Which LES MIZ staging is used in London?

[mikey2573]

Posted: 12/27/14 at 8:20pm

I was curious if the West End LES MISERABLES is still using the original Nunn/Caird staging with the turntable. I seem to recall that the new production with the new staging by the new directors without the turntable was playing at the Barbican. Is this still the case? Is the London production the only current professional production that still uses the original staging ?

[CHGriffiths]

Posted: 12/30/14 at 3:18am

Technically it uses the original staging, however when it moved to it's current theatre about 10 years ago, it was down-scaled, but yes it does use the original directing with the revolving stage. The new 25th anniversary production toured the UK and then finished it's tour at the barbican centre, with it's last performance being on the weekend of the anniversary. (they did a ticket deal, where you could see all 3 (including the concert) productions in one weekend.
But now we just have the original production in this country.

I dont know however if anywhere else world wide uses the original staging.

[DeNada]

Posted: 12/30/14 at 6:36am

There are no other productions playing internationally that still use the original staging, unless they've cloned it without permission.

The main reason the original is still in London is that it would jeapordise the record for longest running musical to close the show, get the Napier set out and get the Kinley one in; otherwise they'd have done it years ago. The new version is "the" version of the show now - I also suspect it's cheaper to run which would be attractive to the producers! I suppose they would probably have a big fight on their hands from Nunn and Napier, if not Hersey as well (Caird, I suspect, is much more placable, and Andy Neofitou's costumes are still in use), if they ditched the production as there's probably a clause in their contracts somewhere about what rights the producer has to close the show if it's successful. Then again, it was the 80s - maybe not?

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 12/30/14 at 8:51am

I just fail to see how anybody can go and see the new production and justify claiming it as better than the original production?

[lotiloti]

Posted: 1/29/15 at 1:54pm

I agree,ClapYo'Hands. What I saw in NY over christmas, is a travesty. Also, after the overblown mess he's made of Miss Saigon. Laurence Conner shouldn't be allowed to direct traffic, never mind theatre. Though I see he's doing 'School of Rock'. Webber AND Conner., a nightmare waiting to happen.

Updated On: 1/29/15 at 01:54 PM

[Wildcard]

Posted: 2/2/15 at 1:00pm

I prefer the staging of the new production. What I miss from the original are the turntable and the barricades

[mikey2573]

Posted: 2/2/15 at 6:32pm

I have seen the "new" version on Broadway and I like it quite a lot. It doesn't have that "epic" feel which makes the whole thing seem more intimate, emotional and much more moving. I really liked the details the director found in the staging, and the revolving stage was not sorely missed.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 2/5/15 at 6:09pm

I find the original to be much more intimate and character-focussed. Not forgetting, of course, that much of the time there are only one or two characters onstage and some brilliant lighting to tell the story. Pure, primitive, gutsy theatre.

[The Scorpion]

Posted: 3/2/15 at 7:26pm

Although I liked the new tour version, it was by and large cut and pasted from the Nunn/Caird original, which is why Nunn was (IMHO justifiably -- although Cameron of course and Charlie Spencer don't agree) so enraged by the whole thing. Caird wasn't best pleased either, although made less of a fuss.

Connor on his own right is a disaster. The new Phantom tour just shows that.

I don't see how anyone who saw the original productions of Miz, Phantom or Saigon could honestly claim that the Connor productions are superior. Unfortunately, that's what Cameron does now in his marketing...and it's extremely irksome.

Updated On: 3/3/15 at 07:26 PM

[TheatreKid3]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 2:18pm

When I saw the original production in London, I was extremely disappointed. The downsizing had obviously stripped the staging of most of its power, and the whole thing just felt so small that it was like a glorified regional production - except the turntable (that was neat, but felt overused eventually). The biggest let down by far, though, was the orchestra. I've never heard such simplified orchestrations for that score in my life - and for the original production no less.

In all, I was more satisfied with the current New York staging because it was much grander, in my opinion, yet still simple and focused. More importantly, the orchestra was full and LOUD. It was a great experience. The updated orchestrations are, in my opinion, far superior to the original.

Updated On: 3/5/15 at 02:18 PM

[sueb1863]

Posted: 3/21/15 at 8:34pm

I've seen the new version, and I prefer the original staging. The part after the barricade falls where we see the bodies of Enjolras and Gavroche just doesn't have anywhere near the same power when they're just hauled across the stage on a cart. One Day More is also oddly staged without the revolve.