LES MISÉRABLES
Smothered in critical acclaim and firmly cemented into this generation’s love of musicals, Cameron Mackintosh’s Broadway production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s Les Misérables hardly needs an introduction. Originally conceived for the 25th anniversary of the show almost a decade ago, it’s back, touring across the UK and Ireland.
Eagle-eyed fans of the show will appreciate the subtle directorial decisions made in this run, with scenery inspired by Victor Hugo’s paintings, and moments following on from the film adaptation. Nic Greenshields, who plays the stern but conflicted antagonist Javert, stressed how difficult it is to change anything: “The musical is so renowned and well known. It’s been going for 35 years, and we’re on our third generation of fans.”
The stage and film adaptations of the show are clearly very faithful to one another; in fact, this touring production became the inspiration for the film. But it’s now come full circle, and this tour borrows elements from Tom Hooper’s 2012 film, starring Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe, particularly in terms of its development of certain characters. Nic stresses how important it was that the nuanced relationships between characters was not lost in the adaptations, such as Javert “coming to terms with the similarity between him and Gavroche. He might have alerted everyone that [Javert] was there on the wall, but they were both born in prison – it’s to do with the paths people’s lives take.”
Perhaps it’s that introspective quality that keeps the musical so relevant today – that and the songs. “Everyone wants to hear I Dreamed A Dream, Bring Him Home and Stars just how they remember it,” Nic says. He’s not wrong – the songs in Les Mis are some of the best-loved in the history of musical theatre, and certain actors’ renditions have become iconic. This is the longest-running musical in the West End, after all. I asked Nic to choose one song from the show he would love to perform that’s not in Javert’s repertoire: “It would have to be Jean Valjean’s soliloquy. I love it but it’s a little too high for me to perform eight times a week!”
words ALEX PAYNE
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Tues 26 Nov-Sat 4 Jan. Tickets: from £23. Info: 029 2063 6464 / www.wmc.org.uk
