Les Miz Update (Jeff Kready, etc.)

[SDav 10495]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 10:08pm

Just saw Les Miz again last night (2/6) with Jeff Kready on for Alex Gemignani and was wondering how often he has been on for Valjean so far in the revival. He was excellent--beautiful voice (his "Bring Me Home especially, as cliched as that sounds) and he acted wonderfully (the finale especially, as cliched as that sounds). He doesn't age as well as Gemignani and so perhaps doesn't bring quite as much weight to the role, but overall he was stunning. If you happen to see his name on the board in the lobby the next time you go, never fear...you're in for a great performance.

The rest of the cast was solid. Gary Beach, who I had not seen on my previous visit, is a great performer but (although I already know every word he is saying) I wish he would make more of an effort to be heard clearly.

Daphne Watch: she has definitely improved since I last saw the show in November (at which time she had also improved from the early days of the run). It seems like she's reading the crowd better and singing a more conventional "I Dreamed A Dream" for her last couple of weeks. Though I still don't completely love it, I was much more able to appreciate her new, memorable take on the role now that her performance wasn't as distracting. Audience reaction is still lukewarm (you still hear comments about the blessing that is Fantine's death), but she has certainly evolved over a few months. Others who had seen the show earlier in the run agreed. Say what you will about her performance--even if no one ever tries what she has done, she turned a part everyone "knows" how to play into something uniquely hers. Though I am not totally enamored with her interpretation, I'm glad I got to see a Fantine who actually got a reaction out of me rather than one who played it safe and who I wouldn't have paid much attention to.

It's theatre, after all...if I couldn't see radical, controversial, or even just plain bad spins on an old part, I'd just be watching a movie.

Updated On: 2/8/07 at 10:08 PM