Review: Les Miserables by Pedal Performing Arts

However, if you are one of 'the few' who have not yet seen the world's most popular musical you missed a real treat last week at the Beacon Centre in Holtspur last week. Pedal Performing Arts staged the School Edition of this masterpiece and certainly scored a stunning success.

This hugely demanding piece was superbly produced and directed by Carole King, Sarah Pinkney and Kenny Frier, stalwarts of this local youth group based in Chalfont St Peter and Hazlemere.

Technically it was a triumph with professional standard music, lighting and sound and artistically it moved along with real pace and energy worthy of a far more experienced company.

Leah Eggleton, Alex Riddell and Lewis Harvey-Mott shone but all the principal actors performed their demanding roles with confidence and the young ensemble whose ages ranged from 7 to 17 sang with a clarity and acted with a passion which belied their years. A standing ovation is rarely seen in amateur theatre but this talented young company certainly deserved the prolonged ovation they received from the sell-out audience, many of whom left the theatre with tear-filled eyes. Truly an emotional and artistic triumph for Pedal Performing Arts.

I eagerly await their next production, the slightly less intense 'Anything Goes', next February and I will endeavour not to cry next time.

Paul Woodstock

A full cast photograph will be published, along with this review, in The Guide, entertainment section of the Advertiser, on November 12