Brisbane Musical Review – Les Miserables

November 16, 2015 by Shellie Wilson

When I was invited to review Les Miserable at QPAC, let’s just say my “plus one ticket” was in hot demand. It was so hot I almost gave up my ticket and let the top two contenders sit together. I am so glad I didn’t miss out though as I thoroughly enjoyed the musical.

My perfect date for the evening was my father. Dad was the person who introduced me to musicals when I was a small child. I still recall him taking me to a local theatre production when I was 10 or 12 years old. It was Pirates of Penzance and I have loved Musicals ever since.

Les Miserables Brisbane production had the most amazing set with breathtaking music to match. The cast are exemplary, the scenes well rehearsed and acted out and might I say there were a tear or two from the audience at the most heartbreaking moments.

The show is known for its length and the Brisbane one was no different. Plot points seemed rush to accommodate most of the story but what can you do? There didn’t seem anything that could have been removed that would have not altered the storyline. It’s something to keep in mind though if you are booking babysitters! If you’re lucky enough to have somewhere for the kids to stay I would say make a night of it and stay over or grab a theatre/hotel package.

The set has a building with some scenes one storey high so even the nosebleed seats can get a good view. There was only one or two times when I had to lean forward in my seat to see something at the front.

Tickets starts as low as $55 and can be purchased at QPAC.

The official write up can be seen here

The musical phenomenon Les Misérables, is now playing at the Lyric Theatre QPAC until 17 January 2016.
Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Mis is an unforgettable story of heartbreak, passion, and the resilience of the human spirit that has become one of the most popular musicals in history. Featuring the timeless score and beloved songs such as I Dreamed a Dream, On My Own, Bring Him Home, and One Day More, Les Mis has been seen by over 70 million people, won over 125 awards and is still breaking box office records around the world.
Cameron Mackintosh‘s acclaimed new production will leave you awestruck, featuring glorious new staging and dazzling reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo.

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Book Review: Las Mañanitas

The celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe is important throughout Mexico and other parts of the world. Her feast day is Dec. 12, and the celebrations honoring her appearance to Juan Diego in 1531 begin a few days before that.

Whether you celebrate yourself or just want to share about the celebration at home or in your classroom, Las Mañanitas: The Beautiful Celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a good place to start. The book, by Ernesto Joel Vega Rosales and Jeanette Gonzalez Seneviratne, with illustrations by Dana Sanmar, tells the story of a family’s celebration of the feast day in both English and Spanish.

They prepare with a novena, which is nine days of prayers and preparations. The children, Lucia and Pablo, are given special outfits made by their grandmother that look like what Juan Diego might have worn when he saw Our Lady. The book describes the prayers that are made each day, such as a prayer for respect for life, for families and for the indigenous people of the Americas, to name a few.

As told in the book, Juan Diego was a native Mexican born near modern day Mexico City. His given name was Cuaauhtlatoatzin, which means “He who speaks like an eagle.” When he converted to Christianity his name was changed to Juan Diego, and as he walked to church he passed a hill called Tepeyac. One day he heard the birds singing especially beautifully and a voice called him to go to the top of the hill.

There he saw Our Lady of Guadalupe, who asked him to tell the bishop she wanted a chapel built in her name at the foot of the hill. The bishop asked for a sign that Juan Diego really saw her, and later she had him collect flowers that she blessed and take them to the bishop. When Juan Diego dropped the flowers, an image of Our Lady could be seen on his cloak, which is still on display in her basilica to this day.

The feast day is celebrated as mañanitas, which includes singing, indigenous music and dancing, and children presenting flowers to Our Lady. Juan Diego is remembered today as being humble, brave and faithful, and was the first indigenous American made a saint.

The book is colorful and tells the story in a clear way, and it’s fun to have it both in English and Spanish if you teach Spanish or speak Spanish at home or in the classroom. It’s a great way to learn the basics of the celebration and the story of Juan Diego and why he is still remembered today.

About the book: 40 pages, paperback, published 2024 by Loyola Press. Suggested retail price $14.99.