Les Mis Revival = YUCK! — Page 2

Ok gotcha - it would just kill me if someone decided not to go because of these harsh reviews that are really nit-picking. There's nothing wrong with that - but I think there's a huge difference between critisism and wether or not you will enjoy yourself, because that's what it's about afterall isnt it?

Personally, I don't see how anyone could see this cast and not feel like they got their moneys worth - hell i'd pay that much to see just Gary Beach - but hey, that's just me.

Not to go off-topic, but I have always wondered why people dislike Frances Ruffelle's voice. Her rendition of "On My Own" is so heartbreaking on recording, and even seeing her perform her short solo during "One Day More" in the Tony Awards ceremony you get a preview of her commanding and haunting characterization of Eponine. Not Lea Salonga or Sutton Foster ever made me feel so involved with Eponine's emotional journey in the show. Ruffelle is a wonderful actress, IMO, and I have admired her work whether it is in the Les Miz cast recording, her spectacular turn as Roxie Hart, her demo recording of Miss Saigon, or her great cabaret act. /End of threadjack, sorry Ciaron.

What about Gary Beach did you not like?

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My wife said it was hard to hear some of the lyrics in the songs he was singing & that he was overmugging

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As for the Valjean understudies, I saw Victor Hawks last night. They warned us at the beginning that he had "minimal rehearsal". He really seemed to set on getting all the notes out that he forgot to act the role. He had a very nice voice though; he could hit all the notes. But I didn't hear much change in his performance; he sounded the same when he died as when he got out of the chain gang. He was also a little short for Valjean; Norm Lewis seemed to be towering over him. But, even with minimal rehearsal, he got through it smoothly, and he seemed to adjust pretty well to the role. I think if he plays it a few more times he'll become much more comfortable with it.

poor
does not rhyme with
sewer

So, how tall is Victor Hawks?

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Frances Ruffelle's voice is too "whinny"? Yes, I hate it when people sing like horses.

Spell-check is my sacred text -- I am a librarian and sorceress. So don't think I'm being cruel, I'm just in a silly mood.

Again, have seen the show 20 times... Loved Celia, hated Daphne (but maybe she's improved?)....

$111.25/ticket. That's what I paid for a trimmed down version of Les Miserables. My wife and I have seen this show 8 times and usually know just what to expect. We were so dissapointed at Sunday's (11/12) matinee. We bought these tickets over the Summer thinking we were going to experience our favorite musical in all its glory. We were wrong.
The new orchestrations using roughly 15 musicians were so sparce that not only could we not hear them but the singers lost their place several times because I'm guessing they couldn't hear either. The overture that usually hits you like a ton of bricks started off with a whimper and honk and squeeked through the show.
We were greeted with the announcement about Alex Gemignani's sickness and the disclaimer that Victor Hawks would go on with "very little" rehearsal. That alone was pretty scary 4 days after opening considering that we had to pay full price to watch what amounted to a "put-in" rehearsal. Victor did a great job under the circumstances and when he gets comfortable will probably be fine. It is hard to take him seriously when he proclaims that he is a "stronger man by far" from 18 inches below Javert's nose.
Norm lewis was good but he sometimes lacked the conviction that past actors have had.
Daphne Rubin-Vega was a train wreck.
The Thenardiers were the best I've ever seen.
Everyone else was good but not great.
With this trimmed down version the voices count even more than usual and sometimes they just didn't carry the song that well.

Cameron Macintosh has gone out of his way to make this show an epic theater experience in the past. We've had the "Dream Cast", several cast albums, and the "Symphonic Recordings" that for some have become their standard recording. To go from those lush beautiful recordings to a summer stock size orchestra in a postage stamp theater was a let down. This show was not meant to be a small intimate piece and it certainly failed as such. If I had paid $50 in Houston to see this I would have thought it was a good road show, but to bring it back to Broadway in this way is an insult to those of us that love the show for everything it used to be.

Plus, were you looking at Victor Hawks? He's a built like a mack truck!

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Come to think of it ..I can't recall many tall Valjeans (over 5'11). Most of the Javerts' I've known or seen tower over them. The tallest and youngest Valjean that I've seen was Rob Evan (27 and stands about 6'3").

Getting back to casting or cast recording... I've been telling y'all, MacIntosh has his own agenda and originally had/has no plans to extend or record this puppy. From the reception/reviews it's gotten thusfar, less than 1 week after opening, it may have a holiday flurry for Nov-Dec. but will fly outta here come spring. If I'm wrong, you can tie me to a pole on the LM turntable and throw rotten fruit at me!

He's got other things in the wind. (Everyone from Elmer Fudd to Bobcat Goldwaite has played Valjean. Did you really expect a super star cast of former Mizzie actors for 6 mos. Well, Mac Sure didn't either).

Go. Enjoy. It's a short runner! :)

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PB ENT, just because MacIntosh "has his own agenda" doesn't stop fans from having high expectations for Les Mis, or from some people wanting a cast recording. I hope you are wrong, and that show gets extended, only because I want this revival to do well.