Les Miserables Reviews- Page 3

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 11:19am

"Daphne Rubin-Vega's dusky voice is well suited to the wounded, doomed Fantine." -Elysa Gardner, USA Today

I'd really like to know what drugs Miss Gardner is on. Even the devote Daphne fans and the minority of those who enjoyed her in this role admit her voice is completely out of range for Fantine. Heck, anyone that is familiar with both her and the show period would be able to tell you that her singing is hardly right for it, regardless of whether or not it works in the context of her portrayal.

In regards to the reviews Daphne is getting in general, I'm not really suprised. They're not as bad as some of us thought they'd be, but they certaintly aren't as glowing as others are interpreting them either. Basically, the critics feel that her acting choices are innovative and daring, and that her voice is horrid.

I can't say I disagree..

Updated On: 11/10/06 at 11:19 AM

[NJRae]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 11:26am

Wow, it seems like people here have been right all along regarding Daphne. You either love her or hate her . . . one review says that her dying robs act one of much of its force while the next calls her a trainwreck. Its amazing how different people's opinions can be on one person!

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 11:31am

NJRae, I disagree. I don't think the reception to Rubin-Vega has been either to the extremes of loving or hating her. As I said above, I found most of the professional critics response to her mixed. Most commended her for attempting to take the character in a new direction with her acting choices, but almost all of them recognized that her singing diminished the power and quality of "I Dreamed A Dream."

Hardly any critic loved her (although quite a few did seem to dislike her.)

Updated On: 11/10/06 at 11:31 AM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 11:48am

http://www.ny1.com/ny1/Living/theater_reviews.jsp

David Cote didn't like it, but there are GREAT video clips.

[p.s.]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 11:54am

I was there last night, ... audience was NUTS, although, it was the roughest performance I've seen this cast give (Walt's third time).

My fifth, but first time way way up and back.
Performance was not as strong as most recent previews, notably Sunday and Wednesday night (preview performances earlier than those should by now be forgot)-- but the Broadway Theater experience was amazing.
Despite the fact that so much of the opening night audience was attached to and familiar with the show, and/or the actors, it was evident and surprising that many still were seeing and enjoying Les Miz for the first time. They cried, and they laughed aloud at many of the places you/we now merely smirk ("lifelong sh++" ; "but there's n.. m... th..." ; Gavroche's bent elbow gesture; ... ).


p.s. Regarding Tonys:
. I have no idea how nominations are decided, but
. Hail Celia!


pps: Opening night performance/performers may have been affected by the fact that ushers were leading people to seats during the first half-hour of each act.


Updated On: 11/10/06 at 11:54 AM

[hippiedance]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 12:05pm

I swear to God...I was at the show 2 nights before it opened and the TIMES review is ON THE NOSE! It's is exactly how i felt about the show...pretty boring...emotionless...with the exception of Lazar and the kid who played Gavroche! I can't believe it...but for the first time i actually AGREE 100% with ben brantly.

My favorite show of ALL TIME...and I wanted to fall asleep. It was the most boring cast I've ever seen.

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 12:12pm

You wanted to fall asleep during Valjean's Soliloquy, or Stars?

Maybe you need to speak with a doctor... lol.

[hippiedance]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 12:16pm

LOL! NO dr. needed. Just a better cast! But i was honestly excited whenever enjorlas or gavroche were on stage. They were the only ones who "get it". Trust me, I've seen the show about 50 times and cried every single time....until this one.

I was like the girl in chorus line "i felt nothing".

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 12:23pm

Gavroche's bent elbow gesture

What is that?

[NJRae]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 12:32pm

Sorry somethingwicked . . . I didn't necessarily mean that the critics loved her or hated her but that people in general seemed to feel that way. As far as the reviews go from what I have seen they have ranged from really positive to really negative. Wouldn't call any of them necessarily love or hate only b/c I wouldn't want to put words in someone's mouth.

[theminutepast]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 12:35pm

I think "bent elbow gesture" refers to the F-you gesture Gavroche gives to Javert.

[mentaltenant]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 12:49pm

Yeah with Daphne it definitely has been very positive or very negative. From "brilliant" to "train wreck", which I expected.

[NJRae]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 12:58pm

That's what I meant! ^^ Thanks mentaltenant. Took the words right out of my mouth. :)

[alexg456]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 1:26pm

A positive review from AM New york. Lots of good things about Fantine too. :) Ha ha.

http://www.amny.com/entertainment/stage/am-mizrev21110,0,6469857.story?coll=am-homepage-swapbox

Excellent photos, btw! Updated On: 11/10/06 at 01:26 PM

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 1:53pm

For those that aren't going to open the link, alexg is being sarcastic. This is probably Daphne's harshest review yet:

"Daphne Rubin Vega, however, is a train wreck as Fantine. Though hundreds of actresses could have easily performed the role, Mackintosh seemingly wanted to surprise us with offbeat casting. Though Vega earnestly attempts to invest in Fantine's pain, her modern pop voice, distinctive vowel modulations and awkward belting are completely inappropriate the role.

But even if Daphne massacres "I Dreamed a Dream," there are still dozens of thrilling songs and iconic moments."

Ouch.

[Neverandy]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 2:06pm

So.
Norm is either a revelation or a stiff and miscast
Daphne is either a revelation or a train Wreck and miscast
Alex is either a revelation or too young and miscast
Gary is either a revelation or too roger debris(but not miscast)
I have never seen Reviews which were so wildly disparate. I think they should change the slogan of the show to "Les Mis, the critics couldn't agree so see for yourself and make up your own mind"
Even If we had gotten the "Stars" that we were promised last year,I wasn't expecting raves. the Critics are too cynical for that. But when proper casting and great talent combine, You usually get unanimous Raves (JLY, Kristin Chenoweth, etc.) We deserve better. Cameron should have known that you only get one shot at doing something like this and he should have made sure it was done right the first time.

Updated On: 11/10/06 at 02:06 PM

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 2:09pm

he should have made sure it wasdone right the first time.

He did...

[Neverandy]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 2:12pm

I meant in 2006 not 1987!

[broadwayguy4]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 2:19pm

I'm sorry, but this cast made me feel like I was seeing a production at the Carousel Dinner theatre in Akron. And not just the leads. Who was that girl that played the factory worker who got Fantine in trouble??? She was god awful.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 2:28pm

At first I was planning on seeing this during the Thanksgiving holiday, but I think I'll pass. Unfortunately, this production just seems like a cheap knock-off of the original.

[alliez92092]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 2:39pm

The NY1 video didn't show enough of Celia. I wanted to hear more!

[Colle]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 3:36pm

I want to hear more of Celia too, alliez92092, that is one of the reasons I hope they decide to make a cast recording. As I read these reviews, I have to keep in mind that the orginal production had mixed reviews too. Today, however I think this comes from having a high expectation in a production of Les Mis.

[popculture37]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 3:52pm

The reviews are disparate, but there are a number of quite positive ones. They are, in fact, better than the reviews of the original 1985 London production, which met with almost universal derision from the critics. And the original Broadway cast also had some leads who were praised (like Frances Ruffelle as Eponine and Colm Wilkinson as Valjean) and some who were criticized (Randy Graff as Fantine).

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 4:44pm

I don't get what the fuss was about for Celia... Her On My Own was nice, but definitely not the best.

[hippiedance]

Posted: 11/11/06 at 10:45am

coooolkid i agree with you 100%. She was okay. I like her "portrayal" but her voice is not at all exciting. IN fact, it sounds wierd to me. I wanted to her to just let loose. I didn't dislike her...but i don't get the fuss.