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London Cast 2011/2012 
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Broadway Legend
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Post Re: London Cast 2011/2012
Um. Weaker than expected. Really don't think it's particularly special and he sounds a little jarring on a few notes and in the way he draws out some words, it's rather 'bleating'. I don't mean that as an insult, it's the only way I can describe it. From what I've heard so far about the new cast, I really only like Craig Mather as Marius. I won't go into detail because they are not my thoughts but what I've heard from friends especially the characterisations of Javert, Enjolras, Eponine and Thénardier are about the opposite of what I get from the characters in the book and in the context of the musical, and I've already seen the famous Alfie Boe and was entirely unimpressed. I think I'll sit out for as long as I feel like. I'm not in London very much at all anyway. Really disappointed by the reports.


Tue Jun 28, 2011 1:05 pm
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Supporting Player
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Post Re: London Cast 2011/2012
tjacks55 wrote:
I wonder if there's an available soundtrack CD?! xx Theresa


Glad you had a good time!

As for soundtracks/recordings there are LOADS! It depends what you want really...

The original French recording is great because it's in Hugo's language, it's slightly closer to the novel and is more poetic lyrically than the English production. Plus it has songs not included in the current production. It doesn't however have Bring Him Home, Stars or On My Own.

The original London recording is also lovely. It also has a couple of songs that are not in the current production too.

The 10th anniversary recording has the best all-round cast, so if you want to hear some of the all time best renditions of songs, it's the right one.

The Complete Symphonic recording doesn't have as good a cast as the others but it is the WHOLE show!

There are many others but I'd say those are most definitive.


Thu Jul 14, 2011 1:14 pm
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Post Re: London Cast 2011/2012
Jon Williams is just the best!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p5b3xTd ... r_embedded

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Thu Jul 21, 2011 10:46 am
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Off-Broadway Lead
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Post Re: London Cast 2011/2012
Hey Theresa, since you probably want to take your fresh impression of the stage musical home on CD, I recommend the 2010 live tour cast recording to you. It features the recent orchestrations and the cast is quite good.

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Sat Jul 23, 2011 12:23 pm
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Post Re: London Cast 2011/2012
Cameron Blakely is going to be taking over from Matt Lucas in three weeks.


Wed Aug 24, 2011 7:09 pm
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Fresh Face
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Post Re: London Cast 2011/2012
Do we have any indication who the new Valjean is going to be after Alfie Boe leaves in November?


Fri Aug 26, 2011 7:48 am
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Post Re: London Cast 2011/2012
Not yet, no. Haven't heard any hints either. To be fair, we only heard about Simon Bowman taking over from David Shannon back in October 2009 about two weeks before that cast change.


Fri Aug 26, 2011 5:18 pm
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Post Re: London Cast 2011/2012
This thread has been so quiet. Does it mean that I should considerably lower my expectation for a performance I will see in 7 October eve? I have hoped to lure two opera fans into musicals, but the prospectus does not look bright for the moment, does it ?

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Tue Sep 06, 2011 1:21 am
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Tony Winner
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Post Re: London Cast 2011/2012
jdeng wrote:
This thread has been so quiet. Does it mean that I should considerably lower my expectation for a performance I will see in 7 October eve? I have hoped to lure two opera fans into musicals, but the prospectus does not look bright for the moment, does it ?


I think it's just that the people who were regularly going to see the show and posting reviews have moved on to doing other things, which is why there is no regular participation in this thread. I don't think you should see this as a sign that the show isn't good anymore or anything like that.

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Tue Sep 06, 2011 8:24 am
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Post Re: London Cast 2011/2012
^ Tell me about it. Les Mis fans drop like flies after a few years. Most decide they've seen the show so many times, they have gotten all it can give out of it. This is evident in their millionth review in which a slight change in blocking or interpretation is greatly exciting, fresh, and new. They move on once they notice themselves really stretching it and their once detailed reviews begin to look more like summaries and passion is replaced by obligation. These types tend to not be so big on theatre or musicals and their interest usually stems from one or two aspects that they 'specialize' in, be it literature in general; stagecraft; those darn barricade boys; the rat Eponine; megamusicals; or some original or replacement cast member they have the hots for. Eventually, they run out of material to gush about and so they drop off the face of this earth and occasionally revisit both the show and the fandom because it meant so much to them. This is the majority of fans

The ones that hang on longest are the ones who are fans of not just theatre but musicals, as well. However, their focus on Les Mis is usually not constant and they move onto and 'settle' on other musicals. They might make brief comebacks as "fans" but they are generally always on the move discovering new stuff, but their fondness for Les Mis keeps them on top of all things 19th century France and current fandom.

The ones who say goodbye just as quickly as they said "hello, I like Les Mis because ________!1!!1!111" are usually not into musical theatre, any one aspect, or really know why they like it other than "it's catchy" and "it makes me feel emortions," the latter being the farthest they go as far as dedication is concerned. Like flies on, well, you know...these types can beat the odds and last remarkably long (sporadic couple of years) and usually move on once they "grow up." I always get the feeling they somehow got the idea into their heads that their opening up and allowing it to make an emotional impact at all alone was enough, and a product of youth and naivete.

Then there are the freaks who have been around long enough to notice these patterns and will still be there when the senile Cammack orders yet another "new" orchestral score to be extracted from the two musicians left in the pit, which will undoubtedly be located in an off-West End theatre that used to screen porn on Saturday nights to men who wore trenchcoats, just like the one Eponine used to wear, which would have been replaced by a dynamic NEW one, surely, by then. :shifty:

There really aren't very many of those types at all. XD

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Thu Sep 08, 2011 1:39 am
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Post Re: London Cast 2011/2012
How nice to see that you've got it all figured out so neatly. Because whether or not someone is not posting on here anymore can only be explained by that and nothing else...


Thu Sep 08, 2011 2:28 am
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Post Re: London Cast 2011/2012
Of course not, Eppie-Sue. Neither is the last bit clearly alluding to yours truly. Not that I think you actually took all of that seriously and I'm definitely sure you did not think I was writing about you, because I wasn't. Grrr. Wild generalizations are what those are and we all know how accurate generalizations tend to be, eh? ;)

I can't stand when people say things alluding to me and wouldn't do that to you, so apologies if by any chance it appeared I was talking about you. I always make sure to include names when I do and expect the same in return. But ya, was horsing around. :angel:

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Thu Sep 08, 2011 4:34 am
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