Author: MACKINTOSH, CAMERON
Title: Les Misérables: Original London Cast
Description: Cameron Mackintosh. 1985. CD-ROM. Boxed set of 2 x CD's. 1985 edition. There have been several subsequent recordings of Les Mis, but this is the one that captures the original 1985 London cast who transformed an obscure French musical based on Victor Hugo's gargantuan novel of pre-Revolutionary France into a worldwide phenomenon throughout the late-1980s and 90s and became one of the best examples of the era's trend of blockbuster musical spectacles. Yes, Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schnberg's score tends to recycle its themes, but the beautiful melodies and stirring anthems rarely fail to captivate and touch its audience. Colm Wilkinson is the heroic Valjean, Patti LuPone is the tragic Fantine, Michael Ball is the love-struck Marius, and Frances Ruffelle is the despondent Eponine, with Roger Allam (Javert), Alun Armstrong and Sue Jane Tanner (the Thnardiers), Rebecca Caine (older Cosette), and David Burt (Enjolras) filling out the excellent cast. Used: Acceptable.

Keywords: Mike - front room