Review: Les Misérables at Milton Keynes Theatre

I’m not sure if this review needs much more than, ‘Wow! Go see this immediately!’…But I will try to be a little more descriptive as to why you should go, at least for those of you like me that do not know the story as well as you should, even if it has been packing out theatres worldwide since 1985!

The musical is based on Victor Hugo’s great 19^thCentury novel, Les Misérables and is set during a period of great social and political unrest in France and living conditions of the poor were grim. The musical begins with our hero, Jean Valjean, who was arrested for stealing some bread to feed his sister’s baby and imprisoned for 19 years. He is granted leave, breaks his parole and begins a new life. Fast forward 8 years and he is now the owner of a factory and finds himself indebted to one of his workers, Fantine, and will do whatever he can to take care of her young illegitimate daughter, Cosette, living with the terrible Monsieur and Madame Thénardier. Fast forward another 9 years, the revolution is on the rise, Cosette has grown up and a young rebel student Marius has fallen in love with her. His friend Eponine (the Thénardier’s grown up daughter) is secretly in love with him and a tricky love triangle begins. Act two sees the revolution continue, tragic deaths and a marriage all of which will keep you on the edge of your seat right until the end.

The story is dark, melancholy, helpless at times, funny at others and really transports you to life in early 1800’s France. The show moves so quickly, one enthralling song after another. Many of the songs have simple tunes that you find yourself humming along to by the second verse, especially Master of the House which is good fun! The acting and singing was absolutely superb and although the entire cast were completely perfect, I must give particular mention of course to Killian Donnelly (Jean Valjean), Nic Greensheilds (Javert), Katie Hall (Fantine), Martin Ball (Monsieur Thénardier) and Sophie-Louise Dann (Madame Thénardier. Lyrics were enunciated very clearly so you can easily follow what is happening. The live orchestra completes this show with beautiful music to set the scene and leaves you humming the tunes all the way home. 

The staging was magnificent, it changed seamlessly from one scene to the next. One moment you’re in a factory, the next in the backstreets with the ladies and their clients and the next at the Thérnardier’s dodgey pub or the barricades, you hardly even notice the set changing. The show has been refreshed for the 21^stcentury and now includes a background screen with some digital moving images (based on paintings by Victor Hugo) that tie in flawlessly with the set without taking away from the forbidding atmosphere of the times. 

For tickets: Best availability Monday to Thursday performances. Call the theatre’s dedicated Les Misérables booking line on 01908 547669 (open Monday to Saturday, 12 – 6pm) or visit: https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/les-miserables/milton-keynes-theatre/. Check daily for returns and last minute ticket releases.

Sunday: Soapbox, Smallspace, Sanctuary & Shopping

Tomorrow (Sunday 13th) brings a host of events to the Milton Keynes area, let's just hope the weather holds out for the ones taking place outside!

Newport Pagnell Soapbox Derby
This year there are a record number of carts entered into the Derby, so even if you're not planning on racing, do come along to cheer on the racers and see the variety of homemade carts on offer; it's always a great morning which involves much of the community. The Working men's club and 'Sew inspiring' will be opening their doors on the day, and the Newport Pagnell Baptist Church will be postponing their usual service to provide refreshments for racers and spectators. The Rose and Crown will have a BBQ on the go, and the awards and trophies will be presented there. Spectators are invited to come along for 10am, and racers need to be at Silver Street for 9am.

Smallspace Model Show
It's the model show for all things space, science fiction and fantasy, and it's being held in the Village Hall, Newport Road, Hanslope, between 10am and 4pm. The day presents an amazing mix of models and props from a wide range of science fiction programs, including: Dr. Who, Blake's 7, Thunderbirds and Space 1999, to name but a few. There will be the opportunity to have your photo taken with a Dr. Who UNIT Land Rover, and face-painting will be available for kids of all ages. There will be a special guest: Dirk Maggs, who is a writer, director and producer of a number of award-winning radio shows, best-known recently for bringing The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy to a theatrical audience. There will also be Daleks in the car park, and maybe the odd Cyberman... and if all that has you working up an appetite, head to the 'K-9 cafe' for some refreshments. There's a lot going on t this event, so if you have an interest in space, science fiction or fantasy, don't miss out!

HULA Animal Rescue: Children's Open Day
The HULA Animal Rescue is holding another of their regular events, and this time it's a children's open day. There'll be fun for all the family, including bouncy castles, fun and games, and children's workshops in rabbit care and mask making. There'll also be bargains in the bazaar and pet bed shed, and once you've worked up an appetite you'll find delicious refreshments on sale in 'The Trough'. There'll also be the HULA dog parade at 2pm. Entrance is £2, children go free. Come along and support your local rescue centre between 1pm and 4pm.

All day: Don't miss the French Food Market, held at the Castle Ashby Shopping Yard. Come and celebrate 'Bastille Day', which is the French National Day, and there'll be a great selection of traditional French market traders with some authentic, freshly prepared French foods. Bastille Day commemorates the start of the French revolution, and the Storming of the Bastille on the 14th July 1789. Foods on offer will include an extensive variety, such as: French breads, pastries, sweets, condiments, charcuterie, croissants, pain au chocolat, baklava, cakes, gateaux, crepes, waffles, tartiflette, Toulouse and merguez sausage and more, as well as some Spanish and Italian treats. The quality and authenticity of the foods on offer, and the enthusiasm of the stallholders makes this a market well worth visiting. The stalls will be open from 9am until 5pm, don't miss out on some tasty snacks!