This year marks 40 years since the debut of smash hit musical Les Misérables and to celebrate the production is doing a world tour, which will hit Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane in the month of May.
Running an extremely limited production in the typical anniversary concert format, fans will have to be quick if they wish to see it.
Les Misérables Arena Tour is most likely the most famous musical in the world, and certainly one of the most beloved, following the story of prisoner Jean Valjean as he is paroled from prison, breaks said parole after reforming his life with the help of the kindly Bishop of Digne, and tries to live an altruistic life.
Unfortunately for Valjean, he is hunted by the ruthless, rigid Javert, introduced as a prison guard, he later becomes a police officer and then inspector in Paris, as he attempts to catch the criminal.
The play, which covers a period of approximately 20 years beginning in Toulon, the site of Valjean’s imprisonment and conversion to Catholicism, to Montreuil-sur-Mer, which sees him as a well-meaning factory owner and major, and finally to Paris, where he and his adopted daughter Cosette try to keep a low profile amid a people’s uprising.
Les Misérables, French for “the miserable ones”, is based on a book by Victor Hugo and, even at close to three hours, the musical is a cut-down version of the epic novel.
While the most famous versions of the musical have been around for at least a decade (the 1995 concert experience and the 2012 movie), each one is different and the characterisation of the familiar characters.
This production is much more overtly Catholic than others, as characters (such as Javert and the Thénardiers) who are not usually depicted as being in the faith are explicitly so, and the impact of the bishop is felt keenly throughout.
This production sees Michael Ball and Bradley Jayden alternating in the role of Javert, Alfie Boe and Killian Donnelly alternating as Valjean, depending on the dates.
Other characters include Rachelle Ann Go as Fantine, Beatrice Penny-Touré as Cosette, Nic Yarrow as Marius Pontmercy, Shan Ako as Eponine, and Matt Lucas and Marina Prior as the Thénardiers.
The singing is impeccable, and Ball and Donnelly are standouts as they embody their roles as ruthless pursuer and the doggedly pursued with honed skill.
Both these performers have long histories with the musical as Ball played the role of Marius in 1985 original and the 1995 version, and Donnelly appeared in the film Combeferre, a member of Les Amis de l’ABC, who are the student revolutionaries.
The musical, which comes in at two hours and 50 minutes plus a 15-minute intermission plays the story from beginning to end but there is a catch: it isn’t a musical play but a musical concert. Very little acting is involved, although there is still spectacle and the performances are enrapturing from the overture right to the end.
Those who love Les Misérables will have no problem following the concert version but those who are perhaps seeing it for the first time or have not seen the musical for some time would benefit from a refresher before joining the audience.
It runs until 11 May in Sydney, from 14-25 May in Melbourne, and 28 May-3 June in Brisbane.