Les Miz October 26, 2006 Review

[ponine24601]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 5:53pm

I know it's a little late, but better late than never! Ok, I'm basically going to start with this: A bunch of things were going wrong that night. Also, I'd seen the production on Broadway 6 times, so my expectations were pretty high.

Things that went wrong:
~The tempos were all over the place, and the actors (some leads mainly) were not with the orchestra at all from time to time)
~Adam Jacobs was having serious trouble with his costume transitioning from 'In My Life' to 'A Heart Full of Love' (his vest kept falling off, so he took it off completely. Then when Ali Ewoldt tried to give it back to him when he was climbing back over the fence before the Attack on Rue Plumet, he wouldn't take it, causing her to have to hold it/hide it for the rest of the scene.) Now I don't know if that was supposed to happen, but it didn't seem like it.
~When the barricade was coming onstage after 'On My Own' it nearly squashed Celia.


The negatives:

~Daphne Rubin-Vega. She was god awful. Now I wanted to like her, I really did, but she just didn't do it for me. She was fine in 'At the End of the Day', but after that it all went downhill. 'I Dreamed a Dream' was painful to listen to. The lady sitting in front of me whispered to her boyfriend "Aww, I think she's losing her voice." During her death, the man sitting behind me said "Good she's finally dying. She sucks." I couldn't have agreed more. The casting was just wrong.


~'Master of the House' Yes I said it. This is supposed to be a fantastic energetic scene, but I didn't feel any of that energy at all. It was completely cramped onstage. There was virtually no dancing on the tables, and the cast members just kinda took their partners,swung them around a couple times, and that was it.
~I know I'm going to get my butt kicked for this, but Gary and Jenny weren't funny. Practically no one in the audience was laughing at them. They both were trying way too hard to be funny, and it wasn't working. There was only an occasional chuckle here and there. I had no clue was Gary was doing during 'Dog Eats Dog'. He was doing like a little dance during the musical interludes, and it just was stupid. Overall they didn't reach my expectations.
-Cutting 'Little People'. That's the one song that really shows Gavroche off, and shows his personality well, and they cut it. That was a bad choice in my opinion.

Positives:
-Celia. She was perfect as Eponine. I spotted her right away during 'Look Down' and just couldn't keep my eyes off of her in every scene she was in. 'On My Own' was astonishing and 'A Little Fall of Rain' was heartrenching. I've never cried during 'A Little Fall of Rain', but Celia had me bawling. If you're going to act like you're dying, that's how you do it. Brava to her!

-Alexander and Norm. Their chemistry together was fantastic. Alex wasn't the best Valjean I've seen, but he wasn't the worst either. 'Bring Him Home' was a little rocky, and he cracked hitting the last two notes of the song, but every other word that came out of his mouth, both before and after, was fantastic. Norm was great as well. I thought that he could have been a tiny bit meaner as Javert, but overall he sang gorgeously and was a wonder to finally see live. Great job by these two.

-Adam Jacobs and Ali Ewoldt. I loved them both. Their chemistry was not as strong as the previous casts I've seen (I saw Peter Lockyer/Sandra Turley then Kevin Kern/Sandra Turley), but I'm sure that that will grow with time. Adam's voice was amazing, and 'Empty Chairs at Empty Tables' was ravishing and full of emotion. Ali sang like an angel. Her voice blended very well with Adam's and Celia's and she was gorgeous to boot. Her acting was impeccable as well. You could see the tears streaming down her face during the finale (and I was sitting in the mezzanine).
~Two Words: Aaron Lazar. Now I'm completely biased, because I love this man to death, but I thought that he did a spectacular job. His voice continues to shine and amaze me. Acting-wise, he could've a bit more passionate here and there, but other than that he did a fantastic job.


I met everyone at the stage door except Jenny Galloway. I also spotted Cameron Mackintosh and got his autograph as well. Everyone was sweet as can be.

[liotte]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 5:59pm

Ahh! The barricade almost squashed Celia? That is horrible!

Thanks for the review, I am looking forward to my second visit to the show tomorrow!

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 6:21pm

As I said, they were good but not at all powerful.

I did enjoy Daphne very much. I'm in the minority on that one. Updated On: 10/30/06 at 06:21 PM

[gustof777]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 6:41pm

it's interesting how varied people's thoughts are each performer Ie: somepeople love someone and then the next person will say they need work.

[ashbash1990]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 8:16pm

I saw the show the next day, and i saw the exact opposite as the negatives ponine listed... except for daphne... i saw it with my dad, and when she came bosck for the finale, he whispered "oh, no... not her again..." she should really lay off the cigarettes...

Updated On: 10/30/06 at 08:16 PM

[JamesMacon]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 8:25pm

Yankeefan-
I enjoyed Daphne too...

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 8:34pm

My overall problem with the show can be summed up very simply.

I had never seen the show before and heard very few of the songs. I wasn't familiar with anything, though I had heard so many good things and not one negative comment about this show.

My instant reaction when the show ended (besides how long it was) was "wow, this was one of the least exciting performances I've ever seen. These people look like they have no interest in being here."

Based on the performance I saw, I didn't think that half of them deserved to be cast to begin with. There was no emotion in any of their performances. It seemed they were just going through the motions. In my review, which I'll link below, I likened it to a touring company. The performances were not up to snuff with what I expected from one of the most highly regarded shows in history.

I'm not saying they sucked - far from it. I wouldn't be able to get up there and do that for 3 hours. They have very good voices. Nothing mind blowing. Javert's suicide packed no punch. Neither did seeing the dead bodies on the barricades.

Daphne, I thought, was the only one who used actual emotion. Sure, her voice isn't the strongest, but that's her voice. It's raw. It brought a depth to the part, I thought.
https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?thread=915231

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 8:35pm

Sure, her voice isn't the strongest, but that's her voice.

The thing is, an audience shouldn't have to shrug it off like that. I don't think that many people will neccessarily be prepared for a voice like hers in a show like this.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 8:38pm

And that's the problem.

The fans of this show are SO dedicated that most can't imagine any performances other than the ones they've seen. It's apples and oranges, really.

[Luckydave14]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 8:59pm

What did you think of the ensemble and child performers?

[ashbash1990]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 9:02pm

the ensamble was great, but the gavroche i saw could have been better...

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 9:05pm

The Gavroche I saw (Jacob something) was the best in the cast.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 9:13pm

Despite what others have said, Norm Lewis was great as Javert

[Luckydave14]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 9:15pm

What about the Young Cosette/Eponines?

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 10:35pm

Sure, her voice isn't the strongest, but that's her voice.

----------------------------

The thing is, an audience shouldn't have to shrug it off like that. I don't think that many people will neccessarily be prepared for a voice like hers in a show like this.

----------------------------

And that's the problem.

The fans of this show are SO dedicated that most can't imagine any performances other than the ones they've seen. It's apples and oranges, really.

----------------------------

But Yankeefan, you also have to assume that there are people in the audience who AREN'T dedicated fans of the show. From what you've said, you weren't very familiar with the show, and you thought Daphne was okay (and by okay, I mean, not absolutely terrible like what others have come back saying). Just because that was your experience with it doesn't mean that there aren't people who go in not having the "traditional" Fantine in mind, and still find Daphne's voice to be unsuitable for the role. Yes, there is always a time for experimentation within a role, but really, a voice like Daphne's just doesn't fit perfectly into the Cameron Mackintosh musicals of the late 80s/early 90s (I'm thinking Les Mis, Phantom, Miss Saigon). Some could argue that this is a revival, 15 years down the line, and therefore that gives room for a voice like Daphne's, but from hearing the responses so far, I can't really believe that. Things shouldn't all of a sudden be "raw" and different because they CAN (ie: in a "revival" where things are being shaken up).

In addition to what LizzieCurry said, people are paying $110. For people not familiar with the show to come out thinking Daphne was sick is just not right. It's one thing for people to complain if they see someone performing who is actually sick, but for people to go in and come out complaining about her voice when that's just the way it is? Well....that's not the way it should have to be. Plain and simple. People are paying good money and deserve to see someone who can handle the material.

Updated On: 10/30/06 at 10:35 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 10:41pm

And as I like to say....she's on stage for a total of 20 minutes.

And she seemed to handle the material just fine.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 10:45pm

And as I like to say....she's on stage for a total of 20 minutes.

And she sings one of what SHOULD be the most gorgeous songs in the show. Her limited time spent on stage is no excuse; if people are talking at intermission about how awful she is in the role - and I've read about that occurring in a number of reviews - she's miscast. I'm glad you enjoyed her take on the role, but if an overwhelming majority of people (and no, not everyone at these performances have Les Mis memorized) are finding fault with her performance, something is wrong.

[NJRae]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 11:01pm

So, I realize that this doesn't really belong in this thread, and I appologize, but I didn't want to start yet another Daphne thread. I just got back from her cd release party and I don't remember who said she had no voice left, but I would like to know who they were listening to. She sang her heart out for just over an hour, song after song after song. I thought she sounded great, and, if the cheering in the room was any indication, so did everyone else. A few times she said that she needed to save her voice, but that usually came right before a song where she was going to hit a "high" (for her) note or sing really loud or something, so it was said more in jest. I still can't wait to see her in Les Mis.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 11:18pm

Exactly - I don't think Daphne has suddenly lost her voice, I just think it sounds as if she's horribly miscast for THIS particular role.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 11:30pm

The fans of this show are SO dedicated that most can't imagine any performances other than the ones they've seen. It's apples and oranges, really.

I don't think it's that. It's that they're two totally different types. I've never seen Bare, but I don't expect to hear someone like Anthony Warlow in it -- and I've never seen Oklahoma, but I wouldn't expect to see Adam Pascal in that, either. The styles just don't work. People who aren't even big fans of the show aren't exactly warming to Daphne, either.

And as I like to say....she's on stage for a total of 20 minutes.

So is The Phantom. But it still makes for a sucky show if he's no good.

[NJRae]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 11:41pm

Never having seen the show, past or present, I would have no idea if she is miscast or not but based on the sentiments of people on this board I would say that it sounds like that is the case. But if she is simply miscast I wish people would stop berating her personally and just say that. Does it ever occur to people that she could be reading the board? It is one thing to say she is miscast in this role, it is another to say that she is horrible, has no voice left and couldn't die fast enough. Couldn't it be said that she is a talented performer who is doing the best she can with a role that isn't meant for her?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/30/06 at 11:54pm

I completely understand the feeling that she might be reading the board - especially after finding out that one of my favorite performers DOES read this board - but really, you can't ask people to sugarcoat their reviews because she might be lurking. By agreeing to be in a production, she effectively signed up for any criticism that might come along with it. If someone thought she was truly horrific in the role, he or she has every right to say exactly how (s)he feels. Personal insults are another matter, but I haven't seen any of those. Perhaps the "she couldn't die fast enough" comments are a bit harsh, but it sounds like people are actually saying that during the show/at intermission. If I were Daphne, I'd be a lot more worried about these supposed whispers during her songs and during intermission instead of what fans have to say on BWW.com.

[p.s.]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 10:39am

Regarding Daphne:

I wish her well, but with all the very bad reviews (here and on other sites) she really needs to be replaced.

Who reads these reviews?

"Listen! Listen people! Listen everybody!"
We are not just the Little People.
Can you hear the people sing?

p.s. I was at two performances last week, and already hold tickets to eight more, two of them within the next week and a half.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 11:37am

I usually do not do this, but I must agree: Daphne needs to not come back after she goes off to her other show. She was aweful. The people behind me felt the same way, I heard them.

[kimmie103]

Posted: 10/31/06 at 11:56am

I saw the show on the 28th, and this was my 14th time( yes 14 times ) seeing the show and I too was not happy with Daphne as Fantine, I went in hoping for the best but was not happy at all!

As for some of the other items you pointed out, I think by the time i saw it they were a little more comfortable in the scenes, master of the house was pretty good..the audience was laughing outloud from it!

All in all.. it was great to see the show again, but I have defintely seen better performances.

Oh... and this theater is soo small!! The seats were even smaller, sat in row B of the Mezz and my legs were pressed up against the seat in front of me!