Les Miserables in Singapore: Film version ‘hasn’t killed stage show’
(Photo: Yahoo Singapore)
It’s been about 20 years since Les Miserables was performed in Singapore.
Based on Victor Hugo’s novel, Les Miserables was last staged in 1996 at the Kallang Theatre.
Since its last appearance here, the world’s longest-running musical has toured the US and still plays on London’s West End. A film musical version was also released in 2012 featuring Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway and Russell Crowe.
Even before it arrived in Singapore, the production encountered some hiccups. The Business Times reported that the opening night was abruptly rescheduled from 29 May to 31 May.
And during the show’s run in Manila – its stop just before Singapore – a number of cast members fell ill, said lead actor Earl Carpenter, who plays Inspector Javert.
“We had a lot of illness in Manila. The majority of the company were very, very sick during their time in Manila, which was a shame. That takes the sparkle out of the eyes, knocks out the energy,” he said.
After waiting so long for the musical to return to Singapore’s shores, should theatre-goers here be concerned?
“It’s live theatre. We do what we can do. Sometimes your energy’s not always there,” said Carpenter during a media call on Thursday (2 June). “But we’re in a new city and we’re very excited to be here.”
The show begins with the tale of Jean Valjean, an escaped convict who attempts to turn his life around after breaking parole. Set in 19th-century France, it also follows several characters such as Fantine, a woman driven to prostitution to support her child; Enjolras, a student leading an uprising; and Eponine, a street urchin caught in a love triangle.
Comparisons
This contemporary version of the musical has a more cinematic edge, with a stage that features painted scenes from the story projected onto its background.
“Visually, it’s more striking,” said Nick Allott, mananging director of Cameron Mackintosh Ltd, the production company behind Les Miserables.
“This is a show that’s timeless, and it will play (well) to… an audience that’s coming to it fresh.”
Although the producers allow some countries to stage the show in their own way, Allott says there will be no specific adaptations or tweaks for the Singapore audience.
“It’s the story, the strength of the score and strength of the characters that will always bring an audience in… Singapore has a very sophisticated audience. There’s no need to simplify things or complicate things,” explained Allott.
Given the likely comparisons with the Broadway and West End actors, or even the movie, some cast members were quick to assert that the predominantly Australian talents are no less talented.
“I came from the UK cast of Les Miserables that played at the Queen’s Theatre, and to join (this cast) is like nothing else… I believe there’s a lot more passion coming from Australia. The Australians in this cast are epic,” said Paul Wilkins, who plays Marius.
Rather than emulating the performances of other big names who have starred in the musical, the current cast members believe they are bringing a different dynamic to the table.
“I realise I didn’t need to be stressed at auditions by comparing myself to anybody else. We’re all so different and always interpret the material differently,” said Chris Durling, who plays Enjolras.
“I think the one thing that us Aussies are known for is our extreme work ethic. Big shows like Les Mis are few and far in between, and people work very hard to get into them. I don’t take it for granted and I’ll do the best that I can.”
(Photo: Yahoo Singapore)
Introducing new audiences to the show
There was a quiet confidence among the cast that the 2012 movie has not diminished interest in the musical.
Allcott believes that, in some places, the movie provided an incentive for new audiences to watch the stage version. He said: “There used to be an argument that if you had a film, the film would kill the stage show. But that’s proved not to be the case. I think the two sit side by side very comfortably.”
As far as younger audiences are concerned, Simon Gleeson, who plays Jean Valjean, believes even young children will find something about the Les Miserables story that they connect with.
Gleeson illustrated his point with an anecdote involving his then seven-year-old daughter, who repeatedly told him not to rehearse the powerful song “Bring Him Home” while she was in the house.
“She said, ‘I forbid you to sing in the house’. I realised it’s because she would go to her room and cry because she locked on to the fact that something was wrong – that I wasn’t happy, that I was in pain – and she couldn’t comprehend what it was about,” he said.
“She doesn’t understand the story but she understood from the music alone that it hit her in a very emotional way. And that’s what this show does.”
