Original Production of LES MISERABLES in London Will Take Hiatus and Re-Open With New Staging
Original Production of LES MISERABLES in London Will Take Hiatus and Re-Open With New Staging
#1Original Production of LES MISERABLES in London Will Take Hiatus and Re-Open With New Staging
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...
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
#2Original Production of LES MISERABLES in London Will Take Hiatus and Re-Open With New Staging
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.
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage
#3Original Production of LES MISERABLES in London Will Take Hiatus and Re-Open With New Staging
Posted: 1/8/19 at 8:48am
Awful idea, the original staging is stunning. Sadly the new staging leaves a lot to be desired
Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist.
Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino.
This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more.
Tazber's: Reply to
Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian
Phantom4ever
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/17/07
#4Original Production of LES MISERABLES in London Will Take Hiatus and Re-Open With New Staging
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.
#5Original Production of LES MISERABLES in London Will Take Hiatus and Re-Open With New Staging
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.
#6Original Production of LES MISERABLES in London Will Take Hiatus and Re-Open With New Staging
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
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27199361@N08/ Phantom at the Royal Empire Theatre
#7Original Production of LES MISERABLES in London Will Take Hiatus and Re-Open With New Staging
Posted: 1/8/19 at 9:29amDo 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....
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Tag
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/19/05
#8Original Production of LES MISERABLES in London Will Take Hiatus and Re-Open With New Staging
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.
#9Original Production of LES MISERABLES in London Will Take Hiatus and Re-Open With New Staging
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/2/15
#10Original Production of LES MISERABLES in London Will Take Hiatus and Re-Open With New Staging
Posted: 1/8/19 at 9:50amHonestly, 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.
#11Original Production of LES MISERABLES in London Will Take Hiatus and Re-Open With New Staging
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?
Slotted spoons don't hold much soup
#12Original Production of LES MISERABLES in London Will Take Hiatus and Re-Open With New Staging
Posted: 1/8/19 at 10:30am
Theatrefanboy1 said: "Lea Mis - the worlds longest running musical"
*cough* The Fantasticks *cough*
ScottyDoesn'tKnow2
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/22/14
#13Original Production of LES MISERABLES in London Will Take Hiatus and Re-Open With New Staging
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?
#14Original Production of LES MISERABLES in London Will Take Hiatus and Re-Open With New Staging
Posted: 1/8/19 at 10:38amA truly horrendous idea. He better stay the hell away from Phantom.
#15Original Production of LES MISERABLES in London Will Take Hiatus and Re-Open With New Staging
Posted: 1/8/19 at 10:46am
its all about cutting out royalties, plain and simple.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27199361@N08/ Phantom at the Royal Empire Theatre
#16Original Production of LES MISERABLES in London Will Take Hiatus and Re-Open With New Staging
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.
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage
#17Original Production of LES MISERABLES in London Will Take Hiatus and Re-Open With New Staging
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.
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#18Original Production of LES MISERABLES in London Will Take Hiatus and Re-Open With New Staging
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/17/07
#19Original Production of LES MISERABLES in London Will Take Hiatus and Re-Open With New Staging
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#20Original Production of LES MISERABLES in London Will Take Hiatus and Re-Open With New Staging
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?
#21Original Production of LES MISERABLES in London Will Take Hiatus and Re-Open With New Staging
Posted: 1/8/19 at 11:49amYoure probably thinking about when they transferred from the palace to the queens.
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#22Original Production of LES MISERABLES in London Will Take Hiatus and Re-Open With New Staging
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.
#23Original Production of LES MISERABLES in London Will Take Hiatus and Re-Open With New Staging
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.
"Michael Riedel...The Perez Hilton of the New York Theatre scene"
- Craig Hepworth, What's On Stage
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#24Original Production of LES MISERABLES in London Will Take Hiatus and Re-Open With New Staging
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.
#25Original Production of LES MISERABLES in London Will Take Hiatus and Re-Open With New Staging
Posted: 1/8/19 at 1:49pmAm 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.
-There's the muddle in the middle. There's the puddle where the poodle did the piddle."
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