One Day More! (Broadway in Louisville)

Oct 4

3 min read

Les Miserables Based on the novel by Victor Hugo Music by Claude-Michel Schonberg Lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer Original French lyrics by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel Directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell

A review by Kate Barry

What is there to say about Les Miserables that has not been said already? The quintessential epic of a pop rock opera phenomenon reshaped musical theater in the 1980’s. And for a few more days, Les Mis makes its ninth return to Whitney Hall with the Broadway series. And as usual, it’s a hit.

The score is magnificent and moving in these waning days of elections, social movements and conflict. Battle cries like “Red and Black” or “Do you hear the people sing” pulse with resonance, sung by protesting students who yearn for a different tomorrow in the shadow of the June Rebellion of 1832. Since the original East End to Broadway transfer at the hand of Cameron Mackintosh, “I dreamed a dream,” “Castle on a cloud” and “On my own” have taken their rightful place in audition rooms and karaoke stages. And yet the sincerity of these ballads of yearning still delivers the raw heartbreak within a traveling Broadway revival.

While other mega Broadway musicals have remained true their spectacle (Miss Saigon delivered the helicopter in a pre Covid season, Phantom still shows off the crashing chandelier and Cats has, well, cats) the original turn table staging has been traded for more cinematic flair. Inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo, backdrops and stage dressing adopt the haunting and beautiful images from the original text. But don’t worry, the barricade is still front and center and giant red flags are waved with grand pathos at the end of act one.

Les Mis is only as good as its Jean Valjean, and Nick Cartell handles the role with grace and resilience. This Valjean strives to make his life better as he re-enters society after serving a nineteen year sentence. Constantly at odds with what is right and wrong, Cartell’s Valjean has a tenor that sores during “Soliloquy” and the breathtaking “Bring him home.” Valjean faces off at every turn with Javert, the diligent law official played by Nick Rehberger. Spun into madness by his obsession with catching Valjean, Rehberger’s Javert’s “Stars” and “Soliloquy” bring a fully rounded moral dilemma to an already misunderstood character.

Valjean seeks growth and change through Fantine, played by Lindsay Heather Pearce. Experiencing unfortunate consequences, Pearce’s Fantine makes heartwrenching sacrifices for the sake of her daughter. The prolific delivery of “I dreamed a dream” is as beautiful as it is distraught. As Valjean’s morality tale progresses, he provides a steady guardianship to Cosette, Fantine’s daughter played with a lilting soprano by Delaney Guyer. I would be aghast, if I did not mention Thenardier and Madame Thenardier at this point. Scuzzy, dirty and comical, Matt Crowle and Victoria Huston-Elem bring extra-level comic relief in “Dog eat Dog” or the crowd pleaser “Master of the House.”

As with any epic, Les Mis covers multiple years. Valjean ages as he raises Cosette and runs from Javert. Cosette experiences her own growth as she falls in love with student activist Marius, played with a vulnerable sensitivity by Jake David Smith. Yet Marius is also pursued by Eponine played with a poppy-sounding mezzo-soprano by Mya Rena Hunter. Marius’ band of students- with-a-cause resonates with modern social justice warriors who might have participated in the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020. Led by Enjorlas played with unmovable passion by Christian Mark Gibbs, the battle scenes behind the barricade display the high hopes and terrific losses of fighting for something in which you believe.

Les Miserables literally translate to “The Miserable.” And these characters experience an unbelievable amount of trauma. With all the shame, violence and atrocity within the musical, it is the hope for a better tomorrow that has made Les Mis such a memorable show and stand the test of time.

Les Miserables October 1-6 PNC Broadway in Louisville Kentucky Performing Arts 501 West Main st Louisville KY 40205 https://louisville.broadway.com