Hugh Panaro to be Jean Valjean in Philly's Les Miz- Page 2

[ashley0139]

Posted: 5/11/08 at 11:27am

Christina originally auditioned for Elphaba. Partway into auditions they then asked her if she could sing Glinda. Don't know about the other roles, but I do know that's true. And from listening to her for nine weeks on tour, she definitely can belt.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/17/08 at 10:01am

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/83-05162008-1535069.html

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/17/08 at 10:10am

Hugh might look young, but isn't he at least 40? How could one say he's too young to play Jean Valjean especially since the guy who originated the role during the recent revival was in his 20s.

[musicandtemiror]

Posted: 5/17/08 at 10:24am

Im so excited for this
Im in love with Christina Decicco and cant wait to see Hugh Panaro
finally some more shows come to Philly!!

[theminutepast]

Posted: 5/17/08 at 12:16pm

I wish I could see this cast. I see that former Eponine Jessica Boevers is going to play Fantine.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 5/17/08 at 12:49pm

That sort of concerns me. Does she have a strong enough upper register to play Cosette?

[broadwaybaby77]

Posted: 5/17/08 at 12:58pm

I saw the show last night and Hugh Panaro was simply brilliant in the role. Sure, he may not be the most believable Valjean in terms of stature, but what he lacked in physique he made up for with his incredible performance. His voice was incredible, particularly in "Who am I?" and "Bring Him Home." I actually got to go backstage and meet him and he was one of the nicest, most gracious actors I've met.

Paul Schoeffler as Javert confused me. I didn't really enjoy his performance until his "Soliloquy" in Act 2. He may have been having an off night or it may have been the sound system (which I'll discuss later), but I couldn't hear him very well.

Oh, Jessica Bogart. When she first came on stage as Fantine, I fell in love with her. Through her portrayal, I really understood her characters conflicting feelings and her struggle. I was excited to see her "Dream," but I was a little disappointed. The song itself can be interpreted in many ways, and she seemed to be playing it more angry and frustrated than nostalgic and almost regretful, which is how I've seen it done many times before. Unfortunately, this anger translated into some belting moments that almost seemed screechy. Her death scene featured a more legit tone which I liked a whole lot more.

Thenardier was good. Not great, but he delivered a good comedic performance. The same goes for his Madame. They both gave solid performances, but they just felt forgettable.

Christina DeCicco was alright as Eponine. Eponine is one of my favorite female roles in all of musical theater, so I really wanted to enjoy her performance. I liked her more in the first act; her "On My Own" just felt a little odd to me, but that could have been the direction.

Hands down Josh Young and Jeff Coon were the best performers on stage. I can't think of one bad thing to say about either of them. Their voices were amazing, and I got chills several times. Jeff Coon as Enjolras was incredible. Every time he was on stage, my eyes went straight to him. As he has shown at the Walnut over the past few years, he is truly a stand-out performer. Josh Young's Marius was equally brilliant. I don't think I've seen a better Marius, and I've seen the show 10 times. His "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" was breathtaking. He had tears rolling down his face and was practically shaking. His performance throughout the entire show was so heartfelt and genuine. Spending $70 is worth it to see Hugh Panaro, Jeff Coon, and Josh Young deliver stunning performances. If you're in town, do try to see it.

In terms of technical stuff, there was no turntable. It was the first time I'd seen it done that way, but it didn't bother me too much. The barricade was beautiful. The first time you see it, it sits upstage with yellow lights shining behind it. The rays of light make it through the holes in the barricade to give a really stunning effect.

"One Day More" was amazing. They kept the triangle step and most of the original staging for that number.

Definitely try to see it if you're in town. I really enjoyed it. And sorry for that super long review...I didn't think I'd have so much to say!

[tinkerscanne]

Posted: 5/17/08 at 3:42pm

Some friends of mine saw the show on Thursday night and mentioned that there was an issue with the sound system, too. You mentioned that you thought that might have played a part in your review of Javert - can you elaborate? Javert is one of my favorite roles - I love those baritone/bass voices!

Thanks. I'm hoping to see the show in August.

[singingshowgirl]

Posted: 5/17/08 at 3:53pm

ah i'm so excited! my teacher is the asst. music director. i cannot wait!!!

[broadwaybaby77]

Posted: 5/17/08 at 4:17pm

Wow, that completely slipped my mind. I guess I didn't think I'd be rambling for so long, haha

I have friends who work at WST, and the original sound designer quit during their tech rehearsals. They had a new guy come in and learn the show in about an hour. Since their tech stuff happened in the last few days or so, I'd imagine that's why there were so many issues. Mics weren't working, mics weren't being turned on until halfway through a performer's phrase - stuff like that. I don't think the role sat very well in Schoeffler's voice. My mom told me that he was great in "La Mancha," but here he didn't really impress me. I could hear the other male leads incredibly clearly, but his singing seemed a lot quieter. Maybe Panaro, Coon, and Young can sing louder more easily? He also may not be pushing his voice right now and could be trying to save it for opening night.

[BrianS]

Posted: 5/17/08 at 5:01pm

Thanks for the review. I'm trying to get down to see it on an off day because that cast looks more interesting to me than the Broadway closing cast. I also can't wait to see the show redone and without a turntable... I mean, the first 150 minutes of the show is just Valjean going from place to place to place non-stop.

[Gingersnap2]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 5:26am

I'll be there tonight to cover the opening for Hugh's site. I've been looking forward to this for so long and the feedback I've been getting all week (despite the sound issues, etc.) has been fantastic. So, I'm really looking forward to the show...even if I'm dreading the six-hour trip.

[p.s.]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 11:14am

"... Hugh Panaro was simply brilliant in the role. Sure, he may not be the most believable Valjean in terms of stature, but what he lacked in physique he made up for with his incredible performance. His voice was incredible, particularly in "Who am I?" and "Bring Him Home."
Paul Schoeffler as Javert confused me. I didn't really enjoy his performance until his "Soliloquy" in Act 2."

[The bridge and suicide staging were better than in previous productions.]

Thenardier, Madame ... forgettable. Bishop ... Weak.

Fantine, Cosette, Eponine ... It's gonna take another viewing to form a solid opinion. Each was at least good to very good.

"Hands down Josh Young and Jeff Coon were the best performers on stage. Their voices were amazing, and I got chills several times. Jeff Coon as Enjolras was incredible. Josh Young's Marius was equally brilliant. His performance throughout the entire show was so heartfelt and genuine. Spending $70 is worth it to see Hugh Panaro, Jeff Coon, and Josh Young deliver stunning performances."

"In terms of technical stuff, there was no turntable" ...

and it wasn't missed at all. It gets me thinking that Les Miz never needed a turntable.

The sound system problems were annoying, (to me) not so much with Javert, but often with Marius (duets with both Cosette and Eponine) and with other performers as stated.


p.s. Sorry to repeat so much from bb77, but my reactions agreed with many of hers.

pps: The weakest part of the show was the "booming officer's voice at the barricade". It didn't boom; it barely sounded. (They should get a hailer or bailer or loudspeaker, or megaphone or something.)


ppps: Absolutely worth seeing. I was at Sunday's matinee and I'll be back in two weeks.

[sanda]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 11:32am

Who played Enjolras? and how is he?

[p.s.]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 11:49am

Who played Enjolras? and how is he?


"Jeffrey Coon as Enjolras was incredible." He doesn't look Enjolras-like to me, but his acting and his voice were great. I don't know if it was him or part of the sound system problem, but sometimes his "s" sounded slurred.


p.s. As stated, one of the best performers on stage.

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 3:13pm

saw the show last week. Wonderful to see a Les Mis without a turntable, the restaging of some moments works wonderfully well. (I loved how "A Heart Full of Love" became a balcony scene.)

Hugh Panaro was FIERCE. one of the best, if not the best Valjean I've seen. He's just incredible, his voice soars and his acting is wonderful and incredibly affecting

Other highlights include Josh Young as a wonderful Marius. Great voice and good acting chops. Jeff Coon is miscast, (he's WAY too old) but the man has an unbelievable voice. Christina deCiccio is a terrifically grounded, well-belted Eponine who is never whiny. Finally, the ensemble, comprises of Philly's best singing actors, fills every moment with life and does not phone in a single moment - it makes the show SO much more compelling and makes it seem much more fresh than the overtired, overrun productions of Les Mis we've grown so accustomed to. "One Day More", "At the End of the Day", "Lovely Ladies", all the ensemble numbers were among the highest points of the show.

The rest of the cast is all right, nothing special. Jessica Bogart is a very well acted Fantine, but she belts out of her range and sounds strained. Paul Schloeffer's "Stars" is a high point, but he's a bit pitchy throughout the rest of the show. Julie Craig is a fine Cosette, but does not make an impression (hard to with such an underwritten role).

Low points: Scott Greer is incredibly boring and unfunny as Thenardier, singing "Master of the House" almost entirely on a vocal fry. Don't remember who played Mme., but she was boring and overacted anyway. People were falling asleep during "Master of the House". No joke.

All in all, well worth it. Check it out. Best Walnut show I've seen.
Updated On: 5/21/08 at 03:13 PM

[Marianne]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 6:40pm

Low points: Scott Greer is incredibly boring and unfunny as Thenardier, singing "Master of the House" almost entirely on a vocal fry. Don't remember who played Mme., but she was boring and overacted anyway. People were falling asleep during "Master of the House". No joke.

How was the ensemble in this number? A strong, interesting, and occasionally silly ensemble can be the only thing that keeps Master of the House from becoming interminable, especially with a bad Thénardier. I noticed it a lot during the Broadway revival--why watch Gary Beach mangling the comic timing when Nehal Joshi is doing the chicken dance two tables over and Dan Bogart is pulling some priceless facial expressions as Fastidious Traveller #2? Much more fun to watch the barricade boys seize their one chance to goof off in an otherwise serious show.

I've heard all-around good things about the Walnut Street Les Mis--most of them from fellow hard-to-please diehard fans, some of whom liked the direction and design for this version a lot better than the original. I've been a little disillusioned with the regional productions; based on the one I attended, and the clips and reviews I've seen, a lot of them sound amateurish or unoriginal or just plain weird. But it sounds like Walnut Street is the real deal, and I can't wait to see it. I have my ticket for June 1.

[p.s.]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 7:41pm

Alas, no Nehal, no Dan, no Michael. In fact, Grantaire is not much of a character at all. And I missed the likes of Brian and Zack.

Random thoughts (They just keep coming -- Thanks be to God.): I didn't like Eponine's costume in the second act (it seemed too tailored).
Also, Eponine was like a different character from the "original". As in the "original", she refuses to take money from Marius (I don't want your money, sir); but as she delivered the letter, why would she also refuse Valjean's coin?

p.s. I have my ticket for June 1. See you at the matinee.

[broadwaybaby77]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 8:42pm

I agree somewhat with Jeff Coon being miscast. I think he would have gotten Valjean if Panaro hadn't auditioned or been asked to play the role. Speaking of which...I reread my playbill and saw that Jeff Coon is covering Valjean!!! I would LOVE to see that.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/21/08 at 11:27pm

Jeffrey Coon is a Philadelphia-based actor. He also recently played John Wilkes Booth in Assassins at the Arden. He will be the first cover for Jean Valjean after 7/20.

I have it seen it on several occasions now but since I'm slightly involved with the show, I think it would be inappriopriate to review it. I just wanted to say, I love the set.

~Jkor

[nealb1]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 12:48am

Hugh will be wonderful. Saw him 3 times last summer in London and Paris as one of Barbra Streisand's "Boys of Broadway."

If anyone wants to be wowed by his vocals, get the "Jerry Herman: Tap Your Troubles Away" cd. His vocal performance of "It Only Takes A Moment" is extraordinary.

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 5/22/08 at 7:03pm

There are some very interesting and nice comments mentioned here. As I told Bernard Havard after the show, "this production is one the Walnut can be extremely proud of". The talent and passion is incredible. I enjoyed this more than the recent Broadway tours I've seen come to Philly. Extremely well cast.

Hugh couldn't have been better. I had no doubt he could land the songs, but his portrayal of Valjean was so well acted, he simply became Valjean as if he's played the role for years.

I covered for BWW at last night's opening , so I'll leave my comments at that. I will also be doing some cast interviews including one with Hugh Panaro. I hope to have a BWW review for this weekend. Get. Tickets. Now. (if you can).

[Gingersnap2]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 4:32pm

I saw this with a friend on opening night and I can honestly say I can't remember the last time I enjoyed Les Miz so much. I've loved the show since the 1st NT, but production was excellent and my favorite so far.

The entire cast was excellent - the only weak link for me was Jessica Bogart as Fantine. Her acting was very good, but her voice was too thin and shrill. Jeffery Coons, Paul Schoeffler, and Christina DiCeccio were all terffic.

I can't say enough good things about Josh Young as Marius. What a beautiful voice. I really look forward to seeing him in future roles...and he's a sweet guy.

And, after months of anticipation, Hugh really exceeded my highest expectations as Jean Valjean.

As much as I hate the six-hour trip by bus and train to Philly, I cannot wait to see it again.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 4:49pm

Does Josh still get shot in the butt and flail to the stage with hilarious conviction?

I saw him twice on the tour and that's my lasting memory of his performance.

[Gingersnap2]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 5:12pm

I have no idea...there were two or three moments when the head in front of me blocked my view and that must have been one of them.

I'm laughing picturing it, though.