Les Miserables School Edition (Quarry Bank Musical Theatre Youth Society)
You wouldn't
expect to find anything depicting the barricades and sewers of 19th Century
France in a Town Hall in the Black Country but, if you're lucky enough to get
to that venue in Stourbridge over the next few nights, you'll see exactly that.
What's more you'll witness the cream of local youth musical theatre talent take
on one of the greatest musicals of recent times.
Victor Hugo's epic novel originally published in 1862 and adapted for the world of the musical theatre by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg is probably not the easiest work to take on as a debut production but, Quarry Bank Musical Theatre Youth Society don't like easy and an amazing job they have made of it.
From the opening scene with Jean Valjean (played commandingly by Ollie Hart-Bradford) finally managing to extract himself from the chain gang through to the final rendition of ‘Do You Hear The People Sing’ it is difficult to find a flaw in the performance.
There are simply too many positive things I could say about this production to fit into a review but, here are a few highlights that I particularly enjoyed; Alex Cook (Marius, eat your heart Michael Ball) and his emotional rendition of ‘Empty Chairs at Empty Tables’, impeccable comic timing and characterisation from Owen Bradley and Mandy Rock (Monsieur and Madame Thénardier), one particular line delivered with absolutely the right disdain from James Bastable (Enjolras) - ‘Marius, your late !’, difficult solo numbers delivered with class by Alex Cooper (Fantine) and Molly Butcher (Eponine) and some stirring ensemble singing of ‘One Day More’ and ‘Drink With Me’.
There are a number of Youth Musical Theatre Groups in the local area and these guys have now set the bar incredibly high, I look forward to their second production in 2018 which I believe is Phantom of the Opera (so much for reducing the pressure then !).
It would be churlish not to finish without a mention for the adults of which I have no doubt there have been many that have made this show happen but, one in particular, the obscenely talented Richard Ganner, not only Musical Director but, Director as well and somebody to whom all those performing owe a debt of gratitude.
You’ll be lucky to get a tickets for the remaining performances as it only runs until Saturday 23rd September 2017 but, there might be a few left that you should grab while you can.
Book Here
Victor Hugo's epic novel originally published in 1862 and adapted for the world of the musical theatre by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg is probably not the easiest work to take on as a debut production but, Quarry Bank Musical Theatre Youth Society don't like easy and an amazing job they have made of it.
From the opening scene with Jean Valjean (played commandingly by Ollie Hart-Bradford) finally managing to extract himself from the chain gang through to the final rendition of ‘Do You Hear The People Sing’ it is difficult to find a flaw in the performance.
There are simply too many positive things I could say about this production to fit into a review but, here are a few highlights that I particularly enjoyed; Alex Cook (Marius, eat your heart Michael Ball) and his emotional rendition of ‘Empty Chairs at Empty Tables’, impeccable comic timing and characterisation from Owen Bradley and Mandy Rock (Monsieur and Madame Thénardier), one particular line delivered with absolutely the right disdain from James Bastable (Enjolras) - ‘Marius, your late !’, difficult solo numbers delivered with class by Alex Cooper (Fantine) and Molly Butcher (Eponine) and some stirring ensemble singing of ‘One Day More’ and ‘Drink With Me’.
There are a number of Youth Musical Theatre Groups in the local area and these guys have now set the bar incredibly high, I look forward to their second production in 2018 which I believe is Phantom of the Opera (so much for reducing the pressure then !).
It would be churlish not to finish without a mention for the adults of which I have no doubt there have been many that have made this show happen but, one in particular, the obscenely talented Richard Ganner, not only Musical Director but, Director as well and somebody to whom all those performing owe a debt of gratitude.
You’ll be lucky to get a tickets for the remaining performances as it only runs until Saturday 23rd September 2017 but, there might be a few left that you should grab while you can.
Book Here
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