By Eric Shwartz.
Having seen the original Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg production twice and this production on a previous occasion, I knew what to expect as I sat in the mezzanine of the Broadhurst Theatre for an evening performance of the Les Miserables revival. I was eager to experience the revival for a second time for one simple reason: Lea Salonga’s return to Broadway! Salonga came on to the international scene when she won the Tony, Olivier, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for her portrayal of Kim in Boublil and Schonberg’s Miss Saigon. I am happy to report that she does not disappoint in her recent return!
Les Miserables is based on the 1862 novel by Victor Hugo. This complex epic weaves several storylines into one grandiose operetta. The escaped convict Jean Valjean strives to start a new life under a new identity while the righteous police inspector Javert peruses him. Fantine, the mother of the illegitimate Cosette, is forced to prostitute herself to support her daughter. Marius falls in love with Valjean’s adopted daughter Cosette while Eponine, the young daughter of the Thénardiers, is obsessed with Marius. The Thénardiers are always looking to exploit others with their devious shenanigans. All of these subplots play under that of Enjolras and his fellow students who are fighting for freedom for the oppressed lower class of France.
Alexander Gemignani plays a very serviceable Valjean which blossoms in the second act. Although he is the youngest actor to ever play this coveted role, he excels while portraying Valjean in later years. The very talented Norm Lewis is horribly miscast as inspector Javert; he is stiff throughout most of the show, although he does make strives later in the second act. Lea Salonga shines as Fantine, replacing the very controversial Daphne Rubin-Vega. Her “I Dreamed a Dream” received the loudest ovation of the evening. Perhaps the most notable of all the performers is Celia Keenan-Bolger as the unfortunate Eponine. She has truly taken an innovative approach to the role by showing the driving obsession behind her character.
Aside from this “multiethnic” cast (the producers of the show have made a huge fuss over this point), the revival of is essentially a restaging of the original which closed in 2003, only three years prior to the opening of this production. There have been very minimal alterations to set, lighting, and costume design, mostly for the best. The only change that may disappointment those that love the show are the scaled back orchestrations. Still, those who failed to see the musical during its initial sixteen year run should definitely catch this “limited engagement” (as expected, the producers have extended their initial run as will most likely extend again). For those who have already seen the show during its original Broadway run, or one of the many national tours, I can only recommend visiting this revival for the performances of Lea Salonga and Celia Keenan-Bolger. Still, Les Miserables proved to be moving, rousing the members of the audience to their feet at the curtain call.
Final Rating: 4 out of 5
Les Miserables is currently playing at the Broadhurst Theatre on 235 West 44th Street (Between Broadway and 8th Avenue). The show runs 2 hours 55 minutes, including one 15 minute intermission. $26.25 student rush seat, available at the box-office two hours prior to performances on Tuesday through Thursday evenings. When the show is sold out, standing room tickets are available on the day of the performance at the box office for $21.25 ($26.25 for Friday and Saturday evenings).