Les Miserables open-air concert

Review of LM Open Air concert, Chelmsford, 24/8/97 by Angela P.

It was a beautiful Sunday. Although the concert was not due to start until 7.00pm I arrived at 4.00pm were upon I met up with a few people. We took up a very good position very near the front which was still cordoned off. We had been told we would not be allowed through the cordon and up to the front of stage until 5.30pm. We started eyeing positions and as 5.30pm approached we got ready to make the all important dash. We made it! The atmosphere was fanstastic. The attendance was massive, so many people had come that they had to delay the concert 30 minutes to allow everyone in. But eventually it did start.

The cast was as follows: Valjean (Jeff Leyton), Javert (Michael McCarthy), Fantine (Ruthie Henshall), Marius (Matthew Cammelle), Eponine (Frances Ruffelle), Enjolras (David Bardsley), Thénardier (Chris Langham), Mme Thénardier (Gay Soper), Cosette (Annalene Beechey), Gavroche (Adam Seales), Young Cosette (Carly Peaston-Jones).

Jeff happens to be one of my favourites and although he seemed very nervous overall he sang wonderful and his Bring Him Home was beautiful. Well Frances Ruffelle was just superb. Her performance of On may own was stunning and moving. Ruthie Henshall`s Fantine was excellent, so moving and heartbreaking.

Matt Cammelle overall gave a good performance, he sang Empty Chairs superbly. Annalene Beechey`s Cosette was wonderful. All I can say is I wished she had performed the role in the TAC concert. David Bardsley was his outstanding self, so inspiring. As for Adam Searles, well he gave us one of his cheeky but wonderful performances. Carly Peaston-Jones sang Castle on a Cloud very well.

Gay Soper and Chris Langham were wonderful together. Master of the house was brilliant and received a rousing cheer from the crowd. James Barron gave a very good performance as Grantaire.

Well finally Michael McCarthy. His performance was just astounding. His rendition of Stars and and the Suicide were exceptional. All I can say is its a good thing it was an open air concert because the roar and the applause from the crowd would of most certainly removed any roof off any theatre.

The encore was the same as TAC with a wonderful firework display to follow. The concert was fantastic and the atmosphere tremendous, well the attendance was said to have been approximately 25,000.

click here to see photographs of Michael performing in the concert.