REV (London)

After seeing Les Mis over 25 times, I have to say that this production was the absolute best I've ever seen. To start with, most of the cast was comprised of all-star performers who had achieved a tremendous amount of success in their roles in Les Mis. Robert Marien was Valjean. I had first heard his incredible performance on the 1992 Paris Cast Recording and was looking forward to seeing him live. I wasn't disappointed. He did a fantastic job. He hit all of his high notes with a great deal of power and force. Although he did seem a little hoarse during certain parts. Michael McCarthy was phenomenal as Javert. He is definitely one of my all time favorites. He sang with an incredibly controlled voice. His "Stars" and "Soliloquy" were one of the most powerful I've ever seen. He gave a flawless performance. As fantine, Grania Renihan turned out to be my all time favorite in that role. She had the most amazing pop/theatre voice. She sounded like a cross between Linda Eder, Ruthie Henshall, and Susan Gilmour. Her "I Dreamed A Dream" was the best I think anyone will ever hear. She hit her high notes with an astounding amount of power and accuracy. Then as the Thenardiers, Chris Langham and Mandy Hollidy also turned out to be my absolute all time favorites. In each company of Les Mis that I've seen, the humor that the Thenardiers use is very similar. But Chris and Mandy gave the freshest interpretation I've seen. They took every word and made it funny. This was especially true during "The Bargain Scene". Then Glynn Kerslake turned out to be the best Enjolras I've ever seen. He had an amazing pop/theatre high baritone voice. He gave an incredible performance. Then as Marius, Mario Frangoulis was fantastic. He sang with a voice that was similar in style and power to Michael Balls'. That was great. As Eponine, Frances Ruffelle returned to the role that she originated and made so famous in London and on Broadway. All in all, she did a great job. But some of the notes sounded a little too high for her to hit. She still made the best of her performance though. It was great to hear her sing selections from the show that were never recorded on the London or Broadway Cast Albums (like 'Hey Eponine What's Up Today' and 'Cosette Now I Remember'). I had always wondered how she would sing those parts. And they were great. Annalene Beechy was definitely on of the best Cosettes I've ever seen. She sang with a crystal-clear pop/theatre soprano voice. The overall sound of this production was amazing. They had the best sound system I've ever heard . The orchestra played with great depth and volume similar to the Complete Symphonic Recording. They really pumped up the volume during The Final Battle scene. It was the most intense I've seen. The tempo of the songs were also similar to the CSR. This production also had the strongest and most powerful Ensemble (individual and chorus) I've ever seen. One Day More was absolutely incredible and flawless. It had all the power of the Original London Cast Recording. There were also some new things that were added that I've never seen in any other production. For instance, after Marius gives the letter to Eponine and she sings ".....little you know....little you care", the scene usually shifts to the gate at the Rue Plummet. But they added a little scene in between when the revolving stage starts to turn. As Eponine is walking, you see a handful of students in the background cheering each other on and waving a flag as if they are on their way to build the barricade. It was great to see something new. Then in Lovely Ladies, they added a new lyric to the verse that one of the prostitutes sings. This was later added to all productions of Les Mis. Then during Look Down, Marius and Enjolras switch a couple of lines from the song. Marius now sings, "Where are the leaders of the land....Where are the swells who run this show." Then Enjolras sings, "Only one man and that's Lamarque....." . This is the only production I've found this in.


	London (Palace Theatre, December 1996) REVIEW Valjean (Robert Marien) Javert (Michael McCarthy) Fantine (Grania Renihan) Thenardier (Chris Langham) Mme. Thenardier (Mandy Holliday) Enjolras (Glynn Kerslake) Marius (Mario Frangoulis) Eponine (Frances Ruffelle) Cosette (Annalene Beechy) After seeing Les Mis over 25 times, I have to say that this production was the absolute best I've ever seen. To start with, most of the cast was comprised of all-star performers who had achieved a tremendous amount of success in their roles in Les Mis. Robert Marien was Valjean. I had first heard his incredible performance on the 1992 Paris Cast Recording and was looking forward to seeing him live. I wasn't disappointed. He did a fantastic job. He hit all of his high notes with a great deal of power and force. Although he did seem a little hoarse during certain parts. Michael McCarthy was phenomenal as Javert. He is definitely one of my all time favorites. He sang with an incredibly controlled voice. His "Stars" and "Soliloquy" were one of the most powerful I've ever seen. He gave a flawless performance. As fantine, Grania Renihan turned out to be my all time favorite in that role. She had the most amazing pop/theatre voice. She sounded like a cross between Linda Eder, Ruthie Henshall, and Susan Gilmour. Her "I Dreamed A Dream" was the best I think anyone will ever hear. She hit her high notes with an astounding amount of power and accuracy. Then as the Thenardiers, Chris Langham and Mandy Hollidy also turned out to be my absolute all time favorites. In each company of Les Mis that I've seen, the humor that the Thenardiers use is very similar. But Chris and Mandy gave the freshest interpretation I've seen. They took every word and made it funny. This was especially true during "The Bargain Scene". Then Glynn Kerslake turned out to be the best Enjolras I've ever seen. He had an amazing pop/theatre high baritone voice. He gave an incredible performance. Then as Marius, Mario Frangoulis was fantastic. He sang with a voice that was similar in style and power to Michael Balls'. That was great. As Eponine, Frances Ruffelle returned to the role that she originated and made so famous in London and on Broadway. All in all, she did a great job. But some of the notes sounded a little too high for her to hit. She still made the best of her performance though. It was great to hear her sing selections from the show that were never recorded on the London or Broadway Cast Albums (like 'Hey Eponine What's Up Today' and 'Cosette Now I Remember'). I had always wondered how she would sing those parts. And they were great. Annalene Beechy was definitely on of the best Cosettes I've ever seen. She sang with a crystal-clear pop/theatre soprano voice. The overall sound of this production was amazing. They had the best sound system I've ever heard . The orchestra played with great depth and volume similar to the Complete Symphonic Recording. They really pumped up the volume during The Final Battle scene. It was the most intense I've seen. The tempo of the songs were also similar to the CSR. This production also had the strongest and most powerful Ensemble (individual and chorus) I've ever seen. One Day More was absolutely incredible and flawless. It had all the power of the Original London Cast Recording. There were also some new things that were added that I've never seen in any other production. For instance, after Marius gives the letter to Eponine and she sings ".....little you know....little you care", the scene usually shifts to the gate at the Rue Plummet. But they added a little scene in between when the revolving stage starts to turn. As Eponine is walking, you see a handful of students in the background cheering each other on and waving a flag as if they are on their way to build the barricade. It was great to see something new. Then in Lovely Ladies, they added a new lyric to the verse that one of the prostitutes sings. This was later added to all productions of Les Mis. Then during Look Down, Marius and Enjolras switch a couple of lines from the song. Marius now sings, "Where are the leaders of the land....Where are the swells who run this show." Then Enjolras sings, "Only one man and that's Lamarque....." . This is the only production I've found this in.