Back from Les Miserables at the Hollywood Bowl- Page 4

[morningglory]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 9:25am

OK - I just returned to NJ from seeing this - ALL 4 (including the dress rehearsal) times. For all you negative people - so sorry you could not appreciate this. Yes, some cuts were awkward - but this was a 'concert' version - not the full show so, it shouldn't be compared exactly. That being said -

1. I thought I'd miss the turntable - but, I didn't. It was innovative in 1987 - now its just dated. It had become a character in and of itself and detracted from the story.

2. Stokes suicide was well done - and new. It worked for me.

3. J. Mark McVey - I cannot even come up with the superlatives with which to describe him. AWESOME, WONDERFUL, Thrilling voice, acting perfection - oh yes, I could go on and on. I never thought I'd get the chance to see him again in this role and feel so blessed to have witnessed this. Never cared for any other JVJ - and I've seen a few. JMM stands head and shoulders above the rest.

4. Stokes as Javert - I finally understood his frustration and confusion and suicide. He was awesome. Also, he was the first Javert who was a good compliment to JMM's JVJ. I had high hopes for Terry Mann when he returned to the role opposite JMM - but, he just walked through his return.

TheatreDiva90016: I did meet you backstage - did't know you wrote on here. You must have had your work cut out for you a couple times getting JMM back on-stage in costume/hair changes! So a big BRAVO to you!

Yes, they should record this for GP because then they would not have the time restraints and Richard Jay could put back those missing pieces. I do understand the frustration comments - but, I ADORED this and was thrilled to see it!
(oh, and it was sold out both Saturday and Sunday)

[LizzieCurry]

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

Yes, some cuts were awkward - but this was a 'concert' version - not the full show so, it shouldn't be compared exactly.

That's not the point. It's already been done with better, smoother cuts -- the 10th anniversary concert -- but they didn't go that direction and instead did something choppy, when it was unnecessary to reinvent the wheel.

[morningglory]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 10:41am

"That's not the point. It's already been done with better, smoother cuts -- the 10th anniversary concert -- but they didn't go that direction and instead did something choppy, when it was unnecessary to reinvent the wheel"

I'm not going to get into a spitting contest with you Lizzie - but, obviously, they felt they did need to reinvent the wheel and did very well given the time restraints - and I think those on their feet giving a standing ovation throughout the concert would feel the same. Give them a break - its done and it was wonderful. Most folks had seen it and could fill in the blanks. Those others made it through - somehow! It was definitely preferable to the mess they put on last year as the 'return engagement' on Broadway!

Kudos to Richard Jay, Kevin Stites, etc! You guys are my heroes!

[nealb1]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 11:22am

For all the naysayers on this thread...let's throw that ball back in your court. If you think that you can stage LM better than The Hollywood Bowl did, go right ahead. Make sure and let us all know what theatre it will be in. If not...keep your mouth shut.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 11:36am

and I think those on their feet giving a standing ovation throughout the concert would feel the same.

And I was one of those people. Overall, I thought the production was very well done. The issues I had were those which I thought should not have been issues at all to begin with.

[TheatreDiva90016]

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

MG,

I got your PM, and thanks! But it says you don't accept PM's.

The board seems to be a little wonky.

[morningglory]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 12:25pm

TheatreDiva90016: It should now............

Lizzie: Yes,I think everyone was to their feet! It was truly awesome.

[EVIE]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 1:58pm

I saw in on Saturday night and never imagined the place would be so HUGE!! Our seats were pretty far back but we ended up sitting on the cement walk-way with one of the ushers instead and had a great view of one of the screens. I also thought some of the cuts were a bit awkward but a big part of that could be simply because I was singing along in my head. The actors did a great job and I was very excited to see Melora because I'm a huge Jan fan. She did a much better job during Come to Me and The Finale then she did with IDAD. Overall, it was a very memorable and enjoyable performance!

[Shawk]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 2:19pm

Yes, no one should have any opinions on anything unless they've actually done it. This would explain why boards like BroadwayWorld only have a few posters... oh, wait.

Sorry, I just really hate that argument. People have opinions on what they have seen, informed, not-informed, positive and negative. Whether they could do something better isn't the issue.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 2:30pm

Updated On: 5/2/09 at 02:30 PM

[BWNUT]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 2:45pm

Anna, so you noticed Marius groping Eponine in the death scene, too. Anybody else saw that? I wonder if that was directed or John Lloyd Young had an Adrien Brody-Halle Berry moment. I wouldn't blame him. Lea Michelle is hot!
Updated On: 8/12/08 at 02:45 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 2:55pm

Do you tell sports commentators that they can't comment without playing? (Even though these days most of the them are former players.)

ALL THE TIME. I mean, jeez, Jon Miller... and come on, I went back to school to study dentistry because once I graduated, I SURE GAVE MY DENTIST A PIECE OF MY MIND! Because I COULD!

Anyway. Back to the issue at hand...

Anna, so you noticed Marius groping Eponine in the death scene, too. Anybody else saw that?

That AND the giggling. If you're so inclined, it can be seen on The Tube That Is Yours.

Updated On: 8/12/08 at 02:55 PM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 3:23pm

Sheesh people...

Take it for what it was, and stop comparing it to other productions. This wasn’t billing itself as ‘THE’ production you must see. It was more than a concert version, but not a full blown production.


This is why I don't really bother posting any more here. This, and the people who are just mean for no other reason than they must be missing a gene or two.

[BWNUT]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 3:25pm

What is "The Tube That Is Yours"?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 3:32pm

Uh,

Youtube...

[BWNUT]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 3:48pm

Oh, I thought it was something sexual. You know, "my tube." Sorry, trying to get my mind out of the gutter. :)

[dotmarie]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 5:13pm

I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed the JLY/Lea Michele groping. Odd, but I suppose Eponine in her last moments would have enjoyed it.

[jondouglas]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 5:18pm

byron, we're all
glad that you don't post here anymore. Nobody cares whatever
it is that you do. Your
postings are always mindless, queeny, wrong and you're extremely uneducated.

Updated On: 8/12/08 at 05:18 PM

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 5:36pm

We dont need to about your issues with him on here.....

Moving on...

[jondouglas]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 5:47pm

he's at the top of everyone's SICK list....followed by a few other people on this board.

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 5:56pm

what exactly is the SICK list?

[DAME]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 6:34pm

morningglory;
Just wanted to correct you. The Bowl was only sold out on Saturday night. Even though 150 something seats were pulled from sales and not sold. But for all intend and purposes it was sold out. They had a great crowd on Friday and a smaller but still good crowd on Sunday. But IT WAS NOT SOLD OUT.

Oh one more thing.. "and I think those on their feet giving a standing ovation throughout the concert would feel the same.". Yes.. there were people giving it a ovation.. but there was also a huge number of people getting up to make a dash for the park and ride buses and the stack parking lots ( much to my aggravation)
Not trying to take away from your enjoyment. But lets not make it into something it wasn't.

Updated On: 8/12/08 at 06:34 PM

[morningglory]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 7:11pm

Dame: Not sure how you know Sunday wasn't sold out as I was told by Bowl staff that it was indeed sold out. Guess we will only know with the actual ticket sale count. Yes, some weren't there - but, I think that had more to do with actually GETTING to the Bowl and parking.

I sat in various seats and, yes, from the different vantage points, people were leaving as with all Broadway shows - to beat the insane crush. I am not making more out of this than there is. I am only reporting on what I actually saw and was told. The people I saw were absolutely thrilled. I sat next to a couple on Saturday who had never seen Les Mis (if you can believe that ) nor seen J. Mark McVey. From his 'What have I done,,,' on they were totally hooked. They loved the show and loved him.

[DAME]

Posted: 8/12/08 at 7:23pm

Good. Glad to hear. Next time you go to the Bowl... when you exit towards the right of the stage in the front.. the house manager puts a sign up with the count of those in attendance. Also...the Bowl has 4 official parking lots. One of which they didn't even bother to open Sunday night. Glad you enjoyed the show and that you found it worth your treck from Jersey.

Updated On: 8/12/08 at 07:23 PM

[p.s.]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 2:58am

OK - I just returned to NJ from seeing this

Me, too.

Not sure how you know Sunday wasn't sold out as I was told by Bowl staff that it was indeed sold out. Guess we will only know with the actual ticket sale count.

when you exit towards the right of the stage in the front.. the house manager puts a sign up with the count of those in attendance.

That sign Sunday night said 14,880.


I know it was billed as a concert, and many Hollywood Bowl regulars were thrilled that there was more staging than they had ever seen before, but I knew I was in trouble when they didn't even bother to cast a Young Eponine.

I know she doesn't say or sing anything, but, then again, nobody who wasn't already familiar with the full show had any idea of Eponine's relationship to the Thenardiers or to Cosette.

Actually, it seemed as though none of the characters were connected.


p.s. Lea Michele, whose On My Own was the highlight for me, was the only performer who seemed in control of her acting together with her singing.