Les Miserables
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Cititour.com Review
Vive la revolution! That’s right, 27 years after it first bowed at the Imperial Theatre, the crowd-pleasing mega-tuner Les Miserables has returned to its original home in a new incarnation. Unfortunately, Laurence Connor and James Powell’s production can’t hold a candle to the musical’s first Broadway incarnation, both literally (due to Paule Constable’s severely dim lighting and Matt Kinley’s drab, turntable-less scenic design) and figuratively. However, this skillful adaptation of Victor Hugo’s massive novel still stirs the heart and minds of theatergoers and provides nearly three solid hours of entertainment.
Of course, unless you’ve lived under a rock for the past quarter century, you probably already know the story and will be helplessly singing along to the irresistible Claude Michel-Schonberg-Alain Boublil-Herbert Kretzmer score, with its many soaring ballads and recurring musical motifs. Such familiarity can bring both contempt and content – not to mention a whole lot of comparisons to both the show’s previous stage outings and the Oscar-winning film.
Fortunately, this revival has a don’t-miss asset in Britain’s Ramin Karimloo, making a superb Broadway debut as Jean Valjean, the fugitive criminal who turns his life around, yet who can never fully escape his past. The actor brings a true sense of passion to every scene, and his singing is consistently sublime. In fact, he may deliver the finest version of Valjean’s famed aria, “Bring Him Home,” I’ve ever heard, earning a well-deserved, mid-show ovation.
Karimloo proves to be well matched by Broadway veteran Will Swenson as Valjean’s determined pursuer, Inspector Javert. Swenson brings such commitment to this role, and makes you believe so strongly in Javert’s inherent moral fiber, that you almost sympathize with him even in his ugliest moments. To top it all, Swenson offers a remarkably touching rendition of Javert’s one boffo ballad, the gorgeous “Stars.”
The large supporting cast is a bit more hit-and-miss than its leading players. Tony Award winner Nikki M. James serves up exactly the right mix of spunk and heart as the headstrong Eponine, and nails her showstopper “On My Own” effortlessly. Caissie Levy is a suitably feisty and heartbroken Fantine, especially during “I Dreamed a Dream,” and the hilarious Cliff Saunders and Keala Settle lend the proceedings much-needed comic relief in their showy turns as the constantly scheming Thenardiers.
Conversely, Samantha Hill is unbearably bland as the grown-up Cosette and generates no chemistry with Andy Mientus (of TV’s “Smash”), who turns in an appealing if slightly lightweight performance as her love interest, the young revolutionary Marius. Even more disappointingly, Kyle Scatliffe barely registers as the supposedly fiery student revolutionary leader Enjolras. Then again, any of the actors have trouble holding their own against young Gaten Matarazzo in a scene-stealing performance as the pint-sized Gavroche.
Still, whatever this production’s shortcomings, this cast (and probably a slew of replacements) will be singing Les Miserables’ signature anthem “One Day More” for many more days to come at the Imperial.
By Brian Scott Lipton
Visit the Site
http://www.lesmis.com/broadway
Open/Close Dates
Opening 3/23/2014
Closing 9/4/2016
Preview Open/ Preview Close Dates
Preview Opening 3/1/2014
Closing Open-ended
Box Office
212-239-6200
Theatre Info
Imperial Theatre
249 West 45th Street
New York, NY 10036
Map
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