My review of the Les Miz tour at the Pantages (6/9/2006)

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 6/10/06 at 2:50am

Les Miserables
Pantages Theatre
June 9, 2006
8:00 pm

Okay, so let me first start off by saying that I had never heard anything from the show except “On My Own” as performed by Sutton Foster. I’ve always loved that song, but I thought that would be the only one I would enjoy. I thought this show was a big 3-hour-long dramatic piece of plot that I wouldn’t understand.

I could NOT have been more wrong.

What I used to think was just a show I couldn’t pronounce turned out to be the most incredible, INCREDIBLE piece of theatre I have ever seen. And I’ve seen a hell of a lot of theatre.

I don’t know what worked for me. The cast? The set? The music? It was all just AMAZING. I swear, and I’ll say it again: AMAZING.

The cast was fantastic. From the first note to the last, everyone who even got a line – even a bit part – had the most operatic, excellent vibrado you could ever imagine. For those wondering (and in case you’ve heard of them), the cast was as follows:

Randal Keith (Jean Valjean)
Pierce Peter Brandt (Javert u/s – I didn’t know he was an u/s until halfway through!!)
Joan Almedilla (Fantine)
Jennifer Butt (M. Thenardier)
Norman Large (Thenardier)
Victor Wallace (Enjolras)
Melissa Lyons (Eponine)
Daniel Bogart (Marius)
Leslie Henstock/Ali Ewoldt(Cosette – Two separate ones for each act… the first one supposedly went into labor!!)

Anyways, they were all just fantastic. My favorite parts were ENJOLRAS (favorite), Eponine, Thenardier, Marius, and Gavroche. Gavroche’s little limp and buck teeth and smile and everything will always be my memory of this show. I love that damn little boy!! (Anthony Skillman played him, if that matters to anyone at all.)

The set pieces were amazing. I was stunned by the giant pieces that signified the slums of the town, which then revolved on themselves to create the gigantic barricade. The revolve was made to good use on the floor as well. Great, great ingenuity and innovation with the set – not too grand, but nowhere too plain.

And the music. Now, is there a Book to this show? I don’t mean the novel, I mean an actual Book. Dialogue. Not lyrics. The only line I actually heard spoken was “Lamarque is dead!” That’s it. Haha, not that that’s a problem, but sometimes it got a little repetitive. Still, the music was dead on.

Eponine stood out with “On My Own,” as I hoped she would. Other songs I found myself singing as I walked out were “At The End of the Day”, “Master of the House”, “Red and Black”, “One Day More”, and my new favorite, “Do You Hear The People Sing?” That’s an amazing, amazing song.

There was a standing ovation in the middle of the show, right after “Bring Him Home.” It was funny, as I actually found myself bored during that song. Valjean was amazing, regardless, but I personally wasn’t into it. Still, it was a moment of theatrical appreciation.

One thing I noticed was that it seemed to have a consistent tone until the end of the second act. “Beggars at the Feast” sort of just completely took away from the emotional attachment of the show. I mean, everything’s sad, and then it’s getting better with the wedding, but just to have such a frivolous song (or, reprise, I guess it would be considered) as the second to last song was just out of place for me. My fellow theatergoer noticed it as well.

Still… Great orchestrations. Great use of lighting and sound effects. Great sets, great music, GREAT casting of Gavroche (he was ADORABLE!). Just an overall amazing night in the theatre, one that’s been way overdue here in L.A..

Les Miserables just got 130 more dollars, because I just bought tickets to the show two more nights this run. :)

Updated On: 6/10/06 at 02:50 AM

[jimnysf]

Posted: 6/10/06 at 2:56am

I also avoided this show for years in New York and in it's two year run in SF and during a few return engagements. I finally decided to see what the fuss was about and I saw the "farewell" tour last year when it came to San Francisco. I also enjoyed it a lot. Glad you liked it.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/10/06 at 2:56am

Wait a minute, Dawn Younker is a swing and doesn't understudy Cosette at all -- are you sure Ali Ewoldt or Suzannah Bridges didn't go on as Cosette?

Good for you. Glad you enjoyed it so much. Hope you continue to. :)

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 6/10/06 at 2:57am

:) Where were you seated in the show? I'm planning to see it on Sunday Matinee.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 6/10/06 at 2:59am

"Wait a minute, Dawn Younker is a swing and doesn't understudy Cosette at all -- are you sure Ali Ewoldt or Suzannah Bridges didn't go on as Cosette?"

Actually, I'm not quite sure at all. When I was writing this, for some reason the name Dawn stood out to me when I read the cast list. It could very well be one of the other two. In fact, I'm probably sure it was. Hah, sorry.

And I was seated in Row M, seat 309 (and 310, my friend). Fantastic, fantastic seating. I think anything in Orchestra A-Z (before NN-ZZ) at the Pantages is perfect.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/10/06 at 3:00am

Dawn may have been the swing who went on in Act 2, then, for whoever went on as Cosette. :)

Ali Ewoldt is half Asian. Does that give you a clue?

[gumbo2]

Posted: 6/10/06 at 3:04am

I saw the show in Seattle, though with an understudy for Valjean. It was also my first time seeing the show, though I knew pretty much all the music going into it. Actually the standout for ME was Victor Wallace as Enjolras. I thought he was incredible. That and Javert, though I guess you saw the understudy. Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[gavrochegirl]

Posted: 6/10/06 at 3:15am

I'm very glad that you think the show is great! I get to go see it for my second time on the 16th.

*squee*

But that's nothing compared to Lizzie's amount of times she's attended the show... Heh.

[Popular]

Posted: 6/10/06 at 3:25am

This morning as I was driving to work I saw a line already formed around 8:00am. I even saw a tent pitched!! WHAT??

Updated On: 6/10/06 at 03:25 AM

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 6/10/06 at 3:27am

"This morning as I was driving to work I saw a line already formed around 8:00am. I even saw a tent pitched!! WHAT??"

Really?? I got there at 6:30 to pick up tickets from Will Call, and the place was near empty. Even at around 7:20, when they opened the doors, there were tons of people, but no one in a line! I'm sure they were there to snag tickets for later dates, then, since today seemed pretty packed.

[Popular]

Posted: 6/10/06 at 3:32am

Yeah, it was odd. There were at least 20 people just hanging out waiting for the box office to open. There is a visitor's center next door that sometimes has a line that gets confused with the Pantages but this line was clearly for Les Mis. Of course I was driving past and may have not caught the whole story there. I was hoping someone else could shed a little light on that one.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/10/06 at 3:41am

A tent. Oh goodness.

[loudasthehelliwant]

Posted: 6/10/06 at 4:13am

Glad you liked it!

Valjean is not the most interesting role (in my opinion), but Randal Keith is my FAVORITE Valjean ever.

[loridunn]

Posted: 6/10/06 at 4:26am

Hey I was there tonight as well. (6-9-2006)

The second act Cosette was Ali Ewoldt. I loved her. This show was amazing. Valjean, Eponine, and Javert were definately the stand-out performances of the night. Valjean's voice was so pure and full that I fell in love with his voice the second he opened his mouth. I agree with all of your "amazing" comments. I thoroughly enjoyed this production. What a talented cast.

[joshy]

Posted: 6/10/06 at 7:09am

Reading this review made me really happy. :) I don't care what people say about Les Mis, I still love it so much and have so much attachment to it. I first saw it when I was six and I've seen it almost every year for the last 10 years, and every time I see it I am blown away by it.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 6/10/06 at 7:54am

This has been my favorite musical above and beyond all the others my whole life and I really love hearing people go see it for the first time talk about it. I am sooooo glad you enjoyed the show and thank you for the review I, too, have gone more than once to the tour when it comes to my city

I have seen the following performers at various times in these roles and agree: they are GREAT.

Randal Keith (Jean Valjean)
Joan Almedilla (Fantine)
Jennifer Butt (M. Thenardier)
Norman Large (Thenardier)
Melissa Lyons (Eponine)
Daniel Bogart (Marius)

Ali Ewoldt will be Cosette on Broadway in the fall.

It is an amazing show.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 6/10/06 at 9:01am

I knew I should have gotten tix for tonight.....

[noahrp3]

Posted: 6/10/06 at 11:43am

I'm so excited! I'm seeing it next Saturday. Does anyone know how front row seats are? I have front row tickets a little bit off to the left. Were there any empty seats when you went? Or was it entirely sold out?

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 6/10/06 at 1:40pm

It wasn't entirely sold out, but I definitely didn't see any empty seats, at least in front of me (13 rows in front of me until the stage). I think I know exactly where you are, and those are fantastic seats. Don't even worry.

And ah, thanks all for the Ali Ewoldt tip. Well, now I'm glad that I got to see the same Cosette as Broadway! Also, when I saw Fantine, she had a Latina sort of look to her, and I don't see why people disliked the casting of Daphne Rubin-Vega as Fantine in the revival. I think she definitely looks the part -- so that's at least one requirement down.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/10/06 at 1:45pm

Latina? Well, Joan is Filipina, so there you go...
http://web.mac.com/joanalmedilla/iWeb/Site/Joan%20Almedilla.html

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 6/10/06 at 4:10pm

How was matt bogart's brother as Marius.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 6/10/06 at 4:23pm

Marius was fantastic. I actually thought HE was the one leading "One Day More," but now that I realize my mistake, Enjolras was my favorite -- not Marius. Still, Marius was great. Again, I've never seen anyone else, but he did a fantastic, fantastic job. He was still one of my favorite characters.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 6/10/06 at 4:27pm

I'm going to see it in Dallas in a couple of weeks. I may be on the balcony but atleast I'll be there! It's going to be my first time to ever see it too!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 6/10/06 at 7:37pm

I hope I get a chance to see this show come December in NYC.

[Tag]

Posted: 6/10/06 at 7:48pm

Are the barricades still 'driven' on stage by concealed stagehands?