The
greatest musicals, the ones with a lasting impact, combine two important
things. The first is a powerful story and the second is a great score. Few
musicals do that as brilliantly as Les Misérables. It’s a story of mercy,
grief, redemption, and the ripple effect that love has on everyone it touches.
Every
time I see the show, something new stands out to me. In this Broadway Across
America’s production, I was struck by Javert’s story. This is the first time
I’ve seen the show since the wild polarization of our nation built to its
current fervor. Javert’s worldview is painfully legalistic, leaving no room for
mercy or the acceptance of growth in others. That story hit differently this
time as I recognized how common it has become to refuse to see your “enemy” as
a real person. Empathy is in short supply and the cautionary tale of Javert’s
obsession with justice is more harrowing than ever. Preston Truman Boyd did a
beautiful job with the character and is a towering presence on stage as the
tenacious arm of the law.
Gregory
Lee Rodriguez plays Marius and his role can sometimes feel a bit frivolous
until he performs “Empty Chair at Empty Tables”. He falls in love in a
heartbeat without a single conversation! But Rodriguez gives a more nuanced
performance as his Marius demonstrates the conflict he feels between his
new-found romance and his loyalty to his brothers in arms, including Devin
Archer’s passionate Enjolras. In the performance I attended Jean Valjean was
played by understudy Randy Jeter. The obvious test of range happens in “Bring
Him Home” and Jeter never faltered. Éponine has always been one of my favorite
characters and Christine Heesun Hwang didn’t disappoint. The emotion she packs
into “On My Own” is heartbreaking in its sincerity.
The set
is a character in and of itself. From the towering Parisian slums to the murky
sewers, from the brothel and factory to the cobbled-together barricade, it’s
immersive and all the more impressive because you know it will be moved to a
new city next week. This production feels particularly dark and smoky, but the
lighting is powerfully used in the barricade scene as bullets fly. My one
complaint has nothing to do with this production, but I still believe that the
Thénardier songs are the Jar Jar Binks of the musical. They provide comic
relief, but they are exhausting and often distracting from the main story.
Are
there moments when there’s too much story packed into a scene? Of course! It’s
based on a book that’s almost 1,500 pages long! But it’s precisely because
there’s so much character depth and struggle that the musical has withstood the
test of time. It’s an incredible story and one that I’ve yet to tire of.
Don't
Miss the Show
The show runs until Sunday, March 19 at Clowes
Memorial Hall so hurry to get tickets. They can be purchased at Clowes Memorial
Hall, The Murat Theatre, by calling (800)-982-2787 or online at
www.broadwayacrossamerica.com. Shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m.
Friday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
One
extra tip, the Butler University parking garage next to Clowes becomes
incredibly congested before the show. Get there early to avoid the rush.
Photos courtesy of Broadway Across America
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