Review: Les Miserables, Bristol Hippodrome (From This Is Wiltshire)

Review: Les Miserables, Bristol Hippodrome

2:46pm Friday 30th July 2010 in

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The Bristol Hippodrome was on to a winner when it opened its door to the awe inspiring spectacle that is Les Misérables.

Everything about it was epic – the stage, the huge cast, the story and the music.

The star of the show was undoubtedly John Owen-Jones with his sensational, passionate and rousing portrayal of Jean Valjean.

The performance was crisp and he produced some heart-wrenching moments such as when he rescued a little Cosette from a wicked Madame Thénardier, played vivaciously by Lynne Wilmot.

Madalena Alberto’s rendition of I Dreamed A Dream as Fontine was spectacular. You could witness raw emotion flowing throughout her body.

Her voice was not quite Susan Boyle, but she was still able to make hairs stand on end nevertheless.

The tragedy of this jaw-dropping blockbuster is encapsulated by the shock death of the little boy, Gavroche and the emotional farewell by Rosalind James’ Éponine, both caught up in an explosive gun battle at the heart of the French Revolution.

An unlikely addition to the cast was Pop Idol heart-throb Gareth Gates.

He fared better as Marius, although his performance felt quite shallow next to seasoned thespians such as Owen-Jones and Earl Carpenter (Inspector Javert).

Carpenter put in a breathtaking performance as he sang his way to his own death. The troubled man jumps from a bridge, plunging into water. Hooked to invisible strings, he is raised from the ground flailing his arms and legs as if struggling in water.

The back-projected visuals are some of the finest use of technology I have ever seen in a touring musical.

As this show celebrates 25 years of international acclaim, it is clear that it will live on for many years.

Les Misérables runs until August 2 at the Bristol Hippodrome.