I saw the stage show, Les Misérables, some 35 years in London not long after it launched. Couldn’t say I was a fan. The 2012 film adaptation with Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway was, I thought, a bit long and schmaltzy.
Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular that is currently touring the world and is now in Australia, however, blows my earlier memories of ‘Les Mis’ out of the water. It boasts a hand-picked cast including the best-of-the-best British, US and Aussie performers in each of the main roles. And it features the greatest depth of singing talent I have ever seen in one show. Every performer in every role (including West End theatre legend Michael Ball as Javert, comedy icon Matt Lucas as Monsieur Thénardier and Australian star Marina Prior as his screeching wife) is pitch perfect for their role.
The story is well known: In 19th-century France, an ex-convict, Jean Valjean, seeks redemption while being hunted down by a relentless police inspector, Javert. After promising to care for a dying woman’s daughter, he raises Cosette as his own amid a student-led revolution. It’s a sweeping tale of hope amidst hardship, with some comic relief to lighten the teary bits.
The single, impressive set of the Arena Spectacular represents the barricades the students fight from and conceals a full-size orchestra. Huge, high-definition projections transform the stage into various settings including the streets of Paris, its dank sewers below, and the French countryside. Two large screens also display close-ups of the actors, capturing their nuanced performances.
I was totally invested in this show in a way I did not expect to be.
It’s difficult to pick standout performances. But trained opera singer, Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean fits his character like a glove and his emotional rendition of Bring Him Home is incomparable. Twenty-nine-year-old US performer, James D Gish as student revolutionary leader, Enjolras is equally mesmerising. Incredibly, this is the first time the talented Arizona native – who also played Fiyero in Wicked on Broadway – has travelled outside North America.
The Opening Night audience gave a unanimous, roaring standing ovation to this show and its cast. And when I got home, I did something I’ve never done. Immediately booked tickets to another performance. It’s that good.
Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular
ICC Sydney Theatre, Sydney
30 April 2025–11 May, 2025
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
14 May 2025–25 May, 2025
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
28 May–1 June, 2025
