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My review of the Les Miz tour at the Pantages (6/9/2006) — Page 2

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#26

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

Posted: 6/10/06 at 9:17pm

Hmm... the two main set pieces of Paris were two gigantic towers of 'rubbish', I guess you could call it. The towers then rotated vertically and pushed together to become a barricade. I don't know if that's what you wanted to hear, Tag. :P
#27

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

Posted: 6/10/06 at 9:35pm

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

Yes. I can't see how they'd move them any other way seeing as it's the same set they've been using for almost 20 years.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#28

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

Posted: 6/10/06 at 10:13pm

"Leslie Henstock/Ali Ewoldt(Cosette – Two separate ones for each act… the first one supposedly went into labor!!) "

Woooohhh...Leslie was pregnant???!!! I knew she was leaving the show soon, I guess moreso cause of this? I'm confused
#30

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

Posted: 6/10/06 at 10:46pm

I highly doubt anyone pregnant enough to go into labor would still be performing in a show where the character isn't pregnant!

Yes, Tag.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#31

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

Posted: 6/10/06 at 10:47pm

""Leslie Henstock/Ali Ewoldt(Cosette – Two separate ones for each act… the first one supposedly went into labor!!) "

Woooohhh...Leslie was pregnant???!!! I knew she was leaving the show soon, I guess moreso cause of this? I'm confused"

I was wondering the same thing. I haven't talked to her in a while, but I don't think that's what volleyballer meant...?
2008 European Tour
London: Les Mis, Lion King, Sound of Music, Joseph, Hairspray, Billy Elliot
France: Le Roi Lion, Cabaret
Germany: Der Konig der Lowen
Holland: Tarzan & Les Mis
#32

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

Posted: 6/11/06 at 12:17am

Thanks for the review, I am glad you like the show, it is my absolute favorite. You got me all excited for when I drive down to see it friday (I'm in the SF are) for my 4th time! I can't wait now!
#33

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

Posted: 6/11/06 at 12:52am

Hah, I highly doubt she was pregnant, too, but 'supposedly' -- and this is totally what I only heard from the couple next to me, who asked the usher -- Leslie started to feel sharp pains towards the end of Act One, which I actually sort of saw in her face (she looked very bothered), but thought nothing of. Anyways, she felt pains, and the usher said she 'thought she was going into labor or something.' Very unreliable, but whatever happened happened. re: My review of the Les Miz tour at the Pantages (6/9/2006) COOOLKid is seeing the show on Sunday -- maybe he can let us know if she's still out.
#34

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

Posted: 6/11/06 at 12:54am

I am excited to see the show... my tickets are for June 16. Thanks for the review.
"I wish the stage were as narrow as the wire of a tightrope dancer, so that no incompetent would dare step upon it." Goethe
#39

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

Posted: 6/15/06 at 1:28pm

*bump*

I'm going to try and see this tonight. A friend of mine knows the girl playing Eponine so he talked me into seeing it with him. Sigh, I should really just buy a subscription to the Pantages already.
#42

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

Posted: 6/16/06 at 3:53am

I saw this same production last Sunday and I gotta say I was pretty disapointed. It seemed as if the cast, especially the kids, were directed to "play down" their roles in an effort to avoid overacting and then everyone ended up underacting. the tempos seemed off at times and even the up tempo numbers like "Master of the House" seemed to drag and not create the kind of emotional "break" that they're supposed to. I also enjoyed Jennifer Butt a lot more on the OBC then I did live. It seemed to be a textbook example of how not to play Madame Thenardier, although she has never been one of my favorite Madame Thenardiers.

The lighting cues were very odd also. I definitely enjoyed the design, but the cues were at times so distractingly off it was as if the operator had never seen the show before, although I believe most of the cues are done by computer, right? either way something was up. it also took me about twenty minutes to get used to the sound design. everything sounded like it was coming through a coke can.

I should also mention that the Fantine, Joan Almedilla, was just absolutely dreadful. I've heard actresses in the school edition sing better than this woman. I pray to god she was having an off night because I can't believe anyone would pay that woman to sing anything.

And, I'm not done. The most distracting thing of the evening was the American accents. And it's not like this was an accident. It's blatantly obvious that this cast is being directed to annunciate and pronounce all of their "R's" and to drop any and all cockney and or British accents. it takes away soooooooo much. it became so distracting at points that I had to either laugh or cover my ears. again... especially the Fantine. "...that we would live the yARS togethEEEEERRRRRRR!" gah. dreadful, dreadful, dreadful.

There were things that I liked, and generally I'm a fan of Les Miz so I'm not intending for this to sound like I hate the show, because I don't, I just wasn't too thrilled with the direction, or in this case the resident director for the tour because I have too much faith in Trevor Nunn that if he were to see this cast he would not be entirely thrilled. I blame the resident director, Evan Ensign. someone needs to smack him upside the head a few times.
#43

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

Posted: 6/16/06 at 4:39am

I should also mention that the Fantine, Joan Almedilla, was just absolutely dreadful. I've heard actresses in the school edition sing better than this woman.

Hear, hear!
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#44

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

Posted: 6/16/06 at 4:58am

Oh great, her and Eponine. My mom and I are going to die of laughter this weekend. I am seeing it on Saturday and Sunday. Very excited to see the show b4 the tour ends.
2008 European Tour
London: Les Mis, Lion King, Sound of Music, Joseph, Hairspray, Billy Elliot
France: Le Roi Lion, Cabaret
Germany: Der Konig der Lowen
Holland: Tarzan & Les Mis

Updated On: 6/16/06 at 04:58 AM

#45

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

Posted: 6/16/06 at 12:23pm

I saw this tour about two years ago in Green Bay. Randal Keith then and there became my favorite Valjean. Heck, I loved him so much I bought his solo CD, Life Has Been Good to Me!

I didn't like Melissa Lyons's Eponine, to be honest. She came off too strong to me. Also, I like my Eponines to have character voices. I saw Tonya Dixon, not Joan Almadilla (sp?) as Fantine, so I can't comment there. Now I'm curious to hear her Kim in Miss Saigon though... I saw her as a Soul Girl in JCS, which didn't exactly let me hear her singing all too well.

Also, I really advise people who love the musical to read the novel, unabridged. It is so much better! Not that Les Mis isn't a fantastic musical, because it is, but the novel is a masterpiece.
Jimmy, what are you doing here in the middle of the night? It's almost 9 PM!
#46

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

Posted: 6/16/06 at 12:42pm

I got to the theater about 6pm to get in a cancellation line. Turns out I was IT so I got to begin one. A friend joined me shortly after and an hour later we scored seats sixth row center, it was AWESOME!! That's not to say that nobody was there for the cancellation line.... there were a LOT that turned up around the same time and I recognized at least 6 people from that line inside the threater during intermission but there may have been even more that made it.

We had an u/s for Vajean who was awesome. I'll agree that I've seen better Fantine's but she was nowhere close to being dreadful! You guys sure are dramatic with your adjectives sometimes but I suppose you're entitled to your opinions. I also disagree with whoever said Butt was a "a textbook example of how not to play Madame Thenardier"... I thought she was one of the highlights for me. I LOVED it from start to finish. :)

#47

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

Posted: 6/17/06 at 11:22pm

Here is my two-cents about the tour (I saw it twice in SF and roadtripped to LA and saw it last friday)

It was good overall...wierd but good. I say wierd becuase it is the first time I have seen it live without Randall Keith (we had his understudy) and Trent Blanton. Even when I saw in I think 1998 those two were in it. I didn't care for Roger Seyers as Valjean. He needed to put a little more in to his character than he did. Although I have seem Robert Hunt as Javert before I didn't hate him and didn't love him but he did do a marevolous job last night. Joan Almedilla was a very weak Fantine in SF but she much stronger now. Daniel Bogart was an okay Marius, he was an excellent actor but I thought his voice was a bit to harsh and he used to much vibratto, but thank God he turned the vibratto off for Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, he did a wonderful job. Norman Large is back as Thenardier and he is by far my favorite for that character. Both our young Cosette and Gavorche were wonderful. Enjolras was also new to the tour he was good but in my opinion he could have been stronger, and he is voice cracked towards the end of Red and Black, I felt so bad! Grantarie was okay but he wasn't Trent. In SF with Trent there was this connection between Grantaire and Gavroche that was really touching but was absent with Dave Hugo's Grantaire. On the up side Melissa Lyons finally managed to wow me. I like her before but her portraly, more in the second half impressed me. Leslie Henstock made me like Cosette a little more which is surprising for me, she actully showed a little back bone, she got angry at Valjean in "In My Life" when asking about her past, it added to her character. MY LAST TIME SEEING THE NATIONAL TOUR BEFORE IT CLOSES!! HOW SAD! I savored every minute of the show, I teared up and cried a little during A Little Fall of Rain, The Death of Gavroche, and The Final Battle, I still think that the most amazing and moving part of the show is when the revolve turns to show Enjolras' body sprawled on the revolutinary flag...I literaly shivered! I absolutly love Les Mis! Oh one more thing though I have heard the Ali Ewoldt ("Revival" Cosette) is the Factory Woman who takes Fantine's letter, if it is I hope her voice was just like that for the character and does much better for Broadway, but than again maybe I am spoiled by listening to my many amazing cast recordings...
#48

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

Posted: 6/17/06 at 11:26pm

Wait, since when is Ali Ewoldt the factory girl? What happened to Carrie Johnson? (Or did they run out of swings?)

Enjolras was also new to the tour he was good but in my opinion he could have been stronger, and he is voice cracked towards the end of Red and Black, I felt so bad!

He seems to do that fairly often, at least from what I've read...
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#49

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

Posted: 6/17/06 at 11:37pm

Wait, since when is Ali Ewoldt the factory girl? What happened to Carrie Johnson? (Or did they run out of swings?)
I thought I had read that some where but wasn't sure, if she isn't it makes me happy!

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