Everytime I'm in London (which is about twice a year), I try to see Les Miserables. In my opinion, the best Valjean I've ever seen and heard was John Owen Jones. After he left I saw the show several times, but it was just not the same anymore. And the actors/singers which played the role of Valjean either did not have this powerful voice or they were just not convincing in their acting and lacked this special something...

However, when I went again last Saturday I finally saw light at the end of the tunnel – finally a Valjean, who is playing in the same league:

Jonathan Williams has an incredible voice (which he could prove when he sang his "Bring him home") - he just needs a tiny bit more volume (really only a tiny bit - but the more he gets the chance to play Valjean the more practice he will get ). His acting is so wonderful and natural that I really believed that he indeed is Jean Valjean (don't know how to describe it better). It was really a joy to listen to him and to watch his Valjean aging and also watch his facial expressions (I sat in the very first row) while he was interacting with the other characters. Unfortunately, I heard he's an understudy - I really keep my fingers crossed that in the near future he gets his leading role as Valjean in LesMis. Does anybody know if his voice is on any other West End (or other) recordings?

Just can say: great performance! I wish him the very best for his successful West End career, and to all others – if you have not seen him yet, go and see a performance where he is playing Valjean!

PS: Since I'm not English sorry for any possible misspells…

Oh, I agree. He's better than the principle Valjean, for sure. I saw him on Saturday too, and a couple of times last year when he was understudying. He's great.

I also saw the show on Saturday (from the front row, so must have been sat somewhere near you curlie :-)) and agree that Jonathan was just brilliant. Its the second time I have been lucky enough to see him as JVJ, the last time was in December, and he has improved even more since then. He is a great actor and his voice is perfect for the part. Bring Him Home had me in tears it was so beautiful. I really do hope he gets a chance to play JVJ full time as he is far too good to be the understudy in my opinion.

Another one here who was in the front row (BB22) on Saturday, and I couldn't agree more! I also saw Jonathan as Valjean in December. I particularly liked his relationship with Cosette.

I would love to see Simon Shorten (2nd cover) as Valjean though. He has a wonderful voice and his character in Master of the House with the ear trumpet is hilarious!

I agree. His scenes with little Cosette in particular were very touching.

I would so love to see Simon :-) I love his ear trumpet character, he's awesome :-) I'm not sure if he's ever got to play the part as yet. But believe he might be staying on after the cast change in June, so hopefully might get some chances after that.

Nice to hear that there are also other music-lovers out there who are sharing my opinion!

Seems, he's not often given the opportunity to play Valjean since we are all talking about the same evening...? Is there actually some kind of schedule available where you can already see beforehand who is playing?

Just something I noticed - the applause at the end was more than enthusiastic but why did nobody stand up to applaud? (I would have loved to, but well, too shy to stand there all alone in the first row...)

(By the way Fantine, I'm pretty much sure you were not sitting on this particular seat.... )

I saw Simon Shorten as Jean Valjean a couple of months ago - not great. His voice just wasn't suited to the part, and he appeared to struggle a bit, maybe he had a cold or something but I wasn't OVERLY impressed. Still good though, I've seen worse. But doesn't compare to Johnathan Williams who is one of my new favourite people. This current cast is just great, I don't want them to leave!

Oh, and sorry for the double post, but you can find out about when understudies will be on here - http://westendunderstudies.com/id7.html

I don't know if anyone's seen Mark Dugdale playing Enjolras, but he's very very good and worth seeing.

I wondered the same myself. I was at both shows on Saturday and there definitely people standing for Jonathan at the end of the Matinee performance. He had such a big grin on his face and looked like he didn't want to go off stage :-D For some reason, no one stood in the evening. I too am too shy myself when I am sat at the front, although I should have just been brave and stood up myself I guess lol

Freya,
THANK YOU for that understudies website, that's brilliant. I didn't know it existed before, I'll be using it all the time now :-)

I was at the matinee, you must have been at the evening show?




Another understudy I really want to see! I'm a huge David Thaxton fan though, so I don't think I could bring myself to deliberately go when I knew he wasn't on, but at the same time, I would be very happy to see Mark's Enjolras. I saw John Jo Flynn in the role though, who was very good. Do we know if Mark is staying another year yet?




I always feel self conscious about standing when I'm at the front. I felt guilty for not standing at the matinee, especially since there were some great understudies on.

I'm a huge Thaxton fan too! I was really disappointed when they announced that Thaxton was away and Dugdale would be playing Enjolras but then I came out and I felt my loyalities had been challenged as he was absolutely fantastic. And you've seen John Jo as Enjolras? I REALLY want to see him as Enjolras! When was that?

The same thing happened to me with Richard Woodford as Javert. I've been a fan of Earl Carpenter for ages so was disappointed to find he was off the first time I went to see him as Javert, but came out of the theatre as a big Richard Woodford fan.

I think I saw John Jo in very early October...Tabitha Webb was on as Cosette at the same performance. Both great understudies.


(Oh dear...this is turning into the 'Les Miserables Understudies' thread isnt it?!)

(It is..) BUT, on the subject of Woodford, my god, yes! His Stars is absolutely amazing! Also, I think I prefer Tabitha to Leanne. She was very sweet. I saw both Williams as Valjean and Tabitha as Cosette one night, and they were fantastic together.

As you may have realised, I see Les Miserables far too much.

I agree with all of that! As much as I like Leanne, I'm hoping to see Tabitha again at some point. She has a gorgeous voice.

I used to be a fairly casual fan, just going once or twice a year, but since this cast started its been more like once or twice a month. I don't know what I'd do without those cheap row BB seats.
I just hope not too many of them leave at cast change (since I move to Reading in September and will be able to get into London much more easily to see them!).

I love this forum so much :-) Its so nice to speak to people who love Les Mis as much as I do. My family (apart from my sister who is as much a nut as me fortunately) all think I'm completely bonkers. I went about 3 times in the past 20 years up to 2008, but in the past year, I've also been going pretty much once a month. And having to travel from Scotland every time does make it abit costly. But its such a brilliant cast I can't help it lol.

I too hope not too many of them go this time. I really love this cast at the moment. Especially Richard Woodford and Jonathan Williams. Woody is my absoutely favourite Javert. I saw him for the first time in Septemer last year and thought he was amazing. His Stars and his Javert's Suicide are my favourite bits of the show. To be honest, I prefer him to Earl. I believe Woody is one of the ones going in June unfortunately, not sure if Earl is staying on or not.

I've got a couple more visits planned before the cast change, and I would love to see Woody and Jonathan play opposite each other as Javert and JVJ as I don't believe it has happened as yet and I think they would both be awesome :-)

Oh it is isn't it? My family are theatre people so they're fairly into it but its not a total obsession for them like it is for me. I only wish I could have some 'real life' Les Mis discussions. At Phantom (although I haven't been for a while) I tend to get chatting to other fans at the stage door and but the Les Mis stage door is always much quieter, which is a shame.




I'm gutted about this. Not only do I love his Javert, he is the best Grantaire I've ever seen (George Miller is a close second!).



Me too. I'm there at the end of May, then for the 20th June matinee (I'm actually dreading that day!).

I suddenly feel like "WOW! I'm not the only one!" I've been exactly the same with this cast! And yes! The BB seats are great! I always get them. We've probably been sat next to each other at some point. I'm thinking of going down to the box office in a minute and grabbing a ticket for tonight. I should try and stop myself though. But it's very hard, with the theatre only being a 20 minute tube ride away.

Do it!

20 minute tube ride away? Not jealous at all...

It is a much quieter stage door for some reason. Not sure why as the cast are so lovely to talk to. I am going at the end of May too :-) Saturday 30th May (Matinee) and also both shows on June 20th, so maybe we could have a natter at the stage door and start a trend? lol I have the feeling I am going to need as many friendly faces as possible to talk to as I am dreading it being people's last show :-( I know I am going to be crying my eyes out at the end lol.

I'm completed gutted. He is my favouite in the show, as well as being my favourite Grantaire and Javert, and a thoroughly nice bloke too. I am just hoping he is doing something else in London so I can go and see him in something else.

I am very very jealous! lol Definitely do it. I'd be there like a shot if I was only a tube ride away. Have fun :-)

I'm going on the 27th May matinee (Phantom on 30th!), but yes, we'll have to get chatting after the 20th June matinee. I'll be the one with the long blonde hair and tear stained face.

I've never managed to recognise him and stop him, does he usually come out after matinees? I'll really miss the bond his Grantaire has with David's Enjolras.

Its a deal :-)

He normally does. He didn't on Saturday for some reason though. He's so lovely to talk to as well. I had to concentrate to recognise him the first time as he's blonde so looks completely different to Grantaire lol I'm hoping he may have time for a quick chat after the matinee on 20th so we can find out what he's up to next lol. Me too. I love their bond. They work so well together.

Does anyone know if Jonathan Williams left at cast change or not. I will be disappointed if he has as I was hoping for the chance to see him as JVJ; I've heard such good things about him.
Just want to add that I think that David Thaxton is amazing as Enjolras.......I just don't think I could be anything but disappointed if I found out that an understudy was on for him on one of my visits! He just blows a lot of the rest of the cast off the stage in my opinion.

^Jonathan is still in Les Mis. At the moment he plays Valjean on Mondays as David Shannon has only been doing 7 shows a week since cast change. I too have heard very good reports of his Valjean & would like to see him.

Saw Jonathan on July 16th, he was breath-taking, as usual =D

I can't stand seeing Jonathan in the chorus. He's so brilliant as Valjean. I think the role really suits him. Saw him perform it twice and loved it just as much both times. He's just so stunning. I think he's my favourite male performer.