Dreams become reality at Les Mis

BY JAMES TOURNIER

Lyric Theatre’s new production of Les Miserables is guaranteed to restore your faith in this epic musical.

OPENING Her Majesty’s Theatre after its recent restoration, director Stephen Armati has delivered a simply splendid take of Les Miserables on all levels.

Beautifully mounted and featuring a superb orchestra conducted by Sarah Barlow, set design by Matthew Henderson, innovative lighting from Matthew and Laurence Heenan, with a wonderful chorus directed by Kristiana Withers and assisted by Jane Nice, it sounds as it should be heard.

Every singer in this show has an excellent voice and the songs are delivered with clarity, understanding, and feeling.

Les Miserables is Victor Hugo’s story of the journey of ex-convict Jean Valjean, unfairly imprisoned, and the police inspector Javert who hounds him through nearly twenty years.

Valjean is played by Jolan Walker, a newcomer to Ballarat with a wealth of experience. Valjean is a man tormented and thrown into action by his past. With remarkable control and soaring range, Walker commands the stage from open to close.

His light and shade in the role is engaging and his transformation from angry and bitter to humility and compassion is wonderful to watch. He stops the show on several occasions and may reduce the audience to tears.

The pent-up rage and truly menacing single-mindedness that Alex Gay brings to the role of Javert is everything that one could hope for. He has a great voice and strong presence. Last seen as the Beast, in Beauty and the Beast, this young man shows all the signs of a true star.

The comic relief is provided by Gareth Grainger who retains credibility in another difficult role as the grotesque innkeeper and Maxine Montgomery is the perfect match for him as Madame Thénardier, in a loud and coarse, yet wonderful performance.

Bronte Wright is a beautiful and tragic Fantine with a great voice for I Dreamed a Dream, and Callen Barclay as Marius and Jessica Schiavons as Cosette make the perfect couple albeit with Éponine played by Madeleine Palmer vying for Marius’ attention.

Palmer is a powerhouse in her role, with acting and singing ability beyond her years. She is another with a big future and sings On My Own beautifully.

Liam Kelly as Enjolras sang brilliantly and is becoming a very versatile all-round performer. Charlie McGinniss is young Gavroche and Isabella Ebenwaldner plays the young Cossette, and Lily Retallick as the young Éponine, all are impressive in their roles.

The entire ensemble is vocally brilliant throughout, and Garry West returns to the stage after playing Javert in 1994, this time as the kindly bishop who assists John Valjean and changes his life.

There is a whole new generation of musical theatre addicts who know Les Mis only from recordings and the film. Then there are the true followers, you need to see this production as an example of why theatre is sometimes far superior to film.

There is magic to be had in Her Majesty’s until Sunday, 8 March. Another magnificent Lyric show opens Thursday, 27 February.