THEATRE REVIEW: Les Miserables - The Lowry Theatre, Salford.

The wait and the anticipation are finally over - it's here! And this evening's press night audience was a most appreciative one; we simply couldn't wait for the finale song to finish before we were applauding and up on our feet.

The 'phenomenon' that is, 'Les Miserables', needs, I am sure, no explanation or my writing the outline of the story here. It has been with us for a long time now, and is so much a part of our Musical Theatre culture and heritage, it is so easy to forget that the writers of this hit, Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schoenberg, are both French and the musical was originally written in French. I proudly own the original French cast recording on double-cassette to attest to that fact! 

It does seem though that this timeless musical has gone through a few different permutations and mutations in order to arrive in its prersent form at Salford's Lowry Theatre. A few things have changed, parts of the iconic set and central revolve are gone, replaced by projected backdrop and sfx, and it also seems that Gavroche's lovely pithy song 'Little People' is not sung in its entirety either. Much emphasis is now placed on the 'feel' and imagery of the show, rather than actual location. We see both 'Castle On A Cloud' and 'Empty Chairs At Empty Tables' performed in some kind of dream sequence effect rather than in actual situ. There are other differences too, but to be honest, none of this really mattered; all we wanted to do was to be taken on the emotive journey and listen to the powerful and dramatic songs which we all know and love in their correct settings. 

The quality of the singing, acting, and performance in general was, and I should have accepted nothing less, exemplary. I have to admit to not particularly liking Dean Chisnall's Jean Valjean at first, as during the prologue songs he tended to speak and shout many of the phrases of the songs which I felt would have been more poignant if he had sung them as it was written; however, that's just a personal like / dislike, and once he came on as the mayor, I was with him all the way. It was a stunning, sympathetic, and perfectly measured performance, and I loved it. His nemeis Javert was Nic Greenshields, with a wonderful bass-baritone voice and upright stance. Superb.  

I could mention all the cast with a string of superlatives after their names; but instead, I shall single out the two who managed to impress me the most. Earl Carpenter's Bishop Of Deane was stunning in its simplicity and honesty and I loved his voice; and Samuel Wyn-Jones was simply the best Enjolras I have ever seen. Tall, commanding, energetic, youthful, spirited, and his voice was powerful and quasi-operatic. 

It is hard to believe that such a timeless show premiered in Paris over 40 years' ago, and it is still as powerful and emotive as ever. For some truly exceptional acting and singing, and to be taken on an emotional rollercoaster of love, battles, death, virtue v. the law, and the power of love / faith this musical cannot be beaten, and is why it remains a favourite with young and old alike. If you've never seen Les Miserables before, then go! If you have seen it many times before, there's always something new and surprising to be found, so go! Victor Hugo's novel was epic, and so is the musical adaptation, and needs to be seen to be truly understood - go live it!

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall

on - 1.4.22