Better Valjean understudy

[PanaroFan111]

Posted: 10/14/14 at 11:10pm

I know that Ramin isnt doing Wed Mats this month, but i was curious to see one of his understudies.Who is better as Valjean Nathaniel Hackman Or Aaron Walpole?

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/14/14 at 11:14pm

I saw Walpole, and while he had a wonderful voice, I don't remember much about his performance at all.

[jkl011]

Posted: 10/14/14 at 11:41pm

I personally have not seen either of them, but i've heard fantastic things about Nathaniel Hackman's interpretation!

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 10/15/14 at 12:38am

I saw Hackman on tour and he was phenomenal. I saw Walpole on Broadway, and he left a lot to be desired.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 10/15/14 at 7:52am

I've seen Aaron Walpole, and I was throughly impressed. His "Bring Him Home" is heartbreaking. He brings a believability to the aging character. I really bought him as a father figure doing what he can to do what's right. Either way, I'm thinking you'll be fine, but I just happened to enjoy Aaron.

[macnyc]

Posted: 10/15/14 at 9:36am

I liked Walpole too. I thought his voice was beautiful. Good actor too.

[tphiliboy152]

Posted: 10/15/14 at 10:09am

Haven't seen Nathaniel Hackmann yet, but I've heard amazing things about him.

I've seen Aaron Walpole twice and he's sensational. Great voice.

Posted: 10/15/14 at 2:17pm

How long is Ramin's contract for? Will there be another JVJ after Ramin's run?

[brdway411]

Posted: 10/15/14 at 2:19pm

Seen them both and I like Walpole.

[starcatchers]

Posted: 10/15/14 at 11:34pm

I saw Aaron Walpole, and I was floored. One of my favorite performances I've seen. I actually liked him better than Ramin.

[drinkwithme]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 3:15pm

I saw Walpole and Ramin both on Broadway. I loved Walpole more. I haven't seen Hackmann on Broadway., I DID see him playing ValJean on a non-Equity contract scabbing in Tennessee at Cumberland County Playhouse after he had left the tour and before Broadway. I was not impressed by his performance OR by the fact the advertisements said he was retuning to the Playhouse from "starring" in the national tour. He was (and most likely will always be) an adequate understudy who thought it was ok to work on a non-Union contract at a non-Union theatre and lie about his credits. http://events.tennessean.com/event/detail/441726959

Team Walpole all the way!

[JBroadway]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 3:24pm

I remember seeing Nathaniel Hackmann as Gaston in the non-eq tour of Beauty and the Beast. He was definitely the best in the whole cast. Glad to hear he's gone equity and gets to be in the spotlight every week.

[thedrybandit]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 5:36pm

"He was (and most likely will always be) an adequate understudy who thought it was ok to work on a non-Union contract at a non-Union theatre and lie about his credits."
First, Hackmann is currently an alternate, not an understudy.
Second, it is possible that he the theater was able to get him an equity contract. It does happen.
Last, did he really lie about his credits? He was in the national tour. He may have been an understudy on the tour, but he did still play the role, and almost everyone uses the word "starred" when they are talking about big productions they've done previously. It's very, very common. Did he ever say that he was the lead Valjean on the tour?

[eyehrtfood]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 8:11pm

I saw Walpole in the role in Toronto - and he could not have sung the role better... Pretty great by any standard... (and opposite the all-time-great Javert, Earl Carpenter...)

[I'm a starkid]

Posted: 10/21/14 at 10:22am

I haven't seen Ramin so I don't know how they compare, but I liked Aaron Walpole as Jean Valjean. He acted the part just right and his Bring Him Home was beautiful