"Les Miserables is set in the Parisian underworld. The hero, Jean Valjean, is sentenced to prison for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister's children. After his release, Valjean plans to rob monseigneur Myriel, a bishop, who speaks up for him and tells authorities that Valjean didn't steal from him; in fact, he forgot to take the silver candlesticks that he had given him, too. He later tells Valjean to take the money and start his life over. Throughout the play, Valjean is haunted by the police inspector Javert. Valjean eventually reforms and lives under the name of M. Madeleine a successful businessman, benefactor and mayor of a northern town. He adopts Cosette, an illegitimate child of a poor woman, Fantine. Cosette grows up and falls in love with Marius, who is wounded during a revolutionary fight. Valjean rescues Marius by means of a flight through the sewers of Paris. Cosette and Marius marries and Valjean reveals his past." That's the plot in a nutshell--I left out just a little bit of the details!
Tuesday's crowd at the VBC's Concert Hall loved the show. It is one of the best troupe's to come to Huntsville. The singing and acting is superb. I didn't detect one weak performance among the large cast. Randal Keith does an outstanding job in the lead as Jean Valjean; and might I add, he ages beautifully throughout the show. The costumes are very authentic and the wigs are all natural looking. Keith has the arduous task of carrying Josh Young (Marius)around the stage for quite a romp during the sewer scene. A lesser man couldn't have done it!
Tuesday's crowd loved the antics of Thenardier, the Innkeeper (played by David McDonald) and his wife Madame Thenardier (played by Cindy Benson). There rendition of "Master of the House" and "Beggars at the Feast" was met with great enthusiasm from the crowd. I met Cindy after the show (see photo) and was surprised how unlike the Innkeeper's wife she looked in person!
All the principals have strong and beautiful voices. My favorite (and most of the audience's it seemed) was Eponine's (protrayed by Ma-Anne Dionisio) beautiful "On My Own."
Two young girls travel with the show and switch the roles of playing Young Cosette and Young Eponine every other night. I caught these two after the show (see photo) and enjoyed meeting Nadine Jacobson and Erika Kiyomi Johnson.
Besides being a great show to see and hear, "Les Miserables" is fascinating to watch as the actors died in slow motion, the turntable whirls characters and sets around the stage, other sets are whisked in before you eyes and all this is done without a hitch. This is a great show to see, whether it's your first time (like my husband) or you've seen it many times before, read the book and seen the movie. Don't miss it while it's in Huntsville...tickets are still available at Broadway Theatre League. For information, call 256.518.6155.
