I’ve never been the sort of bloke to follow a crowd.
When every other adult in the country was proudly reading the Harry Potter books, I stuck to grown up literature.
When the herd marched against the war in Iraq, I held back, thinking this was too complicated an issue to be summed up by a snappy banner and a few blisters on my feet.
All of the above helps explain why in the past I’ve avoided seeing Les Miserables.
Being the world’s longest-running musical, it’s too darn popular for it’s own good.I certainly had low expectations when I took my seat to watch the 25th anniversary spectacular at the Hippodrome.
Expectations that were completely destroyed by a thoroughly entertaining and memorable show – darn you Les Mis!
The musical is based on Victor Hugo’s monster of a novel. Stripped to its bones for the stage, it’s a tale crackling with incident and emotion, set in revolutionary France.
Jean Viljean escapes a harsh prison sentence to become a factory owner and respected pillar of society, though he is forced to reveal his identity to prevent an innocent man being imprisoned for his crime.
Viljean then saves Fantine, the orphaned daughter of one of his factory workers, from a life of poverty, before fleeing with her and taking on a new identity. Chased relentlessly by police officer, Javert, the two men eventually confront each other on the barricades, as Paris explodes in revolution.
The songs are memorable and hummable (I didn’t realise I knew so many) and the sets and special effects formidable – as good as any in the West End.
John Owen Jones is a huge presence as Jean Viljean, and even celebrity pop person, Gareth Gates doesn’t let down the side as Fantine’s beau, Marius.
Les Mis is un – Les Mis – able.
Curses! Does this mean I’ll have to read those pesky Harry Potter yarns, too?
Rating: 4/5
