Review: LES MISERABLES - THE STAGED CONCERT, Sondheim Theatre

Photo credit: Johan Persson

With the coronavirus pandemic hitting the theatre and live entertainment industries extremely hard, creatives have had to fight back against all odds to bring live performance back to audiences. With finding a new way to do things sometimes the only way to move forwards, hit musical Les Miserables, unable to open as a fully staged production, has reverted back to its previously successful staged concert version, returning to the Sondheim Theatre to bring this iconic musical back to now much nearer full capacity audiences. 

This concert production brings the classic and much-loved story of Les Miserables to life in a stripped back style, with the majority of the cast seated on stage for most of the show, with snippets of action scattered in between with dramatic entrances and memorable moments. Five microphones line the front of the stage, with performers coming forward for the songs. Whilst this does change the style of the show entirely, it also creates an interesting new dynamic as you are able to clearly see interactions between characters in the background as they sit and join in with scenes such as ‘Master of the House’ and ‘Red and Black’ to name but a few. 

The cast is led here by Jon Robyns as Jean Valjean, the released convict who lives life surrounded by secrets as he hides from the determined and devoted Inspector Javert (Bradley Jaden). With revolution stirring in the hearts and minds of the young students, led by Enjolras (played at this performance by Leo Miles), this story of passion, crime, romance, the tumultuous battle of right versus wrong and self-discovery is expertly sung by the talented cast and presented in an entirely new way.

Robyns and Jaden make a formidable duo as Valjean and Javert, both equally determined and passionate, locked in a competitive game of cat and mouse. Both are a commanding presence on stage, with the sense of fury palpable between the two even as they stand at static mic stands apart from one another. Robyns makes it look simple to soar through Valjean’s powerful ballads with Jaden’s rendition of ‘Stars’ simply raising the roof. Lucie Jones impresses as Fantine also, bringing a fresh take to the beloved classic ‘I Dreamed a Dream’

Harry Apps makes a charming Marius, torn between standing beside his friends to fight and his newfound love for Cosette (Charlie Burn). His chemistry with Burn, along with Shan Ako’s Eponine is both sweet and believable. Burns is endearing as Cosette, effortlessly performing the challenging soprano role, whilst Ako delivers a feisty take on Eponine who shows off a sheer determination to prove that she is just as smart as the students around her and just as worthy of Marius’ love. 

Leo Miles brings the passion and fire of Enjolras alive, and the friendship between him as the rebellion leader and Connor Jones as the drunken, pessimistic Grantaire is touching. Young performers Sebastian Selwood and Ella Van Emden are stars in the making as Gavroche and young Cosette, with Selwood shining in the ensemble moments as the cast sit on stage throughout, rising to stand with his fellow fighters for ‘Empty Chairs at Empty Tables’ and joining in with ‘Beggers at the Feast’. 

Some of the biggest cheers of the night, along with many a burst of laughter, go to Gerard Carey and Josefina Gabrielle as the Thenardiers. Carey’s natural flair for comedy shines through in ‘Master of the House’ and ‘Thenardier Waltz’, with Gabrielle complimenting this perfectly as the long suffering but equally wicked wife. The pair’s rendition of ‘Beggars at the Feast’ is a highlight. 

Due to the changes that have had to be made to make the show as Covid-secure as possible, physical contact between the characters has been down scaled. A few changes may baffle those who have seen the show in its fully staged form, but to those who are seeing the concert with fresh eyes, the differences could go unnoticed. 

The design team must be praised on this production, who have taken elements of the fully staged version and used them to create a backdrop for this concert. Projections create a sense of atmosphere as the story moves along, creating the streets of Paris, the cafe, and the sewers. The lighting is particularly effective with multiple lighting bars moving around throughout to create the impression of the barricade battle. 

Running for three more weeks before the full production returns in the autumn, the Les Miserables staged concert presents a fresh take on the classic that both thrives on its differences from the fully staged version and illustrates how productions can be adapted to work in the current circumstances.

****’ Four and a half stars

Reviewed by: Rebecca Wallis

Les Miserables - The Staged Concert runs until 5 September at the Sondheim Theatre. To book tickets, please click here.

Please note this review also features on the Musical Theatre Lives In Me blog page.