TJOC 2010 Show Les Miserables Far From a Glum Performance

THE TJOC’s show Les Miserables was a sell out success, and received

deserved standing ovations – the group not only dreamed the dream this year,

but lived it as well.

There were tears from the audience after the closing scenes

of a powerful show, and also from cast and crew who have been

rehearsing since April, on a show which cost nearly £12,000 to produce, so for them it was

the end of a mini-era.

With music throughout the band had to be something special,

and MD Andrew Curtis has clearly worked hard with his orchestra and the cast to

make the harmonies and lyrics work.  With

12 people playing instruments in the pit, there was not one single dud note

heard all evening.  The chorus sang their heart out, and combined with the

band it was enough to send a shiver down the spine of the most hardened 

person.

Now for the cast, and it’s difficult to single out

individuals. Director Kev Behan MBE, who returns with the club for his seventh,

and luckily for the TJOC not his last show, has a lot of talent to work with

and has – as usual - got the best from them.

Once again, one of Tiverton’s youngest acting stars Daryl

Cargill gave an impeccable performance. The emotion portrayed by from his role

as Jean Valjean shone through and had the audience in floods too. He is

currently doing a BTEC National Diploman in Performing Arts and hopes to

perform at the West-End one day, but his performance and vocal talent was as

good as any seen at the West-End.

Daniel Taylor in his final year with the club before he

leaves for university took the role as Javert. He gave a powerful performance

and will no doubt be missed by the TJOC. The revengeful  relationship between him and Jean Valjean was

conveyed well until the very end.

Mathew Browning as Thenardier provided some comedy as a double

act with Tariro Mwadira as Madame Thenardier. Mathew played his part as the

villain you love to hate in a style remiscient of Captain Jack Sparrow in

Pirates of the Carrabean, while Tariro was there to keep their plans of crime

together.

Michelle Viney too gave a tear provoking performance as the

troubled Epoine. Joanne Atkins as Fantine sang one of the show’s most famous

tunes ‘I dreamed a dream’. With just her on stage, and many people thinking of

Susan Boyle’s rendition, it was as good as anything seen on an edition of

Britain’s Got Talent.

The romance was left to Julia Graham Hill as Cosette and

James France as Marius. Julia’s singing talent shone through while James added

to the liveliness of the wedding scene with his own talent.

Next year the on stage dream team of Kev and Andrew will be

back with the TJOC as they take us back in time with the show Back to the 80s.

I’m sure they’ll be hoping that the people who went to see this year’s show,

will once again be back to see them in 2011.