Les Miserables Tour at Southampton

Carol M Creasey.

                                   Les Miserables Tour at Southampton 

I was lucky enough to go to the first night of Les Miserables Tour in Cardiff last December, but yesterday I took my ten year old  granddaughter to see it in Southampton. We live quite a journey away, but it was well worth the effort. She was totally enthralled with the whole thing.

The whole cast are truly amazing, and I find myself captivated right from the beginning. There is poverty and squalor  , misery and degradation, but there is also hope depicted in this very powerful and moving story. Although it is called Les Miserables, there are some great humorous moments too, and I felt so uplifted when I came out of the theatre.

How can anyone fail to be moved by the sorry plight of Fantine, abandoned by her husband, then forced to become a prostitute to pay for her child’s keep, and then dying. The very evilness that spews out of the Thenardiers is richly entertaining, the passion Of  Jean Val Jean in his quest to become a better man, and the stern unbending principles of Javert, who relentlessly pursues him for years, to try and bring him to justice.

Then there is poor Eponine with her unrequited love for the dashing Marius, and the tragic end to her life in his arms, which never fails to bring tears to my eyes. And what story could be complete without the lovers, Marius and Cosette, which brings a warm glow of happiness to me when they are finally married.

This is my highlight of my favourite bits, there is a lot more than this in the show, and to anyone going, enjoy!