Lawrence Clayton out of Les Miz tour

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Lawrence Clayton out of Les Miz tour

Posted: 4/5/11 at 11:52pm

So I just got home from opening night in Cleveland of the 25th anniversary Les Miz. Lawrence Clayton is no longer in the cast -- former alternate Ron Sharpe is now listed in the playbill as Jean Valjean for all performances. Ron made a great Jean Valjean, thou I'm partial to others I've seen (namely Randal Keith).

The evening actually belongs to Andrew Varela. His Javert brought me a deeper understanding of a character that never had any affect on me before, and his rendition of "Stars" brought the house down. This man has stage presence to spare.

On a whole, it was nice revisiting the show. Some of the changes work (Javert's suicide and the scene in sewers worked extremely well), but I'm partial to the original. "One Day More" is a huge letdown here --- not the grand Act One ender it used to be.

I liked it.... alot, but I still love the original.

Slotted spoons don't hold much soup

Updated On: 4/6/11 at 11:52 PM

Lawrence Clayton out of Les Miz tour

Posted: 4/5/11 at 11:56pm

Lawrence Clayton's attendance had been horrendous the entire tour, so his departure from the tour comes as no surprise. Having seen both in this tour, Ron Sharpe was leagues better. In fact, for my money, he's the best Valjean I've seen or heard.

But, Clayton proved early on that he wasn't up to the demands of the role, and was missing frequently even as early on as the Papermill premiere. Perhaps the useless gospel/jazz riffs he added to the score had something to do with it.

Updated On: 4/5/11 at 11:56 PM

Lawrence Clayton out of Les Miz tour

Posted: 4/6/11 at 1:36am

Wow. So now there is no alternate Valjean? Interesting.

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

Lawrence Clayton out of Les Miz tour

Posted: 4/6/11 at 8:41am

Word is from people associated with the tour was that he had some major health problems which caused the departure (Mold found growing in his lungs).

Tara Rubin has already held auditions for an immediate replacement, and judging by a rejection email I saw, they are sticking with the "Non-traditional" casting of the role.

Yes that's me. No, it's not a Rent homage.

Lawrence Clayton out of Les Miz tour

Posted: 4/6/11 at 10:20am

If they're continuing with the non-traditional casting, I would love to see Quentin Earl Darrington as Jean Valjean.

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

Lawrence Clayton out of Les Miz tour

Posted: 4/6/11 at 11:42am

Wow. So now there is no alternate Valjean? Interesting.

At the moment, not officially, but Joe Tokarz (ensemble member and understudy for JVJ) tweeted that he was performing Sunday evenings, with Sharpe doing the rest of the performances.

Lawrence Clayton out of Les Miz tour

Posted: 4/6/11 at 12:02pm

I saw this in NJ and I wish Lawrence Clayton was out the night that I saw. For me, he was the worse Valjean in my Les Miz history.

I agreed that Andrew Varela is fantastic and easily be one of the best.

Lawrence Clayton out of Les Miz tour

Posted: 4/6/11 at 12:54pm

Joe Tokarz (ensemble member and understudy for JVJ) tweeted that he was performing Sunday evenings

Joe Tokarz was especially notable in New Jersey -- perhaps not so much as Brujon, but rather -- as the uncredited hailer from the other side of the barricade.

p.s. It had been a long time since someone's hailing reminded me of Nehal.

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