Les Mis. Les Miserables. One of the most beloved musicals in history is at Place des Arts.

Chris Birkett with special guests Cinema 5 and Ash Lex – August 10th Macallan’s

The original story (book) was written by Victor Hugo in 1862 and adapted for the stage (in French) in 1980 by Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boubil and Jean-Marc Natel

The story centers around Valjean who struggles to transform himself from a thief into an honest man. As the years pass – he struggles to stay one step ahead of a police officer named Javert, all the time attempting to raise his adopted daughter, Cosette.

The musical is a tour DE force. Powerfully sung with over forty songs. The production carries 148 speakers total while most standard touring Broadway sound packages have 32-50. Once the show begins – the sound becomes the star.

The first act starts and stutters as shouting often replaces singing from a cast which seemed to ‘try too hard’. Without naming names – off pitch and off key were notable at times yet as act one continued – everyone’s vocals synced nicely. Nerves could have been added at the beginning then subtracted as the night went on.

Mya Rena Hunter (Eponine),Nick Cartell (Valjean) and Jake David Smith (Marius) are worth the price of admission.

The entire show is bombastic and gets the audience to their feet with sheer passion and appreciation. Rarely do audiences rise in unity with so much energy and so often. That is the power of the group songs and the power of the lyrics.

Les Miserables is a simple story which everyone can understand and cheer for. The elements and characters in between the main plot – add to the drama and are icing on the cake for the conductor and the 14 musicians who play twenty -three instruments during the three hour-long musical.

Head to Place des Arts this week and by all means, bring people who are miserable. They will fit right in as long as they sing and they sing; very loud.

Get tickets here for Les Miserables.