Les Miserables - Tempe

[luvbrdway]

Posted: 6/12/11 at 11:46am

I couldn't find a thread for the current tour. This is my 3rd time seeing the show. This tour cast in simply amazing. J. Mark VcVey had me in tears during "Bring Him Home". He got about a 2 minute ovation. My husband just kept saying, "Wow" after each song. The real surprise for me was Chasten Harmon as Eponine. Absolutely beautiful voice.

I didn't miss the turntable. The video images were great - especially down in the sewers.

My only complaint - During "Master of the House", they had a couple "doing it" in time to the music. Made it very uncomfortable as I was sitting next to my mother-in-law. Also, some parents squirming around me, as they had brought their children. The simulated sex wasn't necessary, IMHO.

**** from me (would have got 5 if not for the grinding). Great cast and production.

[Idiot]

Posted: 6/12/11 at 11:54am

I'm amazed at how skittish American audiences still are about sex. Why is that, I wonder?

In a show where prostitutes sing about screwing their clients in all sorts of ways, a child is bought and sold and urchins crawl through the sewers ripping the teeth out of the dead to harvest gold or silver -- why is it that some humping in a pub makes us uncomfortable?

The impulse to make everything 'family friendly' is very bad for storytelling as an art form, in my opinion.

[luvbrdway]

Posted: 6/12/11 at 12:04pm

I never said anything about making it "family friendly". My friend who took her 12-year-old daughter talked to her about the prostitutes, etc. beforehand, but wasn't prepared for the simulated sex. Singing about it and watching it are two different things, again, IMO.
Updated On: 6/12/11 at 12:04 PM

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 6/12/11 at 1:54pm

Seeing it tonight!

[Idiot]

Posted: 6/12/11 at 2:05pm

"I never said anything about making it "family friendly"."

Well, yes - you sort of did. What do you think 'family friendly' means? It means 'taking the humping out of a comedic musical number so that people will not be uncomfortable'.

"Singing about it and watching it are two different things, again, IMO. "

Standing up or lying down
Or any way at all
Bargain prices up against the wall

Lovely ladies
Waiting in the dark
Ready for a thick one
Or a quick one in the park

How are these lyrics less disturbing than what I think was probably comedic humping in a funny musical number? (I haven't seen the new production yet, but I do know the number well.)

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 6/12/11 at 2:14pm

The number Master of the House is about a bunch of low life, classes people... I don't see the problem since that action is not outbid place with the song and characters in the scene. That's just me though.

[luvbrdway]

Posted: 6/12/11 at 4:56pm

Yes, I see a big difference in hearing those lyrics vs. watching them played out before my eyes. It didn't make the number funnier, again, IMO. Actually, I'm guessing those sitting higher up couldn't even see it, because it was taking place on 2nd story of the establishment. If anything, it detracted from the song, especially when they switched to doggie-style.

Agree to disagree, I guess.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 6/12/11 at 5:08pm

^ I will definitely be keeping an eye out for that tonight now! How was the sound? I read that it was pretty dismal on opening night, but Gammage usually gets it straightened out by the weekend shows.

[luvbrdway]

Posted: 6/12/11 at 5:21pm

The sound was good last night. I was in row 7, so I'm sure that helped. Yes, Gammage does have sound problems - so annoying. I usually get the free headphone things, but didn't need them last night.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 6/12/11 at 5:24pm

I'm first row mezzanine, my favorite place to sit there. It's where my season tickets were, but I did not renew since next season looks pretty blah.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 6/13/11 at 12:14am

luvbrdway- Wow. You were right. That was not necessary. I thought it would just be brief grinding off to the side, but no. Overall I was very disappointed in the production and left at intermission.

Updated On: 6/13/11 at 12:14 AM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/13/11 at 12:27am

The upstairs sex during Master of the House is a new thing that was incorporated from the 25th anniversary UK tour. They probably figured if it made it this far there's no need to take it out now.

Updated On: 6/13/11 at 12:27 AM

[luvbrdway]

Posted: 6/13/11 at 10:59am

bwayphreak234 - I'm sorry you left - the 2nd act was fantastic. Glad I'm not the only "prude" on here! The simulated sex just wasn't necessary. Guess I should voice my opinion on their website, if that is possible.

[p.s.]

Posted: 6/13/11 at 11:35am

I'm first row mezzanine ... and left at intermission.

Were you missed?

I did not renew since next season looks pretty blah.

To each his own!

p.s.

Next Season:
West Side Story September 27, 2011 - October 2, 2011
Blue Man Group November 1-6, 2011
White Christmas December 6-11, 2011
South Pacific January 10-15, 2012
American Idiot April 24-29, 2012
La Cage Aux Folles May 15-20, 2012
Million Dollar Quartet June 5-10, 2012

Also, 2011-12 Special Engagements:
Stomp December 28-31, 2011
Wicked February 15 - March 11, 2012
Rain a Tribute to the Beatles May 11-12, 2012

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 6/13/11 at 4:00pm

Were you missed?

Terribly... I hope they could still do the second act without me there.

I do plan on seeing West Side Story and La Cage for sure. The rest just don't interest me, but I will probably still do student tickets for some of the shows.

[bwayrose7]

Posted: 6/14/11 at 12:06am

I was lucky enough to see it twice in Tempe and I just thought I'd give my two cents. J Mark McVey was phenomenal as Valjean. I too was nearly brought to tears in his powerful Bring Him Home. Chasten Harmon was a very moving Eponine and had a beautiful voice. I was pleasantly surprised by the warm voice of Justin Scott Brown as Marius. I really don't have complaints about the show as a whole. For me, the little details, like the look on Valjean's face when he reads Marius's letter, the canary ending up in the Thernadiers' meat grinder, or Marius keeping Eponine's hat made the show not just technically but emotionally rewarding.
I was beyond lucky and got a backstage tour. This is a very complicated show for the cast and crew and they all work constantly. It was an uncanny experience to stand at the legendary barricade. That's all!

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 6/14/11 at 12:12am

When I saw the tour in Philly this January, that was one of my favorite parts, it was hilarious and added to the obscurity of the song.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 6/14/11 at 12:48am

I personally found the performance I saw to be lifeless. The cast seemed to be phoning in everything last night. There was no energy, no sense of urgency, and they just seemed to be going through the motions. The only performer that stood out to me was Andrew Varela as Javert. He was beyond incredible, and his performance almost convinced me to stay for act 2. Other than him though, I was very disappointed in the cast. Betsy Morgan was just not a good Fantine IMO. She basically spoke the lyrics to I Dreamed a Dream. This could have just been an off night, but boy were they just off.
My friend and I were talking (we both love Les Miserables. We have both seen the original, and I have seen an absolutely incredible local production) and we both were just floored at how little energy there was. These people are supposed to be starting a revolution, and their performances lacked energy, vigor, and anger. It was honestly like they didn't even care. Les Miserables is without a doubt one of those shows where if the cast is not just spot on, it falls flat. Sadly, this is what happened at this particular performance.
I loved the set. It was very cool and I loved the way it moved. However, this set was the noisiest set I have witnessed. During Fantine's death, I could hear clanking and clunking as the next set was being prepared. It sadly ended up detracting from the show even though it was a beautiful set.
A lot of the directing choices really bothered me as well. Lovely Ladies was just... bad. Their costumes were just off, and they changed some of the orchestrations and lyrics. This song is one of my favorites from the show because of all the nuisances in the orchestrations, but they were all gone. It also really bothered me that they shortened Castle on a Cloud. The staging for One Day More was just strange to me. I have seen this show done without a turntable and it works just fine, however this number was so awkward. The marching in place in perfect rows just seemed off. I thought this was a mob of angry people starting a revolution.
Anyways, those are my thoughts. Like I said, I could have just witnessed an off night, but overall I was let down. I love Les Miserables, and was going into this production excited to see this new approach, but sadly this just didn't cut it for me personally.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/14/11 at 1:04am

Several of the cast members mentioned a dull, lifeless girl in the first row of the mezz, and it threw off their whole show.

They said they enjoyed doing the second act much more, since that girl had left at intermission.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 6/14/11 at 1:08am

I'm glad it was a win-win for both parties then

[Eris0303]

Posted: 6/14/11 at 1:13am

I do plan on seeing West Side Story and La Cage for sure. The rest just don't interest me, but I will probably still do student tickets for some of the shows.

South Pacific was one of the most beautiful shows I have ever seen. Even if you've seen the PBS telecast I highly recommend you checking it out when it comes.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 6/14/11 at 1:15am

.

Updated On: 8/11/11 at 01:15 AM

[Jack Lopez-Turner]

Posted: 6/14/11 at 2:32am

No doubt it got a standing ovation. Everything in Arizona gets a standing ovation. They could bring a show called "Crap: The musical" and it could completely live up to its name and we'd STILL stand for it.