Thought I'd start a new topic as the "Cast Change" topic has gone for 34 pages and it also might well run for the next 22 years.

I saw the show Friday (Sept 5) night - I thought the new cast was on fire, it was a great show. I may (or may not, I can't really tell) be in the minority on Drew Sarich but I think he's a *fantastic* Valjean. His American accent is a bit of a shock (even for me) and I don't particularly like the way he pushes his vowels up ("Who Em I") but he's SO good I can't really care. Bring Him Home was magnificent. I saw Richard Woodford as Javert for the second time - I am beginning to think Earl Carpenter is a myth - I'm not sure what RW brings to the role that's "new" but I like the way he plays off Sarich (certainly better than the pre-June-23 guy who was so unforgettable I've...forgotten his name) and I love his singing.

I've finally got round to caring what happens to Cosette only because of Leanne Dobinson (as I've mentioned in the Peformers forum) but Marius has yet to engage me. Jon Robyns has settled into the role since the last time I saw it (early July) but I thought he was channeling Princeton for part of his performance. But hey, at least it gave Marius more than one dimension. (I don't get it - Michael Ball's recording of Marius always makes me think Marius has a spine and a personality, but in every live performance I've seen Marius is totally gormless. Can someone explain this to me?)

The real break-out for me in last night's performance was David Thaxton. Wow. I'll leave it at that - wow.

Nancy Sullivan - terrific and continues to be terrific. Alyson Brown (as someone else has mentioned) was the weakest for me - better than the first time I saw this cast, however. Though the director has her sort of crawling out of her hospital bed whilst singing in this horrid "I have consumption" voice for Fantine's Death, which just. does. not. work. I was in the fourth row and could barely hear her.

Superb work by the cellists in Friday's performance, so a shout-out to the orchestra from me.

Can't wait to see the show again before Drew Sarich leaves. Who is replacing him - anyone know?

According to our LONG thread (near the current end of it):

After which the show will be close to being the longest-running musical in the world.

Isn't there only one cello in this version?

Orchestrator, I think you're right - I was speaking particularly about Valjean's Soliloquy (What Have I Done), during which the sound was simply lovely.

I'm seeing this again on 24 Sept., when I believe Drew is off. Anyone know who'll be understudying?

Jonathan Williams is first cover.

Thanks, that'll be interesting. Looking forward to it.

Anyone know if any of the cast will be off at the matinee performance on 11 October? Thanks.

Saw this the other night, and was blown away. Last time I saw Les Mis was when it toured and it was magnificent to see it in the glory of the West End. Allyson Brown was weak for me, I just didnt really believe her. She has a nice enough voice etc but i wasn't feeling "Fantine" like I wanted to. Leanne Dobinson however is just gorgeous. Such a lovely presence and voice. She completely drew me in. So believable! Her acting and singing classes have clearly paid off since Maria. Lucky girl. Nancy was beautiful as Eponine. Emotional performance. I too wasn't sure about Marius, there was somthing that just didnt click with me, I would like to see someone else in the role - same with Fantine - bring back Kerry Ellis!!

i LOVE drew sarich i saw him a couiple of months ago and fell in love with his voice.. he is brilliant i hope to see it again before he leaves

I saw the new cast last week and, like akb, I was blown away. It was without a doubt the best performance of Les Mis I've seen. I was very disappointed to find that Earl Carpenter was off, as I'm a big fan, but was very impressed by Richard Woodford as Javert. Last time I saw Drew Sarich I wasn't too sure about his interpretation of the role, but he was brilliant last week. His acting during Bring Him Home was one of the highlights of the show.


I'm planning to see this cast again in the next few weeks and I was wondering if somebody could tell me if I have a good chance of getting a (only one) seat on the day, for a Saturday matinee. They don't usually sell out do they? I'm particularly interested in row BB in the stalls, and other restricted view seats.

Does anyone know how long Jodie will be staying in the cast for?!

she was telling people on sunday that this week is her last week

I'm thinking of booking to go and see Les Mis again in October but we want to see Drew and I believe he is off sometime in October. Is it definitely the 13th, 14th and 15th that he's away? We're thinking of going on the 23rd, for around the time of my birthday and obviously I just want to double check that he's meant to be performing before we book the show.

Thanks! x.

I went to the matinee this saturday because i wanted to see Drew Sarich again before he leaves and all was going fine until it got to the end of Javert's "Stars". At which point the curtain came down and they said there was a technical hitch, we waited for about 5 - 10 mins and it was then announced that for the remainder of the performance JVJ would be played by the understudy Jonathon Williams.
I still enjoyed the show and Williams was very good, but i was gutted that Drew wouldnt be on to finish the performance and i must admit i found it difficult to connect with the character for the remainder of the show because i was so conscious of Drews performance from the begining of the show.

I wonder if anybody knows why Drew didnt finish the show, i hope he's not hurt or injured in any way?

I was at the show to yesterday, great performance by all. Have to say it didn't spoil the show for us at all, thought the takeover was very smooth and actually really enjoyed Jonathan Williams performance. Earl carpenter was wonderful as usual!!!

Saw the show again last night and I do think this amazing cast just gets better and better. Although:

It's now the third time I've seen Richard Woodford as Javert (and I can't say I care as he's magnificent) but does Earl Carpenter really exist?? Really - these are random Friday and Saturday nights I'm attending, so if someone has actually seen EC let me know, because...you know...I'm not convinced he's not a myth. Anyway well done Richard - I'm almost getting to the point where I hope he's performing because in my mind he just gets better and better.

Fabulous performance from Nancy Sullivan. Ditto Leanne Dobinson, who continues to just amaze me (because, frankly, I just don't like the character of Cosette). I've wittered on enough about Drew Sarich so I'll shut up about him (but gosh I think he's phenomenal...).

I'll save my critique this time round for Fantine's death scene, about which I've also complained but I'll do it again (although throwing in both Eponine's and Valjean's throwing off the mortal coil). I can't help it, and I will admit that I may be too affected by my experience of opera and La Boheme, but I think the directorial choices there are just appalling. Fantine tries to crawl out of her death bed in some fantasy of calling-in-primary-school-recess but she's not SINGING in the midst of this wretched scene of coughing out her life and I think it's wasting some of the most gorgeous music in the whole production -- when Fantine sings "the winter wind is crying" could really break your heart, but it fades into nothingness. A real disappointment: isn't this scene meant to be more like Mimi's dying scene in La Boheme, where she rallies and belts the hell out of her last solo? There's a lot of twitching -- which happens in the death scenes of both Eponine and Valjean -- and takes away from the pathos and frankly beautiful vocals in both scenes. I didn't see this before the June 2008 cast change - is there a new director?

And no David Thaxton. Boo! Though good on to his understudy.

I saw the show a couple of weeks ago. I'm rubbish at writing reviews, so here are a few brief and incoherent thoughts:

Drew Sarich was incredible. I just love his voice and his interpretation of the character. Some people have said he's too angry, but I think it works. I was more engaged by the character than I ever was with JOJ.

Earl Carpenter (yes, he does exist!) was also very good, though I think they might have been having some trouble with his microphone for his final scene, since I could hardly make out the words (and his diction was crystal clear throughout the rest of the show). Lovely voice and a really great actor.

Allyson Brown unfortunately I thought was absolutely dreaful. Lousy singing voice (she sounded like she had a really sore throat - not sure if that's just what her voice sounds like, or if I saw her on a really bad day). "I Dreamed a Dream" didn't do anything for me at all, nor did her death scene, which was very disappointing since the first half hour is usually one of my favourite parts of the show.

Jimmy Johnston and Jackie Marks probably played up the comedy a bit too much, but I didn't mind. They were very funny.

Matthew Gent was on for Jon Robyns as Marius, and I thought he was OK. A bit cheesy, but then again so is the character. He messed up one of his lines quite amusingly - "Every day, I wonder every day, who was it brought me here to the barriade?". I actually can't imagine Jon Robyns (who I do really like in general) at all in this role, unless he plays it very differently from most others.

David Thaxton was phenomenal. Great voice.

Leanne Dobinson I liked very much. I cared about Cosette much more than usual, which I think is down to both her and Drew.

Natalie Caswell was on for Nancy Sullivan as Eponine, and she was fantastic. I would still like to see Nancy Sullivan, though at some point.

The ensemble were fine, no-one really stood out as particularly good or bad. Keith Anthony Higham was on for Richard Woodford as Grantaire and the Foreman.

Overall I thought it was a very strong cast let down by a bad Fantine. I don't suppose anyone knows any dates she's scheduled to be off? I would love to see the rest of this cast again.

Unfortunately just her singing voice in this role I think - she has sounded consumptive throughout all three performances I've seen, which is great character acting but not so great on the blowing-my-mind-with-the-singing bit. Pity. Can't really tell how much of this is a directorial choice. To give credit where it is due, I think she is far better than she was when she first started (I saw this cast about a week after it started) - I wish she would really sing the role instead of tragically choking her way through everything. (I listen to Ruthie Henshall sing Fantine and think very badly of Allyson Brown, I'm afraid.)



Jackie Marks was outstanding when I saw it Saturday (the 27th of September) -- I think she's marvelous. The cast totally hammed up "Master of the House" which was tremendous fun. Her comic timing is spot-on and she has a wonderful voice. I look forward to seeing her in her next venture (though I will surely be seeing this again).

I went to see the show on the 23rd anniversary night. I must say this cast is extreamly strong. Earl carpenter, Drew Saritch, Jackie Marks performances all stood out for me, But the performance I most enjoyed and it really surprised me as I dont normally warm to this character was that of Leanne Dobinson, her portrayal of Cosette was abusoluty marvelous, Her singing was outstanding and the death scene with drew was so very very moving. She seems to have brought a dimension to the cosette role that wqasnt ther before.

Les Mis is my favourite show, are the new cast good? I haven't seem them yet (although hoping to get tickets for Christmas)

See this thread:

http://www.whatsonstage.com/board/index.ph...c=4725&st=0

I've got tickets for the 18th Nov, I'm so dissapointed Drew Sarich is leaving before then as I've heard some really great things about his performance! Does anyone know whether the new guys playing JVJ is any good? Last time I saw LM (Oct 1007 I think) I was so dissapointed by the cast and I'm really hoping this time round it will be better.

I think Drew tend to polarise people. i am huge fan of "Les Miserables", and i have seen it loads of times. I have seen all Jean Valjeans since 2001, and i have seen another tons of clips on YouTube. I can say with very clear concious that he was the worst Valjean ever.

The liberties that he took with the role made me SO angry. I am all for new takes on the role. At the end of the day that is what makes new cast interesting. But, this guy took it too far. And vocally, he wasn't extraordinary to compensate. So, i am overjoyed, and delighted to see him go. Please DO NOT make this as an attack on Drew the person. I am only criticizing his take on Jean Valjean.

Fantine is not up to it as well. She has weak voice.

On the plus side, Javert, and in particular Enjolras are excellent.

You're right, Drew really does polarise people. I am the complete opposite to you, I think he is absolutely fantastic, he has a great vocal range, and he has given a completely new take on the role. I adore his acting and I adore his vocal. I am very sad indeed that he is leaving, and really wish I could make it to see him one last time.
I completely agree that Drew is someone you either LOVE or HATE as Valjean. There's no middle ground that I've ever heard of!

As for the rest of the current cast....
Fantine is very weak.
Marius is good, but sometimes I can only think of Jon Robyns as a comic actor.
Earl Carpenter is incredible as Javert, he seems to have been born to play the role. I was not a fan of his Phantom but he is brilliant here.
David Thaxton is wonderful as Enjolras, much better than his predecessor.
I was also very fond of Nancy Sullivan as Eponine. A refreshing change to have a blonde Eponine!

I am generally not bothered by the hair, but yes i agree Nancy was a good Eponine.

Drew Sarich is my biggest reason for seeing this show. I've seen it 6 times now, and each time it just gets better.

i recently just saw this show a couple of months ago and thought the new cast were amazing although nancy who payed ephonie i didnt think was that great!

I saw the show in July with one of my friends and was extremely impressed with Nancy as Eponine. She was engaging and emotional, something i haven't really seen before in the Eponine's i have seen. Maybe i was at off shows? IDK.

Jon was also great, but at times it was funny to think back to Q and then this. He can really sing though can't he!

Fantine. She was just shocking. Awful. We were very shocked that with a cast with that high a standard there would be someone like her in there. Not sure whether she was just having an off day, but we really weren't impressed and sometimes felt her performance was very cringe-worthy.

Rest of the cast. Amazing. Gavroche was adorable. Little Cosette looked quite old for a Little Cosette, but she was still good. JVJ, amazing. Overall i was very impressed with the new cast. Obviously, bar Fantine.

Saw the show again this evening (7 Nov) and soooo pleased to report that contrary to my earlier experience, Earl Carpenter does exist! And *what* a performance - perfect in the role, I've never heard a Javert open his mouth and sing as effortlessly if he were simply speaking. I must see him again.

Credit where it is due, Allyson Brown was much better than I have seen/heard previously - less coughing her way through "Come To Me" and actually singing that gorgeous music.

In "Come To Me" as Valjean picks Fantine up off the floor I could swear I heard Drew Sarich sing "Be at peace ... Ow ... be at peace..."

Now this is the first time I've seen Richard Woodford sing Grantaire (as he is always understudying the no-longer-mythical Earl Carpenter as Javert) and I thought he was terrific - he got across a real sense of drunken courage and fear and need to belong and acceptance of his fate. And dances a marvelous waltz in Beggars at the Feast! Makeup: you lathered some serious Guyliner on the man ....

Also thought I heard some new and different sounds from the orchestra - does anyone know if there are new musicians from a month or so ago? Great string work tonight.

Who is replacing Drew Sarich when he leaves?

David Shannon will be the new Valjean! Can't wait to see his take on the role!! 

Same. I loved him as JVJ.