Les Miserables - a great night at the theatre in Newcastle

Luke Baker (Marius)
Chloe Jeffrey-Williams (Cosette)
Stephanie Priest (Eponine) 

A 40 year anniversary is something special. The Metropolitan Players in Newcastle Australia are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year by doing something special. They are presenting Les Miserables, the musical inspired by the book written by Victor Hugo.

Les Miserables is the longest running musical on the West End theatre district in London and is the second longest running musical in the world.

I was fortunate to attend the opening charity night at he Civic Theatre last Wednesday with my two adult children enjoying the musical just as much as me. This was the first time I have seen a show at The Civic Theatre. What a gorgeous ornate theatre it is!

The singing and orchestra were great during this three hour show. The time went quickly as you became wrapped up in the story lines of the musical. The orchestra, in the orchestra pit under the stage, was not hidden away in darkness but was lit so that you could see the talented musicians.

Chris Maxfield, who played Valjean, was the standout star of the show with his superb singing and acting. He mastered his ageing on stage well as he recalled the events during his life up until his death.

Javert, the police comissionere was played by Simon Redhead. Simon acted well in his serious role and had a strong singing voice, but unfortunately it sometimes sounded harsh and distorted. Perhaps this was a bad positioning of his mic, or its volume being turned up too loud.

Luke Baker played Marius, the revolutionary fighter and young lover with sensitivity.

The three main female roles were well cast. Rachel Parish played Fantine, Stephanie Priest played Eponine and Chloe Jeffrey-Williams played Cosette. They all sang with sensitivity and passion and made the female characters very believable.

Light comic releif was provided by Thenardier, played by Tony Fletcher and Mme Thenardier, played by Annie Devine. The musical was quite sad in some places, moving some of the audience to tears, so these humorous moments brightened it up.

The three children in Les Miserables - Timothy Davies (Gavroche),  Frankie Parris (Young Cosette) Zamika Grant (Young Eponine) were excellent. The sang and acted way above their young years of age.

The male and female ensembles sang well together in their supporting roles. 

The sets were effective by their minimalisict style. Most of the action of Les Miserables took place on a dark stage with just a black wall as the background.. The large black revolving stage brought into view the few set pieces - a chair, a bed, a table, garden gates ....  Even though the revolving stage was round, this was not a theatre-in-the-round performance. The singers must remember to look less to the sides of the stage, or down into the orchestra pit, and more to where the audience is seated - out in front of them.

The featured set piece was the barricade that played an important role in the battle scene. It looked effective on stage, but its weigh proved to be a little too much for its swift sliding off stage when it was finished with. A bit of fine tuning will make its removal less distracting in future performances.

Lighting consisted mainly of spotlights shining down on the featured singers as they sang alone, with another person or in groups. There was no part of Les Miseables where the entire stage was brightly lit. Occasionally light patterns were projected onto the floor of the stage, and stars shone in the night sky.

Sound production was on the whole good, though there were a few occasions when mics were turned on a little late for the singers, or the volume was a bit too soft or too loud. I am sure these matters will be rectified in the upcoming performances.

The costumes and wigs looked really good and helped set the musical in the right French time period. The bright costumes contrasted well with the drab plain costumes.

The audience on the opening night loved this 40th anniversary production of Les Miserables. The production was a credit to all the singers, musicians and people behind the scenes. They all worked hard, perhaps a little too hard, to put on this great musical. All they need to do now is try and relax a little so that they enjoy the musical as much as the audience does.

Les Miserables is a must see musical for all who live in Newcastle. It is even worth the drive for those who live further afield.

The Metropolitan Players are to be congratulated on this 40th anniversary production of Les Miserables.

Les Miserables

When:  Fri 18th Aug 8pm,  Sat 19th Aug 2pm , Sat 19th Aug 8pm,  Sun 20th Aug 2pm,  Wed 23rd Aug 8pm,  Fri 25th Aug 8pm,  Sat 26th Aug 2pm,  Sat 2 6th Aug 8pm. 

Where: Civic Theatre 375 Hunter St., Newcastle
Cost: Adult $66.30; Junior/Conc/Student $56.10 ; Groups 8+ $58.15