Les Miserables 1/25

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 1/27/07 at 9:56pm

I finally got to see Les Mis on Thursday night. I had pretyt good seats in the back of the center orchestra (row S). The only bad part about those seats was not being able to see the top of the barricades.

Overall, it is a very good show. The cast is exceptionally talented.

The Prologue was great. It really drew me into the show. A good start.

I was blown away by Alex Gemignani as Valjean. I really don't think I could have asked for better. His voice was incredible, and his acting was spot-on. I feel like he really captured Valjean's emotions very well.

Daphne Rubin-Vega was (for me) the one weak point of the show. Her "I Dreamed a Dream" was painful to listen to. I will admit, though, that she's not a bad actress. I was expecting an all-around horror (from what I'd heard), and that is not what I got. Vocally, she is wrong for the show. I heard some happy murmurs around me when Fantine died.

The two youngest performers in the show, Carly Rose Sonenclar and Jacob Levine, were wonderful. Carly sang beautifully, although she was a little hard to hear at times. Jacob played a smart little Gavroche.

Gary Beach and Jenny Galloway were hysterical as the Thenardiers. "Master of the House" was fun to watch.

Norm Lewis was a good Javert. "Stars" was gorgeous to listen to.

Ali Ewoldt and Adam Jacobs were a great pair. Both are very strong singers and actors. Adam's "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" was heartbreaking and beautiful.

Aaron Lazar - I loved him as Fabrizio, and he did not disappoint as Enjolras. His voice, especially at the beginning of "Do You Hear the People Sing?" gives me chills.

I think I pretty much covered everything. I really did enjoy the show. I plan on going back to see it again, but with Lea Salonga as Fantine.

[winston89]

Posted: 1/27/07 at 11:14pm

I love this show and this production five times. One of the times I was with my brother and there was the young boy who was bored so he took out his PSP and fiddled with it for about five min. Good part was that it was during DRV's I dreamed a dream so I didn't care. I always intedtionally sp? space out during that number because even though I think she is a great actress she cannot do Fantine at all.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 1:15am

what did you think of Celia as Eponine?

[AmyRF25]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 10:00am

I've seen the 'revival' les mis twice, 2nd time being yesterday's matinee.

I largely agree with dancingthrulife. I'm just going to add my .02 on some of the other performers...Daphne really is poorly cast and I can't wait until she leaves!

I wish Aaron was in the performance yesterday but he was out. Instead we had Drew Sarich, and IMO he was not as good as Aaron (not at all, not even a little).

I also think that Celia does a decent job as Eponine. I think she dies really well. I've seen better Eponine's over the years, but I don't think she's bad at all.

I did love Ali Ewoldt as Cosette! I think the way she portrays her is very sweet.

Both times we've had Kylie Liya Goldstein as young Cosette and I LOVE her. I think she's awesome.

The only things I don't love about the revival is I think they should have left "Master of the House" more like the original. To me now it just feels sort of rushed, and I feel the background people sing louder. It's still funny though!

And did Valjean always die in a chair at the end? I've seen les mis 8 times but I can't remember if this is how it always way?

Good show though. Hopefully when I see it again, Aaron will be in it, and Lea Salonga will be as great as I remember her!

[purpleprince101]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 10:03am

i actually liked this les miz "revival", 2nd favorite after i saw it at the broadway, imperial, and in london queens

[TWSFan4Ever]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 12:29pm

Dancing, what did you think of Celia?

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 12:36pm

I can't believe I left Celia out! I really enjoyed her performance. I have nothing to compare her to, but I thought she was wonderful. Her death scene was very touching.

[TWSFan4Ever]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 12:43pm

Glad to hear you liked her

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 12:59pm

And did Valjean always die in a chair at the end? I've seen les mis 8 times but I can't remember if this is how it always way?

I've never seen Valjean not die in the chair.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 1:12pm

When exactly does Daphne leave? I thought she had already left.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 1:41pm

http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=542374

[actor]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 5:18pm

I saw Les Mis last night. Daphne was a complete terror. What were the casting directors thinking when they cast her as Fantine?

[AC126748]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 5:30pm

What were the casting directors thinking when they cast her as Fantine?

She was pretty much hand-picked by John Caird:

Question: How did the role of Fantine come about for you?
Daphne Rubin-Vega: John Caird came to see the Rent 10 [anniversary] benefit [concert]. I didn't know him at the time, but at the after party, the loud and raucous after party, one of the producers of Rent introduced me to John, and in the midst of it all, he said something like, "Wouldn't she make a great Fantine?" At the time I had no idea that they were considering doing a revival of Les Miz, but it sort of put this little bee in my bonnet, and . . . I [told] my agent, "You know what, I'm interested in going in for that."

[C is for Company]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 5:35pm

I actually love listening to her I Dreamed A Dream. The production was much more powerful and changed than I thought it would be.

[theminutepast]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 11:53pm

I was there Thursday night in row R on the right. I'm glad you enjoyed the show. I saw the revival two other times in January, but I thought Daphne was at her best Thursday night. It was the strongest singing I had heard from her Fantine. I didn't hear any sounds of joy when she died. I also disagree about the girl playing Little Cosette that night. Her singing was disappointing. It was whiney and hokey. (I'm not majoring in music or voice, so I don't know the exact wording for what she was doing wrong). A couple people around me were laughing quietly. But I guess we were just sitting around different people.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 1/29/07 at 10:06am

Those happy people were sitting right near me, a few seats down.

[gustof777]

Posted: 1/29/07 at 10:16am

sorry you didn't like Daphne. But i'm glad to hear she just keeps getting stronger. I LOVED her in this and while i know i'm in the miniority...it's nice to know there are a few others who got something out of her performance. I love her I Dreamed a Dream!

[NJRae]

Posted: 1/29/07 at 11:40am

Gustof, you're not alone. I also love her as Fantine. I have only ever seen this cast, but after hearing people go on and on about how the song "should" be sung, I did listen to the obcr and looked up some videos online. I have to say that while the other versions I have seen and heard are beautiful, I still prefer Daphne's. I feel like she makes it more gritty and emotional and therefore more real. Her I Dreamed a Dream gives me goosebumps.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/29/07 at 12:58pm

Oh dear! Don't listen to the OBC if you can help it.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 1/29/07 at 1:02pm

Thank you for this review!

[p.s.]

Posted: 1/29/07 at 1:17pm

When exactly does Daphne leave? I thought she had already left.
I think the schedule is as follows:
Daphne's last performance is Sunday 2/18.
Then Nikki Renee Daniels Tuesday 2/20 to Sunday 3/4,
except for Haviland Stillwell Saturday evening 2/28.
Lea Salonga starts Tuesday 3/6.

Wouldn't it be great to catch each of the different performances?

p.s. Aside from how much I can't wait to see/hear Lea as Fantine -- someday I'd love for Lea and Celia to switch roles for one or two performances.

[NJRae]

Posted: 1/29/07 at 2:04pm

"Oh dear! Don't listen to the OBC if you can help it." Lol, its funny you should say that b/c I really don't listen to it all that often for the very reason that I think the revival cast is so much better! I know there are lots of cast recordings of this show . . . is there one you would recommend?

PS I would also love to be able to see all the different Fantine's . . . especially Nikki and Lea. But this show is making me broke and I doubt I can go again soon enough to see Nikki. Will definitely have to catch Lea at some point later in the run though.

[p.s.]

Posted: 1/29/07 at 2:14pm

"Oh dear! Don't listen to the OBC if you can help it."
I know there are lots of cast recordings of this show . . .

What made me cry last Wednesday night was learning that there are no current plans for a revival cast recording.
[The feeling is that there already exist enough cast recordings.]

p.s. And no current plans to readdress the plans after March 7th.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/29/07 at 2:30pm

I know there are lots of cast recordings of this show . . . is there one you would recommend?

The Paris revival cast recording eclipses all the English-language ones. I really don't like the OBC in general, plus David Bryant is awful and the ensemble seems to sing really gutturally, which is off-putting.

[sferezy]

Posted: 2/22/07 at 9:14pm

About the revival cast recording...

...is there anything we (as consumers) can do to push the issue? Who do we need to send e-mails to?

p.s. I LOVED DAPHNE AS FANTINE!!! I see where everyone is coming from and can respect that, and, i thought she was raw, and brilliant!! Because i was front row center i could really see the reality she brought to the role...i love her!