Les Miserables- first preview review- Page 2

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:04am

Weren't there supposed to be some costume changes? Is Cosette still in that ugly black dress?

[Jasmine U.]

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

In In My Life, Cosette appears in a white dress with some kind of black lace overlay at the collar and wrists (actually when I think of it, it was kind of a reverse negative of the dress she usually wears.) When I first saw it I thought "WTH? Is she in her nightgown?" Next during One Day More she has on the black dress, (though I think it might just be the black coat she was wearing in Look Down>)

She then wears a black dress in the scene after Empty Chairs. Actually I think it was a little different, something about the white collar and I definitely noticed she had a belt with a buckle at the waist.

Mme Thenardier's dress at the end had a raised hem. You could see her bloomers!

[winston89]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:14am

I had heard a rumor way back when they said the show was comming back, that they were going to fit in the full Little People. The one that is on the OLC. But, I know that was a rumor.

Anyways, did they write a whole new song for gavroche? And, if they did, I wonder if this might be a reason to put out a new cast album. If not, then I suggest that they do something like put in in as an insert to the programs like what avenue q did for "tear it up and throw it away."

Oh, Bennet. This production is a revival and can and probally will get a tony nom for it. Tony rules say that a show has to be closed for three years between the original production and the revival for it to be up for the tony for best revival.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:17am

Top three moments for me were as follows:

3. Celia's "On My Own." She really blew it out of the water. Fantastic!

2. "A Heart Full of Love." Those three together (Celia, Ali Ewoldt, Adam Jacobs) sounded perfect together...and the staging of that song along with the orchestrations really got to me.

1. "Bring Him Home" was absolutely brilliant. Alex had his character down and was definitely the highlight of the evening for me. His rendition of this song gave me chills...perfectly sung and acted. I had no idea Alex was this good. Simply brilliant.

[ken8631]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:18am

See other thread - I thought Daphne must have been sick, I thought she was horrible. She ruined "I Dreamed a Dream" for me and my wife, and all others we asked sitting around us. As I said in the other thread, I was glad when she died - got her off the stage for awhile... If that's her actual voice, she's badly miscast. Otherwise, the show and cast were excellent.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:18am

I know what the Tony rules are - but I just wonder if the Tony committee will deem this "return engagement" worthy of a Revival Tony nomination - especially when this season has so many other more creative revivals opening.

In the 60s-80s it was very common for shows to "return" to NYC a few years after they closed - most didn't end up being rewarded with additional Tony Awards, even though, technically, they were eligible.

My guestion was more geared towards the comments here that make this sound pretty close to what was on Broadway before - it was unknown until tonight exactly how many changes would be implemented. Generally the more a production "changes" the more people think its worth consideration for Tony Awards.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:19am

Oh, and another great part for me was when Fantine died...it got Daphne off the stage...she gave one of the worst performances I have ever seen on a Broadway stage.

[Jasmine U.]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:19am

Actually when Gavroche catches Javert it's still basically the same until he goes "It only goes to show what little people can do." Then it cuts straight to "Bravo little Gavroche etc.."

When Gavroche dies, he sings a totally different song, to the same melody of the part he does in Look Down.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:21am

Oh just watch - and she'll probably be the one who ends up with all the reviews and the Tony nom...

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:23am

Liotte and WAT, elaborate on Daphne, please.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:24am

She needs to be replaced, IMO.

Not much else to say but she couldn't sing or act...it was dreadful.
Updated On: 10/25/06 at 12:24 AM

[Michael Bennett]

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

well, she would be perfect as the lead in your RAGGEDY ANN revival...

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:27am

Ouch, MB.

I am really disappointed. I thought she would give a very different, but very emotional performance.

I am trying to keep an open mind as this is the show that got me into theatre(and into college, actually).

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:27am

HAHAHAHAAH, Michael Bennett. Thank you for that laugh!

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:28am

Munk, someone on the other thread compared Daphne to a dying cow. I don't think I want to know any more.

So maybe now people won't be complaining when Daphne goes on leave for 7-12 weeks?

[liotte]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:28am

I thought she was raspy and breathy, and just so different than all the other Fantine's I have seen. This was my 18th time seeing Les Miz, and she just was not Fantine to me.

[TomMonster]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:28am

Very funny, MB!!


*I breathed a breath of songs gone by...*

Updated On: 10/25/06 at 12:28 AM

[chealion313]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:31am

Daphne was just awful--during I Dreamed a Dream, I noticed alot of people sitting around me looking at each other and whispering and alot of fidgeting...seems like everyone else couldn't wait for her to die, too.

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:33am

Honestly, I'm not surprised in the slightest at the negative reactions to Daphne (really, is anyone?). Deep down, I hoped she'd prove everyone wrong and give a great performance, but I think most of us knew that this was a bad decision from the start. I'm still interested to see her performance for myself, but it's quickly turning into a sort of morbid curiosity.

The rehearsal video probably wasn't too far off then.

Updated On: 10/25/06 at 12:33 AM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:41am

The rehearsal video should be basis for NOTHING, because she sings for 2 seconds and you can't even hear it.

We all know that her voice is not what one thinks of when "I Dreamed A Dream" is mentioned. Voice aside, I believe that Daphne has what it takes to make it work as an actress. Elaine Stritch can't sing, but Christ, she can sell a song better than anyone I've ever seen. Daphne is a brilliant actress - and there isn't one doubt in my mind that her acting here is being overlooked by the fact that people just go to hear a pretty song.

[Tag]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:43am

Why would they cut little people!?

[gavrochegirl]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:45am

I have no idea. But I loved that part. It was so cute if the kid did it right.

I'm curious to know what Gav sings during his death, however...can someone elaborate on this?

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:49am

If her voice is so completely wrong in a certain song, very little she does is going to change that for most people. Maybe you personally can ignore that her voice isn't right for the role by focusing on her acting, but most people want to see both a well-sung song along with good acting. If the majority of crowds don't feel she's "selling" the song through her acting, it's irrelevant if a few people feel that she can do it. Obviously, the people there tonight weren't so wowed by her acting talent that her voice was judged fine or passable by them.

Of course, perhaps everyone who was there tonight is so completely off-base and her acting was brilliant to the point where her raspy voice doesn't matter. I don't know, and I don't want to make too many judgements before seeing it myself, but I still am not surprised at the general reaction to her performance.
Updated On: 10/25/06 at 12:49 AM

[Alejandra925]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:51am

Great to read these early reviews; I'm especially thrilled to hear about Celia and would love to read more about Aaron. Les Mis is the show that first exposed me to Broadway musicals--I'm glad it's back.
Updated On: 10/25/06 at 12:51 AM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:56am

Siamese Dream - I think Munk's point is that most of the people who are reviewing the show tonight on BWW are long time fans of the show. When people say they've seen LES MIZ - 18, 20 times, they are probably not going to be as open minded to a new interpretation of a song - after all, how can you say her voice "isn't right" for the role, unless you are comparing her to somebody else?

As with the revival of ACL - I'm much more interested in hearing what people with no experience at all with the show think of these performances.