So...

what did I think ?

( if you are fed up with Les Mis talk on Blogs
I don't blame you for stopping reading right now ! )

I was looking forward to it so much

that at first I was a little startled.

I mean, I've seen musicals on film before 

But les Mis is so dramatic, so emotional

that I hesitated before I actually started to enjoy it.

HOWEVER

I was very soon immersed in the whole thing.

The audience was silent

apart from one idiot tapping his foot

and one sweetie eater !

It will be said many many times

but Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway were amazing.

The anguish shown in their eyes is quite incredible

and their singing superb.

The close ups so intense.

I felt shivers when Anne Hathaway sings, 

" I dreamed a dream "

Russell Crowe ? 

He didn't quite do it for me singing wise.

The two children were very very good

& the inn keepers hilarious

to bring a little light relief 

to a dark dark story.

The actress playing Eponine we recognised.

She was superb 

and I think it a shame she does not appear on the advertising posters.

I found out later she is Samantha Banks

runner up in the BBC " I'd do anything " series

and leading lady Sally Bowles in a production of Cabaret we saw.

It was a superb film 

and we applauded at the end.

I said,

" I feel like clapping "

so did

and others joined in.

It is always such a special treat to go to a stage show

and Les Mis made a massive impression on me

when we saw it a few years ago during it's 25th anniversary tour.

We were lucky enough to see

John Owen Jones playing Jean Valjean.

This clip from the anniversary celebration show 

has all four famous Valjean singers

performing

 " Bring him home "

from left to right,

Simon Bowman, Alfie Bow,

Colm Wilkinson and John Owen Jones.

Magical 

and shivers !