Nothing stirs youthful hearts more profoundly than a fervent mix of love, death and revolutionary zeal. Cameron Mackintosh sets the Esplanade stage alight this June with his new musical production of Victor Hugo’s classic 19th-century novel, Les Misérables, or more fondly known as Les Miz.
A strong recreation of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg’s legendary Broadway hit, this production takes the audience on a whirlwind narrative of Jean Valjean (Simon Gleeson), an ex-convict who suffered 19 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread. Nursing an immense bitterness toward society over his years in prison, Valjean experiences only more ostracism post-release as he struggles to find a job and shelter. However, as the musical progresses, we witness the redeeming power of love that dramatically alters Valjean’s fate, while his past continues to plague him in the form of the unyielding policeman, Javert (Earl Carpenter).
Les Misérables is a grand yet accessible production that everyone will be swayed by, whether you are an obsessive Les Miz lover, a musical theatre enthusiast, a jaded soul simply looking for a night to wind down, or even the most hardened musical cynic.
The Music
“Do you hear the people sing? Singing the song of angry men.”
Music is by far the most powerful medium of conveying emotion and imparting compassion. The simultaneous weaving of lyrical melodies together with a brilliant storyline deeply touches the hearts of the Les Miz audience and encourages them to reflect on their lives and the societies they exist in.
It may be called Les Misérables, but there is definitely no misery in this production – instead, it delivers wild, uncontrolled emotions that reverberate across the stage. The musical wins its audience over with its whole-hearted sincerity, as every note of every line of every act is sung with unfaltering confidence and intensity.
“I dreamed a dream in time gone by, in time gone by so very…slowly.”
Fantine (Patrice Tipoki) belts out this famous line in I Dreamed A Dream, with the perfect tinge of hopelessness and melancholy. The sadness that envelopes this scene is palpable, as Fantine suffers a tragic but wholly undeserving end, one that plagues impoverished women forced into prostitution. Our heart aches on behalf of Éponine (Kerrie Anne Greenland) and her unrequited love for the student revolutionary, Marius (Paul Wilkins) and dies trying to save his life in battle. The emotion in the theatre is kept at an all-time high as we witness orphaned Cosette (Emily Landgridge) continually being mistreated, such as by the wicked Monsieur Thénardier (Cameron Blakely). Pain and sadness give way to fury and passion, as Javert swears to capture Valjean in Stars, no matter how long it takes.
We feel rage at all that Valjean has gone through, only to have to continue running for the rest of his life. Our hearts may also rise with revolutionary fervour as we watch the protests led by Enjolras (Chris Durling) against the societal conditions in 19th-century Paris, best encapsulated by the hearty chorus of Do You Hear The People Sing. You will indeed be amazed by the beautiful melodies and overwhelmed by the strong emotions that accompany them. Therein lies the true beauty of musical theatre – allowing you to access emotions you rarely get to experience.
Diverse Characters and Fantastic Cast
The melancholy of Les Misérables, however, does not overshadow the outstanding display of talent onstage. A musical production is, after all, only as strong as its cast, who strive to make their characters come alive on stage. Simon Gleeson, who won the Helpmann Award for the Best Male Actor in a Musical for his performance as Valjean in Les Misérables, portrays the resentment accumulated from Valjean’s 19 years in prison and anger at French society through his beautiful solos in the early scenes, particularly in Prologue.
The brasher Valjean gradually morphs into a kinder and more fatherly figure as he struggles to protect Cosette and right his wrongs to Fantine, and this softer side is most evident in Gleeson’s moving Bring Him Home. Earl Carpenter’s Javert, who has also achieved critical acclaim, is magnificent, perfectly capturing the rigidness and firm resoluteness of the man and his longstanding war against Valjean. Carpenter conveys Javert’s sense of arrogance and self-righteousness flawlessly in Stars, but not long before his tough facade falls away to reveal his softer side as he finally caves to Valjean’s show of mercy in Soliloquy.
Simon Gleeson plays Jean Valjean, and captures perfectly the man’s journey from rejection and mockery to love and redemption. Photo by Matthew Murphy.
Patrice Tipoki, who plays Fantine, gives a stunning and tear-inducing performance of I Dream A Dream, as she maintains a silent inner courage till her death to protect little Cosette. Kerrie Anne Greenland was also brilliant as Éponine, showcasing her despair and pain from unrequited love in On My Own, and touching young hearts in the process. Other impressive characters include Helen Walsh and Cameron Blakely as the thieving innkeepers Madame and Monsieur Thénardier and Chris Durling as the charismatic student leader of the revolution. All the characters are complex and multifaceted and it is inevitable that you will find one who speaks right to you.
The Struggles of Humanity
Apart from empathising with the characters onstage, you may also gain a deeper connection with and understanding of humanity and its trials. Perhaps many would have caught the 2012 Universal Pictures film adaptation of Les Misérables, which featured the great Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway, and received eight Academy Award nominations. However, what sets this musical apart is truly the human touch, creating a special bond between the performers and the audience that the movie is unable to replicate.
The appalling societal conditions and unjust class-based structures of 19th-century France will likely spark your fury throughout. Fantine’s character demonstrates the inequity in a society that ostracises impoverished women, driving them to a miserable and unfortunate end, while Valjean’s character evinces an unjust and defective law enforcement system, one that shatters the lives of innocent young men. Our hearts also go out to the suffering of the outcast, though many, like Valjean and Fantine, still retain an admirable inner strength and moral dignity.
This portrays the scene in Barricades, where student revolutionaries and citizens alike took to the streets to protest against the societal injustices plaguing 19th-century Paris. Photo by Matthew Murphy.
The Redeeming Power of Love
Love is a prominent theme, and we see its redeeming power even in the worst people. It was love that drove Valjean’s transformation from a bitter ex-convict into a respectable man and the devoted father of Cosette. Only by loving others did Valjean ultimately achieve progress and along with it, a sense of satisfaction. Éponine, born into the life of a criminal, is ultimately redeemed by her love for Marius and courageously sacrifices her life on the barricades. Cosette’s love softens the hardened Valjean and she also conveys her deep and unwavering love for Marius amidst the chaos of the revolution. Love and compassion are passed from one character to another, transforming lives along the way. Our anger at the societal conditions will thus gradually subside as we witness the individual characters’ journeys to love and enlightenment.
Les Misérables stresses the importance of forgiveness and second chances, and guides us to apply grace and forgiveness to our own human interactions. Forgiven by the priest he stole from, Valjean gains a second chance to renew himself and start afresh. Despite the torment he was put through, Valjean forgives Javert, who ultimately kills himself as he found it impossible to live with his sins. Forgiveness is not about trying to change the past, but about accepting the past, and opening ourselves to hopes of a better future.
The End of a Two-Decade Wait
This year marks 20 years since Les Misérables was last staged in Singapore. With a revamped score, innovations in sound and light engineering, as well as a newly updated stage set incorporating computer animation and the latest audio-visual technology, this production is certainly unexpected at every turn. Although you can catch the original musical only in London, Mackintosh’s production is still in essence the same timeless classic that has touched millions of hearts all around the world. This musical will no doubt transport you back to 19th-century French society, draw you into the incessant struggles for moral good and justice and leave you mesmerised by the power of love.
What: Cameron Mackintosh’s Les Miserables
When: 29 May to 26 June 2016, Tuesday to Friday 8 pm, Saturday 2 pm and 8 pm, Sunday 1.30 pm and 7 pm
Where: Esplanade Theatre, Singapore
Tickets: Get your tickets at www.sistic.com.sg or call +65 6348 5555. Ticket prices range from S$58 to S$228.
