SPOILERS Recently celebrating it's 20th Anniversary, the famous musical "Les Miserables" is a magical story based on the novel by Victor Hugo. As fresh today as it was originally, the story and the music are powerful and pull at the heart strings from the start to the brilliant finish. With recordings like this one, anyone can witness the miracle of "Les Miserables", but ultimately there is no replacement for actually being at the theatre itself.
Arrested for stealing a loaf of bread, Jean Valjean (Colm Wilkinson) is eventually released from the control of the law. Promising to live a better life, Valjean flees his bail to Paris and a little girl called Cosette (Hannah Chick and later Judy Kuhn) who he promised her dying mother he'd care for. Valjean is never truly free however, because a ghost from his past in the form of Inspector Javert (Philip Quast) is never far away.
Billed as staring all the masters of the production, this version of "Les Miserables" is magnificent. Culminating in an extra special of 17 Valjeans from around the world singing a song in their own languages, it is well worthy of possession.
As Valjean, Wilkinson brings the play to life as we witness the evolution of his character. Ultimately though, it is Quast as Javert who steals the limelight. The character of Javert is one of those individuals in plays and musicals who you find yourself loving, even though they are meant to be evil. It's a role everyone wants to play. Like Iago in Shakespeare's "Othello", it's not the main character, but it's the one that everyone remembers. Everyone wants to be Inspector Javert, and in this performance Quast emphasises that with a skilled and luxurious attempt.
There is a major flaw however with watching this DVD or VHS, and that's the simple fact that it's just not the same as being there. Like watching a sporting event on television, or watching a historical moment on a news channel, so many things are better seen in person. Whilst we can watch Valjean's adventures and we can sing along, watching them on DVD is not as much fun as making the effort to go to the theatre. The tactile nature of an event matters.
As entertainment, this production of "Les Miserables" is outstanding. It captures the beauty of the story and it has you trying to singing along. With superb performances by all cast members, it is an event to watch over and over again. Sadly though, it doesn't quite have the same aura about it as actually being there.
Arrested for stealing a loaf of bread, Jean Valjean (Colm Wilkinson) is eventually released from the control of the law. Promising to live a better life, Valjean flees his bail to Paris and a little girl called Cosette (Hannah Chick and later Judy Kuhn) who he promised her dying mother he'd care for. Valjean is never truly free however, because a ghost from his past in the form of Inspector Javert (Philip Quast) is never far away.
Billed as staring all the masters of the production, this version of "Les Miserables" is magnificent. Culminating in an extra special of 17 Valjeans from around the world singing a song in their own languages, it is well worthy of possession.
As Valjean, Wilkinson brings the play to life as we witness the evolution of his character. Ultimately though, it is Quast as Javert who steals the limelight. The character of Javert is one of those individuals in plays and musicals who you find yourself loving, even though they are meant to be evil. It's a role everyone wants to play. Like Iago in Shakespeare's "Othello", it's not the main character, but it's the one that everyone remembers. Everyone wants to be Inspector Javert, and in this performance Quast emphasises that with a skilled and luxurious attempt.
There is a major flaw however with watching this DVD or VHS, and that's the simple fact that it's just not the same as being there. Like watching a sporting event on television, or watching a historical moment on a news channel, so many things are better seen in person. Whilst we can watch Valjean's adventures and we can sing along, watching them on DVD is not as much fun as making the effort to go to the theatre. The tactile nature of an event matters.
As entertainment, this production of "Les Miserables" is outstanding. It captures the beauty of the story and it has you trying to singing along. With superb performances by all cast members, it is an event to watch over and over again. Sadly though, it doesn't quite have the same aura about it as actually being there.