#1
Posted: 7/22/07 at 6:18pm
Hi gang,
PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU DON'T WANT THE SHOW SPOILED FOR YOU IN ANY MANNER.
As you know last night was Alex's last show. I thought it was his best performance yet. At first his laughing before "Who an I" bothered me back in November, but now it works for me. And I love his reaction when young Cosette hugs him. I will miss him in the show, but wish the best to Drew. Speaking of Drew, lets begin with Michael Minarik as Grantaire. He was ok, but Drew played it more drunk, and was funnier, but he was adequate.
Lea changed her performance from April. Now she does a lot of crying and more coughing. She was just spectacular! Her "I Dreamed a Dream" was a little harsher this time. She showed more in the song how miserable her life was. Their was not a dry eye in the house when she died.
Robert Hunt was Javert and I personally thought Norm Lewis was better and more powerful in the role. Robert's voice was a little high for the part, but he sang "Stars" beautifully. I do have a question though about him. Does anyone know why he does not age as the show progresses like Valjean. Norm always had more gray hair, and all the other Javert's before him in the original production. I can't figure why he didn't age. If anyone knows, can you please share this.
Megan has improved big time as Eponine. I saw her understudy Celia back in April and was not thrilled. She is still no Celia, but was terrific in the role. Her voice is beautiful, and her acting was superb. I am glad to see an understudy get bumped up to full time.
James Chip Leonard is always terrific as the Bishop, and has the perfect voice. And Ben Crawford made a great sleazy foreman.
Carly Rose Soneclar was young Cosette and I wasn't thrilled with her voice. I found a word or two slurred and I don't know why, but I didn't find her black eye believable.
Now lets get to the Thenardier's. Chip Zien brought a little more conedy to the role than Gary Beach, but I prefer Gary in the role. Chip is short, and it looked funny that this short guy is ordering around big and tall Brujon. He spoke just about most of his lines, and used a high pitched voice. I did find he got the laughs and has great comic timing. He and Ann Harada complemented each other perfectly. But Ann I did not like. She just was not funny when said "or I'll forget to be nice". Jenny was so much better. She tried to hard to get the laughs, especially when she sits down to sing at the of end of "Master of the House". But as I said she and Chip were great together. You believed they were a couple.
Ali and Adam were great as usual, and Ali was so funny in the beginning of "A heart full of love" when she quickly turns away from Marius. Adam plays the role better now, when he first starts singing the song because you can tell he's at a loss for words and is making stuff up on the fly. I love the way he started the song with a long "uhhh" that led into "a heart full of love".
I was not thrilled with Zach Rand as Gavroche either. I liked Brian much better. I found Zach's voice to be low at times, but he did "Ten Little Bullets" perfectly and played it with much more pain and suffering as he was dying.
Now let's talk about Max von Essen as Enjolras. He was the major disappointment to me throughout the whole show. His voice very low and he showed no leader quality what-so-ever. I thought he was just plain awful. Even when Adam was playing the part with a cold he was better. I was surprised after he was so good in "Dance of the Vampires". You would have never known it was the same person. And I know he has a powerhouse voice, so why he didn't use it is beyond me.
I didn't like Mike Evariste as the pimp. He voice was low and just didn't fit the role. And I did not care for Daniel Bogart as Bamatabois. I found him low as well.
The ensemble was great. Their soaring voices blew the roof off many times and resulted in thunderous applause. The all sound terrific together.
All in all the show is holding up great, but that's as of last night with Alex in the lead. I'm sure Drew will be fine, but time will tell. I look forward to reading your reviews of him next week.
And please if anybody knows why Javert no longer ages, please do tell.
Thanks!
PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU DON'T WANT THE SHOW SPOILED FOR YOU IN ANY MANNER.
As you know last night was Alex's last show. I thought it was his best performance yet. At first his laughing before "Who an I" bothered me back in November, but now it works for me. And I love his reaction when young Cosette hugs him. I will miss him in the show, but wish the best to Drew. Speaking of Drew, lets begin with Michael Minarik as Grantaire. He was ok, but Drew played it more drunk, and was funnier, but he was adequate.
Lea changed her performance from April. Now she does a lot of crying and more coughing. She was just spectacular! Her "I Dreamed a Dream" was a little harsher this time. She showed more in the song how miserable her life was. Their was not a dry eye in the house when she died.
Robert Hunt was Javert and I personally thought Norm Lewis was better and more powerful in the role. Robert's voice was a little high for the part, but he sang "Stars" beautifully. I do have a question though about him. Does anyone know why he does not age as the show progresses like Valjean. Norm always had more gray hair, and all the other Javert's before him in the original production. I can't figure why he didn't age. If anyone knows, can you please share this.
Megan has improved big time as Eponine. I saw her understudy Celia back in April and was not thrilled. She is still no Celia, but was terrific in the role. Her voice is beautiful, and her acting was superb. I am glad to see an understudy get bumped up to full time.
James Chip Leonard is always terrific as the Bishop, and has the perfect voice. And Ben Crawford made a great sleazy foreman.
Carly Rose Soneclar was young Cosette and I wasn't thrilled with her voice. I found a word or two slurred and I don't know why, but I didn't find her black eye believable.
Now lets get to the Thenardier's. Chip Zien brought a little more conedy to the role than Gary Beach, but I prefer Gary in the role. Chip is short, and it looked funny that this short guy is ordering around big and tall Brujon. He spoke just about most of his lines, and used a high pitched voice. I did find he got the laughs and has great comic timing. He and Ann Harada complemented each other perfectly. But Ann I did not like. She just was not funny when said "or I'll forget to be nice". Jenny was so much better. She tried to hard to get the laughs, especially when she sits down to sing at the of end of "Master of the House". But as I said she and Chip were great together. You believed they were a couple.
Ali and Adam were great as usual, and Ali was so funny in the beginning of "A heart full of love" when she quickly turns away from Marius. Adam plays the role better now, when he first starts singing the song because you can tell he's at a loss for words and is making stuff up on the fly. I love the way he started the song with a long "uhhh" that led into "a heart full of love".
I was not thrilled with Zach Rand as Gavroche either. I liked Brian much better. I found Zach's voice to be low at times, but he did "Ten Little Bullets" perfectly and played it with much more pain and suffering as he was dying.
Now let's talk about Max von Essen as Enjolras. He was the major disappointment to me throughout the whole show. His voice very low and he showed no leader quality what-so-ever. I thought he was just plain awful. Even when Adam was playing the part with a cold he was better. I was surprised after he was so good in "Dance of the Vampires". You would have never known it was the same person. And I know he has a powerhouse voice, so why he didn't use it is beyond me.
I didn't like Mike Evariste as the pimp. He voice was low and just didn't fit the role. And I did not care for Daniel Bogart as Bamatabois. I found him low as well.
The ensemble was great. Their soaring voices blew the roof off many times and resulted in thunderous applause. The all sound terrific together.
All in all the show is holding up great, but that's as of last night with Alex in the lead. I'm sure Drew will be fine, but time will tell. I look forward to reading your reviews of him next week.
And please if anybody knows why Javert no longer ages, please do tell.
Thanks!
Updated On: 7/23/07 at 06:18 PM
