Les Miserables - Schools Edition

This was a new venture for this company and what a blast it was.  A cast of 30 youngsters, aged 10- 18, tackled this challenging show with enthusiasm, emotion and talent. Valjean and Javert dominated the stage. Valjean (Brandon Delaney,) grew in stature and voice as he confronted the horrors of prison, the deprivation that led him to steal, the struggle with his conscience before becoming a compassionate saviour.  Javert (Taylor Williams) with his assuredness, and telling  hand play in those black gloves,  impressed with his strong clear singing, displaying a character doing his duty but unable to cope with Valjean’s motives in sparing his life.  Fantine (Jen Cassidy) exposed the unfairness of life and movingly sang I Dreamed a Dream.  Eponine (Lily Wilton) displayed another fine singing voice as she faced her unrequited love with courage and dignity- could hardly believe she is only 14. Marius (Michael Harrison) and Cosette (Megan Telford) were well matched, underlining how their love sustained them and singing beautifully in their duet near the end.  Thenadier (Josh Ure) and Mde Thenadier (Ruby Leslie) as the Innkeeper and spouse worked hard at bringing out the earthiness and black comedy of the role; their open greed and cruelty was chilling yet they survived. Contrast this with the idealism of Enjolras (Scott Gliddon) in command of his role and song as leader of the uprising, who showed honour and courage, yet who was cut down.  Young principals, aged 10, went straight to the audience’s heart showing their talents as Young Cosette (Holly Hurst) with a poignant Castle in the Clouds and as the cheeky, streetwise Gavroche (Gabriel Westwood).  The young cast, confident in movement and character, gave us the favourites At The End Of The Day, One Day More, and The People’s Song with singing that was characterised by beautiful harmonies and wonderfully clear diction. All sang and acted so upliftingly that there was hardly a dry eye at the finish.  The performance was enhanced but not dominated by the dark walled set with the upper walkway and the seemingly easily manoeuvred barricades. Costumes too reflected the characters and the era. Lighting contributed to the shifting moods.  Production officials are to be congratulated on channelling the acting and singing talents of this cast into a memorable and moving production.

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