Original Production of LES MISERABLES in London Will Take Hiatus and Re-Open With New Staging

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 8:24am

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Original-Production-of-LES-MISERABLES-in-London-Will-Take-Hiatus-and-Re-Open-With-New-Staging-20190108

The original London production of Les Miserables in London is going to be replaced with the new 25th anniversary production later this year. I saw the new production on tour and on Broadway and thought it was a disgraceful and shockingly bad production. I love the original staging with the turntable, so this is really unfortunate to read...

[Lot666]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 8:33am

If this is the same staging used in the recent Broadway revival, at least it's not as ruinous as what Cameron Mackintosh did to Phantom for the current U.S. tour. Nonetheless, I'm inclined toward the "if it ain't broke" philosophy.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 8:48am

Awful idea, the original staging is stunning. Sadly the new staging leaves a lot to be desired 

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 9:09am

Huge fan of Les Miz here, and I definitely prefer the original staging. I always felt good knowing that it is still in London if I ever really wanted to see it. Now I feel like I need to use my airline miles to get to London to see the original staging one last time. 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 9:11am

I wouldnt call this good news, but it is fascinating to me. Here we have an iconic original production thats lasted for 30+ years, and its now being closed to make way for its own revival to open in the same theatre only a short time later. I realize that from a business standpoint, the show is not being closed and revived. But from an artistic standpoint, that is exactly what is happening. Has anything like this ever happened before?

I enjoyed some elements of the revival staging more than the original, but the lower-tech feel of the original lends itself better to the gritty settings of the show.

When I spent a year in London, I decided to go see the show on the west end (even though I dont love the show, and Ive already seen it multiple times) only because I wanted to cross of the original staging from my theatrical bucket list. Now Im especially glad I did.

[Justin D]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 9:25am

so when it transfers to the theatre next door during construction will that be the new staging? or does the new staging come into effect when it goes back into the Queens?

 

I havent seen it in the queens, only at the Palace, photos of it at the queens makes it look squashed into that tiny theatre, it was wonderful back at the palace

[binau]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 9:29am

Do you think this is because of cost saving? Im anticipating the new production will cost a lot less to maintain in the years to come. They have probably done the math and the combination of marketing a new show + cost saving means more profit....

[Tag]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 9:36am

Well Cameron has just gone and killed the dream, hasn't he?  I'm willing to bet the show will close in the next few years, and that the "new staging" won't last 30+ years. It doesn't even compare to the original staging.

[devonian.t]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 9:41am

A further demonstration of Cameron's shocking disrespect for the work of the original creatives.

He has no right to count the original production as "continuing". That's the end of the 30+ year run.

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 9:50am

Honestly, its heartbreaking to me to hear. What I have always loved about the west end production was it was still the original staging. There was a history to the turntable and the grittier production. Ive seen the revival twice and in my opinion it doesnt compare to the original. The only reason I went to see les mid in London was for the staging. And now I feel its just become another of the tour versions that have been around the world. It had the marketability as the only place to see the original staging. I agree Lea Mis - the worlds longest running musical. With close in the foreseeable future. There is no way that it will last another 10 years.

[The8re phan]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 10:21am

Absolutely the WORST decision EVER

Nothing can come close to the original staging.

Can someone PLEASE film this before the 'hiatus' so we can have a proper document of the masterpiece this show once was?

 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 10:30am

Theatrefanboy1 said: "Lea Mis - the worlds longest running musical"

 

*cough* The Fantasticks *cough*

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 10:36am

bwayphreak234 said: "https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Original-Production-of-LES-MISERABLES-in-London-Will-Take-Hiatus-and-Re-Open-With-New-Staging-20190108

The original London production of Les Miserables in London is going to be replaced withthe new 25th anniversary production later this year. I saw the new production on tour and on Broadway and thought it was a disgraceful and shockingly bad production. I love the original staging with the turntable, so this is really unfortunate to read..."

Is that like the 2014 Broadway revival or something different? 

 

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 10:38am

A truly horrendous idea. He better stay the hell away from Phantom.

[Justin D]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 10:46am

its all about cutting out royalties, plain and simple.

[Lot666]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 10:52am

devonian.t said: "He has no right to count the original production as "continuing". That's the end of the 30+ year run."

I agree. What he's doing is closing the original and opening the Broadway revival production in London.

[Lot666]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 10:52am

CATSNYrevival said: "A truly horrendous idea. He better stay the hell away from Phantom."

He's already ruined the touring production of Phantom here; he better not touch The Majestic.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 11:20am

Awful. Saw the revival and felt nothing. Theres a reason it didnt last.

Saw the show in London last year and wept through it. Just simple and brilliant. He has shot himself in the leg now. The revival wont last.

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 11:20am

Oh man would he dare do this to Phantom? I have to admit when I saw Phantom's new artwork I got a little worried that something was up. But Phantom has a marketing thing going with the "spectacular" new tour and the "brilliant" original production so maybe that will help keep the original Phantom staging intact. 

Does anyone think that an avalanche of fan backlash may make Cameron change his mind?

[ggersten]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 11:34am

Didn't Mackintosh already do this once in London?  Close the show temporarily and replaced the whole cast?  Or am I misremembering it?

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 11:49am

Youre probably thinking about when they transferred from the palace to the queens.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 12:32pm

Phantom4ever said: "Does anyone think that an avalanche of fan backlash may make Cameron change his mind?"

He obviously doesn't care. The general public will continue to remain largely unaware that it's a different production than the original just as they have with the tour.

[Lot666]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 12:40pm

CATSNYrevival said: "He obviously doesn't care. The general public will continue to remain largely unaware that it's a different production than the original just as they have with the tour."

Sadly, you're right.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 1:06pm

But has this new production proven to be successful? I don't think it has. I mean Les Miz on tour vs. Les Miz in a commercial sitdown is different. 

[musikman]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 1:49pm

Am I the only one who liked the revival staging? I think the original is far too dark, drab, bare, and uninteresting. I get its supposed to be about a gritty, dark time, but sheesh. Then again, I think this show only works in concert form anyway as dramatically it just doesnt really flow smoothly or make much sense in terms of continuity.