"We got to know each other on social media, because we all love musicals," three women told China Daily before the opening show on Nov 4 at SGT. The three held four bears, with an extra for a friend in London. "She says we have better merchandise in Shanghai than the West End," says one of the three, identified by her web name Bast. "She is booking her flight to Shanghai in December, when we will meet and give it to her."

Like many dedicated musical fans in China, each of them has bought tickets for multiple shows, as they want to see the different casts. "You especially don't want to miss the opening and closing shows, because the curtain calls for these shows are always special," says Bast.

At the curtain call for the opening night, two leading actors, Alfie Boe and Geronimo Rauch mounted the stage together performing one of the most beloved songs of the hero Jean Valjean, Bring Him Home.

"This is the second time I've been in Shanghai. I was here five years ago," Boe says at a news conference on Nov 5. "But I really wasn't prepared for the audience's reaction to this show and how much the Chinese audience loves Les Miserables," he says. "It has really taken me by surprise, but it was fantastic to feel the emotion and the love for the show from the stage."

Adapted from the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo (1802-85), Les Miserables the musical was created by Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil. It has since been translated into 23 languages and performed worldwide. In 2005, Les Miserables was recognized as the longest-running musical in London's West End.

Contact the writer at zhangkun@chinadaily.com.cn