BWW Reviews: LES MISERABLES Movie - Passing the Candlesticks to a New Generation

Finally, hardcore fans of the musical will enjoy the chance to spot many Les Miserables alumni and current West End stars throughout the course of the film. Most notable is Colm Wilkinson who appears as the Bishop of Digne, and has what is arguably one of the most emotionally powerful moments in the film (which I won't spoil for those who haven't seen it). I was fortunate enough to interview Colm about his experience on the film, and I feel as though he summed up my own feelings very well. He spoke of giving Hugh Jackman the candlesticks as a type of 'passing of the Les Miserables torch' and in many ways, the premiere of this film is a passing of the torch to a whole new generation of people who would have never seen it otherwise.

As theatre lovers and as 'Mizzies', I feel we have a duty to promote this film and embrace it the way Colm Wilkinson passed the candlesticks. In the end, no film version would ever live up to our unrealistic expectations. There would have always been choices we disagreed with, actors we didn't like, and things we would have wanted to see differently. What we need to remember and embrace is the fact that this film version is twenty-five years in the making, and ensures that the story we love so much will live on indefinitely. Les Miserables will find a whole new audience through the magic of film, and Victor Hugo's astonishing work will hopefully touch many more lives. That is something to celebrate this holiday season - and I'm honoured to pass my metaphorical candlesticks to the next generation.

Les Miserables opens nationwide on Christmas Day.

Kelly Cameron's love affair with the theatre began when she was just five years old, on an outing to see the Original Canadian Cast of Les Miserables at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto. She instantly fell in love, and since then has been lucky enough to be involved in various theatre activities and productions, including a regional production of A Midsummer Night's Dream and a local production of Where the Sidewalk Ends. She has also received training from various teachers throughout Southwestern Ontario in both piano and voice, and competed in vocal competitions for which she received a few awards. Her writing career started almost by accident, when she had the opportunity to become a ghostwriter for up and coming businesses. She continues to do this, writing the content for all sorts of companies who are starting websites and looking to find their voice. Her passion and love for theatre led to her becoming involved with BroadwayWorld where she is thrilled to be writing for the Toronto contingent of the rapidly growing website. When she isn't at the theatre, you can generally find her firmly planted in front of her trusty Blackberry - tweeting, Facebooking or partaking in other such social media activities to ensure that those who want to know are kept apprised of everything that Toronto theatre has to offer. Other interests include movies, art, music, shopping, fashion and martial arts with the occasional foray into the world of finance. Follow Kelly on Twitter at @broadwaybabyto Creep her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Kelly-Cameron/500187141

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