Les Mis at Sondheim Theatre in London Chinatown

My friends and I made plans on Instagram to indulge in Chinatown eats first before we make our way to the theatre. London Chinatown always seems to be packed to the brim, no matter time of day or night. The diverse palette and wide variety of the savory and the sweets fills every taste bud and appetite. From the sweet aroma of freshly baked bread and pork buns wafting from the ovens of bakeries to cute little cafés serving ice cream brownie desserts and boba tea shops tucked away in corners, there is an endearing aura about London Chinatown. My crew decided to dine in at a restaurant serving crispy duck and shrimp fried rice. Once we were full to our heart’s content, we made our way to the theater, illuminated by the neon lights showcasing the show. Once inside, we proceeded onto the bar, where we ordered gin (it was quite strong!) and used the washroom before the long show. Exiting the bar, we followed the signs to the theater. The view was fantastic, with a grand painting of a woman in a dress patriotically holding a red flag at the front of the stage. Hanging from the ceiling was an elaborate chandelier, lighting up the rows of red seats curving along, giving a breathtaking view of the stage accentuated by the imposing circular ceiling. Crowds of onlookers flowed in like a river, until they slowed to a trickle, and the lights dimmed to prepare for the start of the show. 

Les Mis is a story of vengeance, redemption, and love. The musical started with a spectacular opening of prisoners on a boat during a storm, each one lamenting their lives of misery. Jean Valjean, one of the prisoners, was condemned for stealing bread to feed his sister’s starving child. Jean adopts a young girl named Cosette after encountering a dying prostitute Fantine, whose death reflected the injustices and cruelties of French urban society. Inflexible and persistent police inspector Javert spends all of the musical pursuing Jean, eventually having a crisis of morality and taking his own life. A burgeoning passionate love triangle forms between Cosette, her lover Marius who was a revolutionary, and Eponine, the hopeless romantic who loves Marius and whose story ends in tragedy. All these arcs coalesce within the backdrop of the June rebellion of 1832, with the flames of revolutionary fervor stoked by students and ordinary working people. A highlight of the show was the barricade scene, which was a spectacular and dynamic display when the revolutionary republican forces shot at the approaching French army. The large sets were rapidly put up in a moment’s time and the effects complemented the professionalism exhibited by the talented actors and actresses. 

Allison Zhu, a sophomore in Stern concentrating in finance and data science, comments how “watching Les Mis come to life on the stage was an amazing experience.” Allison recalls her enjoyment studying French history, particularly in the era that Les Mis is set in. “It was a lot of fun watching a musical set in the 1800s right after the fall of Napoleon.” Echoing a similar sentiment to the multitude of story threads, Allison stresses how the musical has “a lot of characters and a lot of plot lines all at once” and recommends brushing up on the historical context of Les Mis.