Les Misérables – A Triumph!

A sixty-strong cast raised the roof off the Theatre this week with three spectacular performances of Les Misérables – the performers were fantastic, the sets were outstanding, and House was sold out for the two evening shows. This triumph comes hot on the heels of remarkable performances of ‘Six’ in November, and the news that an Old Roedeanian has been cast as Amy Winehouse in the upcoming biopic ‘Back to Black’.

The audience entered the auditorium to see the iconic image from Les Misérables projected on the curtain, and there was certainly an air of excitement. The curtains opened to reveal a brilliant set, and the full company begins the show. The main character, Jean Valjean then sings a soliloquy, and it was clear from that moment that Alissandra (Yr12) embodied her character completely. He is the Mayor, although was previously a convict, and this is revealed during the course of the show.

Although very many of the songs from the show are well-known, Alma (Yr13), playing the part of Fantine, has some of the most famous, including ‘I Dreamed a Dream’, and she sang it beautifully, with wonderful control and pathos. Halfway through the first half, we meet Javert, the Police Inspector, played by Jemima (Yr13), who meets and half-remembers Valjean from a previous encounter. On a stage covered in tiny spots of light, Jemima, in probably her last performance at Roedean, sings the beautiful solo, ‘Stars’ – despite the low pitch, her voice is warm and rich, and she held the audience absolutely entranced.

This scene is followed by ‘Castle on a Cloud’, sung by Livvy (Yr7) in the role of Cosette, who was left as a child by her mother, Fantine, with the owners of an inn – her voice has a dreamlike quality, reflecting her thoughts of escaping the Thénardiers for a better life. Later in this act, Niamh (Yr12) plays the older Cosette, and sings ‘A Heart Full of Love’ – her soprano voice suits the character perfectly, and her top notes ring out beautifully.

‘Master of the House’ is the song in which the comic interplay between Monsieur and Madame Thénardier comes to the fore. Nettie and Maria (Yr12) were the perfect foils for each other, with excellent timing and comedic moments, and this broke the tension and really brought the house down. The next scene features Gavroche, a boy from the street, played by Aya (Yr7), and she captured the essence of the role perfectly.

Act 1 ends with two fantastically rousing songs, ‘Do You Hear the People Sing’ and ‘One Day More’, with the full company on stage, and they signal the start of the revolution. During the interval the stage is re-set with the barricade, which is revealed at the start of Act 2.

Éponine, played by Amelia (Yr12), opens the act, with the very famous ‘On My Own’. She sang it flawlessly, declaring her unrequited love for Marius, performed by Fleur (Yr11). Not only is she in love with him, but he uses her as an intermediary to pass a letter to Cosette, whom he loves. The melancholic start builds slowly to the fighting on the barricade.

‘Bring Him Home’ is one of the most beautiful songs of the show, in which Valjean begs God to save Marius, even offering his own life in exchange. The song is very exposed and deceptively simple, and Alissandra performed it brilliantly, showing off the best of her voice.

After the battle scene on the barricades, Marius sings ‘Empty Chairs at Empty Tables’, knowing that he is the only one to survive, other than Valjean. Fleur managed the low register of the song effortlessly, as did all of the singers playing male parts.

It is a testament to the dramatic prowess of the students that the cast included actors from Year 7 to Year 13, and, in addition to the main character, there are lots of cameos, which provide opportunities for more performers: well done to Paloma, to Galina, Phoebe, Alfie, Tilly, Grace, Olly, Ellen, Lucy, Megs, and Layla, as well as everyone in the ensemble. This work is challenging as there is no dialogue, and it is sung throughout. This means that the band is playing throughout, and the scene-changes come thick and fast. Everyone worked very hard, rehearsing for long hours to get to grips with this show, and together they pulled it off excellently.

Congratulations to the entire cast, the musicians in the band, the backstage crew, the Theatre team who brought the show to life, and most of all to the Director, Susan Woodbridge, who masterminded this outstanding performance.

Ms Woodbridge would like to acknowledge ensemble members, Lucy, Meghan, Stella, Saffron, and Greta, who joined the cast after the programme went to print. Technical support was provided by Skylah, Merla, and Mia, while former Theatre Studies A Level student, Holly, called the show as Deputy Stage Manager – no mean feat with 320 cues!

She would also like to thank the following: Ms Sellers and Ms Clarke for assistant directing, coaching, and supporting; Ms Rohowsky for singing coaching; and Ms Stephens for being our backstage chaperone. Les Mis was a real team effort and we are so grateful for their contributions.