#1
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. :)
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
Hah, sorry. 
I, too, have gone more than once to the tour when it comes to my city 
