Record auditions for Les Miserables

It’s been more than 20 years since Tracey Blake has tread the boards but a hit musical has prompted her comeback.

It was recently announced the New Plymouth sales manager will play the villainous Madame Thenardier in New Plymouth Operatic Society’s (NPOS) 2018 production, Les Miserables.

‘‘This role was, to be quite honest, the only female role for anybody over the age of 30 so to be standing in the room with the calibre of the people who were shortlisted... they were the creme de la creme of theatre here in Taranaki.’’

The former head of drama at Stratford’s St Mary’s Diocesan School has a background in performing but has spent the past two decades directing shows around the country.

She said ‘‘the fact that it was Les Miserables’’ was enough motivation to audition.

‘‘It’s a once in a lifetime show to get to do.’’

The worldwide smash-hit musical Les Miserables is returning to New Plymouth in 2018 for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century.

According to the Society’s records, more people auditioned for the production than have auditioned for any other show in the Society’s 66 year history.

‘‘I think this is a testament not only to our thorough and rigorous show selection policy, and the popularity of the show itself, but also the golden wave the Society is riding right now, which is centred around a drive for the very best quality in the productions we put on the stage,’’ NPOS president Kevin Landrigan said.

Other principal roles have gone to Maria Mosquera who will play Fantine, Dannica Kelsen as Eponine, Kimberley Fenton as Cosette and Marius will be played by Ben Paterson.

There are still four principals to be announced, those roles are Jean Valjean, Javert, Thenardier and Enjolras.

Casting of the children’s roles will be confirmed in February.