Original Production of LES MISERABLES in London Will Take Hiatus and Re-Open With New Staging- Page 2

[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.

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 1:55pm

I think the "revolve" makes it flow smoothly and gives it a deep sense of continuity. The original production was unique, and not just because of the revolve. I like the  new production, but only because it still is Les Miz. It is what I would expect from any regional house who produce the show. But the 1985 staging is definitely in a class by itself. Supposedly it still sells 95% of seats too. 

[Lot666]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 2:32pm

I did like the staging of Javert's plunge into the river in the Broadway revival.

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 3:16pm

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



*cough* The Fantasticks *cough*"

Okay. Yes.  Sorry.  To my own ignorance I somehow continue to think Les Mis then Phantom.  But I always forget about the Fantasticks (it also doesn’t help that I’ve never seen it.).  But thanks

[Impossible2]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 3:58pm

Phantom4ever said: "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?"

You mean it's actually possible to make Phantom worse?

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 3:59pm

I'm in the minority in that I really enjoyed the new staging, but this is still heartbreaking news. Mackintosh is destroying an iconic piece of theatre history for virtually no reason. I'm glad I got to see the original production once, even if it was back when I was just a kid.

[Tag]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 5:33pm

I did like the staging of Javert's plunge into the river in the Broadway revival.

The original did this so masterfully though.  The revival was just added extravagance that wasn't needed.

[binau]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 5:57pm

I'm reading elsewhere that the 'original' production will actually transfer to the theatre Company is at now for 4 months before the revival opens, so technically the show will not be on Hiatus at all. Is this true? I wonder how/what will transfer and whether it will be scaled back at all.

Going to make an effort to see this production before it closes, I've only seen the revival on Broadway and while if you squint Javert's suicide was kind of cool, the whole thing seemed a bit tacky to me.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 6:07pm

Horrible news.  I'll have to catch it one more time before it's gone.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 6:12pm

devonian.t said: "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."

The article also said "A new company is now being put together" which to me means a whole new cast. Macintosh has too much time on his hands. He needs to retire and spend or donate his money, instead of producing mediocre productions of his biggest hits.

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 6:17pm

I can only imagine those poor cast members when they found out they were going to get the boot in favor of this trashfire of a decision...

[Dave28282]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 7:25pm

Extremely dumb decision.

There is a reason the original productions run for 10+ years and re-boots with new stagings do not.

Les Miserables, Phantom and Miss Saigon's new sets and staging don't even compare to the originals.

The reason Phantom and les Mis play for 30 years is because of the fact they never changed. They became cultural heritage and that's why all these tourists keep flocking in.

Updated On: 1/8/19 at 07:25 PM

[sueb1863]

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

Boooo!!! The original staging is the best, the revival kills most of the show's power.

Getting rid of the turntable ruined several of the show's biggest moments, including the part right after the barricade falls. It's just not the same show without it.

Guess we'll just have to be patient for the inevitable re-revival with the "classic staging"!

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 9:02pm

I'm one of the few that prefer the revised version, but that said, I'm still shocked that a production that still regularly sells out is going to be dropped for what many consider a lesser version. Maybe they figure most tourists won't notice the difference so long as there's a Les Mis in London that will pick up right after the original closes?

In terms of new production's cast, I think in London they tend to begin new contracts at the same time, so maybe they've known for awhile that this would be their last when the re-signed, and maybe they'll have the chance to re-audition to get into the new cast? I can imagine a lot of ensemble roles will be filled from the existing cast.

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 1/8/19 at 9:32pm

How f<<edited>>ing dare he? The original is a masterpiece and to have the audacity to ruin it with some lower budget, watered down, undignified "revisal" is an insult to everybody involved. Mackintosh should hang his head in shame.

Updated On: 1/8/19 at 09:32 PM

[Skywalker3]

Posted: 1/9/19 at 5:37am

We all could send an complaint to [e-mail] 

Just so he knows how many people are upset about this..

[Dave28282]

Posted: 1/9/19 at 6:46am

everythingtaboo said: "Maybe they figure most tourists won't notice the difference so long as there's a Les Mis in London that will pick up right after the original closes?."

That is downright belittling from them to the tourists.

To me, the show closes when the hiatus begins. That is how I will treat it for the rest of my days. Whatever show/version is going to replace it is not this show.

 

[Justin D]

Posted: 1/9/19 at 7:27am

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

I remember he did that on Broadway I think, and it was a bit deal. He probably also did it in London too

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 1/9/19 at 8:32am

But, why? The original production is a national treasure and now any kind of speciality will be gone

[Lot666]

Posted: 1/9/19 at 11:39am

Tag said: "I did like the staging of Javert's plunge into the river in the Broadway revival.

The original did this so masterfully though. The revival was just added extravagance that wasn't needed."

To each their own; I saw the original in London and the revival on Broadway, and I thought this scene was breathtaking in the revival.

[adam.peterson44]

Posted: 1/9/19 at 12:30pm

Does this also mean that the score will be cut down to the new shorter one as well? For example, will the Drink With Me (reprise)  be cut out?

[Tag]

Posted: 1/9/19 at 12:51pm

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

I remember he did that on Broadway I think, and it was a bit deal. He probably also did it in London too

This happened quite infamously on Broadway in 1997, but this current situation is not comparable at all.  Basically Cameron is closing one production and opening a completely separate one.

[Loopin’theloop]

Posted: 1/9/19 at 6:26pm

This has been secretly planned for a few years. Cameron has been having the London home of the show refurbed for a few years now and slowly but surely the technical team have realised that all of the refurbishments seem to be leaning towards the new design. Anyone working on the show but not in the inner circle has known this is coming for a few years but management wouldnt admit it.

The only reason is greed. Pure and simple greed. The creative team for the new production agreed a much lower royalty meaning Cameron makes more. Exactly the same as Phantom. Thats why this is happening.

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 1/9/19 at 7:47pm

Well, I hope he enjoys getting any money at all from the London production for just a couple more years at MOST, because that's about how long it will last after this replacement happens. Pathetic.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 1/9/19 at 9:18pm

Typed a long note and lost it, so this'll be short.

Why do it: (1) publicity; (2) entice people who have seen in, but not in a long time to see it again, to judge for themselves whether the changes are better or worse (if they even remember -- not everyone goes to the theatre and sees the same shows as many times as many of the posters on this board).

Which is better?   I loved both stagings.  Maybe the barricade is not as spectacular in the new version (I had seen Les Mis 8 -10 times and barely noticed the barricade differences), but I loved the Hugo sketches appearing throughout the show, and thought that Javert's suicide was much more effective in the new staging.

Wanna see a reimagining that will make ANYONE wonder why, see Phantom.  Even in the new production, I liked some of the changes, particularly the staging of the sextet as they received the notes from OG; however, while they both would have been fine if you had never seen Phantom, they ruined the IMO 2 most iconic stagings in the show, both of which gave still brought on goosebumps many viewings in: the title number (with the candles coming out of the water) is one of the greatest pieces of staging in any musical I have seen in the last 55 years); and Masquerade was arguably very well staged, but only if you did not have to compare it to the original, which was so damned effective.  Compared to those almost sacreligous changes, I don't see how anyone can get too much passion about denigrating the new Les Mis staging.