by Amy Dalness
Daily Lobo
"Les MisÇrables" is often considered the world's most popular musical, and with good reason.
"Les Mis" is the quintessential epic musical complete with love, loss and political strife.
It opened on Broadway at the Broadway Theatre on Marchˇ12,ˇ1987 and won eight Tony awards, including best musical.
On Tuesday it opened at Popejoy Hall as part of its national tour and the Ovation Series.
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Popejoy's revolving stage was utilized during set changes and sometimes even during scenes. It was an elegant dance of set and cast that helped the epic story travel from scene to scene with grace.
Based on the novel by Victor Hugo, "Les Mis" is set in France during the rise of the revolution. Jean Valjean (Randal Keith) is released on parole after serving 19 years in a chain gang for stealing a loaf for bread.
After being given a chance at a new life by a kindly bishop, Valjean decides to lead a good life. He ends up raising a young girl, Cosette (Nadine Jacobson) at the behest of a dying street worker. Valjean and Cosette go to Paris at the start of the French
Revolution.
Cosette falls in love with the young revolutionary Marius (Adam Jacobs) on the eve of the first battle. He is wounded during the fighting, and Valjean decides to save his life for Cosette's sake.
The stage at Popejoy was elaborately designed with detailed moving sets used to re-create 18th century Paris. A false wall at the back of the stage is so well designed and integrated with the space, it is hard to tell where it ends and the brick wall of the back stage begins. The entire space felt like poverty-stricken Paris.
The cast was talented and the performances were spectacular.
Keith's entrancing tenor in "Bring Him Home" was meet with rousing applause. It was truly the most heartfelt and talented performance of the night.
The young urchin Gavroche (Alex Rutherford) is a wonderful character. Rutherford has an excellent voice and delighted the crowd.
The ThÇnardeirs (Jennifer Butt and David Benoit) provided comic relief at every corner as well as a reminder of the hardship of the French on the street.
The entire production is the poster child of Broadway musicals. It's visually stunning and full of masterful music and an immensely talented cast.
"Les MisÇrables" also shows the full production capabilities of Popejoy. It earns its title of the most popular musical with ease.
"Les Miserables"
Through Sunday at 7.30 p.m.
additional shows at 2:00 on Saturday and Sunday
Tickets.com
Grade: A
