DR Ben -
Hmm... Interesting note about the running time. I know a couple of people who have already seen the show, and they've been saying that the three hours goes by very fast. Alas, if they have to cut something to bring it under three hours, ah, well... I guess this will be one of those shows that will actually start at 8:00 and not 8:05, and will have a true 15-minute intermission and not an 18 or 22 minute one. -However, I don't seem to recall hearing that the London production running over the three hour mark.
*Maybe they can ask for some concessions from and with the unions. I mean with all the "experimental" and "tiered" tour contracts now, I would think they could work something out. (Yeah, right.)
**I actually sort of purposely missed the revival of
Les Miserables since I actually do and did miss the 15 minutes they cut from the show during the original run of the show.