#1
Posted: 12/3/06 at 1:00pm
I saw the evening production last night and I really loved it. The small Theater did not bother me because it made everything a lot more intimate. I saw the show on Broadway when I was 9 or 10 and it did not have a lasting impression on me. But, the cast of this production... Wow.
Alexander Gemignani as Jean Valjean was excellent, both me and my parents thought he was the best in the show. He was well built for the role and is acting overcame the fact that he is 27 years old, I think a nomination is due. Norm Lewis was very good, I didn't like a lot of his choices in the first act and his Stars really didn't do that much for me, I think he was overdoing the whole tough and cold thing because he never got Javert's message across until his suicide which was amazing he just let loose and really came to life.
Add me to the ones who love Daphne Rubin-Vega as Fantine. I think her voice perfectly suits the role of Fantine and she is the first one, for me, to make every word Fantine says believable. It felt like she was singing to me. Nobody has ever made I Dreamed a Dream so personal, IMO, and while I love Ruthie Henshall all she does is belt, and Daphne does do her fair share of that in the song. During her death she made her singing to Cosette so vivid the outlining of Cosette's face was heartbreaking. Celia Keenan-Bolger was breathtaking. I am a big fan or Frances Ruffelle on the OBCR, but I thought Celia was just as good as playing a street rat as Ruffelle, but without having that whine in her voice. On My Own was a highlight, she expressed every feeling Eponine has during that song so well.
Adam Jacobs was fine and Ali Ewoldt was very good (I'm thinking maybe even better than Judy Kuhn). Gary Beach was uneven; Master of the House was good not great, until Jenny Galloway started singing, of course. But, his Dog Eat Dog and his final scene were excellent. But, Ms. Galloway stole the show she is just amazing. Aaron Lazar was not as good as all the hype was. He was great in the end of Red and Black and excellent during Do you Hear the People Sing. Maybe the best one in the cast was Brian D'Addario as Gavroche, amazing!
Overall I thought it was a truly amazing production. I understand the complaints about it being the same prduction as it was three years ago, but it is so great to have Les Miz back. The audience was great they started clapping before the song One day More was over and got to their feet when the Do You Hear the People Sing finished, I was happy to join them.
Alexander Gemignani as Jean Valjean was excellent, both me and my parents thought he was the best in the show. He was well built for the role and is acting overcame the fact that he is 27 years old, I think a nomination is due. Norm Lewis was very good, I didn't like a lot of his choices in the first act and his Stars really didn't do that much for me, I think he was overdoing the whole tough and cold thing because he never got Javert's message across until his suicide which was amazing he just let loose and really came to life.
Add me to the ones who love Daphne Rubin-Vega as Fantine. I think her voice perfectly suits the role of Fantine and she is the first one, for me, to make every word Fantine says believable. It felt like she was singing to me. Nobody has ever made I Dreamed a Dream so personal, IMO, and while I love Ruthie Henshall all she does is belt, and Daphne does do her fair share of that in the song. During her death she made her singing to Cosette so vivid the outlining of Cosette's face was heartbreaking. Celia Keenan-Bolger was breathtaking. I am a big fan or Frances Ruffelle on the OBCR, but I thought Celia was just as good as playing a street rat as Ruffelle, but without having that whine in her voice. On My Own was a highlight, she expressed every feeling Eponine has during that song so well.
Adam Jacobs was fine and Ali Ewoldt was very good (I'm thinking maybe even better than Judy Kuhn). Gary Beach was uneven; Master of the House was good not great, until Jenny Galloway started singing, of course. But, his Dog Eat Dog and his final scene were excellent. But, Ms. Galloway stole the show she is just amazing. Aaron Lazar was not as good as all the hype was. He was great in the end of Red and Black and excellent during Do you Hear the People Sing. Maybe the best one in the cast was Brian D'Addario as Gavroche, amazing!
Overall I thought it was a truly amazing production. I understand the complaints about it being the same prduction as it was three years ago, but it is so great to have Les Miz back. The audience was great they started clapping before the song One day More was over and got to their feet when the Do You Hear the People Sing finished, I was happy to join them.
Updated On: 12/3/06 at 01:00 PM
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Im sad you didnt think he was as good as all the hype. Thats ok. 
