Taking on Les Mis
Give us the money: The Thenardiers, Valjean and little Cosette. Pic by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
Kumudini Perera - David playing Madame Thenadier
Last seen in: Phantom of the Opera
What has this production taught you?
I’ve been training as a classical soprano for over 15 years with Aunty Mary Anne. My first proper musical theatre experience was with Phantom, last year. So I didn’t really bring much experience as a musical theatre performer into this production.
I learn something new every day. Comfort zones last a maximum of 24 hours. All of us will come out a lot stronger and more humane than when we went in.
What should we know about your character?
She [Madame Thenadier] has decided that she deserves better than what her circumstances has bequeathed her and will do what it takes to look after number one (herself). She’s aggressive, opportunistic and clever. Above everything else, she’s a fighter.
I will be pulling from the darker side of myself to bring her to life but my darker side has a lot to give. She’s a fun role to play and in many ways cathartic.
Your favourite moment in the show?
This show is full of heartrending moments and it hurts to live it, to feel it. But there is one scene that moves me more than the others. It’s where the bishop steps in to save Jean Valjean from the charge of theft by confirming his right to the silver he stole from the church.
That one act of forgiveness and kindness saves his life and motivates him to enrich and save so many others. To me, this scene highlights the best in humanity.
Shanuki de Alwis – Director Choreography + Madame Thenardier
Last seen in: Phantom of the Opera
What has this production taught you?
The role is not as deep or intense as the majority of roles in the production so I have a fairly more relaxed and stress-free experience this year.
The challenge is to be funny without overdoing anything to the point that it just becomes ham-acting.
What should we know about your character?
She’s a loud, gutsy, irreverent and completely uncouth woman and I try to bring out my vilest self in portraying her. At the same time, despite her lack of finesse and virtue, she’s one of the two characters that provides much-needed comic relief in a production that’s otherwise dark and emotionally draining. I love that about the role.
Your favourite moment in the show?
If I were to pick from a scene that my character is in, then it would be the Wedding of Marius and Cosette. There’s one particular moment when Mme Thenardier is being dragged out of the ballroom and all the silverware that she’s stolen falls out of her voluminous skirts. It’s quite hilarious.
Amanda Martinesz - playing Eponine
Last seen in: Evita
What has this production taught you?
I sometimes have to pinch and remind myself that I am playing one of the most loved characters of Broadway alongside theatre veterans such as Jehan Aloysius,Shanuki De Alwis and Mario De Soysa.
I’ve learned so much just by watching them portray their characters with so much enthusiasm and passion. It’s contagious! 
What should we know about your character?
Within about 60 minutes of stage time, we see Eponine metamorphose from a ruffian street girl to the woman who sacrifices her life for the man she loves.
We see her flirt, fight, love and cry and all the while hoping against the odds of a future that ‘tomorrow may bring.’ I’d want nothing more than to do justice to this beautiful soul in doing my very best to portray her on stage.
Your favourite moment in the show?
As a cast member, my favourite moment is when the whole cast is on stage for ‘The Epilogue’ singing ‘The People’s Song’.
Amandhi Caldera - playing Eponine
Last seen in: Jesus Christ Superstar
What has this production has taught you?
I have always wanted to play the role of Eponine from the time I was small. With the role comes a lot of responsibility towards the cast and crew of Les Misérables and therefore I try my very best to deliver a good performance every time I get an opportunity to perform.
What should we know about your character?
My character is very headstrong. She lives life under very difficult circumstances (poverty stricken).
However, I like to play her as a fun character who likes a good laugh and tries to make the best of what she has even though her circumstances are challenging.
Your favourite moment in the show?
My favourite part of all Eponine’s lines or moments on stage is when she goes to Valjean to deliver a letter to Cosette from Marius (although Eponine is in love with Marius).
It is at this point that everything changes in Eponine’s eyes and she gives up every bit of hope of being with Marius. Her personality completely changes after this point.
Ruwanka Leanage - playing Enjolras
Last seen in: Choral productions with Mary Anne David
What has this production taught you?
I’ve learned what it is to be an actor. It’s a lot about formulating a mind-set and having an active imagination to add colour to the role you’re playing. To speak with a clarity and preciseness that I normally wouldn’t use in everyday life. To stand and walk with purpose and decisiveness even at home and work!
What should we know about your character?
Enjolras is a natural leader. I’ve chosen to portray him in a very cool and suave yet passionate, energetic and optimistic sort of way.
As a first time acting role this character has been challenging to portray effectively because I’m almost the exact opposite of this guy. But the more practice I get and the more I sink into who and what he is and stands for, the easier it comes day by day.
Your favourite moment in the show?
The final battle in which Enjolras declares bravely knowing everyone will perish: ‘Let us die facing our foes…’ To me it’s the most intense, epic ‘going out in a blaze of glory’ goosebump inducing moment.
Shenali Pilapitiya – playing Cosette
Last seen in: Living with Lady Macbeth
What has this production taught you?
It has given me insight to the way in which the “big” theatre works and the intense rehearsal time that goes into such a large-scale production.
At 16, it has been an honour to see the older and more experienced members of the cast in rehearsal, whilst being able to learn from them and extend myself as a performer.
What should we know about your character?
Cosette changes tremendously within the course of the show, starting as a child living in harsh enslaved conditions under foster parents to then living a bourgeoisie lifestyle under the care of her father, Valjean.
As she finds her answers in life and develops as a character, she truly captures the transition from young girl to young woman.
Your favourite moment in the show?
One Day More! (End of Act 1) “Every man will be a king, there’s a new world for the winning, do you hear the people sing?”
The counterpoint, the passion and the emotion that each person on stage feels during the song is very powerful.
Reihan Stephen - playing Thenardier
Last seen in: The Phantom of the Opera
What has this production taught you?
I feel that I have grown as an actor, learning where to draw that fine line between overdoing it and keeping it simple. Jerome introduced “thought tracking” to us which makes life a whole lot easier, giving you purpose for every single thing you do onstage.
What should we know about your character?
Despite him being the comic relief, he is also very dark and sinister and when working with Shanuki, she asked me, “If you were an animal, what would you be?” and the first thing that flashed through my mind was a cockroach, and since then I’ve tried to bring in certain characteristics of the cockroach into my role.
Your favourite moment in the show?
It would have to be when Enjolras and some of the barricade boys say “let us die facing our foes, make them bleed while they can, make them pay through the nose, make them pay for every man, let others rise to take our place until the earth is free.”
There is so much intensity and patriotism in those lines that makes you want to run unto the barricade, take a gun, start shooting and eventually die.
Stephan Anoj Wijayaratne - playing Enjolras
Last seen in: The Phantom of the Opera
What has this production taught you?
Les Miserables is emotionally and vocally exhausting, it’s also something that requires you to live the role to portray the raw emotion required.
The challenge is to keep that emotion consistent and real every single time you perform.
What should we know about your character?
He is that one charismatic selfless leader with one clear goal in mind who everyone admires and respect. He will be your dose of intensity.
Your favourite moment in the show?
As sad as it is, the death of Gavroche that moves into the final battle and into Enjolras’s death. The level of emotion and thought that runs through your head during that scene is just crazy and you take a while to recover afterwards.
Vinuri Weerawardena - playing adult Cosette
Last seen in: Best of Broadway by the Workshop Players
What has this production taught you?
The highlight is being cast in a role with characteristics I had never portrayed on stage before which brought out a side of me that I was yet to experience.
I was taught the magic trick of ‘eye contact’ along with how to portray a character with conviction by tracking the thoughts of the character to bring out the character’s psychological workings, creating stronger emotional and intimate connections between character and audience.
What should we know about your character?
Setting aside the stereotype of “rich girl who knows no hardships” she is vibrant, youthful and has a sense of courage which is refreshing to see. It’s lovely to see moments where Fantine’s courage and “gusto” is subtly seen in Cosette.
Your favourite moment in the show?
The Epilogue, where Valjean has a final dialogue with Cosette before his death. He says “Yes, Cosette, forbid me now to die…I’ll obey…” In response to Cosette’s “… too soon to say goodbye.” triggers in me a cocktail of emotions which are difficult to vocalize.
This is what creates an unforgettable end to an unparalleled theatrical experience of love and loss.
Dino Corera - playing Marius Pontmercy
Last seen in: The Irish Curse
What has this production taught you? 
Musical Theatre is as challenging as it is demanding due to the fact that it requires precision timing in vocal delivery while ensuring a character is portrayed honestly.
Les Mis has helped me grow greatly as an actor in developing musicality while learning how to better blend it with characterisation.
What should we know about your character?
Marius is a character torn between two worlds in love and in life. He left behind an affluent inheritance to pursue the revolution as a student and so has to face the harsh realities of life.
As an individual he is devoted to the ideology of a revolution but is not fond of the method through which it is attempted.
Your favourite moment in the show?
Eponine’s soliloquy in which she sings about her love for Marius and reveals how as gut wrenching as it may seem without reciprocity, loving someone, has a true toll on one’s self worth. It is poignant and moving and is realism at its best.
Gyles Dharmaratne - playing Marius Pontmercy
Last seen in: Phantom of the Opera
What has this production taught you?
A lot. This play also calls for a lot of different emotions through each character’s arc and being able to try and bring them out has been an awesome learning experience.
What should we know about your character?
My character is one of the founding members of the student movement. However, unlike Enjolras, he thinks more with his heart than his mind and this causes a lot of internal conflict.
I think it plays to my strengths, because (I have been told and in no way do I believe it) I tend to be a bit sensitive, and the character is so as well. His emotions tend to get the better of him and I grudgingly guess that I can relate.
Your favourite moment in the show?
That’s a difficult one, but if I had to choose I would go with ‘One Day More,’ where the entire ensemble sings together and sets the tone for the next portion of the play.
Nicole Liyanage – playing Marius Pontmercy
Last seen in: Jesus Christ Superstar
What has this production taught you?
It has taught me how to show my vocal capabilities while portraying all the subtle changes in a character which was a tough one. Les Mis has undoubtedly pushed my boundaries and brought me out of my comfort zone.
What should we know about your character?
Marius is idealistic, naïve and something of a dreamer. He is from a well to do family but with two opposite strong political views. His loyalties are torn between the two parties being his father and grandfather.
Angry and confused he leaves his home to find idealism of his own, and joins the revolution. Then he falls madly in love with Cosette without realizing that Eponine is in love with him.
Your favourite moment in the show?
There are two moments that are so special to me: one being Eponine’s soliloquy which touches my heart every time I hear it and Eponine’s final dialogue with Marius where he finds out that he was being loved immensely by her but it’s too late when he figures it out.
Les Miserables is licensed by Music Theatre International by arrangement with Cameron Mackintosh Ltd. and will be staged from October 1-11 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre
Tickets are priced at Rs 3500, 2500, 1500 and 600 (Balcony)