Archive for Musicals.Net Musicals.Net |
| elphclaudia |
Drew Sarich as Grantaire, u/s Javert, EnjorlasWhat do you guys think of him?I'm his biggest fan (he said so). I LOVED his performance as Grantaire. There are also some clips of him as Enjolras on YouTube. Anyone else see him? -Katie (elphclaudia) |
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| The Very Angry Woman |
http://musicals.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=57525
http://musicals.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=58403 http://musicals.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=56228 |
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| Orestes Fasting |
I have mixed feelings about his Grantaire--he takes the character off in a direction I'm not quite sure I like, but it's an interesting take, and he's entertaining. Even if I don't agree with his interpretation, I appreciate seeing the role approached so differently, and he forces you to pay attention to Grantaire.
I cannot stand his Enjolras. The role calls for charisma and dignity, not just manic enthusiasm. When I saw him as Enjolras, the only other role I'd seen him in in any show was Grantaire, and his mannerisms for both were so similar that I thought he lacked versatility as an actor and couldn't pull off the proper aura of command. I've since been proven wrong--see below--but that doesn't mean I like his Enjolras now. I like his Javert. I really, really wasn't expecting to, because I hated his Enjolras so much and he has a lot working against him as Javert--his age, his vocal range, etc. But he was great; very dignified, very intense, and very contemptuous. Unlike his Enjolras, I had absolutely no trouble taking him seriously. As a matter of taste, I like my Javerts a little more stoic and less angry than Drew's, and he did go a little over the top in the Suicide--but all-around, a good Javert. In retrospect he reminded me a bit of Rob Hunt, both because of his anger/intensity and because no amount of makeup can make him look like a fifty-five-year-old police inspector. 
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| eponine5 |
I saw him as Enjolras...I'm sorry to say that I wasn't really impressed with his interpretation, especially after hearing so much about Aaron Lazar only to cross the Atlantic and find out he wasn't on that night. 
The thing wasn't that he stood out as a bad performer or anything, it was more that he didn't stand out at all beside the other Amis, which Enjolras must. |
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| The Very Angry Woman |
I don't think this is always a "must." Granted, I have only seen Drew as Grantaire, but the name that came up in my mind when I read your post was John-Andrew Clark -- and secondly, Kevin Earley. Both of them played Enjolras as if they didn't really want to be there -- and I mean Enjolras didn't really want to be there, not the actors themselves. But they were going to lead the insurrection anyway because it had to be done and no one else was going to get these guys in line. As such, they only stood out when they were playing the reluctant leader role. However, having seen Drew in Lestat (and honestly being impressed with his Armand), I can see where, being the type of actor he is, he likely couldn't go the same route as John-Andrew Clark and Kevin Earley. |
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| EponineMNFF |
I saw Drew as Enjolras and I thought he was okay - nothing special though. I LOVE his Grantaire though! I've seen him perform the role three times and I always catch something new. He's a very eye drawing performer (in a good way) whenever I go see him. | ||
| elphclaudia |
Has anyone seen Drew as Jean Valjean yet? | ||
| Paula74 |
http://www.musicals.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=61659 |
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| Orestes Fasting |
Yes. I like him, with reservations. I like him much better than Alex, though this is not a high standard to meet because I was really sick of Alex. He's better as Valjean than as Javert--he looks the part better, it's more comfortably within his vocal range, and he's toned down the anger, thank god. His acting and physicality are really good and fit Valjean perfectly, it's just that Drew sounds like Drew whatever he does. So it was actually a rather strange experience, akin to hearing Drew's voice come out of Valjean's body. He doesn't have the sheer vocal power I like to hear in the role, but I like how effortless his high notes are. (Especially after Alex's strained falsetto.) Oh yeah, and he is definitely a tall and wiry Valjean, which is fun after seeing nobody but Alex and Randal Keith, who are both short and stocky. This is particularly notable in the Waltz of Treachery, where he positively towers over Chip and Ann. Heh. (Also, when did Rob Hunt acquire a huge booming voice?! I remember him sounding good on tour, but never like that. Holy crap.) |