see so many of the cast leaving, because they worked so amazingly well together. 
But make sure to tell us everything about the last matinee! |
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| Orestes Fasting |
Oh, I've been hearing about Thaxton since he was Shaun Escoffery's understudy.  I've seen videos and read what other fans had to say and he sounds awesome, but Shaun was on the one time I actually got to see the show in London. I didn't think I'd ever get to see Thaxton live.
Stupid Atlantic Ocean, being so wide and expensive to cross. *shakes fist* |
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| MlleTholomy�s |
Ye Gods. Jon Robyns. Eww eww eww no. | ||||||||
| Madeleine |
I'll be at the last matinee too. I'm half dreading it, because I love this cast so much. I'm particularly sad to lose Jon Robyns (the only Marius who hasn't seriously irritated me) and Richard Woodford.
At least David Thaxton, Nancy Sullivan and George Miller are staying!
He seems to be leaving although he won't give anybody a straight answer. It will be such a shame when he leaves, he is the perfect Montparnasse, so...lurky. I love how he lurks at the side of the stage while Eponine is flirting with Marius, fingering his knife while glaring at Marius. And he is so pretty.  [/Montparnasse fangirling]
I'm very curious to know who the new Mme Thenardier is, I can't believe we don't know yet, with less than a week to go. I do wish Jackie and Jimmy were staying though. We don't seem to have a Grantaire yet either. He is one of my favourite characters. I just hope whoever it is manages to match Woodford's great chemistry with Thaxton. |
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| Eppie-Sue |
 join the club - I just posted almost the exact same sentences in the Dead Horse thread!
true, true... although I don't think there's any actor who won't have chemistry with Thaxton . But naaah, you're right, the current E!/R was made of win. Besides, Woodford was an amazing Javert understudy! So, no R yet... and the former Grantaire understudy, Keith Anthony Higham, is leaving too... 
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| Madeleine |
Well I'm glad I'm not the only one.
They're just so brilliant together. The looks they exchange...especially after Marius is shot when they grasp hands before David climbs up the barricade to wave his big red flag. Last time I saw it they walked upstage with their arms around each other during DYHTPS which was adorable, and actually set me off crying for some reason.
George Miller is currently second cover Grantaire. I saw him play the role at Christmas and he was excellent. I suppose theres a possiblilty that he could be the next Grantaire seeing as he is staying. I would miss his hilarious drunk in MOTH very much though! |
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| Eppie-Sue |
there is no way those guys don't google the characters' names and find the numerous fanfiction online. No freaking way.
Normally, I'm kind of... irked by too close E!/R before "Drink with me", but they manage to pull it off, Stare Of Death, toad looking up to eagle and all. Oh - and forehead touching! ... getting nostalgic here. But I'm sure the new Grantaire (2nd u/s or not) will get an introduction to what I understand to be DT's Way Of Enjolraic Character Interaction. |
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| music is my life!!! |
I lurrrrrrved Earl Carpenter as Javert when he was on the Elaine Paige show!
I'm glad Nancy's staying. She's got a great Eppy-quality about her that i think works 
even though i'm not a fan of the "squeaky" Eponines... I shall be madame t!!!!!
at least, for one week in november.... 
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| flying_pigs |
I'm sooooo happy Thaxton's staying seriously best thing EVER! His "earth is free" is worth the ticket price alone!
I'm a bit apprenhensive for Allistair Brammer as Marius, he was a Joseph understudy in the tour and tbh I'm not too fond of his voice. Anywho, this has also been my fav cast since 2005-06 so will be sad to see them leaving! Oh, apparently MARTIN Ball will be Th�nardier and I'm so glad Jeff's coming back, Javert from october mehopes! |
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| Eppie-Sue |
ITA. It's really strange, but she does. And I loved it when she told me that she had thought about knocking some of her teeth out to get a better feeling for the role (and she has read the books, too. thank youuu) . I was like: That's my girl.
Don't like Earl Carpenter's Javert that much, though, his voice can't carry the higher tones, so I didn't think he was that impressive. It will be interesting to see who replaces him in November...
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| Madeleine |
I love his Final Battle! He doesn't always do his spectacular 'until the earth is free' unfortunately. When I was there last month his sang it normally, which was a shame. I guess he was rehearsing with the new cast at the same time and feeling a bit tired vocally. He still did that amazing leap from the top of the barricade when Marius was shot though.
Hopefully he will go all out on Saturday. I'm more apprenhensive about Katie Hall as Cosette. As Christine understudy in Phantom she was terrible actress. I really think Cosette needs a great actress to stop her being bland. From what I've seen Katie is not up to that, but we'll see. I shouldn't judge until I see her should I?
I've yet to see Dugdale's Enjolras. How is he? I saw John Jo Flynn (second cover Enjolras and legendary Montparnasse!) in the role last year though, which made me very happy.
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| Eppie-Sue |
Oh God, how could I forget about that?! I remember sitting in quite in the front of the Stalls and I swear it looked like the barricade was 10 metres high and he was going to jump right into the orchestra pit in front of me (which would have been painful but utterly hilarious).
now that does indeed sound like a match made in heaven. I agree, we should't judge them until we see them, but I can just see Katie Hall being outacted by Nancy Sullivan and Allistair Brammer being outsung by David Thaxton.
this is what I wrote about him in my theatremonkey review: "Mark Dugdale, who normally performs as Courfeyrac, did a good job with this vocally and physically quite challenging role, and still... having seen Thaxton twice made me really miss the power and charisma he brings to the stage. Then again, the fact that I found myself missing David Thaxton is in no way a criticism of Dugdale, who was still one of the strongest singers on stage that night, but just another testament to Thaxton's outstanding performance on the other nights - he elevates the material he is given." Hie was fine (although I have a few problems with the way he delivers the lines, a bit too staccato for my taste) and all, but I wouldn't have followed him onto the barricades. |
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| Madeleine |
It always looks so dangerous, like hes going to break his neck! I seem to remember his legs flailing around in mid air as he was doing it too. Every single time I go I can never quite believe he did it! The effort he puts into that scene (and indeed, the whole show) is outstanding.
He sounds decent. I wouldn't like to understudy David Thaxton...its a tough act to follow. I love his Courfeyrac though. He always looks so upset after 'General Lamarque is dead' and his 'Shoot the bastard!' when Javert is revealed in Act Two is one of the highlights of the show for me.
(Can you tell I've seen the show way too many times this year?)
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| Eppie-Sue |
...
I can't remember if Mark Dugdale did it, too, but I think he chose not to.
... and true. His Courfeyrac is great! You know - he is alright, I don't think anybody who hasn't seen Thaxton - and especially anybody who doesn't have a clear-cut image of what Enjolras is supposed to act like, which is 90% of the audience I believe - would be upset with his performance. It's just me... I always wonder if it's a bit strange for the rest of the actors when an understudy (not an "every Monday"-u/s, but the understudy of someone who is rarely absent) replaces an actor who is so comfortable and quite obviously amazingly well-cast with a role... (even weirder: What if the understudy is better than the regular actor? )
Oh and as for obsessive!Mizzie - I have seen the show three times in four days when I was in London. What do you think will happend when I actually move there in September? I'm going to out-Miz you all!
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| flying_pigs |
I saw Mark in January (along with Matthew as Marius) and I hate to say it but I kept thinking how Thaxton wasn't there, that's so mean of me!
But Mark was good but after seeing David 3 times I'm just a little biased! I'm going for my 12th time in July, fun times! ETA: Ahhh man Thaxton doesn't do the amazing Final Battle thing everytime?! Guess I'm just lucky! Listening to it just makes my day! |
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| Madeleine |
I'm going to be thinking about the legs all evening now.
I wish I could remember more about John Jo Flynn when he played it. I just remember him being good, but not tall enough.
Oh I can think of a few of those! Jonathan Williams, Rebecca Seale, Tabitha Webb, to name a few...
I'm a 2 hour train journey away at the moment but in September I'm moving to a town 25 minutes out of London. I think I'll be living on baked beans and seeing the show every weekend. I have my priorities right.
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| Eppie-Sue |
Count me in. I'm not even kidding, which is kinda pathetic. The one guy at the entrace already recognizes me and I've spent hours sitting in the small churchyard/park next to the Stage Door, very comfortable if the sprinklers aren't on and quite interesting when I was there last Saturday during the matinee interval and the actors went outside in their costumes to get a bit of fresh air. We should definitely meet up one day and wear matching t-shirts saying "We live on baked beans just to see The Legs during The Jump" or something.
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| Madeleine |
One of the door guys recognised me last time while he was searching my bag, it gets a bit worrying! (they really hate me because my bags huge and takes them longer to feel!) I've wandered into that churchyard a couple of times but never sat in it. I might do that if I have time to kill on Saturday. I tend to hang around the theatre instead and look at the pretty cast pictures outside.
Were you watching the matinee last Saturday? I wouldn't have thought it was worth leaving the theatre! I never even leave my seat, just sit and discuss Act One in detail. Haha, that would be a brilliant t-shirt! A picture of David Thaxton mid-leap with The Legs would make it perfect! That would be so much fun.
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| Eppie-Sue |
nope. I was watching the evening performance, but I honestly didn't have anything better to do on Saturday than to hang out there from 3.30 to 6.45 pm (when the doors for the soiree opened). It gets worrying... I spent hours wandering Shaftesbury Ave/Rupert St/Brewer St/Wardour St, sitting in St. Anne's churchyard listening to TAC and CSC on my iPod, grabbing a bite at Pret, reading the marquee text again and again, looking at the "pretty cast pictures", doodling character costumes in my notebook, staring at the Stage Door to see if I recognized anyone (and noticing that everyone seemed to be performing that day except for - you guessed it - David Thaxton. Random comment in my notebook (I quote): "WTF NO!") because I'm just the same - I never leave my seat during the interval... if I have nice people sitting next to me (which was the case at the first two performances) I just blabber about the epicness and how this show is made of so much win and how amazing the cast is and I believe I said "Enjolras" and "perfect" about 10 times in one minute. At the Saturday performance I was simply staring at the safety curtain, wondering if Mark Dugdale was going to do The Jump
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| flying_pigs |
Ahhhh! The bottom part scares me!
http://www.uktickets.co.uk/news/289 But I'm pretty sure that won't happen! Anyone going next monday? |
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| Eppie-Sue |
... um, no way. But seriously - no way, they've been rehearsing for a month now. I suppose the understudy is going to take over, maybe they just don't officially announce it. And I hope someone's going on Monday or at least anytime soon, can't wait to hear how the new cast members are and if the chemistry on stage has changed. |
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| Madeleine |
Quite rightly, he is so perfect. I'm still over the moon that he is staying.
I really am going to start giggling when he does The Jump on Saturday
Totally your fault Eppie-Sue
I'm sure it won't happen. She can barely handle the Britain's Got Talent tour, let alone a West End role. It does scare me too though. After some of their horrible recent casting decisions I wouldn't put it past them.
I can't believe they still haven't announced a Mme T! Its really bugging me now...and the Susan Boyle rumours really aren't helping. 
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| MlleTholomy�s |
Well, she has the vulgarity down . . . | ||||||||
| Eppie-Sue |
... and now for something completely different to cheer everybody up:
I just realized how glad I am that Nancy Sullivan is staying, too. Besides being quite a good Eponine, she and David Thaxton seem to get along so well: At the first performance I saw, at the end of curtain call, he snatched her cap and you know, she's so tiny and he's one of the tallest cast members, so there was no chance in hell she'd be able to get it back on her own (no pun intended)...
And on the second night he threw her over his shoulder and carried her out, and for a moment I regretted I don't ship Eponine/Enjolras at all, because it was just too cute. - this daily dose of fangirling has been brought to you by Vest, Jump and Legs Inc. |
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| flying_pigs |
When I saw them, they were hugging eachother during At the End of the Day when they were playing factory workers, SO CUTE! | ||||||||
| lesmisloony |
...the first time I read that post I missed that these were curtain call antics and thought they were happening in the show. I was just staring at my screen in horror for a moment... |
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| Eppie-Sue |
Oh maaaan, I'm sorry! Oh God, the horror! I don't even dare picturing it!
and there was snuggling involved.
EDIT: Just stating that ENVY doesn't even begin to describe what I'm feeling toward Madeleine. Love that you get to see the last "Old London Cast" matinee today... or, basically, the show at all. In 3,5 hours. Have fun, girl! Legs, Jump, etc.
EDIT II: buuuump! What was the matinee like?! I gotta know, I gotta know. Pretty please!
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| eponine5 |
Okay, I�m back from the last matinee performance, and it was absolutely amazing! Definitely one of the best, if not the best, performances of les Mis (or of anything) that I�ve seen, and I�m talking in terms of acting, singing, and general emotion, never mind all the muck ups they did. There were so many! More than I�ve seen any of the other casts do!
I do (did� ) love this cast, and maybe that explains why I was weeping so much. All. The. Way. Through. As in, the show started: �look down, look down�� *me weeps*
I�m really glad that both Earl Carpenter and David Shannon are staying, they�re performances were generally amazing today, although they didn�t muck around at all. The first muck up did come in the prologue however; you know in the inn scene, where the innkeeper�s wife sings �my rooms are full, and I�ve no supper to spare��? She sung that line in a totally obvious French accent which was hilarious, especially when her husband went on in cockney. Later on, when Valjean is arrested and the Bishop pardons him, the entire ensemble filled that silence after �that is right� with a melodramatic gasp. I haven�t heard that since the 2006 cast change. Let me just say that David Shannon has improved his performance so much since he began. I really wasn�t keen on him at first, but in May I decided he was very good, and today he was amazing! �At the End of the Day� was fantastic, even though I spent the entire song laughing because Leanne Dobinson was doing her bit with the ensemble with half of her teeth blacked out! Hmmm. Allyson Brown didn�t play any tricks during her performance, but that doesn�t mean she didn�t stun me � I loved her performance! I don�t know if she�d been holding back the entire year or what, but she sang �I Dreamed a Dream� beautifully, and was more emotional than I�d ever seen her! �Lovely Ladies� was as over the top as most cast change performances are of that song, and I noticed that the pimp was standing on a chair in the nest of ladies the entire song doing weird wavy/conducting movements with his arms. Leanne still had her teeth blacked out as well, and it was amusing to watch the ensemble guys who are usually blocked to take her off to the wings during the song back away from her as she smiled at them.
�Fantine�s Arrest� was great, with Fantine spitting more than ever at Valjean and me weeping the entire way through. All the next few songs following this were wonderful (even Runaway Cart � did I mention I�ll miss this cast?) although they were all played 'straight'. I�ve never seen Fantine so ill during �Come To Me�, and some of the lines were cut off by coughing. Even more than usual, I melted when Little Cosette appeared; she really was the logo Cosette made flesh, never mind that she really couldn�t sing� �Master of the House� is always chaos, and even more so on cast change matinees. The understudy Thenardier, Greg Castiglioni, was on, but I actually think I preferred him to Jimmy Johnston; he was creepier and more Thenardier-like somehow� As usual though, Jackie Marks made a great effort to take over the song, talking over Thenardier�s verses and moving to normal time when everyone else is in slow motion (good for her) but I�ve forgiven her because this was her second last performance� was it? How can we still not know who the new Madame T is?! She was really molesting all the male members of her cast during this, and I also noticed quite a little hilarious mini scene going on during the song, between 3 of the male members of the ensemble: They all gathered round the table at the front, one of them put his top hat on the table, another mimed throwing up into it, the third started stirring the contents with a spoon, and then as the turntable was spinning them away at the end of the song he mimed/tried feeding it to another of the cast members� Really, I don�t know what to make of that
�Waltz of Treachery� was hilarious as always, and at one point Thenardier pushed his Madame between him and Valjean, as if as a shield. I forgot to mention before that he also had very very fake wrinkles drawn onto his face. As in, the black lines that a six year old might draw with a black felt-tip pen to try to look old. I realise that all I�m doing in this review is gush, but �Look Down� was amazing! One of the ensemble members had drawn bright red spots all over their face and another was stumbling about blindfolded. Montparnasse was up to his usual Montparnasse-like antics, only more so (for the record, he said at the stage door that he�s read the book, �catlike� was his description of the character. I told him that he was exactly like book-Montaparnasse and that he had many fans, he seemed pleased and surprised). I loved �The Robbery�. Someone mentioned on another thread that Eponine should have a black eye. Well Nancy Sullivan did, and Thenardier threw her about a little at the start of the scene, so it was quite obvious she was abused by him (to those who were looking I guess). Nancy Sullivan really has perfected her Eponine; before I was slightly disappointed that she was staying as I felt I was ready to see a new person in the role, but I completely take that back now, as she is so much like book Eponine! She managed to seem half crazed and infatuated with Marius in a bitter, confused and street-rat way. Also, when she was crying �It�s Javeeeeeeert!�, Madame Thenardier cried out also and ran about like a headless chicken until she crashed into Thenardier and then fell to the ground with him. The other muck up during the Robbery has to be my favourite of the whole performance, even though I should probably be appalled. I said before that Leanne Dobinson had blackened out most of her teeth for her ensemble parts in �At The End of the Day� and �Lovely Ladies�� well when Cosette came on all beautiful and ready for a cute little conjunction with Marius, she was still very much toothless! It was most noticeable when Javert was standing centre-stage and she was making googly eyes with Marius, and she smiled at him� I could have died laughing. �Stars� was amazing, as was �Eponine�s Errand� and �Red and Black�. During the latter number, I swear that David Thaxton was even more mindblowingly fantastic than normal, maybe it was just because the understudy was on the last time I saw the show. One thing in �Red and Black� was that, when Grantaire was making his agog and aghast speech, he pronounced the �Juan� in Don Juan in a Spanish accent, like �Chuan� (as in Chanukah). �Do You Hear the People Sing� was also great, and thankfully Cosette�s teeth were back to normal during �In My Life�. I don�t think I�d have forgiven Leanne if they hadn�t been. But a couple months ago at the stage door she�d been telling me how she kept trying to liven up Cosette�s character and that she�d been told to �reign it in�, well it seemed like this time she just went all out and this was the most animated Cosette performance that I�ve seen. Adorable, and her voice was beautiful as always. I think she was singing out more that normal, as I really couldn�t hear Marius� part over hers during the last note of �A Heart Full of Love�. This cast seemed to like accents, as the first line of �Attack on Rue Plumet� was done in a way overthetop French accent, and Montparnasse was prancing around more than ever, holding his knife right up to Eponine�s neck near the end of it (*squee*). Nancy Sullivan also growled her way through one or two of her lines in this scene, acting tougher than ever even as she was being thrown about by Thenardier. Additionally, after her scream, Claquesous ran across the stage with a very melodramatic �aaaahhh� (a little out of character but never mind). �One Day More� was especially emotional, with a couple long kisses between ensemble members during Enjolras� lines. There were fewer odd things done during the Second Act, which is probably a good thing now that I think about it. The ensemble member (can�t remember which character sings it) who sang �now the people will fight!� put up the last two words a few notes for no apparent reason but maybe to make it more dramatic in a way that didn�t honestly work. �On My Own� was the best I�ve seen from Nancy, I didn�t sense any trace of a teenager moaning about an unrequited crush there. �A Little Fall of Rain� was also possibly the most believable death I�ve ever seen, she looked ready to die then and there when she just got over the barricades, and I actually believed that she couldn�t stand any more. Something which Jon Robyns did afterwards that made me want to squee and groan at the same time was that he put Eponine�s hat on after her death, and kept in on throughout the whole rest of the barricades. All the barricade scenes were fantastic, although the Enjolras/Grantaire action wasn�t quite as active as I�d have liked. Oh well, can�t always have it perfect. It did amuse me though, that when Marius volunteered to co fetch ammunition, he and Enjolras engaged in a sort of wrestle� basically David Thaxton almost knocked Marius to the ground twice in his attempt to stop him going over the top, and appeared to be in the process of trying to strangle him until they realised where Gavroche was. For the record, no-one laughed at Gavroche�s death. Throughout the different fights, I did notice how coordinated the ensemble was, all falling back or off the barricades during one particularly loud explosion and all crying �Yes!� after the �They�re retreating!� after the First battle. The Last Battle saw David Thaxton jump from almost the top of the barricades, and hug Grantaire, all after doing the best �until the earth IS FREEEE!!!� I�ve ever heard. He was on fire through the whole show. I really liked Greg Castiglioni�s �Dog Eats Dog�! It wasn�t quite as creepy as some I�ve seen, but still very sinister, and he ended the song amazingly, singing a long and loud �the harvest moon shines doooowwn� before suddenly cutting it off, which left a terrifying moment of silence before the orchestra began the next bit of music, if that makes any sense at all. �Javert�s Suicide� also got a well deserved round of applause afterwards � a sign of a good performance. �Empty Chairs� was generally better than other performances I�ve seen Jon Robyns give, except� he changed the notes near the end! I know there are stories of lyrics being changed by members of other casts, but somehow changing notes seems more blasphemous! And during the last big emotional ballad, I was definitely not expecting any changes. He took the words �my friends don�t ask me� in the last verse up a note or two, and then reversed the notes in the last two words �no more�. It worked, but not as well as the original song� at least at the stage door I think Jon Robyns seemed aware that it wasn�t quite what the song needed� I made sure that �Every Day� received a nice clap at the end, and �Beggars at the Feast� was fun, although not too OTT. Madame T sort of fell over backwards in a bigger way than how she normally does it when she first came on with Thenardier and random ensemble members were whooping their way through it. The Epilogue was beautiful and emotional. How it should be. And it goes without saying that the whole audience gave the cast a standing ovation at the end (apart from three or four people all next to each other but we don�t need to remember them). The cast performed their hearts out, while making a number of hilarious additions to the show, and wow I�m going to miss them. |
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| Madeleine |
Thank you so much for that eponine5! I just got back from the matinee and relived the whole thing by reading that.
What a wonderful show it was! David Thaxton was indeed on fire. Eppie-Sue, The Legs during The Jump were great, but he didn't seem to jump as far as usual.
I'd been trying to work out what accent John Jo Flynn had been using as Montparnasse today- it sounded like Italian to me. Whatever it was it was brilliant. I managed to catch him afterwards too, which made me very happy, what a nice guy he is! He also signed my brochure on the page with that great picture of him lurking with his knife.
One of the highlights of the show today for me, was the sight of John Jo holding his knife in his teeth while climbing up to the top of the set (Paris scene). The gasp in the Prologue was hilarious. I noticed a few of the ensemble lose it at that point and start giggling. Apparantly David Shannon also laughed, although I didn't see that. How did I not notice that Leanne's teeth were blacked out?! I was in row BB!
This has become one of my favourite parts of the show. John Jo's face is priceless when George throws up in his hat...and then starts stirring it with a wooden spoon Killian Donnelly added the contents of his plate to the hat today before George stirred it, which I've never seen happen before.
The sight of Jon Robyns wearing an Eponine hat will stay with me forever
The fight over whether Marius should go for ammunition or not did get very fierce. I thought David was actually going to shove Jon into the audience and on to my knee at one point. I actually liked what Jon did with Empty Chairs. Also, was it my imagination or did all the students draw on fake moustaches for that part? Richard Woodford was on top form as Grantaire and Factory Foreman. His 'Don Juan' was fantastic. I'll miss him in particular.
I don't think the people behind me stood up which made me feel a bit guilty for standing...but I wasn't going to not stand after the amazing performance they gave this afternoon. I'll miss this cast so much, they're the best I've ever seen. I really hope this evenings show went well for them and best of luck to all those who are leaving. I look forward to seeing the new cast when I go in August. (although they STILL haven't announced a Mme Thenardier!) |
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| tashmercer |
Oh bless! I am so sad that I missed seeing that! In one performance I saw it looked like Jon was going to put her hat on, so I am really glad he did it for the matinee. So sweet and heartbreaking! Thanks for such a detailed review
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| lesmisloony |
All I can think is that �ponine almost certainly had lice. Probably fleas, too. | ||||||||
| Eppie-Sue |
First off: That would be awesome if it literally happened. You know, like: "Um, guys, the one playing Enjolras is on fire!" -"Yeah, that's alright, that's David Thaxton." "Ah, okay then..." Bless him, though. And I hope the next Marius is about the same height and weight as Jon Robyns, if not I can assure you he will be shoved into the audience. It does get intense, I remember that, too. Everything they did for the last performances sounds so awesome... the hat, the accents, the gasp, etc. - but of course the most brilliant picture in my head right now is this:
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| eponine5 |
I actually didn't notice the moustaches during 'Empty Chairs'! I was probably busy going when Jon Robyns changed the notes in the song.
I thought I might have been imagining Leanne's teeth during the Robbery too, and even now I still can't believe she did that to poor Cosette. But I asked at the stage door and she confirmed it - apparently the rest of the cast didn't believe she would go through with it until she was actually onstage
Ahh Madeleine - so you were the reason why I had to pay twice as much for my seat 
And I only just noticed how long the review is... sorry about that. |
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| Madeleine |
I think they were very subtle. I doubt anyone who wasn't in the first couple of rows would have spotted them. Well, they were all subtle except for the one Gavin James was wearng whenever he was playing Combeferre, that was a proper one. I don't think he usually wears one doe he? Am I right in thinking that he was wearing a silly wig as the Paris Pimp as well?
Haha, sorry! I booked them back in January, and guessed/hoped that 20th June was, in fact, cast change day.
I really wish I could have seen the evening show too, I hear it was horribly emotional.
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| tashmercer |
Personally, Im glad it was so long. Since I couldnt go, it was the next best thing. I could have read an even longer one
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| Eppie-Sue |
Where did you hear about the evening show? And what did you hear?!
Thank you both so much for the reviews - what was it like at the Stage Door? Did you talk to many of them? ... basically, I want to know everything. I just re-read both reviews and I wish I could've been there, it sounds hysterical and amazing and mind-blowing. And I still can't believe so many of them are leaving ...
Does anyone know anybody who's going next week (with the new cast)? Can't wait to hear about them... |
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| Madeleine |
I know somebody was there, and is also going to see the new cast tomorrow night. She only has internet access through her phone at the moment so I only have brief details. Cast and audience were both crying a lot, Nancy Sullivan was particularly bad for crying, and Jon Robyns got very, very upset after she died in ALFOR. Also, there weren't any speeches afterwards which I find very odd, they just left the stage as normal! I heard Earl made a speech after Drew's last show, so why wasn't there one when half the cast were going?! Stage door after the matinee was busier than usual, but Les Mis fans tend to be civilised so it wasn't a problem. It was certainly nothing compared to the what I've seen at the Wicked/Hairspray/Spring Awakening stage doors.
A lot of them were milling about at the same time so I made my favourites who are leaving a priority. I managed to catch Jon Robyns briefly, and he was very nice (a lot of people were wanting to talk to him, as you can imagine). I chatted to Richard Woodford and John Jo Flynn for a bit too. They were both lovely! John Jo told me that he has only been on for Enjolras two and a half times, which makes me feel even luckier to have seen him. I asked him if he had anything lined up yet, and he said he was going on the dole, which is such a shame. I hope he gets something soon. I just can't imagine anybody being as good as him at playing Montparnasse. Richard Woodford is so sweet and seemed very sad to be leaving.
I hope he gets to come back one day and play Javert full time, as he would really like to do that. I can't wait to hear details of the new cast either.
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| Catherine |
Just a stab in the dark here, but I think it'd be hard for one guy to make a speech when so many cast members were leaving, I think it'd be way too general. Did they have a speech when basically everyone BUT Drew was leaving? But yeah, basically I think that's what it was. Coz if David and Earl leave together (just them) they'll probably have a speech. |
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| Madeleine |
I suppose thats true. I'm not sure about last year, I wasn't there.
Although they did it for the Wicked cast change last month. Dianne Pilkington went through a long list of people who were leaving and they all got a cheer. It did take a while though, so I can see why they would choose not to.
It just seemed a shame to let so many wonderful go without a bit of a fuss.
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| Eppie-Sue |
They better do a speech when David Thaxton is leaving. ... some day far-off in the future... [/fangirl mode]
... Tell your last performance/first performance friend that she's a lucky bastard - and that she's my new favourite person for letting us know about the last evening performance and the show on Monday. And the more details the better (of course). I hope she doesn't mind writing a review for us, too...?! Pretty please!
A half?! Man, they must have been particularly unlucky that day, having to have the second understudy take over for the first understudy in the interval... btw - what do they do if the second is ill, too? Do they cancel the show?! Great that you told him about the love he's been getting for Montparnasse - it must be so great for an actor to hear that even the hardcore fans like us like it and can actually see and appreciate the effort they are putting into the roles, because - let's face it: no one of the "normal" theatregoers are going to notice how amazing Montparnasse is... Actually, I wanted to talk to him too the last time I was at the Stage Door, but I had already chatted to Nancy Sullivan (that's when she told me she had thought about knocking a few of her teeth out to feel a bit more like Eponine) and to David Thaxton (Me: "omfgYOUWEREBRILLIANTeverybodylovesyouhaveyoureadTHEBOOKooohyouhave I LOVE YOU" Him: "  Thanks... I guess.") - so I kind of missed him... and that was before I knew he was leaving. Which is a SHAME.
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| Madeleine |
I'll try and extract as many details as possible! I'll certainly write a review when I next go but thats not until 5th August. (half of my reviews are fangirl rambling though, I must admit...)
I seem to remember something similar happening a couple of years ago. Principal Marius, Jon Lee if I remember correctly, was ill/away, along with both of the covers. I think a swing went on, who had covered the role in the past.
Oh I did something similar and gushed at him a bit. He laughed and said thanks. He is distractingly pretty too of course, which doesn't help and I tend to lose the ability to speak words around him.
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| Eppie-Sue |
Oh, he is. And I suddenly lost all my ability to speak proper English. In my defence: It was the first time I ever talked to an actor at the Stage Door. Ever. At the risk of turning this into a David Thaxton-thread (again ) - it went like this (can you tell I'm still excited, after 10 days?!)...
I was the only one who actually went to the Stage Door, so I was only surrounded by performers and felt like such a fangirl. Which I am, but that's beside the point. And everybody came out and I was still waiting and ignoring them and I swear they were all like: " Ha, wonder who SHE'S waiting for... and it's not Jon Robyns... " heh.
ahem. And then he appeared and I swear I had to stomp on my own foot to make me step forward and address him. I am such a wuss and I wasn't even sure it was him (I mean, he wasn't wearing The Vest after all ). So it went like this...
Me: "David Thaxton, right?" Him: "Yeah." Me: "Hmpfgazlurk[unintelligible nonsense]...youweregreat!" Him: "Ah, thank you!" Me: "Um, have you actually read the book? Because that would be THE BEST THING EVAAAH!" Him: "Yes! Yes, as a matter of fact I'm just re-reading them because we're rehearsing." Me: "OMG you're talking to me. Because, you know, I could definitely see some more of book!Enjolras and I loved that. And I love you. Let me take you home and sing for me." Him: "Really? Oh, man, yeah, I'm trying, but that's so great to hear, that really means a lot. Alright then, bye!" Me: "Marry me!" And he disappeared. *da-da-daaammm* I saw him once... then he was gone... we were like dreamers at night... who meet as in a trance, then part again... aaaahem. Back to topic. (He's a sweetheart, though. I mean, having read the books he should be prepared for Enjolras!fangirls.) Fangirl ramblings are just as fine as reviews. Even better, actually. ... quod erat demonstrandum EDIT: ah, just a note I feel I had to add after re-reading this ... madness. I don't take myself seriously, and neither should you.
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| eponine5 |
Just found this!!! I'd been praying all day that one existed!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzRaeQAnV3w The changes start around 2:12!
(I didn't noticed how he handled the note at the time )
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| Eppie-Sue |
THANK YOU THANK YOU! There are so many songs on there from the matinee and once more I regret I wasn't there to see it live... um, yeah, the first change at "my friends - don't ask me!" is not that... great. But I like the ending!
And there's the Bishop, too (with the gasp! and the giggles ) and... yes. The Final Battle. And from the four DT versions I've heard so far, this must be the best. *dies* and another fantastic Red & Black... with Don CccchhuAN!
And the accents Italian Montparnasse! can't ... breathe... and the "aaaaaaah" during the Attack. Oh man... how amazing is this? And she's still uploading...
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| Madeleine |
Eppie-Sue, that post made me laugh so much. I could have written it! Except you got more words out than I did. I just told him that he was the 'best Enjolras ever' and checked he was staying on after cast change. I worked so hard not to say 'I love you!!!!' Next time I'm there I determined to speak to him properly.
Actually, thinking back to yesterday, I may have gushed at Jon Robyns a bit too. Oh dear! I hate being the only one at stage door, I always feel so self conscious. You also have to be more alert because theres nobody else there to stop people.
Its great isn't it? I love what he did with the song, and the emotion he put into it. |
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| pennypingleton1994 |
Sorry if I seem unupdated in the Les Miz world (which I am), but HOLY F**KING ASSCRACKERS I MISSED YOU JON ROBYNS!!!! ASDFGHJKL
Ahem.....sorry 'bout that. He's brilliant is all. |
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| flying_pigs |
I really, really wish I could've been there! I realised this was my fav cast since 2005-06! And now some are gone But can't wait until I see the new cast next month
Oh and yeah once Jon Lee was ill, Rob Archibald (1st u/s) was away and Neil Toon (2nd u/s) was also ill so Christopher Stewart (swing) went on and I heard he was really good! Ahh I wish I could upload the Final Battle from David when I went last July, it was the best I'd heard of his! But it's on my iPod and I have no idea how to get it onto my laptop! |
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| Madeleine |
The best bit about the gasp was the ensemble giggling afterwards...if only there was a video!
The more I think about it the more I think David Thaxton was trying so hard not to laugh after that. When Grantaire gets up on the chair he usually looks up at him in a really stern, angry way. Yesterday he was almost smiling at him and had a bemused expression on his face...I bet he was about to crack up.
Highlight of the entire show, seriously! I just wish he had more lines to sing.
He is so brilliant. He was an amazing Princeton/Rod in Avenue Q as well. I'll really miss him! |
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| Eppie-Sue |
There are some tutorials if you google "upload music ipod harddrive" - there are definitely ways to do it if it's only on your iPod... maybe the tips will help you, I don't really understand all of them, but maybe I'm just too tired. You know, I never really REALLY liked Jon Robyns as Marius, but I'm sure he's such a great guy! Kind of worried about the new Marius, because JR was alright for me, especially because he was a more "manly" Marius, you know?! ... I don't really care for Marius as a character in the musical and if the new actor (I always forget his name!) can't hold his own against David Thaxton (this is not about fangirlying, this is just me trying to be realistic) vocally and physically (which might be difficult for several reasons, Marius's character is so weak in the musical and DT is just so, so strong and comfortable with his role), then I simply won't be able to take him seriously. At all.
It would be like: DT's Enjolras: "FUTURE! BARRICADES! DON'T BE AFRAID! REVOLUTION!" new guy's Marius: "Oh, and btw I'm in love." Audience: "Yeah, we don't care, Marius. Go, play in the sandpit and braid Cosette's hair or something." |
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| Madeleine |
See, I didn't see Jon Robyns as a manly Marius at all. I saw him as a bit pathetic (I mean that in the best possible way) and dreamy. Although he did get very manly in his fight with DT over ammunition. I adored his 'COSETTE!.........I don't know what to say.' I saw a picture of Alistair Brammer and I think he looks perfect...lets just hope he can sing and act!
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| Eppie-Sue |
Everytime someone mentions the fight I get all giddy. heh.
Maybe "manly" was a bit too much, but I was mainly referring to his appearance and his physicality... he was one of the tallest cast members and there's the fight (THE fight. yay, Enjy!) and the moment where he punches Montparnasse in the face during the robbery when Montparnasse is threatening Cosette (is that the way it normally is, though? It's the first time I noticed, but then again, it's been the first time I saw the show since I was nine years old, so )... I don't want a boyish Marius that's just being knocked over (out?! LOL) by DT. Although that would be utterly hilarious and I would most definitely cheer.
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| tashmercer |
Oh I am so glad I got to hear this! I thought overall he sounds great Meanwhile, I actually really liked him as Marius (a character I dont normally like) .......But I do love Jon Robyns quite a bit so I am so biased! |
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| Fantine |
Hahaha Eppie, that made me laugh so much. You're great
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| eponine5 |
I agree Eppie-Sue, I never loved Jon Robyns' Marius that much, but I'm soo glad that this performance has been preserved!
And I know most people have probably listened to this by now, but this has to be my favourite overall recording of Attack on Rue Plumet I've heard! And that's not just because of Montparnasse! The energy level is off the charts! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZXohNpVjaA&feature=channel_page EDIT: And also at 5:54 here was where I knew this performance would be epic! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HeN3fJbZ_4&feature=channel |
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| Eppie-Sue |
Something I just noticed...
OMG! They read the Forums!
... naaaah. Ah, Fantine, glad you're entertained by my inanity may I ask, though, which post you were referring to?!
@eponine5: it must have been so great!
And tonight's the premiere of the new cast. I'm so excited... |
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| Madeleine |
I am so excited to hear how they are! Oh, and londonlesmis.co.uk has been updated with the names of the Thenardiers. The rumours about Martin Ball were true, and Mme Thenardier will be somebody called Lorraine Bruce. |
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| Eppie-Sue |
I'm doing this thing where I'm listening to the show while it's playing in London. Which is more than pathetic. And I'M SO EXCITED! aaaaaaaah!
Did you know the Les Mis ticket sales skyrocketed after the whole Susan Boyle thing? They sold like 43% more than before. blergh. I suppose they all expect IDAD to be like Cats' "Memory" and then it's in the first third and all ... heh. But, you know, at least they get to experience the beauty of the show that way.
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| Fantine |
Sorry, I was referring to your fangirl shoutout on the previous page
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| Eppie-Sue |
One day I'm going to be so embarrassed by my current fangirl behaviour, but I have a feeling that day is far, far off... (one more hour to go! It should be somewhere around "Little People" right now... shoot me now or shoot me later, every schoolboy to his sport! death to each and every traitor, I renounce your people's court! - take this man, bring him through, there is work we have to DO... IT'S VIDEO FOOTAGE TIME! I wish I could've seen Richard Woodford as u/s Javert... hope he'll get the part some day.)
EDIT: one random side comment. Mark Dugdale (Courfeyrac, u/s Enjolras) looks like Milo Ventimiglia in his "Gilmore Girls" days as Jess. I'm not kidding, guys, he DOES!
btw, the "Javert's Arrival/Little People" clip is pure awesomeness. Love how Thaxton just ignores the hand that the guy on the right extends to support him, Dugdale's "SHOOT THE BASTARD" cracks me up evertime, and I was just waiting for the Enjolras/Javert kiss. Admit it, you were, too. |
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| Madeleine |
He was amazing. I'm told he audtioned for full time Javert and was told he wasn't right for it. (why they would have somebody understudying a role they thought they weren't 'right for' is beyond me...) The casting team must be insane. He told me on Saturday he would like to come back and play it full time so fingers crossed! Plus, he is the sweetest guy and totally deserves it.
Dugdale is a legend! His 'SHOOT THE BASTARD' was particularly fierce on Saturday. I also love the section before Drink with Me when he annoys Enjolras by banging his gun too much, leading to Enjolras singing 'COURFEYRAC....you take the watch', he always looks so hurt after he gets yelled at.
I almost stopped him on Saturday afternoon but chickened out for some reason At least I have another year.
(I totally apologise for all the fangirling above but what do you expect when you mention two of my favourite Les Mis people?!) They'll almost be done now. I'm dying to know what they're all like.
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| Eppie-Sue |
Bless him. He's a great Courfeyrac and I like the pre-"Drink With Me" moment, mostly because it further depth to Enjolras's character that he doesn't allow them to actually applaud Javert's death, a nice continuity touch after he stops them from shooting Javert directly after "Little People".
Ahem... have you read my posts recently?! We should be allowed to fangirl as much as we like, especially if it's justified !
Speaking of fangirling: THE SHOW IS OVER! *dies from excitement* Oh, and please, please ask your friend/acquaintance to not only tell us about the new actors but about David Thaxton (and Nancy Sullivan!), too. Pleeeeeeaaaaaase! |
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| Madeleine |
Haha, fair enough! There are certain character/actor names that just set me off on a stream of fangirl nonsense, I really can't help it.
Worryingly, that list of names is increasing all the time.
I'm going insane here! I've been rehearsing all evening but I just can't go to bed until I get news of some kind.
Ooh I wonder if DT has changed anything about his performance now theres a new cast? I so wish I had been there tonight... I'm sure there will be other people who went tonight as well who will post on internet forums soonish. *fingers crossed* |
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| Eppie-Sue |
Well, the people he interacts with the most are Marius and Grantaire and both of them are new cast members (although I'm not so sure about R, all I know is that Richard Woodford and 1st u/s Keith Anthony Higham have left, no idea who was 2nd u/s for Grantaire), so that should be quite interesting. I loved the recent interaction, so I just hope he has simply been all Enjolraic and said: "Listen up, here's the deal, you don't get a say in this and we'll simply keep it just the way it was the past year. Quia nominor leo." or something.
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| Madeleine |
Apparantly new R is a guy called Martin Neely (I'm not sure thats the right spelling). 2nd cover Grantaire was the lovely George Miller. He was great in the role and I'm slightly upset that he wasn't promoted. But at least he didn't leave and I have another year to fangirl his MOTH drunk/Claquesous/Bamatabois.
Although David's Enjolras was perfect before, it would still be interesting to see some new little touches. Oh, roll on 5th August, I can't wait to see this new cast. |
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| Eppie-Sue |
Wasn't/Isn't he also the "queer" during "Beggars At The Feast"?! I love him, so glad he's staying! Maybe DT's Enjolras will become just a bit more book-like now... I mean, he has re-read the brick, so why not...?! Aw, man, I'm so tired, it's 0:10 over here, but I can't go to bed now. |
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| Madeleine |
He is indeed. I love his camp giggle at the end of that scene. He is another one I almost stopped on Saturday but I missed him...ensemble never expect to be stopped so they're very hard to grab. Whereas David Thaxton knows there will be at least 5 girls waiting for him and is prepared to stop. I'm exhausted too, and also hungry. But I'm going to give it a bit longer.
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| Eppie-Sue |
Hearing that is so strange after being the only audience member the one night I went to the stage door ... I guess he half-expected me to get my camera ready for a photo and ask him to sign my brochure or something, that's why he was so puzzled when I asked him about the book. (It all makes sense now! )
Just had another look at the "Who's leaving" list on the first page, and Les Amis have not only gotten a new Grantaire but also a new Joly, Feuilly and Jehan I liked them so much!
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| Madeleine |
Yes, why so many had to go is beyond me. (I'll still be whinging about this years cast change by next years cast change)
Well I have my first piece of news...the new Grantaire is rubbish and nowhere near as good as my beloved Woody. Not happy. 
This does not bode well for good E/R interaction does it? |
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| Eppie-Sue |
sorry, sad smiley overkill. No it does NOT bode well. Next thing they're gonna tell us is that Marius is back to whiny and maudlin. Well, who knows, maybe a bad R will bring out a bit more of "Don't disgrace the barricade! [...] You are incapable of believing, of thinking, of willing, of living, and of dying."-Enjolras?! Here's hoping. |
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| Madeleine |
Don't worry about sad smiley overkill...I'm a bit upset right now.
We've had such an amazing Grantaire for 2 years now and he is one of my favourite characters...it just feels like such a let down.
Why why why did they not promote George Miller?! Hopefully the brilliance of David Thaxton will balance it out a bit. 
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| Eppie-Sue |
How can any kind of R be rubbish next to DT's Enjolras?!
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| Madeleine |
Well actually the word was 'horrendous'
Not sure if that was the show as a whole, or just Grantaire.
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| Eppie-Sue |
I think I'll just go and die right now. You have got to be kidding me. wtf? It can't be the show as a whole... we've still got David Thaxton! and Nancy Sullivan and all... I'll go to bed now, I'm too tired to stand anymore adjectives like "rubbish" and "horrendous". oh man.
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| Fantine |
HAha, I really love you guys. I think you are all blessed because you are talking so fondly of "ensemble" members, even though the students aren't really ensemble members. I mean, you don't really hear that often, it's always about Valjean, Eponine, Fantine, etc. I applaud you. I wish I could see Les Mis more and notice all these tiny details myself, but I'm lucky if I can even tell the students apart I admire you
And I'm sure that their actors really appreciate this too since it must be a lot of hard work to create their minor characters and make them something memorable. Gosh, I hope I managed to express myself! |
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| flying_pigs |
Ok firstly; George Miller's drunk is such a legend! I love watching him in MOTH, he fell off his bench in January and so I burst out laughing! Think I worried a few people near me!
Also, why couldn't they have just given Jeff Nicholson Grantaire?! He was my favourite! Any word on new Marius? I'm slightly worried about him! |
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| tashmercer |
I just have to add this to the DT gushing that's been on this thread..... I have been listening to the TAC today and I personally think David Thaxton is sooooo much better than the TAC Enjolras. Next to DT, the TAC guys (whose name I cant remember and am too lazt to google) sounds like a prancing wimp. Just needed to say that (sorry it's a bit random!) Cant wait to see the new cast in August
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| Madeleine |
Fantine, I feel so lucky to have seen it so many times. I love that after my 3rd or 4th time I stopped taking so much notice of the leads and started watching the minor roles more, and noticing all the little touches they're putting in in the background.
George is so funny when he falls off the bench, and the way asks for a glass of rum at the beginning always makes me laugh for some reason. The way he staggers about the stage, being pushed around, tasting peoples food and drink, and having no idea whats going on around him...Oh I could go on about his awesomeness all day.
I'm worried about most of the new cast now actually! I need more details!
Obviously, I totally agree about DT tashmercer.
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| Orestes Fasting |
Damn, guys, I have four North American regional productions to see in the next month and you're making me not care about them because I want to see Thaxton so bad. Two and a half months until I can get to London...
And... why didn't they make Jeff Nicholson Grantaire? He's still in the ensemble, so it's not like he got promoted out of the role. And everything I've heard about him has been good. |
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| MlleTholomy�s |
Well, duh. The TAC!Enj was Michael Maguire. And, as we all know by now, G.I. EnJOErati are always a bad idea. |
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| lesmisloony |
You guys... there's a pretty big legion of Michael Maguire fans around here, ya know.
*is one of them* |
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| Eppie-Sue |
I mus say... I prefer Maguire's Enjolras over Warlow's any day. So I'm with lesmisloony on that one. (Besides: Maguire hadn't played the role in years when he was chosen to do the TAC performance and I've heard it was quite a last-minute decision because they couldn't get Warlow. And I still really like his OBC Enjolras).
But - and that's a big BUT - after seeing Thaxton two times and listening to all the clips on YouTube it's getting really hard to picture and to listen to anybody else. Thaxton >>>>>> Maguire >> Warlow. speaking of DT and of the show last night, any news about the new cast? I'm dying here. |
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| Orestes Fasting |
Yes, and I'm sure even his fans can't deny that he's pretty much the originator of the GI Joe Enjolras characterization and that it's gotten really, really old.
...and that he, um, wasn't having the best performance of his life at the 10th anniversary concert.
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| Eppie-Sue |
true and true. But you know - like I said in my last post, I still prefer him over Warlow. But Thaxton's not only playing in another league, he's playing another sport. *gush*
I've just found this comment on one of the Final Battle videos on YouTube, it's 4 hours old and it obviously refers to David Thaxton and last night's performance:
which is amazing and we all knew that before, but it's worrying me that this seems to be the user's main impression after seeing the new cast... |
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| Madeleine |
Hmm, it is a little worrying. Although I suppose you could say he was the best performer on the stage with the last cast too. Still no more news, other than the fact that Grantaire is 'a joke' and playing the role very differently.
I'd also really like to know who 2nd cover Enjolras is, now John Jo has left. |
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| Eppie-Sue |
Okay, so I've just gotten a short review from aforementioned YouTube user, if he/she allows me to post it on here then you'll get to hear the first opinion... yay. And let me just say that's it actually quite good, even concerning R, but just like some of us have predicted, another new cast member - also a student - could not quite hold his own... the betting agency is now open.
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| lesmisloony |
Ta. I haven't seen Thaxton, of course (but you guys talking about "DT" as Enjolras is freaking this David Tennant fan out every time) but it really must be taken into account that Maguire was Enjolras a really, really long time ago. Before there were clich�d Enjolras performances and all that. Also, don't forget the Enjolrass... 
Gooood times. |
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| Catherine |
Awww, I love George. He looked slightly bemused when I said "Dude! (yes, I said dude)You're my favourite! Claquesous is the best!" at the stage door. I would quite like to see the new cast, but if I'm going to see Ave Q before it closes, and Blood Brothers and the 25th anniversary tour, I'm not holding out much hope of seeing David and Earl again. =/ |
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| eponine5 |
A really really good reason would be if they were planning on promoting him to Javert once Earl Carpenter has left... *attempts to stop this wishful thinking* Because honestly, what fool would put him in the ensemble and not make him Grantaire? I would have killed to have been able to see him opposite David Thaxton. But then I shouldn't be complaining. I can't believe I was able to see an amazing cast-change matinee and still have nearly all my favourite cast members stay. I can't wait to read a review of the new cast! |
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| Eppie-Sue |
THE REVIEW! Big whooop. Here's a link to this nice and helpful person's channel.
And here's the review (minor alterations, changes and paraphrasing by me): "[overall:] It was very good. Not as good as other casts (mainly the 21st anniversary cast) but still good, the chorus are sounding better than ever and the main soloists from the chorus were very good. [re: new cast members] Fantine (Rebecca Seale) gave a very moving performance. "I dreamed a dream" was great and "Fantine's Death" was heartbreaking. Cosette (18-year old Katie Hall) was very good, beautiful voice, but I think with a bit more experience she'll be right at the top! Th�nardiers were good, got the job done, but as I said before - I've seen better. Grantaire - Martin Neely - very good, very funny. Marius - Alistair Brammer. I don't know whether it was because it is his West End debut and his 1st night or because he's just plain rubbish, but I found his performance to be very poor especially compared to others in the show. He hit all the notes, but was very shaky and there was a sense of lack of control. Needs to work on his acting, too. [re: others] David Shannon = wonderful actor (best actor there), but at times I felt he lacked the voice for Valjean, although some bits were brilliant. David Thaxton was the best male singer on stage and also a brilliant actor, so he got the best performer of the night award from me. Very inspiring performance for me, actually. Nancy Sullivan was excellent - great actor, great singer. Earl Carpenter is a great Javert. Stars was magnificent. Overall very good." Soooo... Cosette + Fantine = win. Marius = fail. ( I know I'm mean but I have to picture him next to DT and all I can see is pwnage.)
What I loved about Woody's R was that he was not going for "very funny", so I'm not sure I'll like Neely. Let's wait and see what others will say ... EDIT: aaaaaaaah. Madeleine, you're going to love this... I asked about The Fight ("I can't let you go it's too much of a chance") and here we go: "It did get quite physical and realistic looking, Thaxton pulled [Brammer] back with great force, and like I said the acting was superb! Very believable!" phiu |
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| Catherine |
It can't have bjust been me who thought for just a split second that Eppie was referring to M'sieur Madeleine... |
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| Eppie-Sue |
Why, I was indeed. To M'sieur Madeleine the, um, inconspicuous lurker of musical.net's Forums whom we all fondly refer to as "Maddy". And who is a big fan of The Fight.
*nods sternly* |
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| flying_pigs |
Jeff Nicholson is playing Grantaire at both shows today Very tempted to go tonight!
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| Fantine |
What? I missed something.... |
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| Madeleine |
Aww bless him! I'm so glad thats still in.
Why do I have to be stuck up north?! If I wasn't I'd be on my way to London right now. I guess that means Jeff is first cover Grantaire then? Thats something at least.
There are some more opinons on this cast in this thread from the WhatsOnStage boards: http://www.whatsonstage.com/board/index.php?showtopic=5686&st=300 |
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| Eppie-Sue |
I totally called this (ah, who didn't!?):
ah, the doltboy! And the whole "Enjolras & Marius = BFFs" thing the musical calls for?! Kill it with fire. so I like this take on the dynamics. and much love over these lines:
As much as I love Thaxton's Enjombeferre (or Combenjolras, as you wish. btw, I explained this in the "Favourite Enjolras" thread), meaner is better. I hope he's meaner to R as well. As in, The Stare. you know... I guess we can't have 22-looking-17-Enjolras (or, well, at 1832, 26-looking-20?) in the musical, so I think young!Marius works quite well. But - and that's a big BUT - he will annoy me to no end. oh, and one for the lolz.
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| Lola-Grace |
I saw the matinee yesterday and thought it was amazing! Jonathan Williams was playing Valjean and he was incredible, the way he played the ageing of the character was brilliant and his voice was perfect. David Shannon must be pretty special if Williams is his understudy?
It was my 18th birthday present and I haven't seen it since I was 9 so I thought it was all pretty spectacular
Didn't like Marius at first, he voice was a bit nasal. But he grew on me (he is very cute with his Michael Ball-esque curls) and his voice seemed to get stronger as the show went on. And I don't think I've ever liked Enjolras so much (mainly because the guy in the tenth anniversary concert is so annoying) but David Thaxton was fantastic! Overall I think it was a very strong cast and there was no real weak link. I've loved Les Mis since I was a wee bairn and this was the first time I've seen it on the West End and I was not disappointed. I now only wish I could afford to go see it more often
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| Madeleine |
Yeah, it seems you were totally right about Alistair, Eppie, as a lot of people think he was outsung by DT.
Glad you had a good time Lola-Grace! Jonathan Williams is indeed excellent. I'm not actually sure who I prefer out of David Shannon and Jonathan, they're both brilliant. Oh I do like curly Marii! Last year's understudy, Matthew Gent, has very curly hair, and looked adorable in the role. I just found this on WOS:
I could cry right now
DT's and Woody's obvious strong bond was one of my favourite things about the last cast.
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