Victor Hugo, the son of a General in Napoleon's army, was a French author best known for The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, and Les Misérables. His works have inspired music, and has given life to London's longest running West End musical. Several years ago I'd seen an 8-part adaptation for TV of Les Misérables, and enjoyed it. When visiting Guernsey for the first time I'd seen Hauteville House where he'd lived during his self-imposed exile from France, and had started to wonder what the stage play would be like. The TV series was faithful to the book, and I was very aware that the stage play was actually a musical, so could be very different. Despite this, I felt it was something I needed to see to satisfy that curiosity.

A friend had bought me a Buy-A-Gift voucher last Christmas, so I used that towards our tickets. The website says to print them out to take with you, but as it's 2024 and not 2004, I figured showing them the barcode on a mobile phone would be fine. Our seats were at the very top of the theatre in the dress circle, and it felt like they were leaning forward for us to peer down onto the stage far below.

Look down, look down, Don't look 'em in the eye, Look down, look down, You're here until you die.

With an intermission, the play is around 2hr50, with the break being about 1hr30 in. Personally I felt the second part wasn't necessary and I would have had sufficient enjoyment from just the first part. In fact, I felt the second part was a little boring. I'd actually forgotten most of what happened after the barricade scene other than two key points (I won't go into those to avoid spoiling it for anyone who hasn't seen it).

The play is one that tells the story of Jean Valjean, prisoner 24601, who is released from prison, but then violates his parole. What ensues is then a cat and mouse game as Inspector Javert chases his across the decades whilst Jean Valjean takes an alias and begins a new life that eventually leads him to become the guardian of the orphan Cosette. Whilst the story and many of it's moments are very serious, there are moments of comedy too - mostly from the Thénardiers who mistreat the young Cosette before she is rescued.

I felt a lot of the songs were 'dreary' and forgettable, yet the most memorable one was perhaps also the saddest of them: 'I Dreamed a Dream'.

There was a time when men were kind When their voices were soft And their words inviting There was a time when love was blind And the world was a song And the song was exciting There was a time Then it all went wrong

This is a song I'd head before due to a contestant on a popular UK talent show contest having sung it. That's not to say there weren't songs that sounded more upbeat - 'Master of the House', whilst is about the misdeeds of the Thénardiers. I think the main thing to remember here is the story largely is a tale of tragedy.

I would say I'm glad I've finally seen it, but will stick to the book!