Why You Should Watch the 10th Anniversary Concert of Les Misérables

The Tenth Anniversary Concert (also known as the Dream Cast) of Les Misérables holds a special place in my heart. You know how there’s that one book/TV show/etc. where if someone just mentions its name they immediately have your complete attention? They may not even be talking to you. They may be in a different room from you. It makes no difference.

Well, Les Misérables is like that for me. (There are multiple things like that for me, actually, but since Les Misérables is what this post treats on, the other things are irrelevant at the moment.)

Anyway, the point is that I like Les Misérables a lot. And of all the renditions of Les Misérables, musical and non-musical, the Tenth Anniversary Concert (or the TAC) is my favorite version of it. Why is it my favorite version, you ask? Well, that’s what this blog post is about, so keep reading.

First of all, I would like to make one thing clear for anyone reading this who has not seen the TAC: it is not a film of the actual production of the musical, nor is it in fact the entire musical. It is a concert featuring much of the music from the musical. Everyone is standing at microphones to sing, so there is minimal acting, but all the main cast are in costume, and there are a couple props. (I know some people have watched the TAC and been disappointed because they were expecting something different, so I give you fair warning.)

As I think about it, I actually have reservations about quite a few of the actors in this version. I’ve spotted some mistakes after watching it so many times. Some bits that are rather integral to the plot are cut out. The lighting, props, and staging are quite minimal, especially when compared to the 25th Anniversary Concert. It might seem strange that I have such a great love for the TAC. Now, I admit that some of the reasons I love it are sentimental and personal, but there are many non-sentimental and non-personal reasons to love it too.

For one thing, Colm Wilkinson and Philip Quast really are THE iconic actors for Jean Valjean and Javert, and they’re iconic for a reason. I can’t think of anyone who embodies Jean Valjean like Colm Wilkinson does, or who sings his part so beautifully. (“Bring Him Home,” though…it’s just gorgeous. Here. Listen.) And Philip Quast really is phenomenal. He’s a superb actor, and does such a good job of acting his part even while just standing at a microphone. Every movement, every facial expression, exudes Javertness. He also, of course, has a beautiful voice. Really, it would be worth it to watch this concert for those two alone.

Another great actor in this version is Ruthie Henshall as Fantine. I think she’s the best portrayal of Fantine I’ve seen. Anne Hathaway did an amazing job and I don’t want to undermine her performance at all (I mean, since I’m just a random person with a blog, my opinion can’t undermine her performance that much in any case…), but she just didn’t seem quite – well – Fantine-y enough, if you know what I mean. Ruthie Henshall still lacks a bit of the girlish naivete Fantine is supposed to have, but hey, you can’t have everything. Her voice is unique, but I think lovely, and her “I Dreamed a Dream” can give me goosebumps.

Another reason to watch the TAC is that it’s the only filmed version of Les Misérables pre-revival. This means that if you want to see Les Misérables without the off-putting and sometimes rather goofy cuts and lyric changes that they made in the late ’90s, this is the way to go. (Of course, they did make some cuts in the TAC, too (if you want to hear the full musical pre-revival listen to the Complete Symphonic Recording) – but at least they didn’t change the words. And they didn’t randomly cut verses out of touching death scenes and make it so that it DOESN’T EVEN RHYME.)

Which leads to another reason to love this version – the music itself. Even the actors who I’m not completely sold on for their parts have great voices – this may be the most vocally talented cast of Les Misérables that there is. There’s also a whole lot (I think 200 or something like that, but since I don’t know for sure I’m playing it safe and being ambiguous) of extra singers for the choruses and such, and a full orchestra. So the music sounds nice.

One of the things I love most about the TAC, though, is not directly related to the music or the story – it’s the camaraderie among the cast. The feel is honestly something like a big party or a family reunion. It’s great fun sometimes to watch the cast who are sitting in the background while someone else is singing – whispering together, goofing around together, quietly congratulating people as they return to their seats after a song, etc. And one of my very favorite parts – of the whole concert, really – is the bows at the end. Seeing the cast all cheering each other on, and seeming genuinely excited to do so, is so cute and heartwarming and I love it. (Sooo much preferable to the bows in the 25th Anniversary Concert. Until Valjean bowed, literally none of the main cast were clapping except Thènardier. It was dreadful.)

Lastly, despite the big party vibes, the TAC has a no-frills feel of depth and gravitas to it which I think a good rendition of Les Misérables really ought to have. A story which is literally entitled “The Miserable Ones” should be weighty and not fluffy or gimmicky. And the TAC is neither of those things.

So, to conclude, I think the TAC has quite a lot going for it. I like it, and I hope you do too. : )