Les Miserables School Edition

Create Theatre Academy kindly invited me to review their production of Les Misérables, School Edition, at the Blackburn Empire Theatre. Performed entirely by students, this was a slick and emotive show. The quality of talent on stage was undeniable, the audience rising in ovation as the final curtain fell.

The Artistic Directors, Rebecca Eastham and Alex-May Colley created a fabulous show. They had honed their actors, bringing out the best in each performer on stage. In the dock scene the ensemble of lovely ladies was animated, the sailor’s characteristic of men on shore leave, every actor had personality, adding colour and vibrancy to their performances. There were many clever parts to the show, I particularly liked the way Rebecca and Alex-May chose to present the spirits of the fallen in spotlight as they rose and exited into a white light, it was emotionally charged. The death of Fantine was accompanied with visions of her daughter Cosette playing happily, only to be bullied by a young Eponine, causing quite a few tears in the audience. The choice to use the moving balcony, to indicate Javert had thrown himself off, was great, from my seat it looked convincing.

Musical Director, Dave Dossett and his band sounded sublime. It is a powerful score with tender songs throughout, but never once did it overpower the vocals. Ensemble numbers had wonderful harmonies; they were a delight to hear. Dave had obviously collaborated hard with his singers, resulting in some amazing vocal performances. Sound was provided by Dave Pallant, the levels were great, the microphones clear with no noticeable dropouts or feedback. Sound was brought up exactly when needed, therefore the audience did not miss anything at all.

The set design, by Junction 4, included scaffolding for elevation. Stairs led down to stage level, giving the actors spaces to lean or sit, adding dimension and height, drawing the eye to the action being played out. The barricades were set on trucks that rotated, they were impressive and looked the part. The cast moved scenery and brought on props discreetly and to pronounced effect, they were a well-oiled team always working together.

The costumes were authentic, costume hire was courtesy of Charlotte Godfrey and overseen by the Head of Wardrobe, Liam Egan. The costume change for the Thenardiers in Act Two was hilarious, the over-the-top makeup made the audience laugh aloud. I particularly liked the way Jean Valjean gradually had greying hair throughout the show until he was almost white by the end, a nice touch, no detail left out.

Lighting was provided by the Blackburn Empire. The spotlights used, to pick out certain players, were exact, green gels used for the sewer scene worked well. The effects were many and varied, dependent on what was happening on stage, the docks looked seedy, the bar bright and loud. No cues were visibly missed, the lighting overall was evocative and looked fantastic.

Luke Moore was strong as Jean Valjean. He had great stage presence and a wonderful singing voice with a wide vocal range. His top notes were clear and confident. He gave a polished, commanding performance which had the audience in tears by the end of the show, his rendition of ‘God on High’ was outstanding. Luke was perfectly cast in this role.

The role of Javert was played by Edward Rhodes. I liked his portrayal; he had a convincing tenacity throughout. His death scene was sad and lonely, Edward showed us a conflicted man pushed to his limit. ‘Javert’s Suicide’ is a difficult song to sing but Edward did so with ease.

Isaac Ashcroft played Marius. Issac had a lovely singing voice, his duet with Cosett: ‘In My Life/A Heart Full Of Love,’ was simply lovely: both actors clear and harmonious. He played the lovesick Marius with passion, giving a notable performance. ‘Empty Chairs At Empty Tables’ was heartfelt and sincere.

Coset was performed by Jena Darley. With her clear soprano vocals, Jena stood out. She did not miss a single note, appearing very much at ease with her character. Her harmonies were beautifully sung, with feeling and emotion, her part in ‘One Day More’ was fabulous.

Eve Bolton played Eponine. Eve had a beautiful singing voice, with a varied range. Her solo; ‘On My Own’ was emotional, her note placement perfect. The audience wept as she sang about her unrequited love, then again during her death scene.

Amaan Wardingley was Monsieur Thenardier. Quick witted and light fingered, Amaan gave a fantastic performance. His accent was perfect, I liked the fact that he pickpocketed everyone quite visibly and often, remaining in character throughout. ‘Master Of The House’ was fun and lively, Both Monsieur and Madame Thenardier were well matched and comfortably bounced off each other energy wise.

Ruby-Mai Bevan played Madame Thenardier. Ruby-Mai was larger than life, her characterisation was impressive, displaying all the horrid but hilarious attributes usually associated with this role. With her strong vocals and quick wit, Ruby-Mai gave an exceptional performance.

Enjolras was played by Jack Hornby. Jack gave an enthusiastic performance; he was fully committed to his role. He had a powerful singing voice, and his performance of ‘ABC Café/Red and Black,’ was confident and anthemic.

Molly Cornwell shone as the ill fated Fantine. Her song: ‘I Dreamed A Dream’ was laced with emotion, her vocal range strong. Her tragic death scene reduced the audience to tears for the first time of many during the show.

Gavroche was played by Evangeline Kay. Evangeline was lively and comical, her song ‘Little People’ was clear and performed with confidence. Her timing in her death scene was perfect.

Lewis Kellett played the Bishop in Act one, he had a lovely singing voice that rang out confidently. His performance was gentle and caring, he was wonderful to watch.

Rebecca Ball played Little Cosette, with a haunting, clear version of the song ‘Castle On A Cloud.’ Rebecca sang with feeling; her performance was sad and convincing.

I would dearly love to mention everyone by name but unfortunately it is not possible. Please don’t take it personally if you have not been mentioned, it is not my intention to upset anyone. Every single person on the stage and in the crew gave their all and presented a fantastic show, well deserving of the audience ovation. I would like to thank Create Theatre Academy for inviting me to review their show and look forward to seeing many more. 

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