Les Miserables 12/2/06

[jewishboy]

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.

Updated On: 12/3/06 at 01:00 PM

[mentaltenant]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 2:43pm

I love reading these reviews of Les Mis, makes me more and more excited to see it! Thanks!

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 2:48pm

So Aaron Lazar was on last night? Wonder why someone had said that Drew Sarich went on...

I saw the matinee performance and thought it was amazing. Alexander Gemignani...what a voice.
Updated On: 12/3/06 at 02:48 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 2:51pm

Drew went on Nov. 30. (Of course, doesn't mean he wasn't also on last night, I suppose...)
http://forum.lestatmusical.com/index.php?gettopic=914&p=8

[JamesMacon]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 2:54pm

Yay for Daphne! Thanks for the review - so glad you enjoyed it. I still can not believe that Alex is 27 years old...

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 2:59pm

Thanks, LizzieCurry. Just checked with the person who told me and they said they were mistaken.

JamesMacon, I can't believe he's 27, either. But he is, and I'll say it again...what a beautiful voice. I've loved him since "Assassins" and it's great to see him get a chance to truly shine. I'm listening to "Unworthy of Your Love" right now, actually .

[JustABroadwaybaby2]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 4:09pm

jewishboy- I loved your review, and choice of words. Breathtaking is the perfect way to describe Celia. Hooray for the people who don't hate Daphne! And I agree about Gavroche.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 4:38pm

Alexander Gemignani was INCREDIBLE. He blew me away.

[JustABroadwaybaby2]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 5:25pm

Oh, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrel- Your avatar is gorgeous. I love Mcdreamy.

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 7:16pm

Thanks. Me too!

Updated On: 12/3/06 at 07:16 PM

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 10:01pm

What?! 27?! Seriously?!

OK I'm over it.


No I'm not. Woah!

Anyway.
My take on Daphne is not that she was awful as many people say...she's a great actress and if you like that type of voice, a good singer...but for me Fantine is not a strong, tough woman the way Daphne is.
Aaron Lazar was my favorite Im sad you didnt think he was as good as all the hype. Thats ok.
Norm Lewis was one of my favorites as well. His voice completely shakes me up.

[Steph_DeVo]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 10:35pm

I just have to say thanks for these reviews...please keep them coming!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 12:52am

Valjean being that young isn't a first; it's just that this one is getting much more publicity.

Look up John Owen-Jones and Gregory Calvin Stone.

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 10:22am

LizzieCurry, looked up them both. Couldn't find much on Gregory Calvin Stone except for a few articles. Judging from the reviews it seems as if he was good. I listened to the clips of John Owen-Jones...did he preform Valjean in his 20's? If so, wow, he doesn't sound it. I've never heard a Valjean quite like his, though. Very...I don't know if "intense" is the right word. It's definitely different.

[theevilgumby]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 10:25am

damn drew got on already?


anyone know the next time he might?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 12:34pm

DRS, I think JOJ was 24 or something when he first understudied the role. I've never seen him, but he's The Golden Boy of West End Les Miz, so I figure he has something good going.

[joanna2]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 10:41pm

The person who saw Drew as Enjolras was pretty much taken by surprise, as far as I know. I don't think there has been any talk of him going on a specific day.
But I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he has gotten Enjolras down and will be starting on Javert!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 11:35pm

Sometimes, you just don't know in advance when you're gonna get sick...

[joanna2]

Posted: 12/5/06 at 12:32pm

But sometimes you know when you're going to be "sick!" :)

[Colle]

Posted: 12/5/06 at 3:28pm

Since someone mentioned Greg Stone, for the record (according to his official site) he was born June 28, 1968, which made him 29 years old when I saw him play Valjean in 1997. From what I remember of Greg, he was pretty good. His official site has video of him singing "Bring Him Home," which I will give the link for.
Greg Stone's web site, sights and sounds page

[jess20882]

Posted: 12/5/06 at 3:39pm

how have the young cosette's been doing? i haven't read any reviews of 'castle on a cloud', as minor a song as it might be.
just curious - i know kylie goldstein's family, so i was wondering how people thought all the little girls were performing

[SuzyQzy]

Posted: 12/5/06 at 3:46pm

I also saw Les Mis that night, here's what I posted on Myspace:

I did see the show on Broadway before it closed a few years ago, but this performance and cast gave me a whole new perspective on Les Miserables.

I read a lot of bad reviews on Daphne Rubin-Vega's performance as Fantine, but I went with an open mind and found myself thoroughly enjoying her portrayal of Fantine. I felt she sang the songs like a woman in the position she's living in. "I Dreamed a Dream" was sung like a woman having a breakdown after losing her job, thinking her child is sick and dying and remembering a lost love, not by some pretty voice who hits all the right notes. Her performance was whole and I felt better fit the circumstance that her character is in.

Ceila Keenan-Bolger (from The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown) was Eponine. This Eponine was very different and less innocent than I remember in the previous version of the show. I really like her voice and her attitude.

At the Stage Door, I got the entire casts autographs. And a Picture with Daphne. They were all very nice and gracious.

I'm at work and dont have my playbill handy to know who played who for the children, but the boy who played Gavroche was fantastic, I liked the young Cosette that I saw.

Sallybrown, Aaron Lazar also was my favorite

Updated On: 12/5/06 at 03:46 PM

[JustABroadwaybaby2]

Posted: 12/5/06 at 5:55pm

Um, her name is CELIA, btw. Glad you enjoyed the show!

Updated On: 12/5/06 at 05:55 PM

[jewishboy]

Posted: 12/5/06 at 8:16pm

I saw Carly Rose Soneclar and thought she was riveting.