Where are all the reality TV stars now? Les Miserables featuring X factor runner up Cassandra Compton

With I’d do anything crowning its winner, and big brother unveiling its new selection of overly desperate wannabes, we wondered how and where we can see our previous favourites after their 5 minutes of fame finish. Many of them have begun to appear in some of our most famous musical productions. The summer months can be the best time of year to get tickets for the top west end musicals so over the next few months we’ll be updating you on their performances in some of the new releases (and long running classics).

London’s longest running musical has changed venue and cast since we last went to review it and we were intrigued as to how the new setting would work. We also went to see how former X factor favourite Cassandra Compton would get on in the role of Eponine. We can confirm that the both worked well.

The last time we saw the production it was at the slightly larger Palace Theatre (where it was for 19 years), but the move to the Queens theatre has freshened up the production. With the stage design now slightly more compact, it gives a even better impression of the people of Paris living on top of each other. Some of the box seats have become part of the set which further adds to your closeness to the cast.

We sat in the stalls and they are definitely the best place to choose for this production as much of the emotion of the songs is displayed on the faces of the cast. The closer to the cast that you can sit, the closer to the story that you will feel.

There is no doubt in our mind who the stars of this show are. The young female characters received (deservedly) the greatest applause. Compton displays the cheeky vulnerability that the role of Eponine demands. Her voice seems to have improved markedly since her talent show days; however it still retains its child like quality. We heard the lady sitting next to us explain to her friend that Compton was in X factor, her friend replied “but she’s really good”. This is the key to Compton’s performance. She has successfully moved from the role of semi celebrity to accomplished west end star.

You could sense that from the start the audience was waiting on the first appearance of young Cosette. The young actress in this role was also superb ,although sadly we didn’t manage to catch her name.

Cassie Compton appears in the role of Eponine at the Queens Theatre until June 28 2008

Advance Les Miserables tickets are available here

Sean Collins
11/06/08

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reality tv star turned millionaire Terry Fator