On January 2nd my friend Cara and I travelled to London's Queen's Theatre to see Les Miserables. This was the sixth time Cara has seen the musical and it still brought tears to her eyes (and mine). Les Mis is one of the most well-known and performed musicals of all time. In 2006 the show celebrated its 21st anniversary on London's West End and became the longest-running West End musical in history, reaching 9,500 performances. After seeing it, I can see why.
Based on the 1862 Victor Hugo novel of the same name, it is set in early 19th-century France during the French Revolution and follows the intertwining stories of a cast of characters as they struggle for redemption and revolution. The main characters are joined by an ensemble that includes prostitutes, student revolutionaries, factory workers, and others. The lives of the characters are so depressing it is a wonder the actors can perform this story every day.
I have wanted to see this musical for so long, and I am very glad that I am now able to add it to my list. It is an extraordinary tale with fantastic music and strong-willed characters, and even though it was super depressing and made me cry, I highly recommend it.