Saw LES MIZ in St. Paul, MN...

[MrMarkCharlieBrownCohen]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 1:10pm

...and am pleased to report the show is still as strong as ever. This run is currently being billed as “the final Twin Cities engagement” and from what I hear the run is almost sold out. So, if it’s a marketing scheme, it’s working. Hopefully it’s the Cher synrdrome.

Anyway…
I thought the entire company was amazing! We had several understudies including Jean Valjean & Javert (which I thought was weird for a Thursday). I didn’t know this until intermission.

I loved Jennifer Butt as Madame Thénardier. She had this young Carol Burnett thing going on and is BY FAR the thinnest Madame Thénardier, I’ve EVER seen. I had no idea she created the role on Broadway. She looks so young!!
I had a love/hate relationship with Joan Almedilla as Fantine. She has a powerhouse voice but I thought she flailed around too much. But then I liked the flailing, but then I hated it… Compared to the other Fantines I’ve seen, she seemed young and alive and full of energy. In the final song, I thought she might do a back flip or start running laps around the revolve. But HOLY MOSES she has pipes I’d die for!

Melissa Lyons as Eponine was Faboo-tastic, but I’ve seen Jessica Snow-Wilson in the role, which I loved, so it’s hard to compete with that. But wonderful in many ways!

Victor Wallace as Enjolras – HOTTIE & TALENTED TOO! 

Adam Jacobs as Marius – I wanted more from him in the acting department. He seemed very mechanical and I didn’t buy his saddness over the loss of Eponine AT ALL.

Leslie Henstock as Cosette (similar to Melissa) was great, but I’ve seen better in Regan ___?___ (cant remember her last name) and she blew me away.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 9:45pm

Which understudies did you see for Valjean and Javert?

Thanks for the report! :) I also agree on the Carol Burnett factor with Jennifer Butt -- although with her, I think in a good way, she's the LEAST funny Mme. T I've ever seen. She's frightening and you can see why Cosette is so afraid of her.

Leslie Henstock as Cosette (similar to Melissa) was great, but I’ve seen better in Regan ___?___ (cant remember her last name) and she blew me away.
That'd be Regan Thiel. :)

[renthead92]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 10:49pm

I saw this production too. It was amazing! This was my first time seeing the show, and I will always remember it. The cast was amazing, the costumes were amazing, the set was amazing, EVERYTHING was amazing! But for me, the score was the best part of the show, well, it is the show, but you know what I mean. My favorite song is "Bring Him Home." Hopefully this isn't the "Final Engagement" like they're saying. Long live "Les Miz!"

[TLKfan]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 11:58pm

I think I saw the show 5 times this past year. Twice in Chicago and three in SF. I have to say that the show is still great. Thank goodness they finally got rid of the blonde Gavroche. It was the saddest thing watching him trying to run.

I think Leslie Henstock does a great job. I have always hated Cosette for some reason and when I saw her, she changed my mind.

Do you really like Melissa Lyons? I really can't stand it. I can't take her character serious. She seems way too forced when she says lines and really is harsh when she sings "on my own".

My two cents.

[gavrochegirl]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 12:00am

"Thank goodness they finally got rid of the blonde Gavroche. It was the saddest thing watching him trying to run."

His name was Sean Gilbert...and I liked him, actually!

Agh, I can't wait to see Les Miz again when it comes to L.A.!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 12:05am

TLKFan, I feel you. I saw Sean when he was new and then several times in SF. I'm not sure what happened, but he was much better in the beginning. Still, I never thought he was bad.

Melissa's Eponine never really did much for me. Great voice, not a bad actress, but I was never engaged in her story.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 1:38am

Yay Minnesota people!

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 1:57am

TLK: OMG! I don't like Melissa Lyons either! She was way too forceful with her singing...

Jennifer Butt is awesome. I saw her and loved her.

[TLKfan]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 3:57am

SporkGoddess: Thank you! I usually like anyone who plays Eponine, but she just drives me nuts.

Yeah I didn't feel like looking up Sean's name...wasn't worth the time really, but I have to say he's the worse Gavroche. The other kid was better I thought, even though he still seemed new at it. But Sean just couldn't move, it was sad.

I am so use to see a large Mme. Thenardier and so it was hard to get use to Jennifer Butt because she is so thin! She's good though.

Oh, and just putting out another question. What do you all think of Robert Hunt? People say he's too young or whatever, but I have really fallen in love with him. He does a good job.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 4:03am

Robert Hunt is one of my favorites. He's not to everyone's liking, but I always looked forward to his "Suicide." So intense and riveting. This sounds totally cheesy, but every time he did that was one of the most heart-stopping moments in theatre for me. I always sat there totally stunned for the first half of "Turning" just because of that.

The only problem I had was that sometimes he would go on sick, and it showed -- not in his acting but in some of his money notes, particularly in "Stars." He never slacked on the acting.

And yeah, he does look really young and his face doesn't really take well to the aging makeup, but I let it slide.

[TLKfan]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 4:38am

Yeah I actually saw him sick in SF. I was rooting for him the whole time. lol

Even though he is younger, I get totally get who his character is. He's awesome.

[KevinK2]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 11:43pm

I took my family (son 14 and daughter 19) to see this tour on New year's Eve in D.C. and was amazed at the talent in the cast. From the leads to the ensemble - just incredible.
The only other time I saw this was when my wife and I saw Gary Morris as Valjean.
I was quickly reminded as to why this show has been so universally successful for so long.
If you enjoyed Randal Keith as Valjean I highly recommend his self-produced CD which is avalable at the show and online at his website (randal-keith.com, I think.)
I am puzzled as to why the official Les Mis website states that these are FINAL appearances in all of the cities it is playing on this tour. This was it's eighth appearance in D.C. and I believe it was selling out several of the performances.
I agree with those who say "Long Live Les Mis!"

[Paganmouse]

Posted: 2/13/06 at 1:19pm

I think that she did have a good voice and a good look for the part, but you're right. There was no emotions there. Really? You love Marius? I thought you just dug his hair. And the fact that shes supposed to be this scrappy streetwise chick? totally lost.
Eponine will always be my fave. female role in a play - but damn man.

[Paganmouse]

Posted: 2/13/06 at 1:26pm

Both my mom and my sister agreed with me that the women of the cast were cast weak. Fantine was unbareable. She had no heart in her singing, and I dreamed a Dream was such a let down. Mme. Thénardier was mean, but not nearly as funny as others. In a play this serious you need the Thénardiers for comic relief, and I didn't feel that. We had an understudy(name forgotten) four our Master. They didn't play well off of each other. Cosette, though I've always been an Eponine girl, also a let down. It was like everytime she siled she couldn't help but squint her eyes. It was soooooooo distracting!

The men however, spot-freakin-on. Our understduy for Javert, Trent, was frickin amazing. I can only imagine if he's the understudy what the Original actor is like. Jean was perfect and as I've stated before - I fell totally head over heels for Enjolras. We also had a wonderful wonderful wonderful Gavroche. I've always loved that part and the kid was amazing!
I did feel that Marius was a bit of a pansy, but I thoughtit fit the character. I would've liked more out of Little Fall of Rain though. But he did a great job for Empty Chairs.

I saw it Jan 8th in DC.

And am now obessed with theatre again. :oP

L

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/13/06 at 2:48pm

We had an understudy(name forgotten) four [sic] our Master. They didn't play well off of each other.

David McDonald was filling in for a while in DC. The understudies are Gabriel Kalomas and James Chip Leonard.