Les Miserables - Whats The Show

Les Misérables Rating

★★★★★

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Upstage Theatre Company have surely upstaged some here with their current amazing production of Les Misérables. It is certainly up there with the best I’ve seen.

https://www.upstagetheatrecompany.com

It may be difficult to find a better amateur production playing in suburbia right now and there are many excellent ones around. However you cannot go past the professionalism of this show. Highly skilled orchestra. Expertly designed and placed story-telling stage sets. Lighting working cohesively together with sound. Costuming complimenting every other aspect of the show. And, of course, an extensive cast who will have you feeling every ounce of the emotional turmoil lived in nineteenth century France.

Chains and crimes of the imprisoned and bleak futures of so many in peasantry are woven into a narrative for a musical like no other. A musical where everything is told by song. And such powerful songs at that. This is what theatre lovers simply call ‘Les Mis’

It goes unsaid Les Misérables is known the world over and back again. Step by step and song by song, settle down in your seat and take it all in…. This is live theatre at its best!

‘Jean Valjean’ is played by Ryan Purdy with instinct for his lead character magnificently realized on all levels. There’s no question when he opens with the words ‘What Have I Done?’ he’s got this!

Adrian Glaubert playing ‘Javert’ gives his ‘bucket list’ role everything, with noticeable presence on stage and depth in a psychological complexity required.

‘Fantine’ played by Jessica La Mari performs every inch of this coveted role superbly, her ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ gave me goose-bumps, and had the audience silenced before erupting in applause like there was going to be no other chance.

‘Eponine’ played by Alyssa Jandayan. Obvious young ambition here is going to see this girl on stages for a long time. Her ‘On My Own’ opening Act II nailed both song and expression.

‘Marius’ played by Nickolas Brown has really stepped up to greater heights since I saw him in his lead debut in The Pirate Queen; many more leads to come I think! Equally talented Olivia Falls playing ‘Cosette’ looked stunning with that famous long blonde crimped hair and again her costuming to compliment was spot on.

Felicity Eastwood as Madame Thenardier’ coupled with Matt Jakowenko as Thenardier’ are brilliant together, bloody brilliant!!! They’ll undoubtedly have you hating these loathsome characters, but their theatrics will have you in stitches.

Mike Armada gives ‘Enjolras’ a charismatic quality in one of his ‘dream roles’.

Accompanying roles played by Anthony Cirocco (Bishop/Fauchelevant) Daniel Chalmers (Foreman/Combeferre), Nick Sheridan (Courfeyrac), Joel Blashki (Joy/Jean Prouvaire), Chloe Neal (Claquesous), Brock Downie (Bamatbois/Montparnasse), Tom Acaro (Babet), Kenny Cheng (Brujon/Feuilly/Lesgles) are all very commendable and when paired with dramatic lighting effects, the fight scenes especially were well planned and executed.

It would be remiss not to mention the ensemble making the scenes extremely real and full of life, be it sad or happy, angry or tragic. Each individual wholly giving it their all in character all the time: Alannah Woods, Berny Hughes, Celeste Marinelli, Jessica Davy, Christine James, Stephanie Thao My Nguyen, Mia Knudson and Pippi Clarke whom I recognized immediately from her role in Upstage’s ‘Chicago’; there’s always incredible talent in the ensemble. Not just background actors, the ensemble make a show what it is on a grander scale and these people certainly did that 100 times over. ‘Master of the House’ for comedy and ‘Lovely Ladies’ for dancing were our favourites to watch you all – excellent!!

This production has talented youngsters among the cast too. I saw Maggie Lord as ‘Young Cosette’. This is a special role and I fondly remember my own daughter learning ‘Castle on a Cloud’ so it brought tears to my eyes watching Maggie sing it so beautifully – thankyou. I love how live theatre can do this and that personal re-visit made my day! (No doubt Daphne Tchantcho sharing the Young Cosette role also gives a memorable performance). Adding Alexis Hill to the junior cast as ‘Young Eponine’ she gave compelling confidence acting it out with her onstage mum, and 11year old Reuben Koronczyk was definitely the right fit to play ‘Gavroche’; funny, naughty and herosome all in one show! Shining as young ensemble members are Helayna Cirocco, Oscar Cirocco and Noah Glaubert – must be great to be amongst the stars in a show with your Dads on the same stage. Theatre gives children unique opportunities.

Congratulations to Director Cody Riker and team, Lana Kleesh (Movement Director), Anna Castle (Vocal Director), Scott J Hili (Prod Designer, Set and Costumes), Sam Victoria (Lighting), Malcolm McCaffery (Conductor), Simone Lim (Properties), Pete Oliver (Sound) – you have all produced a MUST-SEE!

As said by Upstage Theatre Company’s President Tim Warren-Smith, thank you for supporting community theatre. It truly means the world!

Ticket link: https://www.upstagetheatrecompany.com/

ON NOW: 10 – 19 April 2026

Les Misérables is playing at the impressive Tony Sheumack Centre, Beaconhills College, a huge relatively new school theatre with fantastic viewing from well tiered seats. I was grateful the Upstage welcoming team had someone guiding us from carpark and offered a free tea or coffee straight away on arrival coming in from the dismal rainy day outside – so thoughtful, and they had a great canteen for snacks.

Upstage Theatre Company’s next production is Jesus Christ Superstar in Sept/Oct. Auditions and information: Instagram @upstagetheatreco

To book tickets to Les Misérables, please visit https://www.upstagetheatrecompany.com/.

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Les Miserables Rating

★★★★★

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Celebrating 40 years since its’ debut, Les Misérables is now the world’s longest running musical; Within moments of The Arena Spectacular’s opening, it is clear why. While legendary producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh correctly notes the production would succeed with only work lights on an empty stage, The Arena Spectacular boasts 110 world-class actors, musicians, and crew, from 17 nationalities (including one dog), incorporating sensational lighting, a lavishly constructed stage, and phenomenal costuming and makeup.

Complete the picture with a full orchestra and LED screens, in a venue and with effects more associated with rock concerts than musicals, and you have an intensely immersive show, monumentally embodying a ‘more is more’ mantra. While simpler productions of Les Misérables retain the resonance to rouse, the scale and spectacle here create a dazzling and impactful rendition of an unstoppable icon.

The quality of The Arena Spectacular exceeds expectations, even those informed upon the caliber of the cast and creatives involved; While Bradley Jaden provides a virtuoso performance as Javert the evening I attend, his alternate in the role, Michael Ball, was a member of the original Royal Shakespeare Company production performed in London in 1985, as Marius Pontmercy. The expressively hilarious Marina Prior gives grimy gaud in the role of Madame Thénardier, having played Cosette in the original Australian production back in 1987; A trim looking Matt Lucas charismatically reprises the role of Thénardier opposite her, 15 years after he first performed that role in the 25th Anniversary show at the O2 Arena in London – providing fine comedic relief while also hinting at his character’s attrition from surviving through hardship.

However, it is Lucas’s alumni from the 25th anniversary production who steals the show the night I attend; Tony award winner and Grammy nominee Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean gives a tour de force performance, with exceptional vocal ability unsurprising of a renowned opera singer with resume outside of the musicals, in addition to beautifully nuanced character delivery, showing equal measures of strength and sensitivity in what is essentially the story of his character’s struggles and redemption. Boe’s interplay with other Cast is excellent, the scenes with Bradley Jaden’s Javert especially memorable. Jaden deserves notice for performing Javert with sufficient sympathy, charisma, and recognition to bring likability to such an antagonist; His character’s turmoil and ultimate unravelling are hard-hitting.

Mary-Jean Caldwell is aching and ethereally lovely in the role of Fantine the evening I attend; The fact this pitch-perfect performer understudies that role, otherwise being credited as Factory Girl in the Brochure, suggests an embarrassment of riches to draw from in the cast. As Marius Pontmercy, Jac Yarrow (or was it Harry Grant Smith?) is another standout, showing strong vocals and great connection, especially in scenes with Beatrice Penny-Touré’s Cosette, and Beth Curnock’s Eponine.

Youngsters Christopher Joseph and Scarlett Sheludko also excel in their respective roles of Gavroche and young Cosette. I did not see the latter, who is reminiscent of a young Lea Salonga, in the curtain call – and suspect that was due to it being after her bedtime. The overall standard of the entire Cast, including the Ensemble, is excellent; All bring presence, dedication, and authenticity in their roles – which they are beautifully made-up and attired to perform. I would be remiss not to mention the Orchestra, under the direction of Adrian Kirk, who tell their sonic story phenomenally.

I do wonder whether the LED screens could have been utilized more throughout the show; While the amplified images of the performers built intimacy and connection which may have otherwise have been lost for audience members in the back rows, the LEDs could have been used to create stage effects (i.e., the rain conspicuously missing during ‘A Little Fall of Rain’) or otherwise fill in plot points referred to but unseen in the production (i.e., Valjean’s feats of strength and bravery). The stage setup, while textured and dynamic, also limits movement of the main characters to a narrow channel, overall. However, such criticisms are picky; The enduring impression and execution of Les Misérables: The Arena Spectacular are triumphant, upholding the legacy of a beloved cultural touchstone, creating its own place in history. The audience were moved to tears throughout, and from their seats in ovation at the conclusion.

To book tickets to Les Miserables, please visit https://lesmisarenatour.com.au/.

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