Les Miserables matinee review 1/6 (yes another LM review)

[theminutepast]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 7:22pm

This was my first Broadway show, so I wanted to review it. It was also my seventh time seeing Les Mis. For anyone interested in Lazar's understudies, Nehal Joshi was on. Drew Sarich played Grantaire. I did Standing Room Only, which wasn't bad, but found a seat during the second act.

ACTORS
Alex Gemingani—Wow. At first, I wasn’t impressed by him in the prologue. He acted animalistic, but then I got more into it. After the prologue and until the end of the musical, I was hooked on his interpretation. I loved how he brought more insecurity and softness to the character. I also liked his nervous tick (shaking hands) and how he conveyed the sense of loss and isolation by allowing Cosette to marry. He and Celia were the best performers.

Norm Lewis—I enjoyed his solos, but was not impressed overall. Just another Javert.

Daphne Rubin-Vega—I’m sure everyone’s sick of hearing opinions of DRV, but I’ll give mine quickly. Her acting was impeccable. Her voice wasn’t necessarily bad, but different. Different in the way that Frances Ruffelle’s voice sounds unique. Of course, she can belt and DRV can’t.

Gary Beach—Master of the House was so-so. I enjoyed him much more in the Paris scenes and in Dog Eat Dog.

Jenny Galloway—hilarious Mme. Thenardier. I’ve always considered Mme. Thenardier to be the most minor of the main characters, but I didn’t feel that way at all after her performance.

Celia Keenan-Bolger—Again, wow. I was convinced that no one could outdo Sutton Foster’s Eponine. And while Celia doesn’t belt On My Own as much as she should, I love her character portrayal. It’s similar to the book, and not following in the veins of cutesy, one-dimensional Eponines. In every scene, Celia did something different than other portrayals, but that seemed absolutely right. Also, her A Little Fall of Rain was the best I have ever seen. I was crying, and I have never done that before for any musical.

Adam Jacobs—Good. He reminds me of Peter Lockyer.
Nehal Jashi (u/s)--Completely forget-able. He lacked the passion necessary for the role. But it was probably his first time on as Enjolras, so it’s understandable.

Ali Ewoldt—One of the best Cosettes. Great actress.

Drew Sarich—I normally wouldn’t list Grantaire as a main character, but I have to comment that his is the only Grantaire I’ve ever liked or felt sympathy for. Most actors focus heavily on the drinking and try to get laughs (and fail), so I enjoyed the depth Sarich brought to the character.

NEW MUSIC. The way I felt about the new orchestrations was kind of how I felt about DRV—some good, some bad. The good additions were at the end of Javert’s suicide, in the sewers, and a few other places. The bad were in every solo, particularly On My Own. I want to write Cameron M. a long letter about butchering that song. Celia’s voice and acting can only make you ignore the music to a point. I also like how Cameron M. said the orchestrations would freshen up the show, but instead he put in double the synth.

MISC
The new blocking was great, and along with the actors, really helped make this feel like a fresh show. The line changes didn’t bother me, but I had to laugh at Enjolras’ changed line to something like, “Sure as the eagle flies at dawn…the people will rise.”

All in all, it was refreshing, and I felt like I was seeing it again for the first time.



Updated On: 1/6/07 at 07:22 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 7:24pm

I hate that line! I was so sad they brought it in from London.

"For surely as the eagle flies
The people too must rise."

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 7:49pm

That is simply cheese-tastic. In a very funny way.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 7:50pm

"Ali Ewoldt—One of the best Cosettes. Great actress."

Ummmm... all I can say is NO!!! I thought she was awful, one of the worst Cosettes I have seen, and she couldn't sing for crap.
-BJH

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 8:02pm

Aw. I love Ali!

[gustof777]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 8:27pm

glad you liked Daphnes take on Fantine

[theminutepast]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 8:55pm

I saw Ali on the tour and now on Broadway. Her portrayal changed for the better. She has incorporated more affection into her interactions with Valjean, and made the character more youthful. I thought her voice was great, but I guess we just have different opinions.

[theminutepast]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 9:04pm

Oops, I forgot to mention this earlier, but did anyone else not like the stronger sexual content in Lovely Ladies? That is, simulated sex against the wall a couple times close to the audience. Off the top of my head, I think the show is "not recommended" for those under 14, but anyone over five is allowed in.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 9:17pm

I just wanted to say Celia was the standout in the show for me
She did an excellent job, and was the only reason I didn't walk out of the theatre
:)

[thespian geek]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 9:52pm

Wonder why Nehal was on as Enjolras and not Drew. I saw him (Drew) in the role last Saturday and absolutely loved him -- I wasn't missing Aaron at all. Granted, I've loved him in everything I've seen him in, haha. :)

[MovieGuy1031]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 10:08pm

I love me some Ali! I thought she was great, and I thought her acting made the scenes with Marius not only enjoyable (compared to transparent as in other productions) awkward like meeting your crush for the first time, just as it would be if they had met in real life...

I agree about Celia being the standout performer. I just couldn't get past how much her Eponine affected me. She just made it so different and true to the character from the novel, rather than a teenage girl. And during A Little Fall of Rain, when she leans up for the kiss, but dies before her lips can touch Marius'... gosh that hit me like a ton of bricks. (I also thought she was great in Lovely Ladies, but thats just me...)

And, as for the Lovely Ladies sexual content, I was sitting literally two rows from the two actors who were simulating sex. I though it was definitely effective in making the scene believable, but I didn't think it was anything offensive or to complain about.

[JamesMacon]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 10:09pm

So glad you enjoyed Daphne and Les Mis!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 10:21pm

thespian geek, they probably wanted to give Nehal some time as Enjolras since Drew's been monopolizing it so much lately. (Really, though, it probably does boil down to an imbalance of experience in the role -- and fairness to Nehal.)

[HumATune]

Posted: 1/6/07 at 10:21pm

I guess this blows my theory about ranked understudies if Nehal went on. Unless they just want to make sure he's comfortable in the role.

[KQuill]

Posted: 1/7/07 at 12:07am

I sort of agree with what you said about Master of the House. After the show Friday, my mother asked me how Master of the House was and I said, well...it was good..but Gary is so good whenever he is onstage that Master of the House isn't as much of a highlight as it usually is.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 1/7/07 at 12:58am

How was Nehal Joshi as Enjorlas? What type of voice does he have?

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 1/7/07 at 1:18am

Aaron was on tonight and was wonderful. Glad to hear your comments. I agree about DRV actually.

~Steven

[theminutepast]

Posted: 1/7/07 at 11:05am

Like I said, I completely forgot there was an Enjolras. He just seemed like another one of the revolutionaries. He sang at the same volume the entire show and held back on lines when his voice should soar: "one more day before the storm" and "until the earth is free."

[pants2]

Posted: 1/7/07 at 11:27am

i'm going to see this with my family on the 23rd and so i figured if it wasnt good we would just cancel our tickets, so me and one of my friends went to see it so i could evaluae whether it was worth it, and i have to say i wasnt totally convinced, but some of the leads are whats bringing me back

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/7/07 at 2:32pm

Oh good god, it's Les Miz! Just go!

[kec]

Posted: 1/7/07 at 2:42pm

Lizzie's right. This LES MISERABLES. It's been around for 21 years. It is most assuredly a MUST-SEE.

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 1/7/07 at 2:44pm

I thought Aaron Lazar, Ali Ewoldt and Adam Jacobs stood out the most in the show (Thanksgiving week). Best Cosette and Marius I've ever seen to date. Norm Lewis was an amazing singer but, his Javert wasn't convincing enough for me. Alexander Gemignani was a good Jean Valjean but, I thought the tour JVJ was better. Daphne was also a very good actress. Her vocals were fine but the style didn't fit the style of the production. Celia was an amazing actress, fits the Eponine envisioned by Hugo, tough and betrayed. Her signature songs On My Own and Little Fall of Rain were good but, I've seen better (vocals and acting for that sequence). I love the new colors (lighting) and the new costumes but, I thought the finale (Come To Me) was a little rushed.

Updated On: 1/7/07 at 02:44 PM