When a stage musical has been recently adapted as a feature
film, it’s a challenge to make the story come alive on stage in quite the same
way. Unless, of course, that story is “Les Misérables,”
and the cast is inimitable. Such is the case with Rochester Broadway Theatre
League’s current season special, the national tour of “Les Misérables,”
fresh off a two-and-a-half year Broadway revival.
The story is based on the 1862 novel of the same name by
Victor Hugo and follows the plight of Jean Valjean, a
Frenchman sentenced to 19 years of hard labor for stealing bread to save his
starving nephew. When he is released, Valjean breaks
parole and leads a life that redeems his lost years — but Javert,
a French officer familiar with his case, continues to hunt him.
Though the 2012 movie boasts a heavy-hitting cast led by Hugh
Jackman as Valjean, most of them are not trained
singers, and the power of the musical’s score is compromised for the sake of
on-location filming and star power in the billing. In this national tour, it’s
quite the opposite. It seems every member of the ensemble is ready to take on a
leading role (there’s an amazing amount of backstory worked into many of the
characters as well, evident in background scenes featuring the ensemble.)
“Les Misérables” could best be
considered an operetta, as most of the dialogue is performed as musical
numbers. While this method has a potential to grow old, here it works. The
lyrics are by turns hilarious (“Master of the House”) and heartbreaking (“Empty
Chairs at Empty Tables”). “Les Misérables” is known
for its incredible score, and the orchestra and singers do not disappoint
during this production.
Every lead performer is precise, nailing the well-known
characters they are portraying. Throughout the nearly three hour show
(including one intermission), Nick Cartell (Jean Valjean) does not miss a step, transitioning from high to
low pitches and young to old movement. Cartell is a
supremely versatile actor, and that’s apparent in this production.
Paige Smallwood (Eponine) plays up
the role’s more shrill potential to a somewhat extreme degree, but brings the
audience to tears during “On My Own,” which kicks off Act Two. Other standouts
include J. Anthony Crane (Thenardier) and Allison
Guinn (Madame Thenardier), who elicited the most
laughs from the crowd; and the tiniest revolutionary, Parker Dzuba (Gavroche), who is a
captivating presence onstage. Joshua Grosso (Marius) and Jillian Butler (Cosette) play ideal ingénues, delicately portrayed yet
integral to the chemistry of the ensemble. And Stevie Nicks-looking wig aside,
Matt Shingledecker (Enjolras)
is inspiring as leader of the students.
Some of the most impressive work, aside from the cast, comes
from the tech crew. Using art from Victor Hugo’s own works, set and image
designer Matt Kinley has created a thoroughly authentic world reminiscent of a
renaissance era painting. Fifty-Nine Productions complements Kinley’s work with
a living, breathing projection backdrop for so many of the scenes in the show
(the most impressive sequence being the sewer where Valjean
and Marius end up).
Because it is a season special and not a part of the official
RBTL season, “Les Misérables” will run only through
Saturday, November 24 (both Friday and Saturday
offer two show times). And for those who are basing their knowledge of the
musical on the 2012 film or have never seen the show onstage — it’s time to
make like Valjean and get this bread.
This article appears in Nov 21-27, 2018.
