Jean Valjean

Yakko · Jean Valjean

Who is your favortie one and why?

Bramblefox

John Owen Jones. Hands down. He's just amazing.

Quique

I have a vid of him and a couple of audios and wasn't as impressed as I expected to be.

My favorite is Randal Keith by far. I've never seen a performer so dedicated to a role. Very nuanced, passionate performance. It was like his first time every night. And that voice--flawless!

Vanessa20

For me, it's a tie between Randal Keith and John Owen-Jones. I can't chose between them- they were both spectacular. They both have such incredible, powerful voices, they both look the part (granted, I'd never imagine Valjean being as short as Randal, but at least he's strong and robust enough), and they both gave such rich, vivid acting performances that made Valjean feel like a real human being. For want of a less stereotypical phrase, they both brought Valjean to life.

I've seen other Valjeans bring great things to the role too, though. As the gritty convict in the Prologue, and as a man who never entirely lost his convict edge, Drew Sarich was probably the best. And Alexander Gemignani had my favorite relationship with Cosette (I know a lot of people think he tended to be too stern with her, but I thought he struck just the right balance between firm and adoring). But my two overall favorites are Randal and JOJ.

As for recorded Valjeans (I love these forums because you're free to go off on a tangent), it's hard to pick one. I like Colm Wilkinson, especially on the OBC, but he doesn't really have my ideal voice for the role. I prefer the clearer voices of Robert Marien or Jerzy Jeszke, thought they don't quite have Colm's gravitas. What I love so much about Randal and JOJ is that their voices combine clarity with power and maturity.

Orestes Fasting

If I had to pick, then Randal Keith. JOJ is a great overall Valjean and he's probably my second favorite, but Randal puts more nuance into the role.

My third pick would be Jeff Kready, who was a Broadway understudy and possibly the youngest person ever to play the role at 24. I only got to see him go on once, but he was great.

As far as recordings go, I have always loved Stig Rossen's voice for Valjean, even if I've never seen him. He has a slightly rough, husky voice that he can nevertheless make beautiful when it needs to be.

(Interestingly, the Valjeans who didn't impress me were all old veterans returning to the show, with the exception of Alex Gemignani. Rob Evan, Fred Inkley, Ivan Rutherford--none of them sucked, but I hope they were better when they first played Valjean than they were when I saw them.)

Vanessa20

jackissensational

No love for Colm?
Fut the wuck.

Yakko

Ever thought that Clom got overated?

Orestes Fasting

Quique

2nd fave is definitely Gary Morris. And, no, his live performance is nothing at all like his CSR one, which I found to be too restrained. His voice filled the theatre like I've never heard before and his acting was also incredibly passionate. I wish I had seen him more than once.

Yakko

Quique

No, I'm not. He was incredible live.

annoynmouse

Oh dear...
I am having a very difficult time choosing between three. John Owen-Jones, J. Mark McVey, and Randal Keith. However, I think my favourite would have to be J. Mark McVey. JOJ is a very close second and Randal a very close third. That is subject to change, however, after I see Randal again in the Arvada production. Very Happy

I'll just list my top three I've seen live, because otherwise it'd be a long list. Very Happy

I've yet to see an actor who I didn't like at least one aspect of.

I won't go in to recordings or *coughbootscough* either.

Yakko

Well still I couldn't stand in in the CD, I felt he sounded like a really bad voice over actor....

The Very Angry Woman

Quique

I adore Stig's voice, too. I have a boot of him, though the quality isn't all that great. I hate my bro cause he saw him live in London, lol.

eponine5

Sorry for my predictability, but for me JOJ wins, no competition. I do love Drew Sarich in the role for the most part, but I saw JOJ 9 times as Valjean and each time I came out of the theatre thinking that it was the most stunning and emotional performance of his I had seen to date.

Quique

Catherine

I guess I'm not really fit to judge as I've only seen one live, but I'm still gonna say Drew Sarich.

curlyhairedsoprano91

JOJ, and then J. Mark McVey. Both are amazing, and I love some of the things McVey did stylistically at the Hwood Bowl concert ... but JOJ's voice is, like, the eighth wonder or something.

Edit: And Hugh Panaro. Is number 3! Alex is up there, too. I saw his "Finale" on YouTube and it was so ... soul-wrenching.

Can anyone hook me up with a vid of Randall Keith? He's one I've never heard before, and I've heard so much good about him ...

Brunnhilde

JOJ, and, after the new Dutch cd and some youtube clips, Ren� van Kooten. I like Alex, too, he's sometimes a little wild, but sings great and has the "Valjean appearance".

And Chris Murray is great, too.

Never heard Randal, but I want. Crying or Very sad

lizavert

I saw Randal Kieth live a couple of weeks ago. I have to say that he is my favorite Valjean that I've ever seen live. Of course the only other Valjean that I've seen is Ivan Rutherford, and I don't remember a thing about him.

The Very Angry Woman

Moci

Jeff Leyton

He had a brilliant and very distinctive voice (lower than most Valjeans have, but still able to hit all of the high notes with power) and was able to bring so much emotion to the part. He was as saintly as any other Valjean, but his really did seem like a Valjean in inner turmoil throughout the part.

SylvieProuvaire

I saw Randal Keith, wow, 4 years ago...and he was really good but because I was only 12, I don't remember all that much about his performance, and I saw Jeff Kready 1(1/2) years ago and I liked him a lot.

From, er, footwear, I really love JOJ.

I also really like Robert Marien from the PRC.

So, when people ask me for my favorites, I have a bit of trouble deciding.

EponineMNFF

Randal Keith! Aahh! I'm glad I'm not alone on this one! Very Happy

He was AWESOME!

I also really enjoyed Victor Hawk when he understudied the role in the revival. He flubbed a word or two, but the emotion he brought to the role was amazing!

lesmisloony

<3 Randal Keith.

mastachen

My favorite is JOJ and Jeff Leyton.

I strongly dislike Gemignani. His acting is one-dimensional, not just in Les Mis, but also in Assassins and Sunday in the Park, and I dislike his singing.

Cato

For me, JOJ and Randal.

And Colm is ok, when it's cold out there, we put TAC into the player and drink mulled wine. Yes, he has interesting high notes, but his Bring Him Home is really beautiful.

lottielou22

Exactly how many Jean Valjeans have played The Phantom as well?? I know of, like, 3 off the top of my head....
I didn't really like Colm Wilkinson all that much... he sounded very... old in the TAC. He's the only one I've seen, though.

Fantine

JOJ and Ren� van Kooten Smile

The Very Angry Woman

Henk Poort, Craig Schulman, John Cudia, Randal Keith (was an understudy Phantom).

Paula74

Yakko

Rob Guest.

DontDoSadnessxx

craig schulman is a jerk.

LittleGavroche

I've only seen two live, Randal Keith and Drew Sarich both whom I liked. Of the two I think I liked Sarich better, mostly because an angry Valjean was something different, and I liked it. And despite his youth he can definitely look and play older very well.

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Jean Valjean