Les Misérables

Exactly how many times is too many times to see the production of a lifetime? Right now my head is battling with my heart as I contemplateg seeing Les Misérables in Sydney “just one last time” before it leaves for Brisbane in just 5 short weeks. This battle has been fought and won by my heart on previous occasions; I’ve actually seen Les Misérables for “the last time” three times since June.

As a devotee of the original production of Les Misérables, I was a little concerned about the changes Sir Cameron Mackintosh had planned for this new version. I heard rumours of missing songs, the revolving stage no longer being used, a younger cast and a faster score. Would these changes ruin the show I loved so much? Would they leave me with a bad taste in my mouth (perhaps similar to the casting of Russell Crowe in the film version)?

I am happy to report that my fears were unfounded and the new production surpassed my wildest expectations. The new sets are breathtaking, and the addition of the projections on screen made for incredible backdrops, easily immersing you in the streets of Paris, the deck of a convict ship or the underground sewers.    

I wasn’t sure there was a performer alive who could rival the heroes from my many Les Misérables soundtracks. In my mind, Michael Ball is Marius, Philip Quast is Javert, Anthony Warlow is Enjolras and there’d never be a better Valjean than Colm Wilkinson. Yet from the moment Simon Gleeson took to the stage as Jean Valjean on the Melbourne stage my world changed forever. 

While the show is known for bringing audiences to tears, I don’t think I have ever seen an audience as moved by an actor as they were by Simon Gleeson in this show.  His desperation, his passion and that incredible voice made him the star. “Bring Him Home” is a masterpiece in itself. In fact, concerned that I would forget that incredible performance without an Australian soundtrack to buy, I purchased his album “Elements” for that song alone.

The most impactful change for me was the younger casting of the students. Formerly seen as men, this production drove home how young and naïve they were, and the futility of their actions. Marius’ love for Cosette and Eponine’s heartache at her unrequited love for him, they really were just kids. 

 “One Day More” remains my all-time favourite song from a musical and the choreography in this version gave me goose bumps.  My repeated visits gave me different views and a love for characters I previously considered “supporting”.  One of my favourite discoveries was watching the touching relationship between student rebel Grantaire and street urchin Gavroche.  I got so caught up watching them in the last show I saw; I completely neglected to see the major action front of stage.

If you haven’t seen Les Misérables in Sydney, you have just 5 weeks left. After taking friends and family and urging almost everyone else I know to see it, then hearing rave reviews from each and every one of them, I can’t encourage you enough. If you live in Brisbane and Les Misérables is headed your way, go, go and then go again. I might just fly up and join you.

For tickets visit Ticketmaster.

Photos courtesy of the Les Misérables Australia Facebook page.

Rocky Horror Show

It’s a tale as old as time. Two clean cut American kids meet, fall in love and are engaged to be married. Driving through a storm, their car breaks down and they seek help from a mansion that just happens to be occupied by alien transsexuals from the planet Transylvania.

I’m sorry, what?

A parody of the science fiction movies of its time, and a rock musical on both stage and screen, The Rocky Horror show is a worldwide phenomenon and quite possibly one of the strangest things I have ever seen.

Upon walking into the Sydney premiere last week I was greeted by an extraordinary amount of fishnet stockings, basques and platform high heels – and that was just the audience. My friend Livia and I queued for the obligatory slushie cocktails in the glowing plastic “glasses” and lamented the fact we were clearly wearing too many clothes. We took our seats, wrapped ourselves in our complimentary red feather boas and spent a good many minutes star spotting in the crowd.  Clearly Rocky Horror is the MUST SEE musical of the moment!

The show opened with the very talented Jayde Westaby as a 1950s usherette, introducing the show with my now favourite song “Science Fiction/Double Feature”. (After all, who wouldn’t love a song with lyrics like “Flash Gordon was there in silver underwear”?) and the curtain was pulled aside to reveal a fantastically bright, almost cartoon–like set.

I was looking forward to seeing Craig McLaughlin in the show that he originally played in 1992 and which earned him the Helpman Award for Best Actor in a Musical for the role in 2014. Clearly I wasn’t the only one. His appearance on stage as Frank N Furter was greeted with thunderous cheers and applause. He was clearly very comfortable in the part, not only in his high heels, but with sassy comebacks to comments from the audience. He was outrageous, hilarious, and as for those biceps… well, like Janet sang, “I’m a muscle fan”.

Stephen Mahy and Amy Lehpamer were fabulously cast as the naïve Brad and Janet, and I was delighted to see Jayde back on stage as Magenta. I want to see and hear more of Jayde. Kristian Lavercombe was fantastic as Riff Raff, while Bert Newton as the narrator was, well, Bert (as underwhelming to me as always, but still a crowd favourite). Yet it's clear this show is all about Craig in his role as Frank, and he is the star.

 The show is high energy and a lot of laughs. Unlike the original, which I have heard was shocking and made plenty of people uncomfortable; this “tamed down” version plays up the comedy. Craig hams it up as Frank, and the crowd adores him for it. I can’t imagine anyone playing a better Frank N Furter in this production.  

Liv and I leapt to our feet to perform the Time Warp, delighting in the confusion of some audience members who were very taken aback by the whole thing.  We sang along with the cast, reliving every school disco of our childhood. The songs are catchy, the atmosphere electric, and I had an absolute blast.

The Rocky Horror show is playing at the Lyric Theatre in Sydney until 7th June. Don't miss your chance to see it. To book your tickets click here. 

Note: Livia and I attended the premiere as guests of Gordon Frost Productions. My review is unbiased and all thoughts are my own.