Les Miserables At Theatre Royal, Plymouth Review

Reviewed by Linda Curtain

How great to welcome Les Miserables back to the Theatre Royal Plymouth and to ‘hear the people sing’ live on stage once more.  I was delighted to have the chance to review this revamped production which is at the theatre for three weeks as part of a national tour and what better place to be seen than at the Theatre Royal Plymouth. Arriving last evening, the theatre was really busy as everyone eagerly awaited the start of the show. The foyer was beautifully decorated with iconic posters and red, white and blue balloons and as usual the front of house staff were welcoming and helpful. With several nearby car parks and easy public transport access, the theatre is ideally situated for a great night out. The bar and café areas were extremely busy with people buying pre-show refreshments and ordering drinks for the interval.

This classic masterpiece written by Victor Hugo tells the story of Jean Valjean who is released on parole having served 19 years as part of ‘the chain’ gang. He is determined to lead a better life despite his previous crime condemning him to life as an outcast. This determination leads him to break his parole and adopt a new identity as Monsieur Madeleine – a factory owner and mayor of the town. Demons from the past are never far away though – especially in the form of Javert who recognises Valjean and is determined to have him re-convicted.

From the dark opening scenes of the chain gang, the audience is totally drawn into the storyline.  Each character has their own moment to shine and their individual commitment to their roles was remarkable. Jean Valjean was last evening played by understudy Will Barratt. He was such a strong, determined character who was seen to age and mature throughout the show.  Javert – played by Nic Greenshields – was amazing. His powerful rendition of ‘Stars’ was the highlight of the show for me. Eponine – played by Nathania Ong, Cosette – played by Paige Blankson and Marius – played by Will Callan were all fantastic in their own roles and portrayed the love triangle well with great feeling and sensitivity. And what a great comedy interlude was provided by Ian Hughes as Thenardier and Helen Walsh as Madame Thenardier.

With numerous other characters, the whole company worked so well together and produced some amazing ensemble songs. Well done to the incredibly hard working orchestra directed by Ben Ferguson.  A special mention also to the three young children in last night production with Charlie Hodson-Prior who was part of the touring company as Gavroche – a real cheeky chappy with such confidence and stage presence. Well done also to local girls Lucea Baidoo as young Cosette and Maya Brooking as young Eponine – an experience to stay with them forever.

Clever staging and use of projected imagery added another dimension to the show. The barricade scene – with fantastic use of pyrotechnics and lighting – was so dramatic.  My only criticism of the show would be the dark staging throughout. This did add dramatic effect but made watching difficult at times as the stage was so smoky and dark – a comment I overheard from several of the audience members.

Since it’s debut in 1985, Les Miserables has been seen in 52 countries worldwide and its still as popular as ever. I’m sure this revamped production ,with a new format and staging, will continue to enthral audiences for a long time to come. Well done Theatre Royal Plymouth and the Les Miserables company.

Rating: 4.5/5

Limited tickets still available from £38

Tickets available from theatreroyal.com