Back from Les Miserables at the Hollywood Bowl- Page 3

[ICEcreamAssassin]

Posted: 8/11/08 at 2:55am

uh just got back from the show. lol

A wonderful concert for fans of the show but a seriously abridged version.

Loved Valjean, J Mark McVey was fantastic. This man moved me to tears! Second stand out was Lea Michele. I've never heard her sing due to the fact that I have yet to listen to Spring Awakening. She was just awesome. The people around me were commenting on how lovely her voice was. BSM was good but seemed a little weak. Maybe the outdoor venue does something to certain performers. I just didn't think he was going for it. I did still enjoy him. JLY was very good. His Empty Chairs/Empty Tables was little too blah for my taste but he is a terrific singer.

What was up with the mics? The levels seemed off during some big numbers and next time, tone it down with electric guitar. I don't mind it being mixed into the orchestra but when you hear a big guitar chord it pulls you out of the moment.

Did not really dig Mdm. Thenardier. She was just too, I don't know, very Carol Burnett in Annie.. lol I mean she really annoyed me. She didn't have meat to her voice. Melora Hardin was lacking something vocally as well. She did okay with I Dreamed a Dream but her acting got a little corny. She redeemed herself a the end though. Her final scene with Valjean was extremely touching.

I loved the concert all in all. The ensemble and orchestra were excellent. I love the venue but maybe the concert would have worked better inside the Dorothy Chandler or Disney Hall. Everyone around me loved it. It was a great night with one my favorite musicals.

[Popular]

Posted: 8/11/08 at 10:12am

Just a random comment seeing how BWW TV has an interview with Lea Michele up...

As people were coming out, postcards were being passed out advertising Idina's concert at the Wiltern that is on the same night as Lea's. Just thought that was odd seeing as we were just watching Lea, but I heard that Lea's people got with the program last night and were doing the same. :)

[nealb1]

Posted: 8/11/08 at 12:52pm

Saw the concert last night and loved it. We had box seats and had dinner all ready arranged and delivered by the time we got there. Since it was the 3rd night, and it being a Sunday, I thought that the Bowl wouldn't be full. Not the case...it was 90% full - very impressive.

Lea was fantastic as was John Lloyd Young! J Mark was wonderful as was Brian Stokes Mitchell. All ready being very familiar with the show, I could tell where songs/scenes had been edited down. The on screen naration did help, but I'm wondering if people could read it who sat way up high?

Young Gavorche (sp?) was very good, and young Cosette must have been having mic problems. At the end of Act 1, the Thenardiers (sp?), you couldn't hear them as they were singing. There were quite a few mic problems last night. They were very funny! Ruth Williamson was a hoot as Madame T. Since she's so different from Rosie, I'm sure the production team had to scramble to get a Madame T on short notice. She was wonderful. An earlier poster said that she reminded them of Carol Burnett in Annie? That thought never entered my mind. Ruth and I have done a few shows together here in LA.

Considering the local curfew, that all shows must end by 10pm on Sunday, and 11pm Tues-Sat, they did a fantastic job with the cuts to tell the story. And, with the space of the Bowl being so big, the way it was staged was just fine.

A completely delightful evening!

[Huey's Pop]

Posted: 8/11/08 at 1:32pm

I attended on Saturday night. I was truly looking forward to the show, having seen it in London and several (many) times in LA.

I enjoyed the performance, but what I hated were the idiots sitting around me with their cell phones on, texting throught the night.

Oh, and the worst thing that happened -- a man and woman sitting directly behind us had the good sense to bring their two (count 'em, two) BABIES. And of course, the babies cried throughout the first act.

I guess that sophisticated audiences are a thing of the past at the Hollywood Bowl.

[Heading4NYC]

Posted: 8/11/08 at 1:44pm

I saw it on Saturday night and I thought it was one of the most frustrating productions of the show I've seen. I've seen the show many times and have been in it, and I thought the cuts made terrible choices. There were so many continuity errors and at one point their on-screen summaries was just flat-out wrong. Plus the cuts made the orchestrations sound weird too. I knew a lot of people in it who would have been happier just doing the school version. I understand that they had to keep it under 2 1/2 hours, but that's what the school version is!

Besides that, I did enjoy a lot of the cast. McVey was the best Valjean I have ever seen, hands down. The way he actually plays the different age ranges Valjean goes through was flawless. Lea was amazing as Eponine, even Michael McKormick as Thenardier was hilarious. I thought that Hardin's Fantine was true to the character. While she doesn't have a powerhouse voice, I don't think Fantine needs it, it makes it more character driven which is perfect for Fantine. Also, Ruth Williamson was an excellent replacement for Rosie.

A lot of the others I was unimpressed with. JLY I thought was underwhelming and lacking character (which I know I'm not alone because I've had people in the show agree with me). Tom Lowe was also lacking the power of Enjolras. (and by the way, shouting "to the barricade" after one day more makes a really awkward transition to intermission).

So I don't know if it was my headache from the obnoxiously loud gunfire, or if I was prematurely upset because of the couple not being able to find their seats and standing in front of us for 20 minutes complaining about not finding there seats after they were 30 minutes late, but the show didn't quite meet my expectations. All of which, for me, stemmed around those truly quesionable cuts. I don't know how any Les Miz first timers could follow the show!

[Elphaba]

Posted: 8/11/08 at 2:14pm

DEFINATELY was a problem with people with cellphones, and especially those who felt the need to feed, and make all kinds of noise with plastic wrappers during specific emotional songs.....too many there were raised in barns

[BWNUT]

Posted: 8/11/08 at 2:19pm

Saw the Saturday night show. I agree. This shouldn't be a newbie's intro to Les Miz. It will be frustrating and hard to follow. Overall, it was a mixed bag. My first time to see Lea Michelle and she was impressive vocally and acting-wise. She almost made me forget the other Lea (Salonga) but I missed Salonga's vulnerability. Michelle's Eponine was all toughness. Melora Hardin is a good actress but her singing was, as one poster put it, blah. She had problems with both high notes and lower register.

J Mark McVey was outstanding. His "Bring Him Home" was perfect (listening to that song at night, outdoors with a cool breeze on your skin just induced goosebumps) and his acting was just right, not too restrained and not too melodramatic. Talk about restrained, John Lloyd Young (Marius) was just too controlled (for my taste, anyway.) A little histrionics would have been more effective especially on such a humungous venue. Nice non-Frankie vocals, though. Michael Ball's version ("Empty Chairs..." particularly)is still the gold standard for Marius IMO.

You always expect the best from Brian Stokes-Mitchell and he did not disappoint here. The rest of the cast did very well considering all the cuts in most of the parts already mentioned.

Just not being swallowed up by the huge stage and venue was an accomplishment in itself and to be able to keep a majority of 18,000 people engaged for over 2 hours and rise for a standing ovation at the end was a testimony to the talent of all the people involved and the awesome beauty of this musical.

One complaint. If you're bringing liquor, try not to drop and break the bottle like the people behind us did, so we spent the entire night with our feet soaked in wine and the night air reeking of alcohol.

Updated On: 8/11/08 at 02:19 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 8/11/08 at 2:24pm

Well Elphaba..it is the Hollywood Bowl. The venue is not meant for these kind of shows. More for concerts. But I agree.. people are out of hand with their rude behavior. I was just reading that press release BWW put out announcing all 3 performances were sold out. Not true at all. Saturday night was announced as Sold out even though at 3 p.m. that day ticketmaster still had plenty of seats ( the Bowl was pretty full however ). And both Friday and Sunday night were very far from being at capacity. Why lie? And who puts out these lies? Makes me question lots of other things they "officially" put on here.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 8/11/08 at 2:25pm

yes, that smell of wine (and beer I think)...ugh, all I needed was the smell of stale urine and I would have thought we were in the French Quarter....way too many dropped glass bottles...

Brian Stokes-Mitchell was invincible......truly amazed with his performance......

Updated On: 8/11/08 at 02:25 PM

[spencinthecity]

Posted: 8/11/08 at 3:25pm

Anyone heard anything about a possible GREAT PERFORMANCES recording?

[DAME]

Posted: 8/11/08 at 3:42pm

Why would they record it for GP? It was not that good.

[DCS]

Posted: 8/11/08 at 3:48pm

I was there last night and, trust me, there was no reason to record this production for Great Performances. I thought the cuts made were okay, but I'm sure were very confusing for anyone who hadnt seen the show before. Liked McVey quite a bit -- one of the better Valjeans I have seen. Hated Stokes Mitchell...he has now developed this horrible habit of not enunciating (ala LuPone) so you can't understand many of the words he is singing -- and don't get me started on his stilted acting and that wildly over the top suicide scene -- jeez! Lea Michele was only okay ...pleasant voice, but absolutely no depth or emotion to it. Cosette (Michelle Maika) was shrill and unconvincing in what little she had left to do after the cuts. Hardin was dreadful....I Dreamed A Dream was clearly beyond her abilities and her acting was laughable -- that death bed scene was so over the top, my friends and I actually laughed out loud. Ruth Williamson and Michael McCormick were fine -- he somewhat better than her. The kid playing Gavroche was so OBNOXIOUS I couldnt wait for him to be shot! I thought the whole barricade scene was very poorly staged and the silly turntable march at the end of Act One was silly to do without a turntable.....whatever! The orchestra sounded good (except for the wild electric guitar that would suddenly drown everyone out from time to time). John Lloyd Young was sleepwalking through the show and Howe seemed fine if underpowered for the role.

[nealb1]

Posted: 8/11/08 at 3:58pm

DCS........huh? What??? I am absolutely baffeled how you could have thought that? I was there last night and could CLEARLY hear every word that Brian Stokes Mitchell sang. Yes, there were a few mic problems, but nothing to do with clearly singing the lyrics. How was the suicide scene over the top? Explain that. And, to laugh out loud........WOW! Rather immature, don't you think?

John Lloyd Young was very compassionate and very good, hardly "walking through" anything.

Sounds like something's bothering you. Just hate for last night's show to be on the receiving end of your misguided emotions.

[bluesoprano]

Posted: 8/11/08 at 4:54pm

I was at last nights performance and I was very pleased by the whole night.

J.Mark McVey was really incredible as Jean Valjean. "Bring Him Home" was just so passionate and full of emotion. I was really looking forward to seeing Brian Stokes Mitchell as Javert, and to me he didn't disappoint, "Stars" was really good...I liked that he actually looked up at the stars while singing. Although I thought that his suicide scene was a little lackluster. Lea Michelle was good as Eponine. Although it seemed that her mic was on a little high during certain songs where you were barely able to hear what the other singers were singing, example would be during "A Heart Full of Love." Michelle Maika was alright as Cosette, not my favorite. John Lloyd Young was really good vocally. Melora Hardin was ok as Fantine, wouldn't have been my first choice for the part, but she did ok. The orchestra was really great, although I was getting a little annoyed during the second act when I was able to hear the electric guitar over the orchestra.

Overall, I thought the night was really good. I will agree that the Bowl was not completely sold out last night. About half of the seats in the promenade area were empty. But I did enjoy myself and hope that more shows like this are presented at the bowl.

[ScottInLA]

Posted: 8/11/08 at 5:25pm

> Why would they record it for GP? It was not that good.

PBS needs to start a MEDIOCRE PERFORMANCES series.

[BWNUT]

Posted: 8/11/08 at 6:39pm

Let's just say I will not be trading my TAC DVD for any recording of the Bowl version any time soon.
Updated On: 8/11/08 at 06:39 PM

[Anna_Elizabeth]

Posted: 8/11/08 at 8:16pm

I posted some thoughts I had at the link below when I saw the show on Saturday evening. I don't think I had seen the Bowl that full before. I was afraid some people sitting on the hill walkways would roll down the incline if they had too much wine. :)

The Hollywood Bowl is an outside venue, so the smell of drinks, food and the hearing of wrappers is expected. It's suppose to be for families after all. I guess I was lucky in that where I was sitting I had a perfect view of the screens, no cell phones went off, no one stood up in front of me until during curtain call.

The show wasn't the best I've seen, but I was entertained. And it was one of the few times I could understand every word each character spoke/sang.
Les Mis Thoughts

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 8/11/08 at 11:30pm

ok is it me or has anyone ever seen Javert's suicide done well or at least have people who watch it "get it".... my friend had never seen les mis before and she completely missed that javert committed suicide... i've had people watch the touring production and not understood that javert committed suicide... same goes with the concert... i don't know... i've just never been able to buy the staging of the suicide... has anyone seen a regional production do it so it's obvious?? just wondering...

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/11/08 at 11:31pm

I saw a Les Miz school edition where Javert actually did a swan-dive off the bridge upstage. (I assume onto a huge mattress.) The effect they used at the Bowl was nice, but really only worked if you'd seen the show before.

Updated On: 8/11/08 at 11:31 PM

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 8/11/08 at 11:40pm

yeah i actually liked the effect they did at the bowl... pretty cool...

[TheatreFreak05]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 12:00am

Can someone please explain how they staged the suicide?

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 12:34am

let me see if i can remember... i was actually waaaay in the back so if someone sat closer they can elaborate... essentially brian stokes mitchell was singing this song on a platform that was about three or four steps high... at the end of the song he basically jumps down and this sheet was thrown up over him to signal him jumping in the river.... or that's how it looked it to me... the sheet was huge... it had like five or six stagehands i think...

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 12:43am

He swirled around, not really jumped. At least from what I could tell -- but the lighting wasn't very good and was far too dark on the big screens.

[dotmarie]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 12:47am

Yeah, there were six stagehands actually holding 3 pieces of fabric (2 stagehands per piece). BSM jumped in between two of the sheets and the stagehands, who were kneeling, stood up with the fabric to cover him, and you could see BSM's hands and arms in the "water" flailing around as he was drowning. it sounds really silly and probably would have looked extremely silly if not for the lighting and the fact that you couldn't really see the stagehands in the dark.

[teapot]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 4:49am

I saw the Friday night performance, and I took my teenage daughter for her first live Les Miz. She loved it, and has been singing "The Song of Angry Men" nonstop ever since. I enjoyed the concert presentation, missed everything that was cut but understood why, LOVED Stokes Mitchell's voice, agree with most of the other evals of the other actors/voices, but really hated the suicide scene. The staging reminded me of Eliza on the ice in the King and I's Uncle Tom's Cabin ballet, and I thought Javert's entrance into the water looked a little silly. I loved the Bowl, and the music against the backdrop of the night sky. On the whole, it was a lovely way to spend a summer night.