Twopenny Theatre

Watching Les Misérables has become an annual pastime since moving to London, and it’s yet to disappoint. Judging by its superlative run in the West End, plenty of others agree. But why? A recent viewing gave a few hints.

• Lighting: Paule Constable’s lighting design, part of 2019’s production refresh, is gorgeous. Heavy on angled spotlights, scenes feel like they could be pulled straight from the canvases of Carvaggio or Rembrandt, with accentuated faces popping against shadowy backdrops. Classic chiaroscuro is more than fitting for a musical that’s itself a living classic.
• Vocality: Les Mis’ songs are ones you can throw your body into – and this cast is more than happy to oblige. Highlights include Amena El-Kindy’s (Éponine) tender rendition of “On My Own”, and Adam Pearce’s turn as the Bishop, but vocal firepower is spread throughout the ensemble. On a night when the billed leads for Jean Valjean and Javert were both unavailable, their replacements (Chris Jacobsen and Jordan Simon Pollard, respectively) sang with worthy power and purpose.
• Theme: Staging and songs are nothing without something worth singing about it. Les Mis’ grounds its melodrama in universally understood themes – the redemptive power of mercy, the need for forgiveness, and the beauty of self-sacrificial love. I’ve yet to see a musical so adept at bringing its audience to tears.

Here’s to hoping for many more days of “One Day More” at the Sondheim Theatre.

Rating: ★★★★★

The Best Deal: Wait for the New Year’s Sale, or book direct from the theatre.