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Book/Music: Claude-Michel Schonberg Lyricist: Herbert Kretzmer Dramatist: Alain Boublil Adaptor: Trevor Nunn & John Caird Director: Laurence Connor & James Powell Reviewer: Hannah Badrock The Public Reviews Rating: 25 years not only marks a significant anniversary for one of the most successful long running musicals, ‘Les Miserables’, but reflects the continued magnificence of the show, and this touring production of it does the previous 25 years credit. Based on Victor Hugo’s 17th Century novel, ‘Les Miserables’ follows the physical and (perhaps more significantly) the spiritual journey of Jean Valjean after he is set free from 19 years imprisonment for stealing a loaf of bread. Although free from the physical bonds of jail, Valjean remains a prisoner of his past throughout the story of ‘Les Miserables’ (spanning over 15 years). His story is interwoven with the lives of the ‘miserables’ of France who, like Valjean, strive for love, justice, survival and ultimately salvation. These complex and diverse stories and characters are all set against the historical and harrowing backdrop of the French Revolution. Just as their stories are set against the backdrop of history in the form of the Revolution, the set is literally against the backdrop of history in the form of Victor Hugo’s paintings. Not only do the paintings act as a mark of respect to the author of the tale but their chilling and expressionist form helps put every scene into context and creates an authentic background to the rest of the physical set which is impressive and used to its best advantage whether it’s simply a chair and table or the barricades of battle. The use of Hugo’s paintings, which are also used as moving projections, is a sophisticated development to the long running production and has not been seen in previous tours. However, rather than distracting from the main [...]

Author/Dramatist: Alain Boubil Book/Music: Claude-Michel Schonberg Lyrics: Herbert Kretzmer Adaptors: Trevor Nunn & John Caird Director: Laurence Connor & James Powell Reviewer: Poppy Helm The Public Reviews Rating: Les Miserables is one of those shows that makes most regular theatre-goer’s eyes light up by mere mention; it’s something people enjoy time and time again. So I found myself slightly embarrassed to be in the audience for the first time during it’s current run at The Lowry, a whole quarter of a century since it first opened at the Barbican. Thankfully, it was well worth the wait. The story, based on Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel, is more sophisticated than the average West End musical; Jean Valjean is released from jail after serving nineteen years for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his nephew. Forever marked as a criminal, Jean finds his supposed freedom as difficult as his incarceration, until a kindly Bishop shows him mercy and he vows to be a better man. Jean’s journey is difficult and interwoven with those of his fellow ‘miserables’ as they struggle for survival, love and redemption. This large cast are excellent performers across the board, there isn’t a weak moment or wobbly note during the whole show, which runs to almost three hours in total. Connor and Powell’s direction makes the most of the numbers, set and props are often moved around in clear view but almost without being noticed because there’s so much else to look at. Jean (John Owen-Jones) is more engaging with every scene as we watch him wrestle with his past. He also has an impressive vocal range, particularly when singing ‘Bring Him Home’. Madalena Alberto’s petite Fantine fills the stage effortlessly with her big rendition of ‘I Dreamed A Dream’. The set itself is the most inventive I’ve ever seen; huge [...]

HAVING been pipped to the post in Pop Idol, Gareth Gates has carved himself a successful career in musical theatre and light entertainment. As he gears up to take to the stage at this year’s South Tyneside Summer Festival, STEVE BURBRIDGE finds out what festival-goers can expect from the reality-show runner-up. IN an age where the perfect pop star is defined by a polished and professional public persona, the likelihood of an 18-year-old former choir boy, with a stutter, making it big in the music industry and bagging seven top five hits, four of which reached number one, in his first year as a recording artist seems almost inconceivable. Yet, that’s exactly what Gareth Gates did. With his ‘boy-next-door’ good looks and endearing vulnerability, Gareth captured the hearts of girls and grannies all over the country during the first series of the ITV talent show, Pop Idol, in 2002. Despite coming second to Will Young in the final of the competition, Gareth was soon signed up by Simon Cowell and well on the way to achieving the status of fully-fledged pop pin-up. Seven years later, he accepted the title role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and established himself as a leading man in musical theatre. Gareth, who is currently starring as Marius in the 25th Anniversary World Tour of Les Misérables, will be returning to his pop roots when he performs at Bents Park, South Shields, for the South Tyneside Summer Festival on Sunday. ‘It’s really nice to get out and sing to audiences where I can,’ says Gareth. ‘And totally different from what’s now my day job – theatre.’ The change of direction in his career, and …

Original Book by: Erich Segal Music: Howard Goodall Book and Lyrics: Stephan Clark Director: Rachel Kavanaugh Reviewer: Jim Nicholson The Public Reviews Rating: I certainly do not give five star ratings to shows lightly, in actual fact, on this site, this is my first ever. I have seen literally hundreds of shows over the years, including every major West End musical for the last three decades and in that time I would probably only have given around twenty of them this same accolade, we are talking here about the likes of Les Miserables, Ragtime, Spring Awakening. So what does this show have that so many others don’t, the answer is simple – heart. It has taken Erich Segal’s tear jerk novel, that was made into a much loved film, and literally brought it to life. The story is told so beautifully in song that the audience are spellbound from the very opening as ‘What Can You Say’ tugs at the heartstrings and everybody knows they are in for one hell of a journey. This opening number is delivered in some style by Lillie Flynn, Julia Worsley and Claire Carrie as they sit amongst the orchestra, it  builds and builds , the rest of the cast join and ‘zapp’ we are all hooked and in tears so early as the last piece of the jigsaw, Emma Williams, enters and chorally lets us know what we are about to see. What a fantastic opening! The breathtaking, passionate, heartfelt performance of Williams with a voice of beauty and clarity will be award winning. I will repeat that ‘will be award winning’. The chemistry ignites instantly with the suave, lovable Oliver, played by Michael Xavier. Like Williams, Xavier is now one of the Uks leading performers and he …

Author/Dramatist: Alain Boubil Book/Music: Claude-Michel Schonberg Lyrics: Herbert Kretzmer Adaptors: Trevor Nunn & John Caird Directors: Laurence Connor & James Powell Reviewer: John Roberts The Public Reviews Rating: Les Miserables has become a musical theatre institution, performing in many cities and countries around the world, and been translated into several different languages – it was no surprise that the musical would reach its 25th anniversary. That be said it wasn’t helped by the first wave of national critics having a major dislike to the production – calling it overly gloomy and depressing, but through the power of the people, the word of a great new musical spread and had firmly won over the hearts of the nation and indeed the world. Les Miserables is based on the book by Victor Hugo – and in essence is a story of forgiveness, love, betrayal and sacrifice for the righter cause. This new production to celebrate the 25th Anniversary brings a new lease of life to the production, vividly capturing the human and emotional sides of the characters in a much stronger and plausible way than its West-End sister, and this is testament to the extremely talented cast who bring the story to life on stage and the stunning new realisation of the story onto stage by directors Laurence Connor & James Powell. Connor & Powell must not have had an easy job to re-imagine this heavyweight show. Les Miserables has firmly rooted its iconic revolve and barricade firmly into audiences heads , but what they have managed to do is add a whole new layer of depth to the production. Through the use of excellent projected backdrops, taken from Victor Hugo’s own watercolour paintings and excellent CGI animation the narrative of the story seems to flow more naturally and in fact believably. The next major [...]

What is this I hear you ask? Well today saw quite possibly, what we believe to be the first ever Les Miserables Sing-A-Long on Twitter, jointly created by us (@publicreviews) and The Manchester Palace and Opera House Theatres (@Palaceandopera) to celebrate the 25th Anniversary production of Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s classic musical landing in Manchester for the next 4 weeks. At 3pm on the 19th January 2010 – lots of tweeters joined in the fun by posting their favourite lyric from Les Miserables on Twitter here are just a few of the lyrics posted during the #lesmissingatweetathon – can you recognise the songs they are from? If you missed out on the fun its still not to late to join in just post on twitter your song lyric and include #lesmissingatweetathon or post your favourite in the comments box below! @theatreJunki In my life, there are so many questions and answers that somehow seem wrong. @chilina And tell cossette I love her and I’ll see her when I wake. @ f1roro From the table in the corner, They could see a world reborn, And they rose with voices ringing, I can hear them now! @RealLaineee And although I know that he is blind, still I say, there’s a way for us. @samdowling There is a life about to start when tomorrow comes! @JohnnyJP Everybody raise a glass, raise it up the b***ds a**se! @Wendy_a A single look and then I knew. These are words he’ll never say! @greenlife182 When little people fight we’ve got some bite So never kick a dog Because he’s just a pup @mzlondon In the rain, the pavement shines like silver; all the lights are misty in the river. With both of the organisers pitching the same song (what a strange coincidence) as their favourite song @publicreviews so [...]