You won't get the glums at Les Mis

There are some things that words just don’t seem enough to fully describe and Workington Amateur Operatic Society’s junior production of Les Miserables is one such thing.

Only those who see this show can fully appreciate the amazing show put together by this group of youngsters.

Even they will undoubtedly have to remind themselves that they are, indeed, watching a group of youngsters and not the performance of an adult cast.

The society’s adult members have certainly got a challenge on their hands to match this performance at their next show.

From the opening scene leading actors Connor McClenan (Jean Valjean) and Alex Murray (Javert) gripped the audience with their commanding stage presence.

Each actor’s performance was powerful, poignant and believable as the company showed that nobody is just a number, and no story can be fully understood without looking beyond the digits to the person.

The show featured 11 key characters and, through their attention to detail and mature comprehension of the show’s challenging subject matter, the actors behind them told not one but 13 intertwined yet individually important stories.

Becca Milligan’s emotionally-charged rendition of I Dreamed a Dream gave Susan Boyle a run for her money.

Isabella Pirt’s rendition of Castle on a Cloud may told the audience that crying was not allowed there but I doubt that stopped a tear or two coming to many an eye as hearts went out to the plight of the young Cosette.

But there was also laughter aplenty, thanks to the great comic performances of Harry Douglas-Brown and innkeeper Thenardier and Chloe Steadman as Madame Thenardier.

Move over Sacha Baron-Cohen and Helena Bonham-Carter, these two will give you a run for your money.

One of the most memorable performances came from one of the smallest members of the cast as Isaac Wallace Fillingham took on the role of young revolutionary Gavroche, whose determination to stand up for what he believed in and fight to the death showed the strength and power that even the little man can have.

I challenge anyone who sees the show to get through his performance in the barricade scenes without a lump in their throat or a tear in their eye.

Andrew McMinn (Marius), Amelia Crawford (Cosette), Sophie Mills (Eponine), Andrew White (Enjolras) and Luke Collins (Bishop) all gave performances equally worthy of the adult stage, and the main cast was completed by Poppy Leece in a brief but not insignificant appearance as the young Eponine.

And, while I had wondered how the society could manage to create Jalvert’s final scene with believability, the combination of acting skill and special effects was spot on.

Top marks also to the set builders for succeeding in the creation of a realistic yet workable barricade.

Do you hear the people sing? You certainly will if you see Waos Juniors’ production of Les Mis and their songs could stay with you long after you leave the theatre.

Les Miserables runs at the Carnegie Theatre until Saturday.

SARAH MOORE