Cast Changes in Les Mis...What Happened?

Welcome Guest. Please Login or Register.

Cast Changes in Les Mis...What Happened?

Posted: 4/24/06 at 4:40pm

Just wondering if anyone knows why Adam Jacobs (Marius) and Fabio Polanco (Thenardier) are no longer in the Les Mis National Tour. I personally thought Polanco was terrible as Thenardier. He was only with the tour for a short time, so maybe he was fired. But he's still listed on the cast website. Norman Large replaced him.

Side note--Every time I see this cast, Melissa Lyons plays Eponine. Does she ever take days off? I would love to see the u/s.
Les Mis cast

re: Cast Changes in Les Mis...What Happened?

Posted: 4/24/06 at 4:43pm

Adam Jacobs is getting married.
http://www.adamljacobs.com

Fabio Polanco's wife had a baby. He was certainly not fired. In fact, he had left the tour for a short time earlier this year to spend more time with the baby, and David McDonald had filled in.

Melissa Lyons is rarely out.

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

Updated On: 4/24/06 at 04:43 PM

re: Cast Changes in Les Mis...What Happened?

Posted: 4/24/06 at 4:45pm

Must say that that's a beautiful picture of the happy couple on Adam's website.

Hey Dottie! Did your colleagues enjoy the cake even though your cat decided to sit on it? ~GuyfromGermany

re: Cast Changes in Les Mis...What Happened?

Posted: 4/24/06 at 4:46pm

Norman Large is back with the tour? Hmm I wonder how quickly after WIW he got that job.

Dean: Can I tell you something? Lorraine: That depends on what it is. Dean: I think you're really really pretty. Lorraine: (after a pause) Ok, you can tell me that.

re: Cast Changes in Les Mis...What Happened?

Posted: 4/24/06 at 4:47pm

Norman Large was a fantastic Thenardier!

re: Cast Changes in Les Mis...What Happened?

Posted: 4/24/06 at 4:59pm

I'd give anything to see Norman as Thernardier....I saw Fabio....Not very pleasant performance of thernardier.

...What happened next, was stranger still, a woman breathless and afraid, appeared out of the night, completely dressed in white. She had a secret she would tell, of one who had mistreated her. Her face and frightened gaze, my mind cannot erase...But then she ran from view. She looked so much like you...

re: Cast Changes in Les Mis...What Happened?

Posted: 4/24/06 at 7:12pm

Was Polanco the Thernardier in Washington DC? If so, I agree with you that he was horrible. . .

You insult me, I ignore you. That's how the system works around here.

re: Cast Changes in Les Mis...What Happened?

Posted: 4/24/06 at 7:52pm

Yep, that was him. He left during the Detroit run, which was last month. (?)

What did you guys not like about Polanco? I'd heard mostly good things about him until this thread.

Anyway, I've never seen him, so I can't really comment. But I do want to chime in that Norman Large is wonderful. Just wonderful. His Thénardier is a sleazy guy who tries to charm you, but is not all that bright. Nice take on the role.

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

re: Cast Changes in Les Mis...What Happened?

Posted: 4/24/06 at 8:29pm

As far as the Eponine understudies go, I would like to see Marissa McGowan the next time I see the show. Overall, I have heard good things about her, I think I would like her over Melissa Lyons(I have not seen either one). I am looking forward to seeing Norman as Thenardier.

Updated On: 4/26/06 at 08:29 PM

#10

re: Cast Changes in Les Mis...What Happened?

Posted: 4/24/06 at 8:48pm

I saw Large, he didn't sing too much, but when he did I thought he was great.

"You know, with the right volume, Patti LuPone can make a car bounce, too...." -Wonderwaiter

#11

re: Cast Changes in Les Mis...What Happened?

Posted: 4/24/06 at 8:48pm

Norman Large is such a talented man! He was fabulous in "The Woman in White."

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird

#12

re: Cast Changes in Les Mis...What Happened?

Posted: 4/24/06 at 8:52pm

I loved Fabio! He simply commanded the part. He was sleazy, funny, dirty, extremely expressive and sang the hell out of his songs...one of the best Inn keepers I've seen. The T's got the second biggest ovation in Philly.

To each his own, I guess.

www.pbentertainmentinc.com BWW regional writer "Philadelphia/South Jersey"

#13

re: Cast Changes in Les Mis...What Happened?

Posted: 4/24/06 at 9:20pm

I loved Fabio and Jennifer! Wasn't a huge fan of Joan Almedilla, Melissa Lyons, or Daniel Bogart sadly. Robert Hunt and Randal were awesome too!

#14

re: Cast Changes in Les Mis...What Happened?

Posted: 4/25/06 at 1:31pm

Melissa was out opening night in Boston. My best friend saw an understudy and said she was amazing and had a rich voice.

#15

re: Cast Changes in Les Mis...What Happened?

Posted: 4/25/06 at 1:39pm

Melissa has a beautiful voice. She is also a trooper. She never misses.

"Fundamentalism means never having to say 'I'm wrong.'" -- unknown

#16

re: Cast Changes in Les Mis...What Happened?

Posted: 4/25/06 at 3:04pm

MusicandPassion, do you know if the understudy your friend saw was Marissa McGowan? BtW here is a link to Marissa's "A Little Fall of Rain."

Marissa sound clips

Updated On: 4/25/06 at 03:04 PM

#17

re: Cast Changes in Les Mis...What Happened?

Posted: 4/25/06 at 4:48pm

Geez, you guys have all the luck. I wish I saw Melissa or Marissa. Judging by Marissa's soundclips, she was a better Eponine than the Eponine I saw. Second best Eponine I've heard so far, in fact.

You insult me, I ignore you. That's how the system works around here.

Updated On: 4/25/06 at 04:48 PM

#18

re: Cast Changes in Les Mis...What Happened?

Posted: 4/25/06 at 5:14pm

Polanco was too crude, which is saying something since he plays Thenardier. After his line "This one's a queer, but what can you do?" he basically attacked the person and thrust into him. I just thought he was too outlandish, trying to shock the audience more than play a manipulative but charming character.

I've seen the cast four times and haven't seen the u/s Eponine. But I finally got to see Keith last time, and he is just amazing. I hope he returns to Broadway with it. In an interview for the Cleveland Playhouse, Keith said he would love to be cast in the revival.

#19

re: Cast Changes in Les Mis...What Happened?

Posted: 4/25/06 at 5:17pm

"Polanco was too crude. . ."

It's not that. It's just that he's crude in the inappropiate places, and just plain boring everywhere else.

You insult me, I ignore you. That's how the system works around here.

#20

re: Cast Changes in Les Mis...What Happened?

Posted: 4/25/06 at 5:36pm

Should I expect to see Norman Large when I see it in Cincinnati? (It's here now).

If Percy Blakeney were in Les Mis....

Percy: Sink me! If it isn't Javvurt!
Javert: Zsah-vair, it's pronounced Zsah-vair.
Pecry: But it's spelled J-A-V-E-R-T Javvurt.
Javert: Repeat after me Zsah...Zsah....
Percy: Oh! Zsa-Zsa! Like the Gabor sister! Well I personally have always prefered Eva.
Javert: (Looks for gun)

#21

re: Cast Changes in Les Mis...What Happened?

Posted: 4/25/06 at 5:41pm

I think you will.

"You know, with the right volume, Patti LuPone can make a car bounce, too...." -Wonderwaiter

#22

re: Cast Changes in Les Mis...What Happened?

Posted: 4/25/06 at 7:09pm

After his line "This one's a queer, but what can you do?" he basically attacked the person and thrust into him.

I don't think I've seen a Thénardier NOT do that one time or another...

"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

#23

re: Cast Changes in Les Mis...What Happened?

Posted: 4/26/06 at 1:17am

The Thenardiers I've seen usually twirl his wife around to wave the offended person away.

You should probably see Norman Large in Cincinnati. I wish I could go see it again, but I'm saving my money to see the last show in St. Louis.

#24

re: Cast Changes in Les Mis...What Happened?

Posted: 4/26/06 at 5:27pm

misto, Normal Large actually got the job while he was still in WIW. He was going to leave WIW for LM, but the show closed anyway.

#25

re: Cast Changes in Les Mis...What Happened?

Posted: 4/26/06 at 5:35pm

Ahh i see. I knew he had been with the tour as Thenardier before WIW. Hell he was in the original cast on Broadway. I just was really amused to see him pop back up so quickly.

Dean: Can I tell you something? Lorraine: That depends on what it is. Dean: I think you're really really pretty. Lorraine: (after a pause) Ok, you can tell me that.

← Back to Message Board

View all Videos

Tickets From $59

Tickets From $70

Tickets From $59

Tickets From $101