All this presents a considerable challenge to an amateur company like Dundee Schools' Music Theatre (DSMT). My younger daughter was in the last DSMT production nine years ago at the Whitehall Theatre. That production was a triumph. I wondered whether they could pull it off again?
I was not disappointed in the performance of 'Les Mis' on Friday night at the Gardyne Theatre; in fact this production surpassed my expectations and the 2003 performance. Sorry Daughter!
The DSMT cast gave the audience the performance of their young lives. It was truly an astonishingly accomplished all round performance. I particularly noticed the increase level of participation by young men in the cast and the improved solo, small group and unison singing compared with the class of 2002/3.
In such an engaging and energetic ensemble performance, it seems almost wrong to pick out a favourite moment but I will. The rousing and rumbustious 'Master of the House' was a superb blend of singing, dancing and well timed pantomime like delivery by Thenardier and Madame Thenardier. They provided a snatch of humorous relief between the darker themes woven into the script.
On the staff side, I noticed that this time Richard Waghorn was the Conductor of the Orchestra whereas he took a leading role on stage in the 2003 production. In the Orchestra I also noticed three members of the Mainds family.
A great night out from of the talented young people drawn from each one of our nine secondary schools. Their talents has been nurtured in our schools and by the staff leading and supporting this eleven month extra curricular programme of rehearsals leading up to the DSMT show nights.
The DSMT done good.
