Les Miserables (Launceston - 2006)

[mitzi]

Actually, to be accurate, Little Shop has always been on the Directors agenda after his Georgetown production failed to get a run.

And perhaps it is time for LMS to consider the audience's agenda when selecting a show... not just someones idea of "I love this show, we must do it.." or "I saw this in London and it's amazing..." or "I just got hold of the soundtrack to blah-blah-blah and we have to do it..."

The audience wants to be entertained, and part of attracting an audience is a name show and/or known songs. Why do you think recent shows like Mamma Mia and We Will Rock You have succeeded so spectacularly? Could it be that people can leave the theatre humming their favourite songs??

And why have shows like Jekyll and Hyde failed so miserably? Two attempts have been made to stage it professionally in Australia, and both folded before opening night.

And then there's The Witches of Eastwick saga... In spite of major star power (Marina Prior and Paul McDermott), the show closed it's Melbourne run early and the Australian tour was cancelled.

Here's a suggestion....

How about doing a show that has:

56 professional productions to date
Been performed in 38 countries and 223 cities
Been translated in 21 languages
Seen over 38,000 performances
Reached more than 51 million theatre goers world wide
Has 31 cast recordings
Won more than 50 major theatre awards

Surely any community theatre group would aspire to perform the most popular musical in the world?

Alas no, not if you're LMS.

[Buff]

mitzi said:

Actually, to be accurate, Little Shop has always been on the Directors agenda after his Georgetown production failed to get a run.

I'd forgotten that it was going to be done in George Town

I think there needs to be a balance between what the audience will go to see and what performers will want to perform. Oh and what directors want to direct

That's why I think LMS' policy of doing a small show each year at the Earl Arts is a good idea. It gets shows that might not fill the Princess Theatre, but interest performers up and running.

Having said that Les Mis would have fulfilled all the criteria I mentioned, but it was not meant to be

On that note, I will lock this thread. I think all that can be said about the show has been said. If you feel that you need to add something, send me a PM and I'll unlock it for you.

Buff