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Review of audio described performance of Les Miserables at Birmingham Hippodrome Saturday matinee 10 April 2010 – from Vidar Hjardeng
One of the most popular musicals of all time must surely be Les Miserables based on the novel by the 19th century French writer, Victor Hugo and written by Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schonberg and Herbert Kretzmer. I remember seeing it as a student when it opened at the Barbican in 1985 – without audio description - and since then I must have seen it 7 or 8 times, more recently in London at the Queen’s Theatre, with the added bonus of audio description. You will, therefore, not be surprised to hear that I eagerly went to one of the 2 audio described performances at the Birmingham Hippodrome as Sir Cameron Mackintosh’s award-winning masterpiece continued its UK tour, to mark the show’s 25th anniversary.
Turning up at the Hippodrome’s main entrance last Saturday lunchtime fellow visually impaired patrons, and their companions, were very warmly welcomed by Philippa, from the front of house team, who ensured that we all met up with resident describers, Jonathan Nash and Margaret Spittles of Sightlines, for the pre-show touch tour. We were shown many of the interesting props and costumes and, even though we were unfortunately not allowed on stage as they were repairing part of the scenery, we were still able to see some of the different elements that make up the imposing set. What always amazes me with Les Mis, is that each time I see it, I learn something new – even a small detail for instance on this occasion, during our behind-the-scenes tour. I found out that Fontine and the other women factory workers polished stones for a living, some of which we were to able to inspect.
With a duration of the best part of 3 hours, and with such a lot happening at a very fast pace, this is the type of show which undoubtedly benefits from 2 describers providing the ‘live’ commentary and, of course, as with opera and other musicals the challenge for Margaret and Jonathan was to describe the action without encroaching on the all important songs – a challenge to which they both rose, with great aplomb.
In fact, the whole production was so enjoyable, as exemplified by the audience’s standing ovation, that this self confessed Les Mis groupie is only sorry that he couldn’t go to the evening A D show, 5 days later!
The next audio-described show at the Birmingham Hippodrome is another touring musical, Dreamboats and Petticoats, on the evening of Friday 21 May and details on ticket prices, how to book headsets and places on the touch tour, can be obtained from the box office on 0844 3385000.
