There is a reason the much-loved Les Misérables is never out of production. It’s the complete musical, an epic human story with a sweeping score that hits the audience with intense bursts of turmoil and tenderness, hilarity and heartbreak, and then ends with a profound proposition: ‘To love another person is to see the face of God.’ What’s not to love..?
Well, it’s also a profound challenge. All the more impressive then, that the Adamson Theatre Company’s sold-out production at the St Kilda Road Campus in August was such a triumph.
The double casting meant that a significant number of young performers had the rare opportunity to take on some of the most coveted roles in musical theatre: Jean Valjean, Javert, Eponine, Fantine, Thenardier… What’s noteworthy here is that the Company filled these roles with able young players two times over. The score alone is not for the fainthearted; it’s one thing to hit the notes and the phrasing of these very challenging songs, it’s quite another to tell the story in the songs on top of that. These young performers managed it with aplomb.
Stars, every one of them. From the principals to the supporting cast members, the dance group and the ensemble - every performer worked together to make the central human story and the wider world of post-revolution France come to colourful, vibrant musical life. This doesn’t just happen - a huge amount of work was done by the cast in rehearsal.
Mattie, who played the central role of Jean Valjean, says he ‘watched endless performances from different Jean Valjeans, including Simon Gleeson and Josh Piterman (OW2003), who both played Jean Valjean on the West End. It was incredible when I learned they were both coming to run workshops with us. I got so much out of these experiences, not only about my character, but about the entire show.’
For Fran (Year 12) who played Eponine, this production was special as it was her 11th and last show with the ATC. ‘I loved being able to have my own moments on the stage, particularly through my individual song ‘On My Own’. This was very emotional for me, as it was such a heavy song to perform, but also such a moment of clarity, as my first solo performance in Adamson Hall was back in Year 6.’
Directors Hayley McNalley and Marcus Pinnell, their production team and all the young players, both on stage and in the orchestra, should feel hugely proud of creating such a powerful, polished show. One gets the feeling this moving and exciting production will be talked about for years. It was gob-smackingly good.
