Rating: 
Summary: A MUST HAVE!
Review: Having just seen the Broadway show last weekend, and being an owner of the VHS version of the tape, how could I possibly resist this fantastic performance on DVD? No matter how many times you watch it you'll be amazed by this live performance, and now add digital sound and video quality! Need I say more?
Rating:
Summary: Ruthie Henshall is the best.
Review: Ruthie Henshall is absoutely the best Fantine ever...as well as everything else! Her portrayal is soooo wonderful that there aren't even words to express it! If you buy this tape for nothing else, buy it for the thirty minutes that Ruthie is in it!!!!! YEAH RUTHIE!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: A definite must for any Les Mis fans...
Review: This video, also entitled "The dream cast", is definitely worth adding to one's collection. Even if some of the performances aren't up to par, it's quite simply fun to watch.
Colm Wilkinson's Jean Valjean is not as strong as it was in the days of his London and Broadway runs, but it's nevertheless nice to have his once definitive Valjean preserved on video.
Although never a fan of Philip Quast on the complete recording, visually he seems impressive. Though this is a concert staging, he adds little touches and continually acts the performance anyway, and it's to his benefit. I couldn't help but thinking as I watched that I would probably enjoy seeing him perform the role live, since he brings a definite and viable interpretation to the role, and that's only in concert!
Ruthie Henshall's Fantine is well-meaning, but she tends to sing flat during her big solo, "I Dreamed a Dream". Still, she performs admirably in the scenes of her arrest and death.
Alun Armstrong and Jenny Galloway are a delight as the Thenardiers. They're fully into their performances and seem to be having a ball!
Michael Ball is wonderful as Marius; his singing is beautiful, and the acting that he does put into the concert is lovely as well.
Lea Salonga's Eponine is one of my least favorite performances of this concert. Although her voice is fine, her over-enunciation and very bitter portrayal don't come across very well, and as a result I found myself highly disliking the character.
Judy Kuhn's Cosette is another which I don't love. The songs were transposed for her, and her voice sounds shrill.
Michael Maguire is fine as Enjolras; at times a little screechy and appearing to be a posed doll, but overall he does not offend. I've seen much worse.
The added fun of the concert, for those die-hard Les Mis fans, is seeing some of their other favorite performers in the smaller ensemble roles, such as the students who follow Enjolras.
A final treat is the "parade of Jean Valjeans" at the end.
All in all, it's a must have for many people, whether you've enjoyed the show once or many times. END
Rating:
Summary: My Miz!!!!!
Review: If you have never seen Les Mis before, i must say that this is the performance to see first. The music is strong and moving, as are the vocals. And although its not actual theater acting, but in CONCERT, the actors very well portray the characters they are playing.
Highlights -- Colm Wilkinson -- He is on three of the four English recordings as Jean Valjean, and is in my opinion the best. Unfortunately, with his age, some of his high notes make me cringe. And his acting was not as great as it probably could have been, but he is WAY better than Garry Morris.
-- Ruthie Henshall -- She is pretty, has a lovely voice, acts the part of Fantine perfectly, and is quite simply the best Fantine I have heard by FAR.
-- Michael Maguire -- I LOVE this Enjolras! Yes, some notes are kinda high and painful to listen to, but he has the Enjy HEART!! Plus, he has nice eyes:-). However, I am warming towards Anthony Warlowe on the Complete Symphonic Recording. They're both MARVELOUS.
-- Adam Searles -- You just gotta love this Gavroche! His accent is perfect. Ok, so he could have put more fire and spunk in, but he is nonetheless my favorite Gavroche. And he is ADORABLE!! I only wish that he could have sung more of the characters parts, which, unfortunately were not in this production. If you want to hear those parts, listen to the CSR, on which the Gavroche also has more of the spunk that is desired.
-- Oh my gosh, I nearly forgot Philip Quast as Javert! Also on the CSR, this guy is AMAZING as the relentless inspector interested only in doing what is right. He is powerful, has the coolest voice and is just . . . GREAT. But, who else agrees with me that his makeup in the second act makes him look like a clown?
Now all you Salonga fans are going to be very disappointed in me, but i don't like her much as Eponine. Yes, she is powerful, and way better than Frances Ruffelle (OLC and OBC), but as I become more familiar with this character, I find that, indeed, she is quite bitter. And perhaps that's how the character was intended to be, but I don't like that interpretation. Call me weird, but I prefer Kaho Shimada on the CSR.
And Judy Kuhn as Cosette . . . she has a superb voice. I didn't like her very much when I first listened to her on here, but she has grown on me. Although Cosette herself is an irritating character, Kuhn makes her tons more tolerable.
And Michael Ball as Marius, well, I don't like the CHARACTER, but Ball brings so much feeling and power out of him . . . well, it *is* amazing.
The Thenardiers are the best I've heard -- Armstrong and Galloway are hilarious. and you'll love them.
Overall, this is an OUTSTANDING performance that will bring tears to your eyes every time you watch it. BUY IT, and you will NOT be disappointed! Take my word. Either that, or buy the soundtrack.
(let me also put in a good word for CATS the musical on VHS or DVD -- superb!!)
PS -- that bang during Castle on a Cloud -- that was a BALLOON popping.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Exquisite
Review: This is absolutely amazing! I was a bit iffy about the lack of acting and set however all doubts went away within the first five minutes. Let's go through the characters and heap praise and a tiny bit of criticizm:Colm Wilkinson (Jean Valjean): This preformance was magnificent! Colm Wilkinson does so well with the part of JVJ. "Bring Him Home" was breathtaking! He could've done with not sliding up to the high notes but then again those notes are extremely difficult. Great job! Philip Quast (Javert): One word describes it all: Perfect. His voice, unlike Terrence Mann, whom some people claim to be the best, is clear and resonant. You can hear every syllable he utters with absoloute clarity. His rendidtion of "Stars" was beautiful and the look on his face at the end of the song encompasses all that Javert is. There is no other Javert but Philip Quast. Ruthie Henshall (Fantine): I loved this! She is great! Frances Ruffele is shamed by Ruthie. She is a beautiful girl and has a very pretty voice. Jenny Galloway (Mme. Thenardier): Hahaha! I was splitting my sides laughing! She is perfect, the way her voice sounds good and yet vile all in one soundwave. She could've sung a little lounder with the "I used to dream I would meet a prince..." and "there's not much there." but otherwise, good job. Alun Armstrong (Thenardier): He is great! The only Thenardier that I've seen who could rival him is Nick Wyman. There's not much to be said but just watch and you'll see how perfect he is. Lea Salonga (Eponine): Beautiful! Stunning! She is the one and only Eponine. All Cosette-lovers will be turning to Eponine's side after this performance. "On My Own" was fabulous! Michael Ball (Marius): One again, great! No wonder this is the Dream Cast! "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" was perfect: it fully portrayed Marius's grief at the time! If only they took this cast and taped the actual stage production with them. Michael Maguire (Enjolras): Okay, maybe he was a little nasal with his voice and missed a few notes here and there, but how can this guy play this part badly? He LOOKS like Enjolras, he has the ATTITUDE of Enjolras, the DETERMINATION of Enjoras, and in a former life this guy probably WAS Enjolras! Judy Kuhn (Cosette): She has a lovely voice, but I wasn't a fan of the whole "La Carlotta" aura about it. Cosette is a difficult character to like and to sing the part of well, and Judy did her best. Ah well. Anthony Crivello (Grantaire): Come on. All he needed was a whiskey bottle and he would've been perfect.
Rating:
Summary: Stellar performances make this spectacular video a must-have
Review: The powerful cast of Les Miserables' 10th Annivesary Concert delivers every bit of promise that its ambitious "The Dream Cast" subtitle makes. Colm Wilkinson reprises his most famous role and gives a distilled performance. His Valjean is now more thoughtful, more cerebral and internal than during his London and Broadway days. Philip Quast is simply astounding as Javert. The highly-inflected style of Ruthie Henshall in her portrayal of Fantine might not be to every one's taste; however, this variation from the generally well-enunciating cast offers a subtle -- and beautiful -- texture to the entire show. Lea Salonga shines as the street-wise Eponine. Her voice rings with clear timbre, and her interpretation is certainly novel: gone is the overtly love-sick Rufellesque Eponine, what one gets here is the voice of an angry teen who bites back at the pangs of unrequited love. The rest of the supporting cast, the hundreds strong choir that backs up the actors, and the lively audience makes for a very memorable experience indeed.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: Get yourself surround sound, a wide screen TV and enjoy a beautiful and powerful musical.
Rating: 
Summary: Problem is that it's a concert
Review: Now, I love Les Mis. I love seeing it, I love reading the novel, I love listening to the music for hours upon end. I bought this video in 7th or 8th grade because, well, it was Les Mis and most importantly Lea Salonga was in it.
I liked it back then, and I still like it now. But whenever I watch it, it feels horribly empty. Because, as people seem to agree, there is no acting. Oh, the actors try, they really do! But it's hard to act like you're dying when you're standing up and there's a giant microphone in front of your face. Musicals weren't meant to be seen close-up; you're not supposed to be able to see the performer's very expression. They apparently don't know what to do, and I don't blame them. So they either overact, underact, or do a little of each depending on what part it is.
It's a weird mixture to me. I would have rather they just done songs from Les Mis concert-style without the costumes and attempts to establish story and the same feelings you get while seeing it, than this crazy hybrid. Plus they cut a lot of the great songs. It was pretty upsetting to me. Either do the whole show or don't pretend like you are.
The costuming drove me nuts. The main characters were in costume, fine, but then you'd see the people behind them in Les Mis t-shirts and it really broke the mood. Also, in the beginning when Valjean is in Digne, you can see a very pristine white collar underneath his tattered prison outfit. That REALLY bothered me. Of course, I've never been a fan of Les Mis' costuming to begin with. Also, I REALLY wish they'd at least ATTEMPTED to make Colm Wilkinson age throughout the performance instead of looking old all along.
I also disagree with the term "the Dream Cast." People act like this is the end-all be-all of Les Mis recordings. It's really not. I'll go through and evaluate each performer:
Colm Wilkinson - People who apparently aren't too familiar with Colm's work bash him from this concert, and while it saddens me to say so if I'd only heard Colm's Valjean from this I wouldn't be a huge fan either. Apparently he was struggling (perhaps because of the whole concert thing) to find the perfect mixture between acting and singing, and many times crossed over into acting. So his voice was really quiet and raspy a lot, because he was trying to sound sad or desperate or whatever. I don't think, as others seem to, that he was "hamming it up" but it was most definitely not his best portrayal.
Phillip Quast - He tried, God bless him. While most of the time he was "eh" for me (because, again, of the whole lack of acting) but whenever he got the chance to shine, he never disappointed. Javert's Suicide and Stars, for instance, made me choked up.
Ruthie Henshall - Very good, though I don't think she's my favorite Fantine.
Skipping Gavroche and little Cosette as I never really cared about the performers that much
Thénardiers - Good, but not very memorable.
Michael Ball - Very good (I LOVE his Empty Chairs at Empty Tables), but I think he was too old to play Marius at that point. He just didn't look in his early twenties.
Lea Salonga - Oh, I feel horrible for saying this, but I don't like her much as Eponine. Eponine needs a character voice, and not pronounce everything perfectly. Lea's was too confident, too mature, too polished. Eponine is none of those things. Also, it bothered me how Eponine was Asian. Sorry, but it's true.
Judy Kuhn - Decent and undeniably cute, but not the best Cosette I've heard.
Michael MacGuirev - While he's usually good in Les Mis, in this performance he wasn't really. I think they should have gotten Warlow.
Essentially, the fact that they tried this crazy musical/concert hybrid ruined the entire thing. If you want to have Les Mis on video, go buy Hey! Mr. Producer and watch the Les Mis portion of it--no mics, no half-assed costuming, and best of all there's actually acting! It's the same cast too, except for Michael MacGuire, and Judy Kuhn are missing.
Rating:
Summary: This DVD is a TRUE inspiration
Review: The combination of a gorgeous score, a fabulous cast, and a fascinating staging concept make this about as near to perfection in a live performance as has ever been filmed. A combination of concert and musical play, the main actors are costumed, sometimes acting out their scenes, a few which have a skeleton set, the biggest being the brilliantly conceived rotating "barricade".
The Boublil and Schonberg score, with English lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, is moving and melodic, and performed so well by "The Dream Cast" and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
The four male leads are outstanding, Colm Wilkinson/Jean Valjean, Alun Armstrong/Thenadier, and Michael Ball as Marius, and most of all Philip Quast as Javert. When Quast, who hails from the Australian cast (and looks a little like his fellow Aussie Russell Crowe) is on stage, he owns it; a powerful, charismatic performer with a terrific voice, he is riveting to watch and listen to. Of the many excellent women, Lea Salonga as Eponine shines the brightest.
Filmed in 1995 at the Royal Albert Hall, the final section (approximately 15 minutes) after the curtain calls is devoted to producer Cameron Mackintosh and others "behind the scenes", including Boubil and Schonberg, speaking to the audience, and 17 "Valjeans" from casts around the world, each singing a phrase in their language of origin, and DVD extras include interviews and bios. Approximate playing time is 160 minutes.
Victor Hugo would undoubtedly be proud of this inspired production based on his book...a book that has spawned so many dramatic films, so many casts of the musical show, and of all the many versions, it's hard to top this extraordinary accomplishment; it is "The Dream Les Miserables".
Rating:
Summary: Wow
Review: I thought it would be strange to just have the people sing and not really do the whole musical, but just seeing their faces and costumes adds so much that you never get just fanatically listening to the cds and waiting for the show to come to town again. I'd never seen Philip Quast or heard him do Javert, and I used to prefer Allam of the London cast, but now I am completely infatuated with Quast's portrayal. Javert is the best character ever invented and Quast is amazing in it. The Javert always makes or breaks the show, in my opinion. Quast is emotional in the role, but not overly. Just perfect. And naturally, Wilkinson is great. Loved his Phantom as well. If you are a Phantom fan as well - check out the original Canadian cast. You know, on this DVD, even the guy who accuses Fantine of outright attacking him is good. You'll love it!
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