How to Not Be Miserable In A Theatre

The first time I saw the musical Les Miserables was back in 1991 in the Royal Theatre Carre in Amsterdam. The show featured the thunderous baritone of Ernst Daniel Smid as Javert opposite a fantastic Henk Poort as Jean Valjean. With Danny de Munk as Marius and Pia Douwes as Fantine and an ensemble featuring nothing but the top musical talent of the Netherlands.

I still get goose bumps just thinking about the choral piece "One Day More" featuring the entire ensemble singing counterpoint to one another. What a triumph, what a tragedy, and how magnificent to be a witness to such a grand piece of musical theatre art. It is not so strange I went back to see it four more times.

I love the theatre, and I am fortunate to have been able to see shows in many different parts of the world. When it comes to theatre, there are two places that surpass all; New York and London. Of these, I prefer London. London is a wonderful city for a lover of the theatre. It is impossible to turn around in London's West End and not face a theatre featuring an excellent production.

I visit London whenever I can, and when I do, a visit to the theatre is required. Most recently, I managed to see Chicago (Cambridge theatre) and We Will Rock You (Dominion theatre. Bring your dancing shoes). These two shows are so very different, both fantastic in their own way.

Yet, Les Miserables rises far above them all. I saw Les Miserable in London in 1993, in the Barbican Centre. Currently, it is playing in the Queens theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, and it is the longest London West End musical run in history, having been performed more than 10,000 times in the 27 years since 1983 and still going strong.

So, next time you are in London, get some tickets to see Les Miserables. You will laugh, you will cry, you will cringe and you will feel your heart swell trying to contain all the emotions catching in your throat. But you will not regret it.

Ps. Perhaps I might suggest dinner before the show at Porters English restaurant on Henrietta St. (near Covent Garden). Afterwards you might consider a visit to the Sirocco bar for an after-show drink.