Rachelle Ann Go. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/
MANILA, Philippines–It’s official: Filipino singer-actress Rachelle Ann Go will play Fantine in the West End production of Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil’s mammoth musical “Les Miserables.”
The announcement was posted on the show’s Twitter account on Monday.
Go likewise confirmed the news on her Twitter account: “I guess it’s official. I will be Fantine.”
She will begin her stint as Fantine on June 15. She is currently in Bali, Indonesia, for a show.
Before “Les Miz,” Go was cast as Gigi in the revival of another Schonberg-Boublil musical, “Miss Saigon,” for which she won best supporting actress in a musical at Whatsonstage Awards and best featured actress at the BroadwayWorld West End Awards.
Fantine is a “short, but pivotal role” in the musical based on the novel of Victor Hugo, said Filipino singer-actress Lea Salonga who previously played the same role on Broadway in 2007 and in the 25th anniversary concert in London in 2010.
“My advice for Rachelle Ann is for her to read the novel,” Salonga told the Inquirer in a phone interview on Monday. “I know it’s pretty long. If she lacks time, she can focus on Fantine’s part.”
Salonga explained that reading the source material will help Go understand her character more.
“She only has 25 minutes to break people’s hearts,” Salonga said. “Everything that (main character) Jean Valjean does in the play hinges on Fantine.”
Fantine performs the musical’s show-stopper “I Dreamed a Dream.”
Although Fantine dies in the first act, Go will not be idle in the dressing room for the rest of the two-hour show.
“After playing Fantine, she will be kept busy in the ensemble,” Salonga said. “Doing Fantine is exhausting. It is like a sprint. But being part of the ensemble is fun. She would get to play a boy… which I did when I was in ‘Les Miz.’”
Salonga is confident Go will not have problems juggling multiple roles. “She did it before on ‘Miss Saigon.’ She also took on ensemble parts after playing Gigi.”
“Miss Saigon” is good training ground for Go, she said.
Salonga said: “Another one of Rachelle Ann’s dreams came true.”
“Les Miz” has been running in London since 1985 and is produced in the West End by Cameron Mackintosh, the same producer behind “Miss Saigon.”