Les Misérables
Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed production Les Misérables (The Miserable Ones), a Victor Hugo's 1862 novel, is now playing at (CPT) Cadillac Palace Theatre for 2 hours 50 minutes, including a 15-minute interval musical play entirely performed through singing—it's one of the best plays ever written. And last night, the North American Tour cast at CPT, without question, provided a sterling performance of this play. Written by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel with music by Claude-Michel Schönberg and a story loosely based on the life of the ex-convict Eugène François Vidocq and historical figures or events from Hugo's own life, Les Misérables continues to thrill audiences worldwide with its exquisite musical storyline. The most relevant themes, however, are related to the dignity of the human person.
In its 38th year, CPT's Les Misérables opens with "Prisoner 24601," Jean Valjean being paroled from his service on a slave prison ship after stealing bread for his sister's starving son.
With the backdrop of the revolutionary war, where young idealists barricade the streets of France seeking to overthrow the government, Jean Valjean, the novel's protagonist, is released after 19 years in prison by antagonist prison guard Javert. Valjean's desire for redemption starts when a Bishop shows him unconditional love, after he is caught by police stealing silverware. Seeing the promise in Valjean to reform his life, the Bishop tells the police it was a gift, and they release him. Valjean, seeking to redeem himself, breaks his parole and starts a new life. Still, the zealous Javert refuses to let Valjean escape without facing justice and pursues him throughout the play.
One of the longest-running musicals, Les Misérables, a timeless story of freedom, courage, grief, and love, playing at The Cadillac Palace Theatre, is something we should all witness once in our lifetime. Inside this grand dramatic musical adaptation is a love story and a story of unmerited love, unfulfilled. Valjean's adopted daughter, Cosette, and Marius are united in love. Still, Éponine dies, never receiving the love she desires from Marius. Her love for him (On My Own) is wonderfully sung by Christine Heesun Hwang (Éponine).
The iconic songs "Bring Him Home and I Dreamed a Dream, and the climatic Do You Hear the People Sing" are legendary crowd pleasers, but unfortunately, they got swallowed in Cadillac's poor acoustics. A slight, maybe overlooked, change occurred in one line of the Wedding Chorale / Beggars lyrics at the Feast where the original says, "This one's a queer, But what can you do?" is changed to, "I may try it too!"
Making his Broadway debut as an understudy in the Tony-nominated 2012 revival of Jesus Christ Superstar, Nick Cartell's triumphant return prisoner 24601, aka Jean Valjean, on the National Tour of Les Misérables! was incredible. He captivated the audience with his performance, and received rousing applauses from the audience singing, Bring Him Home. Also thrilled to be back performing is national broadway tour (Jersey Boys and The Monster in Young Frankenstein the Musical), actor Preston Truman Boyd (Javert). Featuring around fifty highly talented cast members, we list a few exceptional performers.
Haley Dortch (Fantine), Chicago's own Matt Crowle (Thénardier), Christina Rose Hall (Madame Thénardier). Addie Morales (Cosette), and proud Boricua, Gregory Lee Rodriguez (Marius) both sang incredibly and had the crowd in awe in his US Tour debut Gaberial Lafazan(Gavroche) was sensational.
Musical Director Brian Eads does a masterful job with the orchestra, which was excellent, and the operatic singing in Les Misérables has to be robust and magnificent. CPT's production hit the mark with a brilliant group of performers.
I'm partial to the outstanding singing from Les Misérables' 25th anniversary at O2 Arena in London, where at the end of the performance, they brought the original cast featuring Irish tenor,
Colm Wilkinson joined the ceremonies at the end of the play, which was enthralling and priceless.
The radiant costume were period perfect, and the quality of staging, design, and screen projection was impeccable. Les Miserables lighting (Paule Constable) set and image design (Matt Kinley) was terrific! The multitude of people on stage at one time seemed unrestricted due to the collaboration between Paule and Matt. As a result, there were minimal moving parts. However, you couldn't tell because the lighting and the projection played an essential role in the transition from location to location and different emotions.
Paul and Matt captured Victor Hugo's visual of ethical overtones and dark themes of good, evil, and right and wrong were extraordinarily exceptional in the demoralized and impoverished places in Paris and Montreuil-sur-Mer.
One of the best scenes to see how this duo used lighting and set image design is when Javert (Preston Truman Boyd) jumps from the bridge into the Seine River after he feels he could not live with being a villain. The imagery of him falling into the water and getting swept away into darkness was brilliant. As with many scenes, such as the opening scene of the enslaved people on the boat with the sea of water splashing upon them and Jean Valjean saving Marius (Gregory Lee Rodriguez) traveling through the tunnels and dungeons to seek safety.
And as we fade into the epilogue scene where Valjean has written his last confession, he dies with Cosette and Marius by his side. He is escorted by Fantine (Cosette's mother) and Éponine, who awaits to carry his soul to Heaven.
Les Miserables is an awe-inspiring theatrical phenomenon and a "Can't-Miss," performance now playing a The Cadillac Palace Theatre.
Let's Play Theatrical Review Highly Recommends Les Misérables at The Cadillac Palace Theatre.
Cadillac Palace Theatre
Cameron Mackintosh presents
Boublil & Schönberg's
Les Miserables
A Musical based on the novel by Victor Hugo
Written by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel
Music by Claude-Michel Schönberg
Directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell
Musical Director Brian Eads
Feb 15 - Mar 5
