Hi all, many thanks to everyone that helped turn me green, here's looking to blue and to making some...
Hi all, many thanks to everyone that helped turn me green, here's looking to blue and to making some new friends.
Member since:02.09.2005
Reviews:15
Members who trust:3
I've only ever seen one musical in the West End ..... guess which one !!! I've actually seen "Les Miserables" twice and would many more times if given the chance.
Les Miserables is widely recognised as the World's most popular musical. 10 years after it's opening night, the 1996 10th Anniversary concert which took place at The Royal Albert Hall, has become almost as legendary as the show itself.
This amazing production is one of the most remarkable performances of Les Miserables ever put together, with the full magnificance of the score accompanied by the outstanding Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The "Dream Cast" put together for this production includes over 250 performers with some of the West End's top musical actors taking the lead roles, many of these stars have appeared in the show worldwide.
A bit about "Les Miserables" -
Jean Valjean, the main character is released on parole after 19 years on the chain gang, finds that the yellow ticket-of-leave he must, by law, display condemns him to be an outcast. Only the saintly Bishop of Digne treats him kindly and Valjean, embittered by years of hardship, repays him by stealing some silver. Valjean is caught and brought back by police, and is astonished when the Bishop lies to the police to save him, also giving him two precious candlesticks. Valjean decides to start his life anew. But will fate allow him to?
This is just a very brief outline of the beginning of the plot, to write all about it would probably take pages ...... trust me when l say it just gets better and better.
The DVD:-
The DVD comes in a special collector's edition double disc set. Although the disc is celebrating 10 years the box set is due to the fact that it is actually now 20 years old. Disc 1 shows the complete concert which runs for 150 minutes. The cast includes actors such as Colm Wilkinson, Ruthie Henshall and Michael Ball. The concert itself has the main cast sitting on the stage and the choir surrounding them. Each actor stands forward when it is their turn to sing. The lighting effects that accompany the concert are breath taking and the music is just out of this world.
Disc 2 is the bonus disc which shows a programme which was originally shown on Channel 4 in 1988 called 'Stage by Stage'. It shows the making of Les Miserables around the world featuring interviews with Cameron Mackintosh the brains behind the musical and Alain Boubill and Claude-Michel Schonberg the creators of the musical. The programme is really interesting and it's fascinating listening to each of the songs in the many languages it's been produced in. It's also interesting to see how each Country perceives each character.
Along with the DVD comes a special commemorative booklet which gives a brief resume of each scene along with pictures of the concert and a scene index at the back.
The Songs:-
There are far too many to list but includes "I Dreamed a Dream", "Stars", "A Heart full of Love", "Bring him Home" and "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables".
Do you really need to know my verdict, l loved it the first time l watched it and still love it after watching about 25 times. Make sure you turn the volume right up to get the full effect, close the curtains and get a bottle of wine in, you will not regret seeing this. Next year is the 21st Anniversary celebrations, l can't wait to see what they'll do then.
Take care & enjoy.
Lynsey
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Music / Performing Arts, Comedy - Director: Trevor Nunn, Geoffrey Posner - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, Parental Guidance - Starring: Duncan Preston, Celia Imrie, Julie Walters, Victoria Wood, Jim Broadbent
it is nice that they record them so they can be enjoyed at home, as not everybody gets to go to the theatre, I live a long way from London, so it is an weekend or a week away for us to go to the threatre, I have only been twice to london to see a show, that was Time and Momma Mia - I would love to see more, as I love the theatre -lyn x
Playgirl27 06.01.2006 15:23
Good review sounds quite good don't know how i have missed it, lou xx
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