Reviews

Les Misérables is a juggernaut of a musical! Originally a novel by Victor Hugo, written in 1862, it was adapted as a sung through musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boubil in 1980 and has become a popular choice for amateur companies.

For the few people who don’t know, Les Mis is the story of Jean Valjean, a French peasant, and his desire for redemption, released in 1815 after serving nineteen years in jail for stealing a loaf of bread for his sister's starving child.

The reign of Lyndon Terracini as artistic director of Opera Australia, from which he retires next year, has been notable for his use of so many celebrated international singers.

It’s sometimes spectacular for audiences; but not too favoured by Australian singers.

Opening with a splendid Welcome to Country from Isaac Hannam (pictured above) and his skills on the yidaki, the curtain rises to reveal a decadent stage overflowing with talent: seated in velvet armchairs amongst the extensive band, are the evening’s performers, sipping drinks, just visible in the cabaret club lights of the Festival Theatre stage.

While the show must go on, it becomes an impossibility when some of the cast catch Covid. Old Mill Theatre’s production of Beautiful Thing opened a week late, and without a rehearsal in the interim, due to illness and isolation requirements. This "urban fairytale” is worth the wait, with a solid, well-presented production.