Les Misérables - Schools Edition

Les Misérables – Schools Edition … a musical performed by St Pauls Players Youth at Adlington Community Centre, Railway Road, Adlington on Thursday, 5th September 2024

Les Misérables, affectionally known as ‘Les Mis’, is a stage adaptation of Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel of the same name. A sung-through musical, originally written in French by Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boubil and Jean-Marc Natel was first staged in 1980. After a short run in Paris, Cameron Mackintosh heard the soundtrack and decided to produce an English-language version. Facts: script has now been translated in twenty-two languages, staged in fifty-three countries and seen by more than one hundred and thirty million people… not bad for a musical first dubbed… "a witless and synthetic piece of entertainment"!  ‘Les Misérables’ is my favourite musical of all time!

Production Team… the task of bringing this piece of musical excellence ‘beyond the barricade’ was given to Graham Cohen (Director), Tom Bowes (Musical Director) and Jane McQueen/Harry Cohen (Production Co-ordinator / Assistant) and what a good job they made of it. In Graham’s programme notes, he tells us that he directed the same school’s version of ‘Les Mis’ here at Adlington back in 2005 with a great cast and which received wonderful acclaim… they say ‘practice makes perfect’ Graham! So, with a cast of fifty, a huge beautiful homemade barricade to manoeuvre, a few battles to play out and some other ‘meaty’ scenes to contend with… we sat back and waited to see how the banner unfurled … we were not to be disappointed!  So, credit where credits due, well-done Graham, Tom, Jane and Harry … it was obvious from the start that you knew what you wanted from your young charges and I think I’d be right in suggesting you got that and more … well done, be proud of what you helped achieve!

The Cast … I do get a little ‘ribbing’ about this, but I’ve always been of the opinion that if someone has rehearsed for several months, then their name should appear in a review… so with fifty cast members challenge accepted!  Ensemble - Annabel Jenkin, Ariana Chappelhow, Ashley McClean, Ava Callow, Chloe Kewley, Coco Culshaw, Connie Upton, Darcey Locke, Edie Philpott, Edward Hesketh, Emily Hogg, Frankie Topham, Fraya Potter, Grace Brooke, Hanan Arnold, Hollie Thompson, Isabella Owen, Jacob Harvey, Jake Newens, James Hendry, Jocelyn Hart, Kallea McKee, Katie Houseman Smith, Laylah Roseden, Leah Stokes, Lilah Philpott, Lucy Stevens, Martha Coleman, Matilda Pidd, Nikkita McCarthy, Noah Smart-Stanton, Millie Wells, Penelope Upton, Rose Allman, Thomas Sibley, Toby Barton and Zoe Curtis.   
Principals… six leads ‘Jean Valjean’ played by Bradley Holt; ‘Marius’ played by Seb Holbert; ‘Cosette’ played by Daisy Jeffs; ‘Fantine’ played by May Upton; ‘Éponine’ played by Ebony Williams and ‘Javert’ played by Alex Farrar. Support included ‘Thenardier’ played by Ben Brooks; ‘Madame Thenardier’ played by Isla Graham; ‘Gavroche’ played by Alfie Howlett; ‘Enjolras’ played by Lewis Parmar; ‘Young Cosette’ played by Mabel McQueen (part shared with Violet Hodge); ‘Young Éponine’ played by Felicity Garth… wow, what a line up, you should all be very proud!  So, this is where I stick my neck out and start suggesting … MY ‘favourites’ and MY ‘Showstealer’ and OMG, this was ever so difficult!  Remember these are MY favourites… YOU will have your own ideas, but these are mine … and I start with ‘MY SHOWSTEALER’ … who had to be Seb Holbert and his portrayal of ‘Marius’.  This was the second occasion that I’ve chosen Seb as my ‘showstealer’ this year… the first occasion was when he played ‘Jamie’ on this very same stage in ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’. As he did with Jamie, Seb made this look effortless… stage presence aplenty, confident, assured, great diction, great vocals, he just made this part his own!  Loved ‘Empty Chairs’ and his rendition of ‘A Heart Full of Love’ sung with Cosette and Éponine… was up there as well… be ever so proud Seb!  Running Seb ever so close for ‘showstealer’ was Ebony Williams and her portrayal of ‘Éponine’. Loved the intimacy and the intensity of some of her scenes … ‘On My Own’ was sung to perfection, even though her ‘mike’ was a little late arriving!  Comfortable throughout… her death, in the arms of Marius, and the song ‘A Little Fall of Rain’ was a show ‘highlight’ for me … just a few sniffles/tears!  Bradley Holt took on the huge role of ‘Jean Valjean’ … the central figure in this musical. I did feel Bradley got more comfortable with the role as the show progressed … you could see and hear his confidence grow and in Act 2, his vocals got stronger as did his whole character, ‘Bring Him Home’ was just a highlight… be proud Bradley.  Cheating just a little… thought the ‘Thenardiers’ … Ben Brooks and Isla Graham did ever so well together, adding the humour to this dark musical. ‘Master of the House’ was sung and acted with great aplomb… be very proud you two.  Final ‘shout out’ goes out to May Upton and her portrayal of ‘Fantine’.  I always feel that this must be a difficult role to play especially for a young person, but May, provided us with a confident performance, good stage presence, good diction and good vocals. The scene where she re-appears in Act 2 when Valjean is dying, was superbly directed and enacted ever so well with emotion and passion … loved it… well done May!  I could go on, but please be aware that everyone on that stage gave of their best and when that happens, there’s very little else one can ask and I think from the applause throughout and the ‘standing ovation’ at the end… this was an opinion shared by everyone present that evening!  

Staging/Set/Tech… Steve Blundell (Stage Manager) and Jill Heeks (Ass. Stage Manager) and their ever so experienced Set Building/Stage Crew … Barry Heeks, Alan Leyland, Steve Pilkington, Dax Owen, David Worsley, Nathan Garlic, Richard Houghton and Kamil Kupniewki and ‘Scenic Painter’ Howard Bates should be proud of their work and the visuals they created.  Loved the ‘barricade’ guys … very impressive, nothing ever seems a problem to achieve here at Adlington... be proud folks, good job!   Sound … as ever was being looked after by the ever so experienced Joanna/Natalie Sweet and Richard Cornes with the Lighting under the watchful eye of another experienced ‘techy’ … Stuart Naylor.  I didn’t feel that everything went as well as it could have on both fronts if I’m honest… we had some slow personal mikes and some problems, I think, with the link/levels between orchestra and cast, balance wasn’t as assured as usual. Lighting was also a little hit and miss… sometimes perfect, sometimes we had actors singing/speaking in dark/semi dark spots … this could well have been ‘actor error’, not 100% sure.  What wasn’t a problem was the wonderfully ‘projected images’ set up by Stuart Naylor and operated by Richard Cornes ...  these projected images are becoming a ‘statement’ here at Adlington and were once again superb and enhanced this musical ever so much… be proud Stuart/Richard!  

Orchestra … under the care and control of Tom Bowes (Musical Director), included Jennie Pierce - Key1; Rob Rainford - Keys2; Jeremy Bleasdale – Bass; Rob Balderstone – Drums; Mel Waddington/Ruth Parry – Reeds; Mike Lyons – Trumpet and Dave Parkinson – Trombone.

Costumes … were amazing, enhancing the production ever so much (Provided by Starlight Productions) Props … looked authentic and used well … under the watchful eye of Becca Hilton and Sue Heyes

Chaperones … there are many people who help put a show on stage … but whenever we have a ‘young person’ on stage or a ‘Youth Production’ taking place, then it is essential that we have the services of our ‘chaperones’!  Without these amazing volunteers who help provide the ‘safe and secure environment’ needed to allow these young people to perform, shows like this could not happen – (for this production) those dedicated volunteers included Liz and Lily Blundell, Lisa and Harry Cohen, Jill Heeks, Jane McQueen, Kerry Newens and Kerry Taylor… we thank you so much for your involvement and your dedication.

Honestly… I just ‘love’ watching young people do their thing!  We are blessed here in District 6 with so many amazingly talented young people, who perform in some amazing productions, as this one was! Thanks to those who go above and beyond to ensure, encourage this to happen, you know who you are, your service to these young people is noted with pride… thank you for what you do!  In closing, can I take this opportunity to thank St Paul’s for inviting my wife and I, to Graham Cohen for looking after us throughout and the cast and all involved for providing us with another wonderful youth production… hope to see you all again soon…

Stay safe, keep well…
‘Stronger Together’

Jim Briscoe
NODA NW
District 6 Rep

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