Loyola Les Mis

I saw LoyolaÂ’s Les Miserables on Saturday night and must start my review with saying how AMAZING the ensemble was in this production. I did not see one person out of character for a second, real tears rolled down their cheeks, the singing was strong and clear and the most telling thing of allÂ….even after performing in Les Mis twice and seeing the production countless times, I still got goose-bumps when the ensemble sang!

The lead characters were a bit of a mixed bag. I really liked Eponine - she made the character her own instead of being the usual Lea Salonga clone. Eponine was much softer and more what I imagined Eponine to be like from reading the novel. All the students were great, the children cute, Javert menacing, the Thenardiers revolting and Cosette appropriately sweet and saccharine. Jean Valjean did a commendable job and I think my problem with him is more an issue with the director and the costuming department. In the prologue he seemed crazy with a long scraggly wig and manic movements and you were left with the impression that he should have been kept locked up for all those years. I was a little disappointed with Fantine, whose voice was not as strong as I would have liked to hear.

A review of Les Miserables would not be complete without comment on the BarricadeÂ…The different levels and the height of this Barricade was fantastic providing lots of interest in the battle scenes, however it was very 2 dimensional looking and it did not revolve which I think is an essential element to a good Barricade. While on the technical side of the production I have to sayÂ…why, why, why did they have to have the stage crew come on stage in the middle of scenes in full stage lighting. It is just WRONG when there are ways that this can be easily avoided.

Overall, I was extremely impressed with this company and look forward to seeing (or perhaps performing in) their productions in the future.

yes indeed it just isnt the same without the revolving Barracade in Les Mis or the shattering Chandalier in Phantom

Most companies lack an truly innovative creative team and lean toward a pseudo-rip off of the original Nunn staging but here we have a team rethinking their approach. Though the original production design and direction worked harmoniously, one needs to look further into the structure of the work itself and explore entirely new ways of presenting the story. If the piece is strong enough, it should work with a simple, stylised approach. I applaud a company who has consciously abandoned the idea that we should simply appropriate the original production concept. Simple yet highly intelligent staging is where amateur theatre should be heading. It is essential that amateur theatre moves forward and stops trying to replicate original professional productions. There is such an enormous stigma attached to amateur theatre (particularly music theatre) and to raise the bar it needs to be re-though and energized by young, intelligent, forward thinking people. Obviously, there are companies out there doing just that (Just PretendingÂ’s recent 'Company' is a good example) but we need to modernise and re-think.

THANK YOU TO THE CAST OF LES MISERABLESÂ…

I have seen the professional stage production of Les Mis twice (Melbourne 1998), have watched the ‘Dream Cast’ concert video countless times, seen an amateur production in 2000 and adored each experience. Loyola’s production at the National Theatre on Saturday October 29 topped them all.

It was the most moving interpretation I have seen. Not only were the songs brilliantly executed, but the acting was phenomenal - so many extra touches that had a profound impact on the story as a whole. IÂ’m reluctant to single anyone out as all of the actors were so beautiful, but one stirring example I must mention is Javert breaking down in tears when he realizes Valjean is releasing him. What a moment. Magnificent. It gives me tingles just thinking about it.

I was at the performance with my parents, who are avid fans of Les Mis and introduced me to its world years ago, and with my cousin. At interval my family and I looked to one another with wide eyes. ‘Are you in shock?’ my dad asked. We were all buzzing with adrenaline as we launched into our respective thoughts on what we had just experienced. The consensus was one of sincere awe and great anticipation of what was still to come!

I was so happy that at the showÂ’s final close the audience were moved enough to overcome that ingrained Australian hesitation and to give the cast the standing ovation they so deserved.

Waiting in the foyer afterwards, we got the chance to briefly thank and congratulate some of the actors, which was very satisfying, yet not enough. I realize IÂ’m not an authority on the technical or critical aspect of theatre productions, but from the viewpoint of an objective, paying audience member and fan of musical productions I can only offer the feelings I felt. The emotional journey I went on that night has had a lasting impact that will stay with me for as long as I live.

I donÂ’t know who looks at this site but hopefully somebody will pass on my sentiments to those involved in the production!

hi there guys,

jsut wanted to thanks for your comments about les mis. i was in the ensemble, and i truly appreciate that you guys took the time out to write down what you thought of the show. i only wish i had been able to watch it aswell!

love maxine

Dear Julianne,

Thank you for your wonderful thoughts - they will definitely be disseminated to the company.

I had the privilege and the honour of playing Valjean (along with my wonderful cover, Mr. Blair Gibson) in this production and, with such a magnificent company of extremely talented performers, production team and hard-working crew.

It was one of the most profoundly moving performing experiences I have had and, I must say it is wonderful to get such incredible feedback from audience members.

Thank you.

Philip Buchanan

Dear Philip,

You’re very welcome. I mean every word. Your portrayal of Valjean outdid any other we have seen or heard including that of Colm Wilkinson. Your rendition of ‘Bring Him Home’ was superb – I could feel the audience holding their collective breath during the final notes, afraid of shattering the magic, before erupting into applause. The adamant shout of ‘Bravo’ from the row in front of us said it all.

My dad refused to leave the theatre until he had personally taken you by the hand and expressed how magnificent your performance was. He was in raptures! What an incredible night.

Julianne.

I was also priveledged to have seen this most amazing production. Infact we came again on the final night and brought a number of friends.
Again there were just to many cast performances to note including the whole ensemble but we had to single out Valjeaun, Javert and of course the stand out Mr and Mrs Tenardier. Mr Tenardier was absolutely spell binding. His comic timing and dark pathos was the best we have ever seen. We to have been to the London and Australian productions but these performances are far beyong those standard productions.
We must also note that we were also excited to see a new set and not the boring outdated revolve version of the show. Very ingenious.

The whole production, Orchestra, Performers, Ensemble and Set were just high class.

Please pass my congratulations on to all at Loyola and we look forward to their next production.

If the show had gone on longer we would have come again.

Dear Julianne,

I am truly overwhlemed and humbled by your comments.

Thank you to you, your father and your other family members for supporting the show.

Regards,
Philip Buchanan

Dear Suzie,

Thank you for your wonderful comments and your support of the show.

I will ensure your praise is passed on to the company and all of my magnificent fellow cast members. Aleks Vass, who played Mr. T., will be especially thrilled.

Regards,
Philip Buchanan

I was also in the production of Les Mis. The expirience in this production was great and I had the honour of playing Gavroche. Thankou once again for that wonderful comment.
Love Ally

Dear Phil,
Thank you for your reply. We are still talking about the show.
We were quite astounded to see in the Guild theatre awards of excellence that this show was not nominated in any category. As avid theater goers we found this quite extrodinary. We had seen a number of the other shows nominated and not one really compared in the over all excellence of your production.

So I would like to pass on our own award's of excellence to yourselves.

Your production of Les Miserables was far superior, entertaining , moving, clear, acted and sung brilliantly, directed and staged the best for 2005.

Congratulations on the winner of all the peoples choice awards for 2005.

Yours truly,
Suzie.

Suzie wrote:
>
> We were quite astounded to see in the Guild theatre awards of
> excellence that this show was not nominated in any category.
> As avid theater goers we found this quite extrodinary. We
> had seen a number of the other shows nominated and not one
> really compared in the over all excellence of your production.


Avid you may be, but how many Western Australian shows have you seen this year?
And did you happen to notice that the WA Equity Guild Awards only refer to plays in WA? That is why Loyola (VIC) was ineligible for that particular list...!

Be not so astounded.

Cheers,
Craig

Dear Craig,
These Guild awards are for Vic toria only not for Western Australia. This was by no means any reference to Western Asutralia or any shows in Western Australia monitered by the WA Equity Guild.
The Guild awards that I am talking about are the Victorian Guild awards. Please refer to the following attachment.
http://www.musictheatreguildvic.org/vtg_home.htm
I think you might have gotten on to the wrong chat line in the wrong state.

I hope you will check your refferences in the future.
Probably jumped the gun to early on this issue EH!!!

Still Astounded.
Suzie.

Suzie wrote:
>
> Dear Craig,
> These Guild awards are for Vic toria only not for Western
> Australia. This was by no means any reference to Western
> Asutralia or any shows in Western Australia monitered by the
> WA Equity Guild.
> The Guild awards that I am talking about are the Victorian
> Guild awards. Please refer to the following attachment.
> http://www.musictheatreguildvic.org/vtg_home.htm
> I think you might have gotten on to the wrong chat line in
> the wrong state.
>
> I hope you will check your refferences in the future.
> Probably jumped the gun to early on this issue EH!!!
>
> Still Astounded.
> Suzie.


Fair enough. Thanks for clarifying.

However, on this website, I notice that there has been no reference made to the Victorian Guild Awards (why not?). Because your post came quite soon after posts made here announcing the WA Guild award nominees, it seemed logical that you were talking about that thread.
I might have jumped to a conclusion, but it was because on this website yours seemed like the non-sequitur.
My mistake.

Sorry to re-astound you.

Sorry also that you're in the wrong state!

Cheers,
Craig

Hey how are you

Dear Suzie,

Thank you for the continued praise.

I would say that perhaps no one from the Guild saw the show - this would be the only explanation, or the fact that there was a bit of a professional component within the team!!

Oh well, we know how our audiences felt and that is the main thing.

Thanks for the People's Choice Awards!!

Regards,
Phil.

Is that Joe Main by any chance??

> We were quite astounded to see in the Guild theatre awards of
> excellence that this show was not nominated in any category.
> As avid theater goers we found this quite extrodinary. We
> had seen a number of the other shows nominated and not one
> really compared in the over all excellence of your production.
>


So, just to make things clear- Loyola never applied for it's show to be judged for the Victorian Music Theatre Guild Awards for Excellence. That would be why it did was not judged. From what I heard it was a "different" production anyhow.

Cheers
Dez

And what exactly do you mean by "different" Dez?

Dear Dez & Phil,
Thank you for the information , It was passed on to me.It was a pitty but thats life. We loved it.
As for different, As a theatre goer the only thing diffrent about this production was firstly the use of the set and most importantly the quality and clarity of the story. There wasn't one person on stage who didnt communicate the story cleary and concisley. As I said in my first email we actually went twice. We were moved from tears to laughter on a rollercaster of emotions because we could understand every word sung by cast who's acting was fabulous. This the first time after seeing the show several times professionally and on the ameture circut.

Again thank you Loyola and cast.

Suzie

Well said, Suzie - the clarity of story and the communication of the actors was what we remarked upon as well. We picked up on so many new elements. Even things like Valjean working out who Marius is during the battle sequence by listening to the others refer to him by name!