LES MISERABLES THE ARENA SPECTACULAR, THE OVO HYDRO, GLASGOW *****
First came Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s ground-breaking musical, then a series of acclaimed anniversary concerts, each one bigger than the last. They were followed by a Hollywood movie starring Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway and Russell Crowe. Through all, there shone the passion and vision of one man, Sir Cameron Mackintosh. That love and belief in his West End and Broadway smash hit musical has never been more evident than in Les Miserables The Arena Spectacular, which celebrated its World Premiere with a Gala performance at Glasgow’s Hydro on Friday 4 October, ahead of a three year world tour.
With Mackintosh, Boublil and Schönberg all in attendance and a cast which sees stars of the future mixed with the legends from past productions as the old guard welcomes the new. The result is an incredible piece of theatre that takes this retelling of Victor Hugo’s story of Jean Valjean, a convict on the run having served 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread, to a whole new level.
Indeed, this is so much more than a concert. Performances projected live onto cleverly placed screens capture the pain, emotion and anger of even the briefest of appearances bringing new depth to the portrayals of now familiar characters, but then Les Miserables The Arena Spectacular is a feast for the senses in every way.
Receiving their rightful recognition, the 20-strong orchestra sit high above the actors, wrapped around the action as it unfolds beneath them. They are peerless. Matt Kinley’s industrial stage and set design is breath-taking in its brutal beauty, never highlighted better than in an inventive lighting rig that doubles as the show’s famous barricade. It’s a phenomenal piece of engineering made all the more arresting by Paule Constable’s stunning lighting design which, in the best traditions of Les Miserables, uses ‘white light’ to maximum and imaginative effect.
James Powell and Jean-Pierre Van Der Spuy’s dynamic direction ensures that the storytelling is fluid while also allowing characters and cast time to breathe between moments in the spotlight. And what a cast has been gathered, not a weak link in sight and some truly outstanding performances. Of the old guard, Alfie Bow delivers a powerful performance as Jean Valjean, a part he has matured into over the years. Michael Ball presents us with an unusually tortured and strangely likeable Javert, his turmoil and confusion evident for all to see. Both deliver their big numbers to great applause, Ball earning a standing ovation from some for a show-stopping rendition of Stars, while Boe enjoys extended adulation for Bring Him Home. Likewise, Channah Hewitt’s outstanding I Dreamed A Dream is rapturously received – her Fantine is regal and quite spell-binding.
Ball and Boe may have the show-stopping numbers but it’s Bonnie Langford’s outrageous Mme Thenardier who is the show-stealer, with perfect comic timing immaculate physical comedy, her knowing stage presence ensures that whenever she and Gavin Lee, as Thenardier, are onstage, the roars of laughter are never far away. By Beggars At The Feast, the packed Hydro are clapping along with them too.
Elsewhere, Jac Yarrow proves a confident and gentle Marius as he is forced through a gamut of emotions. Love, hope, disillusion, anger, he encapsulates them all as his character grows. Emily Bautista, as Eponine, charms in a heart-wrenching performance that is both sweet and feisty, while Beatrice Penny-Toure is a particularly empathetic Cosette.
If James D Gish is outstanding as Enjolras, bringing a captivating zeal to the role, individual members of the ensemble also have their special moments; Daniel Koek, Liz Peace and Jonathon David Dudley all catching the eye with their cameos.
Dazzling in its scale and ambition, productions like this are few and far between and Cameron Mackintosh’s Les Miserables The Arena Spectacular is a magical night of landmark musical theatre that really must be experienced.
Full tour, cast and ticket details here.
