Over spring break, I had the privilege of going to London with my family, which was an incredible experience. It was my first time going out of the country, so I was really eager to see what life across the ocean was like. My family and I did all of the tourist attractions, including seeing Big Ben, the Parliament building, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London and other sites along the way. While all of those things were super unique and fun, my favorite part of the trip was seeing Les Miserables on the West End, something I was looking forward to for a long time. While I know that I live in close proximity to Broadway, Les Miserables is not currently playing on Broadway, and this is my Mom’s favorite show, so I was excited to see the musical and see what she loved about it so much. I left the theater in absolute awe mixed with disappointment, because the show was over. It was slightly over three hours long, but it felt like three seconds, because it was so engaging and enticing. I would easily fly back to London if that meant I got to see the show once more. 

The musical is told entirely through song—there is no dialogue in between scenes, which is common in the theater. Utilizing over 30 songs, the musical follows Jean Valjean, who was a peasant in France during the 1800s. Jean Valjean is desperate for redemption and a chance to start anew, as he is freshly released from prison, where he served a 19 year sentence for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister’s child. Valjean quickly breaks his parole sentence after he has been shown kindness and mercy by a local bishop in the town, which is short lived as police inspector Javert is constantly after Valjean to try to make him pay for his rule breaking. There are also many storylines that stem from this main plot, including explorations of themes of gender, money, class and the impact of the rising revolution in France. 

Going to see this show is exactly what I want every time I see a show from this point forward. My bar and standard has been raised so incredibly high that I feel bad for whatever shows follow this one for me. There is not one thing I would change about this show, my only request is that it would be longer so I could soak in the glory!

 I asked my mom her thoughts on the show, since this is her all time favorite show. She told me that she thought “the talent was phenomenal and the set was great. It was everything [she] would want when [she] sees a show.” My mom has seen her fair share of performances, whether it is professional productions or watching me onstage at dance competitions, so to praise a show so highly really speaks volumes to me on just how wonderful and extraordinary the show really was. 

I think the biggest round of applause and piece of praise needs to go to the entire cast, specifically Milan Van Waardenburg, who played the lead role of Jean Valjean. The vocal talent Van Waardenburg carries is nothing short of incredible. I cannot fathom how he is able to sing so intensely in multiple shows a week, while also delivering a gut-wrenching performance full of heartache and his selflessness for those around him. I wish I had his performance on video so I could relive the glory he offered in each performance. 

Another stand out performance to me was Amena El-Kindy as Epinone, specifically her ballad of “I Dreamed A Dream,” which actually brought tears to my eyes. Her voice was so full of passion and pain, and she offered a completely enticing performance from start to finish. Her vocal range was incredible and it was easily one of my favorite numbers of the show, despite the fact that the scene itself is upsetting. The talent found in London’s Sondheim Theatre is nothing short of the best in the business. 

Another element I adored about the show was the simplicity of the set. The set was constructed of some major wood pieces, a giant barricade, and a couple of houses. There was also a projector to display different scenes, including an ocean, a battle scene, and a sewer. London Theatre Reviews, a website that talks about all the shows on the West End in London made a comment about the set, saying that “with fast and slick transitions, grand set pieces, and an incredibly strong ensemble, we are shown the beauty of this production from every inch of the stage” (London Theatre Reviews). Every spot on the stage served a purpose and was utilized in unique fashion. For example, the bar was used to entertain, and some of the sadder ballads happened in the same space. Every set was beautifully designed and used to its fullest possible potential, not leaving an inch of space to be freed or a dark, empty spot available. In a similar review, London Theatreland had nothing but praise and positive comments for the show. One reviewer said that they “understand why the show has been running for so long” (London Theatreland). It is very clear that the success Les Miserables had forty years ago is following the show well into the 21st century. 

If I had to summarize my experience as Les Miserables and my thoughts of the show, it would be with a simple word, which is phenomenal. From the talent, to the stage, to the costumes and songs, everything was picture perfect and it made for a completely mesmerizing experience. If you ever find yourself in London with an evening to spare, I highly recommend that you find your way to the Sondheim Theatre, because you are guaranteed to be mesmerized with the skills on the stage. This was truly a theater experience like no other, and I would give it six out of five stars!