Les Miserables - 1985 Original London Cast, Opening Night & Rehearsal Video

[BrianneThibert]

is there somewhere i can watch the whole performance with the original london cast?

[BeccaWei25331]

To quote "Everything I Know" from In the Heights:

You can tell it's from the 80s by the volume of their hair

[simplystreeptacular]

Oh, God, young Rebecca Caine as Cosette opposite Michael Ball.

...I just died and went to musical theater heaven.

[Methrt3]

It's nice to see a contemporary view on Les Miserables. Those who have read the book know however that it's not really about Javert's pursuit of Valjean.

[therequiembellishere]

lol No Patti LuPone.

[brydar2109]

En esta presentacion Michel Ball tenia la edad perfecta para el personaje y el talento, uno no puede imaginarse otro interprete como marius que no sea michael ball

[Sopphopper]

Michael Ball's laughter at 8:17 is just scary ;p

[keywestWTF]

Pretty funny, my sister and I in the background having a drinky ... looking so totally 80's :D starting around 6:26

[LucilleApple]

@6:54 that's my dad, mom and aunt in the background:) they're there for a bit to. my grandmother was in the show! thanks so much for this amazing video!

[andromache007]

Frances looks sooo pretty here! Awwww

[EponineKim1]

Michael Ball is now much more handsome!!!! :D

[McGarvinStudios]

Colm Wilkinson has the best beard

[thegreengirl1]

Frances is ADORABLE.

[XxTurnItOffxX]

I love Michael Ball's earring xD

[daffodil977]

Colm Wilkinson can talk?! I just assumed he sang all the time, what with that beautiful voice of his....

Also, on another note...Michael Ball....lookin' goooood.

[armbartriangle1234]

its really cool to see the original cast in rehearsal and unaware of the phenomenon les mis would become

[toastaman1995]

There's a lot of people there who you expect to say "jolly good show chaps".

[PrincessKellyND]

25 years later: The music is still great. The show is still fantastic...and (although he has ditched the earring) Michael Ball's mullet remains.

[Nothingtearsthebeast]

You guys do know that no matter how high someone can sing, it doesn't matter, compared to the musicality of it.

[ccmanning3]

Very simple in that there are just a few musical themes that envelope all of the substantive themes,,,

[m951top]

This clip makes me feel old. Lol.

[mileycyrusfan310]

My Favorite Musical! :) <3 X I'm Dying To Play Eponine. Frances Looked Soooo Beautiful! x

[ellysiar]

THIS. MAKES. ME. SO. HAPPY. GAHHHH

[peterobs]

Great to hear these guys justisfy this wonderful work - Nicholas Nickleby is an enormous novel they condensed into two evenings of amazing theatre - This muscial is an even longer novel they condensed into one evening. _ Yup they missed out much stuff but what a great piece of work.

[goodie23]

Michael Ball rocking the 80's pirate look, complete with earring

[MizzSmileey]

bahahah michael balls haircut cracks me up :')

[Jasey2007]

never thought id say this but michael ball looks scrumptious

[twihearts97]

@Jasey2007 thats what i was just thinking....(: both parts!!

[blewnuts]

oh WOW. YOUNG MICHAEL BALL AND YOUNG COLM WILKINSON <3<3<3

[kfag101]

michael ball turns me on

[kfag101]

john caird and the girl who played eponine were lovers

[kfag101]

colm seems like such a nice guy!

[rlee1976]

Michael Ball's hair is out of this world!

[rlee1976]

I get hard looking at James Caird's mouth... mmm...

[ilovejosephriviera]

Colm Wilkinson can talk. Wow. lol I'm so used to him just singing and singing and singing... wonderful.

[megeestar]

Yes, the French version will all be in French

DUH!

[kfag101]

@megeestar lmao!

[meulman1]

cannot believe I have never seen this before!!!! How young Michael looks! love him

[gogetyourverb]

This woman is a stupid ignoramous. Simple music? What does that mean? Les Miserables has one of the best and most intricate musical scores ever written!

[adam4757]

@gogetyourverb I think she means in terms of the easy accessibility of the music. It's not exactly Wagner's "The Ring". However I do really like the music.

[nightswimmer99]

I think the woman is right. The music in Les Miserables is simple, and that's the beauty in it. There aren't a lot of frenzied, tongue-twisting lyrics that you have to hear three times before you even know if you can relate to them. The most complex is "At the End of the Day", and even that one can be heard well since it's mostly the chorus that delivers it.

The complexity is in the story; the music needed to counter that - and does, brilliantly.

[MargiePattinson]

WOOOHOOO Go Michael Ball!!! with a perm!!! Even Better

[Thriller94]

@MargiePattinson

His hair is naturally curly my friend. Ahaha

[HappyThoughtsToU]

@MargiePattinson And sexy Earing!!

[puckhiggins]

"I'm absolutely knackered." Oh Colm. Can I hug you?

[lmalory]

holy crap romana was there!! i bet you anything the doctor was there somewhere

[fee1712]

that woman is pretty drab. If I had never seen les mis before I wouldn't have thought it was very exciting at all. What an incredibly wrong perception she gives out!!

[amazinggarrett1]

IS "A Heart Full of Love" on the cast recording?

[yellowsunflowers8]

@amazinggarrett1 It is, but it's not complete.

[patsyb59]

How brilliant to see this after all these years of loving Les Mis!!!

[Pretendkid]

Where's David Burt? Lol.

[yellowsunflowers8]

@Pretendkid I was wondering that too

[kevjus07]

Seen LM a few times but still enjoyed the last night at the Barbican most before it went to the Palace . great days . .

[cokieblume]

Nice earing Mike! 80s much?

[disgrl4]

Um...yeah...Michael Ball looks sexy here.

[costerluver]

By the way, for those who were curious as to how old Frances Ruffelle (the cute girl on the right at the end) was, according to wikipedia she was born in 1965. So she was 20 here and is now 44.

[JokersGirl0711]

Thank you!!!!

[Ingsiemens]

WHAT! Colm Wilikinson can TALK!

[LaMisereHQ]

It must've been incredible to be there. Who would've thought this show would still be running in 2010? Thank you again to whoever posted this video. It is incredibly rare and a real treat to us fans!

[lsd2772]

LOL, oh Michael...the Guess Jeans and the hair! But then again I wouldn't want anyone dragging out pics of me from the 80's (he and I are the same age.)

BTW, he still has the earring hole...or at least he did two years ago wen he did Kismet in London (he was Haj). He wore a long dangly earring. He laughed when I commented about the fact that he'd kept it open.

[bcrocker33]

do you remember the days of theatre where there were no head microphones and people like this could fill the theatre with just their amazing voices and tones..

[Kdrashma]

I admire those people so much. I just had a rehearsal today and was again reminded of how hard that is to do.

[MovieDudeProductions]

there are still microphones on the stage and in the pit and they only reason an actor can do that is because the theaters are really small

[bcrocker33]

@MovieDudeProductions

oh i know that. but...i was talking about decades and decades ago. my MIL used to sing on those big stages and their voices carried and there were no mics at all anywhere.

[Leon61491]

Yes I do, I do remeber those days

[Vivaldicellist]

@bcrocker33 They still exist. Find an opera singer.

[bcrocker33]

@Vivaldicellist 

yes!

[DjTokenMusic]

@bcrocker33 and microphones don't allow this? I agree that its a certain talent to fill a 2000 seat auditorium with only your voice but its not like technology has killed the talent. Most of the chorus don't have individual microphones. and so being that the chorus is where the leads start their careers, this encourages the skill of voice projection.

And as far tone...um I'm a sound tech, and I can guarantee that the mics being used in productions are designed to enhance tone not subtract it

[bcrocker33]

@DjTokenMusic

you are absolutely right Dj! I wasn't trying to say the talent is subtracted by use of microphones or tone for that matter... technology has certainly enhanced shows. I also understand what you mean about the chorus. actually, i was watching a recent interview with ALW when he discusssed the "help" of backing tracks in shows as well. I would think even years ago that there may have been mics in the stage floor or close to it?

[XxmcrroxmysoxoffxX]

@bcrocker33 my mom can do that

[Bariterror]

@bcrocker33

You mean the 40s?

[Izzy41630]

Michael Ball's hair reminds us all that this was made in the 80's. XD

[lavinialouis]

It is Les Miserables.

[lavinialouis]

This guy is a wonderful director but, Les Miserablere, His pronunciation is so not right.

[sondheimfan1]

haha "I hope it has a good run" haha

we all know how that turned out

[travthebutcher]

Michael Ball is a douchebag.

[LynxProd]

the girl on the right at the end is a cutie! ;) I know this is 24 years old, but back then she was quite an eye catcher lol

[fiyeroberlin]

Do you mean that seriously :-)

Would love to know!

Cuz, if you mean Frances - the amazing thing is, she is still that cute and eye catching, of course, she changed, but just a bit...

[LynxProd]

Yeah I do! lol

[itbejess]

@fiyeroberlin I added her on facebook, she's gorgeous and her daughter is now 17 and looks just like her!

[kfag101]

@fiyeroberlin fran is still hot!

[QueenUranus]

wow look how young Colm Wilkiinson looks, also this i the first time i've heard his speaking voice.

[RedHeadVicky]

Ahh, Michael Ball before he got rich and fat!

[dw070]

Joely Richardson at 5:59 ?

[bcrocker33]

don't think so...i had to do a double take. maybe it is...but am thinking this is 1985 and have seen her recently and i am really not sure how old she is. it very well could be but i am just thinking of the ages and how old she would have been in '85

[th3gr8juan]

It looks like Uma Thurman to me

[dw070]

michael ball was hott

[hairsprayfreek]

you mean he IS HOT

[christinedaae101]

She(Mary, I think her name was?) really didn't know when she said it was destined for a very good run^^.

[philobone]

HE FUCKED UP. HE SAID IT WAS ENGILISH.

[phanatic100]

Holy Cow! Michael Balls Hair!

[Zero3026]

I wish I could find a DVD of the original London cast Musical. I want to see it!

[LotteTBS]

hahahaha, Michael Ball looked so innocent back then! Great video, thanks for posting!

[Crokkle]

I't funny how they pronounce the french names :P

[zwroble]

Ha ha ha....He is wearing Guess jeans!

[BBphantom]

michael balls hair lmao. colm looks so young here too!

[LotteTBS]

hehehe, com'on now, he had no other option but a fro-mullet and earring!!

[Teigokane]

Very simple music? This woman doesn't know what she's talking about.

[bcrocker33]

well, maybe she doesn't mean simple as easy..maybe it is simple as in simply timeless and easy to get yourself emersed in?

[smartyballer20]

@Teigokane i guess she means compared to opera music

[wstripech]

@Teigokane sorry

[Mattbrain]

@Teigokane I think what she meant is that the score of Les Miserables is instantly accessible to audiences.

[operagirl81]

@Teigokane I know!!!

[adam4757]

@Teigokane Well she's right in a comparison to operatic music

[LewNova1082]

@Teigokane I think she meant simple in comparison to the more, and perhaps intention, complexities of opera music. In other words, it appeals to common folks more than opera would.

[miniwidge]

@Teigokane I know this is answering a statement from a year ago, but it's simple in tone and style. Not in ease of singing, but it's not full of difficult scales and difficult musical phrasing. Anyone with a decent voice can sing the songs... not well, but they can sing it.

[MsEsseff]

@miniwidge Not only are these songs far from simple, but people with only "decent" voices probably don't have the range required to sing these songs. To say they could sing them but not well...that's gotta be one of the most ridiculous, nonsensical statements I've ever read.

[miniwidge]

@MsEsseff No need to be insulting. You have your opinion, I have mine. I've personally heard these songs sung by many people in karaoke or just sitting around a house singing along to a CD. They're not easy to sing with the emotion and power of a Colm or Alfie or Lea, but even I can sing along to them and I'm no singer.

[MsEsseff]

@miniwidge I can sing along to a lot of music, but what does that mean? I can sing to opera, but it doesn't sound pretty. It's not just about emotion, it's about the technical aspect of handling the music. I just don't get where you're coming from. These songs are technically difficult and the point is about singing them well (and correctly), not about being able to warble tunelessly along.

[CriterionCoIIection]

@Teigokane lol. yes she does. idiot.

[Teigokane]

@CriterionCoIIection thanks for the insult.

[CriterionCoIIection]

@Teigokane "that woman" is my mother. you shouldn't be so rude.

[Teigokane]

@CriterionCoIIection It's my opinion. I wonder if your mother would be able to sing only one of this musical's tunes as perfectly as Colm Wilkinson and the others did. I don't know, but I seriously doubt that. And you certainly shouldn't call music you can't sing yourself perfectly "very simple".

[SummonInThunder]

brilliant post. thankyou!

[dida1209]

thanx for the video

[yanndick]

Amazing.

Not a word from Schönberg or Boublil though...

[mctali]

best musical ever

[disgrl4]

I'm obsessed with it haha

[mctali]

not only you lol :D

[Lehmann108]

Everybodies so young!!!

[CourgetteValjean]

Oh for goodness sake, its Joan Bakewell.

She was and is a trailbreaker for women in TV . Harold Pinter based the play Betrayal on their affair.

[Donutube74]

i wish i didnt hate michael ball but i think he is over rated everyone else is truly beautiful to listen to , sorry michael nothing personal just think you are over rated!

[boxersforever1]

your so right, he just seems to be even from a young age a cocky wanker! he REALLY annoys me!

[frenchtoast19]

See, I totally agree... except I still think he is the perfect Marius. In other things, not so much. But Marius-- I haven't seen/heard someone more perfect for the part.

[catwomen5io]

I thught he was adorable. Cocky, but adorable. -shrugs-

[theanonymousblogger1]

hahha i kinda agree.

he's such a ham too

[clesherz]

so proud to hear the irish accent from colm!

[ACECrew01]

haha goose pimples : )

[jemimapuddleduck]

Omg...this has made me so happy :D

[northbreed1]

This is one hell of a fine upload. Thank you, buttertartlover.

[supercruiser24]

haha "a very good run" make that 22 years

[JohnnyBoy2802]

Check Micheal Ball's ear ring!

[HeWhistledAtMe]

Ha ha! I remember this so well. Actually saw two of my friends walking by in the background! Lovely, lovely. Thanks for posting.

[ImhotepsAshes]

It's jaw-dropping how different Alun Armstrong is in interviews compared to his characters!

[LesMisere]

You've just made me the happiest man on earth.

[phantomgooseberry]

love it how they wonder if it will have a long run lol

[phantomgooseberry]

Thenardier and Jean Valjean's speaking voices completely threw me off lol

[RaWrZzZz]

god michael balls a hottie.

[LesMiserablesEponine]

"Started it once but never got through" Dude I read the whole book in 3 days and I was only in middle school. Wow! LOVE LES MISERABLES......both book and musical! I love Francess Ruffelle She is my fav Eponine of all time!

[lkreeft]

word!

[OperatorThirteen]

An HQ filmed performance of the OLC of Les Mis is like my Holy Grail. I'm sure a complete one doesn't exist, but even these little rehearsal snippets are magificent to see. I'm totally digging Michael Ball's quasi-afro, too. Thanks so much for sharing.

[ebachelder]

Loving it!!!

[thejaystar]

Wow, Im sure some lyrics in Heart full of love are different!

[nattorientering]

Thank you so, so much for sharing this! It is so great to see all of them so young and to actually hear them sing!

[hotokra]

Oh wow!!! Thanks so much for sharing this clip. It is so wonderful to see footage of the cast from those years. How I wish they would have made a film version back then with Michael Ball, Frances Ruffelle and all.

[Diggins]

Good grief! Look at how young Michael Ball is!

Thanks for posting this