The first time that I saw Les Miserables was at The Playhouse in Edinburgh. I was pregnant with Alasdair so I think that it was about November 1993. I remember after the interval someone said "Let's go and see more of the Revolting French!" I had never heard any of the music before that night and I absolutely loved it! I think I saw it again a few years later and then I saw an excellent production of it at Hutchie when Jamie was in 5th year. Jamie was a stalwart of the school drama department and he was playing one of the students. He loved it and so did I, the soloists were absolutely excellent, to almost professional standard. It was very moving.
And now there has finally been a film made of the musical. Hooray! I could hardly wait to see it and I was not disappointed! I thought it translated magnificently to the screen, and the director did well to make good use of lots of different settings such as the shipyard and the pub and of course Paris. This was a contrast to the recent production of Anna Karenina which I enjoyed last year and which deliberately used theatrical settings. All of the actors were brilliant, with special mention going of course to the wonderful Hugh Jackman as Jen Valjean who should definitely be awarded the Best Actor Oscar for his performance. Anne Hathaway was a beautiful, fragile Fantine, and Samantha Barks was perfect as my favourite character, Éponine - what a beautiful singing voice she has! And Russell Crowe (looking rather middle aged which I suppose he is!) was great and even slightly sympathetic as Javert, and Eddie Redmayne (who was very good in Birdsong last year) was a gorgeous Marius. I could go on and on because they were all great, but a personal favourite and my top tip for future stardom is Aaron Tveit as Enjolras. Handsome, with lovely curls, and a good actor too!
It was such a good film, I loved it and was on the edge of my seat with excitement. I want to see it again as soon as I can.
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