Les Mis

Hey, I got to see Les Mis! Currently at The Regal Theatre (Subiaco, WA) starring a cast of thousands. God forgive me for opening the floodgates on THIS messageboard too....

As I understand it, Volvos have their side lights permanently hardwired so that they're always on during Scandinavian fogginess. The tradeoff we make for this is that their indicators never work.

Musicals are like Volvos. Expensive, boxy and driven by dickheads..... no. sorry. What I meant was, you get some toe-tappin' songs, some lovely frocks, but seemingly, more often than not, you sacrifice a believable plot.

That's okay, I actually really liked it - me - Mr "I don't like musicals". Just goes to show, the best trick to pull off is to convince someone to like something that they didn't think they would. You're got a head start if you've got a great cast like this.

I'll admit, I was partly interested because I don't know anything about it (except that some French people get killed, so there's THAT going for it), it's famous, and I wanted to see what it's all about. But the main reason I wanted to go was to see some friends who are in it.

The lights went down and the voiceover began to tell us who would play which role. This was all new to me. Apparently just about every character is played alternately by two or more different actors. I don't know why this is. Is it to give more people a go? Is it to spread the load? Is it a safety net? Does more actors encourage more ticket-buying family members? ;-) No, really, I'm interested to know - anyone got answers?

The voiceover rattled off names I wasn't familiar with. "Wait! Who's playing what? What was that last name? Where's my programme? Damn it's too dark to read. Who was that? They didn't mention Gill - I thought Gill was in this performance?" Then there was the obligatory requests for no photography and to please turn off all mobile phones. Although, I'd be tempted to give serious consideration to expanding this to include, "And please keep your @!#$ kids under control." Geez, if they weren't screaming they were bouncing on the seats or running up and down the aisles. Well, as I said earlier, there's always a tradeoff - encourage the general public to turn up and you get the odd disgraceful parent who doesn't give a damn.

I am enormously pleased to say that Gillian Binks (Eponine) was indeed in the production. Just about every member of the chorus (all of whom had the opportunity to sing a few solo bars) had good voices, but Gill just blew me away. Everyone else was so good, and yet she STILL stood out. She got shot, she was lying bunched up in a crumpled heap, yet she STILL clearly belted out every word of her solo! Apart from the two male leads, Gill deservedly received the biggest roar from the audience during the curtain call.

Speaking of the two male leads, Geez they were good. I'm guessing from the little photos in the programme that Justin Freind played Jean Valjean and David Dockery played Javert. Jean Valjean is a nice guy caught up in bad times and has resorted to desperate measures. Does anyone need me to tell them that, after serving 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread for his starving family, he is released, only to find himself ostracized by society as an ex-con? He breaks parole, runs away and has Captain Ahab, sorry, policeman Javert, chase him evermore.

Justin brought sympathy and strength, and dignified and believable ageing to the role, and never faltered. Mightily impressed. David Dockery's pursuit of the white whale was really quite scary in its intensity. Ahab is a more "in your face" character, but weaker in comparison to Jean who is more three-dimensional. Only at the end does Ahab see his folly. David stalked about the stage slightly over the top at times, but God he has a great voice. Every word, every syllable was unquestionably strong and clear. Near the end of Act 1, he was singing against the male chorus, and you STILL heard every word. Alongside Gill's beautiful solo, the highlight of this production was the scene where Jean and Ahab sung at each other simultaneously. (There's probably a technical term for that.) Two different songs, two different rhythms, two different voices, yet each was clear. Just two guys on the thrust in spotlights. Even I, with no musical bones in my body, could appreciate how well done this was.

Amanda Chesterton, whose talent is only matched by her cleavage, was an absolute scream as Mrs Thenardier. She and the hubbie ran away with just about all of the laughs (though I thought I heard Meadows chuckling when the little kid got shot) and earned a chunk of the audience's sympathies, despite playing reprehensible characters. Their roles are obviously essential in every production considering how unhappy everyone else is, and they did a damn good job with timing and diction. Another bonus on their side is they get to sing "Master of the House." Even I know of this song, though can't help thinking of George Costanza unable to get it out of his head (which just makes it all the more funny....)

I also liked the guy who played the leader of the guys who decide to build a barricade. Good presence and voice, although didn't quite reach the high note. Maybe it was a bad day. I managed to pick out the strong voices of Hayley Binks and Amelia Christo in the chorus. Good to see Adam McGurk with an Enormous Pistol. Young Cosette was very good - a very clear voice for someone so young. Older Cosette had a beautiful super-high soprano voice. Very impressive, but it was so high I couldn't always make out what she was singing.

Overall, the girls were better than the men (sorry guys). I was a bit disappointed with the barricade scene. It was indeed a lovely barricade, but I couldn't always follow what the hell was happening. Too many male voices, too many gunshots, the orchestra was going for eleven and I thought a lot of that scene got lost.

The orchestra did occasionally drown out some of the weaker voices, and there were very definitely problems with the mikes, too. On rare occasions they cut out completely. I'd be pissed if I was paying an arm and a leg for that.

Sets and costumes were lovely. I mentioned the great barricade, but the backdrop and the flying gate were great (no six-inch Stonehenge here). Just a couple of points - garters were designed to hold up stockings, not just as decoration for tights. And if someone did a PLAY about the French Revolution. and put big bloody castors on the bottom of every bench and table, they'd get crucified for the anachronism. Interesting how there are different standards for musicals and plays! I did think a bit of effort could have been made to put the table legs with castors upstage, rather than facing the audience. Yes, yes, Mr Bloody Pedantic....

Christ, look at the time! Better wrap this up. It's a most enjoyable show if you can afford it. Tons of onstage talent - too many to mention. It has been compared very favourably (by someone who would know) to the production at the Maj. Thank you so very much to the wonderful friend who gave me comps - I wouldn't have been able to get there otherwise. If you ARE going, I'd suggest you get there EARLY. There was a massive cock-up with the tickets on Sunday. Two whole rows had been double booked and there were a lot of unhappy patrons. If any of the cast were wondering why it started twenty minutes late....

JB