Les Misérables at the Regal - A rambling review
Fri, 28 Oct 2005, 02:40 pmWalter Plinge2 posts in thread
Les Misérables at the Regal - A rambling review
Fri, 28 Oct 2005, 02:40 pmLes Miserables at the Regal October 21-30th
A charity do for the MS Society.
I've never seen Les Misérables and didn't even know the story before last night, so I didn't have any preconceptions, despite the debate raging in the Independent Theatre Australia website.
The trouble with being an artist and watching a production like this one set in the time and place it is, is that you tend to have certain scenes in it leap out at you as if they're framed and hanging on a wall at the Musée d'Orsay. When Valjean is working in the field it could have been happening right next door to The Gleaners by Millet, which would have been painted around the same time.
Then you take a look at the The Barricade and then have a glance at Liberty Leading the People the resemblance is striking. And we have to remember that revolution breaks out in art, prose, plays, poetry and politics, all at once, like an exploding volcano feeling multiple pressures.
Or, at least in my case, you take a look at The Barricade and you feel like a hook has been dug into your breastbone and you feel the echoes of France of that time reflecting down to you through the paintings of the era. It was very powerful for me.
I couldn't fault the voices of the principals, they were very good, sweet and strong. Occassionally brought a tear to my eye just from the clear pure notes. This is when I wasn't all out sobbing at the deaths of the students and Valjean *sniff*.
It must be a good production to do that to me despite the people talking behind me, a couple of (small) microphone glitches and not the best seating, had to crane a bit every now and then, from up in the Lounge.
I liked the scene changes, they were done quickly, and built up antipation for the next bit. I especially liked the way that Javert's final scene was handled, actually gave me vertigo! It was excellent. The Barricade was also very well done, both in construction and choreography. I particularly liked the way they were preparing the ammo and handing it up, and there's a very subtle scene between some of the secondaries later, when they've clearly run out. There was always some bit of minor background drama happening, and it was interesting without being a distraction.
The whole piece was like watching a series of flashes throughout time, highlighting the real world of French History, like a battle in the dark being illuminated by the flashes of cannon fire.
The orchestra was great too, lively! Every so often the music overcame the singing, but it wasn't too often, and it was very good, it certainly makes it very difficult to go to sleep when you've got the rousing finale drumming martially through your head.
"Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing?
Say, do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that they bring
When tomorrow comes...
Tomorrow comes!"
I found the production had a profound effect, and I enjoyed it very much. Thank you to all of the cast and crew and sponsors for making it possible.
What I do in the real world: http://www.cafepress.com/aliciasmith
This review and all my others can be read at http://www.lympago.com
Thou fawning fat-kidneyed horn-beast!
A charity do for the MS Society.
I've never seen Les Misérables and didn't even know the story before last night, so I didn't have any preconceptions, despite the debate raging in the Independent Theatre Australia website.
The trouble with being an artist and watching a production like this one set in the time and place it is, is that you tend to have certain scenes in it leap out at you as if they're framed and hanging on a wall at the Musée d'Orsay. When Valjean is working in the field it could have been happening right next door to The Gleaners by Millet, which would have been painted around the same time.
Then you take a look at the The Barricade and then have a glance at Liberty Leading the People the resemblance is striking. And we have to remember that revolution breaks out in art, prose, plays, poetry and politics, all at once, like an exploding volcano feeling multiple pressures.
Or, at least in my case, you take a look at The Barricade and you feel like a hook has been dug into your breastbone and you feel the echoes of France of that time reflecting down to you through the paintings of the era. It was very powerful for me.
I couldn't fault the voices of the principals, they were very good, sweet and strong. Occassionally brought a tear to my eye just from the clear pure notes. This is when I wasn't all out sobbing at the deaths of the students and Valjean *sniff*.
It must be a good production to do that to me despite the people talking behind me, a couple of (small) microphone glitches and not the best seating, had to crane a bit every now and then, from up in the Lounge.
I liked the scene changes, they were done quickly, and built up antipation for the next bit. I especially liked the way that Javert's final scene was handled, actually gave me vertigo! It was excellent. The Barricade was also very well done, both in construction and choreography. I particularly liked the way they were preparing the ammo and handing it up, and there's a very subtle scene between some of the secondaries later, when they've clearly run out. There was always some bit of minor background drama happening, and it was interesting without being a distraction.
The whole piece was like watching a series of flashes throughout time, highlighting the real world of French History, like a battle in the dark being illuminated by the flashes of cannon fire.
The orchestra was great too, lively! Every so often the music overcame the singing, but it wasn't too often, and it was very good, it certainly makes it very difficult to go to sleep when you've got the rousing finale drumming martially through your head.
"Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing?
Say, do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that they bring
When tomorrow comes...
Tomorrow comes!"
I found the production had a profound effect, and I enjoyed it very much. Thank you to all of the cast and crew and sponsors for making it possible.
What I do in the real world: http://www.cafepress.com/aliciasmith
This review and all my others can be read at http://www.lympago.com
Thou fawning fat-kidneyed horn-beast!