Les Miserables Comes to Korea

Musical `Cats` has closed the curtains at England’s New London Theater on the 11th, leaving the record of 21 years of long-show. What would be the next long-run show then? It is `Les Miserables`, which is recording `sold-out` in Broadway for 16 years since 1987.

As this year is the 200th anniversary of Victor Hugo, the original author of the work, the `Les Miserables` Broadway team is to perform its second tour at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts from July 12 to August 4.

`Les Miserables` became a hot issue when its performance at Seoul Arts Center in 1996 recorded 41 shows and the audience of 70,000 in total, but there was certain regret that the cast was Australian.

However, the upcoming performance, which is to come after China’s Shanghai, will consist of 36 Broadway performers, such as Randal Keith (Jean Valjean), Stephen Tewksbury (Javert), and Ma-Anne Dionisio (Eponine), and 100 staff including the orchestra members. The total production cost marks 5 billion won, which includes the newly produced 5-ton barricade, 10 meter-rotating stage, 400 lights, 1,000 costumes, and other stage equipments.

`Les Miserables` lays its background in the gloomy time of the French Revolution. In the midst of wide separation between rich and poor, Jean Valjean and Javert represent two extreme characters of good and evil, law and justice, sin and repentance. The scene of young souls dying in front of the barricade is the finest part of the production.

Besides, French composer Schönberg’s music adds more enjoyment. This tour will deliver about 30 songs, including young Cosette’s `Castle on a Clouds` and Jean Valjean’s `Who Am I`.

“This will be an opportunity to experience the Broadway musical right in Seoul. The production is more complete, as the performers were directly selected by producer Cameron Mackintosh,” said the performance agent CMI of `Les Miserables`.

Monday – Friday 7 p.m., Saturday 2 p.m., 7:30 p.m., Sunday & Holiday 1p.m., 6:30 p.m. (no show on July 18, 24, 31). 30,000 – 100,000 won. 02-518-7343, 1588-7890

Tae-Hun Hwang beetlez@donga.com