Les Miserables is the musical based on the book of the same name by Victor Hugo.

The Plot

Set in France, Les Miserables follows the life of Jean Valjean and the people whose lives he affects. Imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister's baby, Valjean manages to escape, and is pursued by the dogged policeman Javert. With France on the verge of Revolution, the story is picked up years later, with Valjean having started a new life under a new identity as the mayor of a small town, where he protects and supports a multitude of people. He becomes embroiled in the student revolutions, all the while fearing that Javert will track him down.

The Performances and music

Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg's musical adaptation of Victor Hugo's much loved is full of brilliant music, with the mood completely dictated by the music. The version I have seen is the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performance with stars such as Colm Wilkinson and Michael Ball as lead parts. The entire cast exude emotion when singing, and it is one of my favourite musicals. The DVD for this also shows 50 different Valjeans from around the world performing at the same time, and is amazing.

My Opinion

The first time I saw Les Mis, I was perhaps a little too young to appreciate the quality and story I was witnessing. Fast forward a few years, and in my late teens I saw it again and was taken aback by the sheer level of genius on show. Boublil and Schonberg have created a phenomenon here, and I will always cherish the various musical pieces, whether they be accompanied by vocals or not.

Conclusion

Great musical.

I rate this at 5 stars out of 5.

This review may also be posted on ciao.co.uk.

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