Les Misérables: The Dream Cast in Concert
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Les Miśerables - The Dream Cast in Concert | |
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Directed by | Video Collection International |
Release date | 20 November 1995 |
Running time | 148 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Les Misérables: The Dream Cast in Concert (1995), also titled Les Misérables in Concert, is a
Although filmed with HD cameras, a
Production
The 10th anniversary concert of Les Misérables is known as the "Dream Cast in Concert" because Mackintosh hand-selected the cast. Colm Wilkinson reprised his role as Valjean after starring in the original West End and Broadway productions. Philip Quast was cast as Inspector Javert after the producers of the show witnessed his performance in a musical production in his hometown in Australia. Wilkinson and Quast are widely recognized as the "Dream Casting" of the idolized roles of Valjean and Javert.[1] Lea Salonga is the only non-Caucasian performer in the main cast. Her participation has been credited by many stage musical enthusiasts of breaking down racial barriers for future castings of the live show.
This presentation uses a "modernised" and more heavily orchestrated score than that of the original musical. It follows the traditional "musicals-in-concert" format with the cast lined up against a set of microphones with the orchestra and chorus behind them. The entire company wear costumes and use only necessary props (such as Javert's baton, Thénardier's notebook, etc.). Apart from minor movement on the concert stage, the performers do not participate in major action scenes. Where necessary, the video switches to action from the stage production.
A few action-based scenes from the musical are not included in the concert – such as the street brawl broken up by Javert, Gavroche's death, and the confrontation between Marius and Thénardier at the wedding feast. Some musical numbers, such as "At the End of the Day", "Lovely Ladies", "The Runaway Cart", "In My Life", and "Turning" were also shortened.
Notable events
During the performance of "Castle on a Cloud", as Hannah Chick sang the line "Crying at all is not allowed", a loud pop was heard – the popping of a balloon, one of many stored in the ceiling for release at the end of the show. It visibly startled her (as seen by her sudden flinch), but she recovered immediately and continued the song with no delay in the delivery.
The five international English-speaking Valjeans featured in the encore song played the convicts in the opening number "Look Down".
Encore
The programme ends with an encore in which seventeen international actors who portray Jean Valjean in their respective countries join Wilkinson on stage to each sing a few bars of "Do You Hear the People Sing?" in their native languages. They are then joined by the entire cast and choir to sing the last verse of "One Day More", receiving a standing ovation. Red, white, and blue balloons, as well as confetti, fall from the ceiling; sparklers erupt on stage as the show finishes.
Cast
Main performers
Actor | Role | Previous performance |
---|---|---|
Colm Wilkinson | Jean Valjean | Original London Cast Original Broadway Cast |
Philip Quast | Javert | Original Australian Cast Complete Symphonic Recording |
Ruthie Henshall | Fantine | Replacement London Cast |
Michael Ball | Marius Pontmercy | Original London Cast Complete Symphonic Recording |
Judy Kuhn | Cosette | Original Broadway Cast |
Lea Salonga | Éponine | Replacement Broadway Cast |
Michael Maguire | Enjolras | Original Broadway Cast |
Alun Armstrong | Monsieur Thénardier | Original London Cast |
Jenny Galloway | Madame Thénardier | Replacement London Cast |
Anthony Crivello | Grantaire | Original Broadway Cast |
Adam Searles | Gavroche | Replacement London Cast |
Hannah Chick | Young Cosette | new |
Paul Monaghan | The Bishop of Digne | new |
Jérôme Pradon | Courfeyrac | Replacement London Cast |
Peter Polycarpou | Jean Prouvaire | Original London Cast |
Matthew Cammelle | Feuilly | Replacement London Cast |
Darryl Knock | Joly | Replacement London Cast |
David Bardsley | Combeferre | Replacement London Cast |
Gareth Snook | Bamatabois | Replacement London Cast |
Michael McCarthy | Factory Foreman | Replacement London Cast |
Jackie Marks | Factory Girl | Original London Cast |
Beverly Klein | Crone | Original London Cast |
The seventeen Valjeans
The following are the seventeen Valjeans who participated in the second encore (in order):
Country | Actor |
---|---|
United Kingdom | Phil Cavill |
France | Robert Marien |
Germany | Jerzy Jeszke |
Japan | Takeshi Kaga |
Hungary | Gyula Vikidál |
Sweden | Tommy Körberg |
Poland | Krzysztof Stasierowski |
Netherlands | Henk Poort |
Canada | Michael Burgess |
Austria | Reinhard Brussmann |
Australia | Rob Guest |
Norway | Øystein Wiik |
Czech Republic | Jan Ježek |
Denmark | Kurt Ravn |
Ireland | Jeff Leyton |
Iceland | Egill Ólafsson |
United States | Craig Schulman |
The five English speaking Valjeans (Cavill, Burgess, Guest, Leyton and Schulman) appear as the five principal convicts in "Look Down" at the beginning of Act 1.[2]
DVD release
The DVD was released by
A two-disc
Recent versions of the DVD include the missing segment of Little People.[3]
A remastered special edition DVD of the concert was released on November 20, 2012.[4]
Soundtrack
- Disc 1
- Prologue (Look Down)
- On Parole/The Bishop
- Valjean's Soliloquy
- At the End of the Day
- I Dreamed a Dream
- Lovely Ladies
- Fantine's Arrest
- The Runaway Cart
- Who Am I? - The Trial
- Fantine's Death
- The Confrontation
- Castle on a Cloud
- Master of the House
- The Bargain-Waltz of Treachery
- Look Down
- Stars
- ABC Café/Red and Black
- Do You Hear the People Sing?
- Rue Plumet - In My Life
- A Heart Full of Love
- Disc 2
- The Attack on Rue Plumet
- One Day More!
- Building the Barricade/On My Own
- Back at the Barricade
- Javert's Arrival/Little People
- A Little Fall of Rain
- Night of Anguish
- First Attack
- Drink with Me
- Bring Him Home
- Second Attack/The Final Battle
- The Sewers
- Dog Eats Dog
- Javert's Suicide
- Turning
- Empty Chairs at Empty Tables
- Every Day/A Heart Full of Love (Reprise)
- The Wedding Chorale/Beggars at the Feast
- Epilogue (Finale)
- Encore 1: Entrance of International Valjeans
- Encore 2: Do You Hear the People Sing?/One Day More!
See also
- Les Misérables (musical)
- Les Misérables in Concert: The 25th Anniversary (2010)
- Les Misérables: The Staged Concert (2019)
- Adaptations of Les Misérables
References
- ^ Litson, Jo (30 April 1989). "The Qualities of Quast". The Weekend Australia.
- ^ Les Misérables in Concert CD liner notes
- ^ "Les Miserables: The 10th Anniversary Dream Cast in Concert at London's Royal Albert Hall: Colm Wilkinson, Michael Ball, Lea Salonga, Judy Kuhn, Michael Maguire, Alun Armstrong, Ruthie Henshall, Philip Quast: Movies & TV". Amazon.com. 19 February 2008. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
- ^ "BBC to Release Special Edition DVD of LES MISERABLES 10th Anniversary Concert, 11/20". broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
External links
- Les Misérables in Concert at IMDb