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| EponineBarker |
My Revival Review!I'm not very good at doing detailed reviews, so bear with me. My mom took me to NYC to see Les Mis for my birthday about a month ago.So here's my review! WARNING:I may squee at some parts. My Review Of Les Miserables The Cast Jean Valjean-Alexander Gemignani Javert-Norm Lewis Fantine-LEA SALONGA! SQUEE! Little Cosette-Kylie Liya Goldstein Thenardier-Gary Beach Mme. Thenardier-Jenny Galloway Gavroche-Brian D'Addario Eponine-Marissa McGowan (Celia wasn't there.) Marius-ADAM JACOBS! SQUEE! Enjolras-ARRON LAZAR! SQUEE! Cosette-Ali Ewoldt The Barricade Boys Combeferre-Daniel Bogart Feuilly-Blake Ginther Courfeyrac-Ben Crawford Joly-Justin Bohon (I met him! He took me backstage!) Grantaire-Drew Sarich Lesgles-Nehal Joshi Jean Prouvaire-Doug Kreeger ACT ONE The Main Songs PROLOGUE-I got goosebumps (the good kind) when the music started and everyone came out on stage. The male ensemble was excellent in this song! Most of the soloists (except for 1, I think) were tenors, so that made me very happy. Valjean and Javert did a very good job in this number, they were very in character. WHAT HAVE I DONE?-Very well done! Valjean was excellent and very believable in this song. I really liked his voice. AT THE END OF THE DAY-The entire ensemble was good. I liked this number. Fantine was great! I really liked her as well as everyone else. And again, Valjean was good. I DREAMED A DREAM-Beautiful! This was a very touching number. Fantine especially did well on "shame" when she raised her voice for those five notes. It was incredible! CASTLE ON A CLOUD-Little Cosette was just adorable in this number! She played her role very well. I noticed though that the number was slightly abridged. MASTER OF THE HOUSE-Hilarious! I just loved this number! The Thenardiers were great and played well off of one another. And once again, the ensemble was awesome! LOOK DOWN-Ensemble-great. Enjolras and Marius-awesome! Eponine-wonderful. This was a great number. STARS-My mom and aunt particularily (sp?) liked this number, as did I. Javert was grand in this song. And the "stars" above the stage were very cool-looking. RED & BLACK-I LOVE THIS SONG! And seeing this particular cast made it even better! Grantaire was very drunk and very funny when he was taunting Marius. And Enjolras was very commanding without being too controlling, which made his performance in this song very believable. DO YOU HEAR THE PEOPLE SING?-Loved it! Once again, the ensemble was incredible! It was such a joy to hear this one! IN MY LIFE-Cosette (Ali) was pretty good in this song. I liked her a lot. I did notice that they abridged some of that song too... Anyway, Marius (Adam) was wonderful! I really liked how he did this number, and Eponine (Marissa) played out the heart-broken part perfectly! A HEART FULL OF LOVE-Okay, please don't hurt me for saying this, but the beginning of AHFOL was almost comical. Just the way Adam jumped off of the fence and thrust his arms out singing: "A heart full of love!" and Ali turning away quickly was just funny in my mind. But aside from that, I really enjoyed this song, and once again, Marissa was lovely. ONE DAY MORE!-This was one of the best songs in the show! The entire cast did a magnificent job! It was a great way to finish Act One. ACT TWO ON MY OWN-I simply LOVED Marissa rendition of this song! There was just one thing that bothered me...she barely moved around the stage! I mean, she took a couple steps forward near the end of the song, but that was it. but other than that, Marissa did a beautiful job! A LITTLE FALL OF RAIN-I think that this is a beautiful song and Adam and Marissa just made it better! I loved the shock and confusion in Adam's voice when he sang: "But you will live Ponine, dear Gos above! If I could closeyour wounds...with words of love." I also liked how Marissa sang: "I'll sleep in your embrace at last!" as she clung to Adam. It made me wish I was her! jk LITTLE PEOPLE/GAVROCHE'S DEATH-They changed the lyrics! That really surprised me that they did that! But Gavroche (Brian) was very good in this song. Just hearing him cry made me wanna cry! DRINK WITH ME-I liked this one a lot. There was just one thing I was slightly confused/slightly surprised about. Right after Grantaire (Drew) sang his part, Enjolras (Aaron) came over to him and put his face really close to Grantaire's ear and I couldn't tell if Enjolras was just giving Grantaire a lecture and a hard shove or if Enjolras *gulps* kissed him on the cheek, because when Enjolras walked away, Grantaire looked astonished! And then Enjolras took a swig of alcohol. Did any of you see something like this before? BRING HIM HOME-Valjean (Alexander) was so heart-wrenching in this number! You could actually he his tears coming out in his voice! Good job. EMPTY CHAIRS AT EMPTY TABLES-Adam rendition of this song is not my favorite, but he did well. I really liked how he sang: "What you're sacrifice was for!" BEGGAR AT THE FEAST-Once again, the Thenardiers (Gary and Jenny) did well with the comedy. FINALE-LOVED IT! LOVED IT! LOVED IT! Lea and Marissa sounded beautiful together when they sang: "Take my hand, I'll lead you to salvation..." The whole cast was great! *pauses to take breath* After the Show After it was over, me, my mom, my aunt and my friend (who's also my piano teacher) went to the stage door. The waiting for us was my piano teacher's mother's friend, Justin Bohon. We talked for a few minutes and then he offered to take the four of us backstage! It was so cool! We got to stand on the stage and look into the wings. I also got to take a picture standing on the barricade! (The lower part.) After our short, little, tour, we went back outside, and said goodbye to Justin. I then saw Adam Jacobs and decided to accidentally (on-purpose) run into him. (Not the best idea, but oh well. ) Anyway, he was willing to sign my poster and souvenir program I got. He was also willing to take a picture with me, so that made me extremely happy! I also got to meet Lea Salonga and Aaron Lazar and they were willing to do the same. (I didn't bump into them on purpose though.) I also met Haviland Stillwell, who played the Factory Girl that got Fantine fired, and she signed my things also. And Aaron was the only one who signed my playbill along with the poster and program. 
Oh! And when I was talking to Lea, she complemented me on my nail polish! I then complemented her on her performance as Eponine in the 10th Anniversary Cast. There you go. I really enjoyed the show. 
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| Orestes Fasting |
I have the most peculiar feeling of d�j� vu, but I'll just reiterate what I probably said before:
The beginning of AHFOL is definitely meant to be funny and the fact that they play it that way is what makes me love Adam and Ali. I'm not quite as sure whether the ambiguously gay Enjolras/Grantaire subtext was deliberate, but it would not surprise me. |
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| Quique |
Sometimes I wish Enjolras and Grantaire would just mack right there and then onstage and be done with it already! lol.
It always amuses me how most people think it's bad not to have Eponine move around during "On My Own." Explains the reason why so many high school renditions of the song are ridiculously overdone and unwatchable, hehe. |
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| Orestes Fasting |
Oh man, you never even got to see Aaron and Drew, did you? They were really in your face about the snuggling and the whispering in each other's ears in Drink With Me. | ||||
| Quique |
lol, seriously? Well, I hope we're still on with that trade, hehe.
I know, I know. I need to get that list to you. It's been like years since we first arranged that, haha. Now I'm really curious to see. Did they lick each other's ears? lol!!!! 
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| Orestes Fasting |
Kind of hard to tell at the angle they usually did it, but knowing them? I would not put it past them one bit.
I mean, they did it differently every night. Sometimes Aaron would yank Drew over by the collar and whisper something angry in his ear and stalk off, sometimes you half-expected them to drag each other into some dark corner of the barricade and start ripping clothes off. |
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| Fantine |
Gosh you guys... 
That sort of talk makes me shy, haha. I love Enjolras x Grantaire... Must.Write.Fic.Later... |
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| EponineBarker |
Nope. No licking!
If it didn't happen so quickly, it would be easier to tell, but I think Aaron was just saying something to Drew. But still, even in Row E, it was tough to tell!
*shrugs* I guess I just listen to the lyrics too much. Because she does say: "All alone, I walk with him till morning." I don't mind if they stay in place for some time, but some movement is good. And after all, Eponine's walking the streets of Paris, right? 
Don't you recognize me as Firebrand on LMF? |
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| Orestes Fasting |
Indeed, I just couldn't match the name to the review. | ||||
| LesMisForever |
The last time i questioned this theory, OF came up with some great stuff that destroyed me, and shut me up
But, for some reason, i just don't see this. This is certainly not homophobia. Anyone who have read my posts on these issues in the social forum knows that i am pro-gay rights all the way. I don't know. I somehow can't see Enjolras as a lover at all. This guy didn't think about anything but revolution. |
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| EponineBarker |
'Think about' is putting it mildly. HE WAS OBESESSED!
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| Paula74 |
Same here. I can't quite see it, either. Maybe the reverse...but I like my Enjolras to be emotionally cold except for his cause. |
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| Orestes Fasting |
Yeah, the biggest obstacle to Enjolras/Grantaire is that Enjolras has no interest in anything but politics and doesn't particularly like Grantaire. Which isn't to say they don't have lots and lots of gay subtext, but I can't see anything actually happening between them over the course of the novel's plotline.
But I will defend to the death that whatever sexual orientation lay under all the ideals and principles, it did not involve girls in any way, shape, or form. And that Hugo was hinting really strongly at Enjolras/Grantaire regardless of whether or not they actually made out in the back room of the Caf� Musain.
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| Fantine |
Damn I should really read the novel again.
I still have the full version in French, bought two years ago... Maybe I should gather my strenght and start on that
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| Quique |
I'm purchasing my tix this evening. First I have to agree on travel dates with my friend Wayne, who is going with me. I'm getting butterflies in my stomach!! Can't wait! 
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| Quique |
I just purchased my tix. I'm going on 21 July @ 8 p.m., sitting row B, orchestra center. Woohoo!
*Starts counting down days* |
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| Orestes Fasting |
Oh man, great seat. There's really no such thing as "too close" in this production--I always try to get front orchestra, even along the sides where the view is restricted. Totally worth it for being able to see everything up close. | ||||
| Trevor |
You can come to mine, then go see broadway's. Then tell me which is better. ;]]] |
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| Quique |
^ Awww...I'd love to go but I probably won't be able to.  I'll still try to make it, though. I'll let you know if I could. =)
Orestes, I got seats 109 & 110. I think it's dead center. I'm stoked.
I'm afraid of missing Lea, so I'll probably get me another ticket for myself. I doubt Wayne would want to see it yet another time; the lucky bastard saw the original Sydney production at the Theatre Royal, grrr. |
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| LesMisForever |
Happy for you Enrique. I hope you enjoy the show and catch Lea, but 14th of July would have been cooler. |
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| Orestes Fasting |
14 July was my first time ever seeing the show--in London with the incomparable JOJ. I didn't even realize it until almost a year later, when I was considering going to see the tour in Indianapolis on Bastille Day, and wanted to see it again on my one-year anniversary. Only then did I discover that they were one and the same.
If I'm incredibly lucky this year, I might be able to see the local festival/adaptation/performance of Les Mis at Montreuil-sur-Mer on 27, 28, or 29 July. It depends on whether I get into a particular program and where I am on what date... but it's in the cards. |
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| Lara |
That would be awesome to see! I'd love to go to Montreuil-sur-Mer in the first place. =)
I want to see the revival again before it closes, but it isn't going to happen. |
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| EponineBarker |
Ditto.
I would love too see it again with the cast I saw, but that is definately not happening! |
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| NotoriousFunnt |
Hi guys. Yes, I know, I'm not here anymore. Anyway I was listening to Les Mis today and felt like meandering back for a moment. I'm only meandering for a question though, because no one's been able to answer me and it's quite frustrating!
I have heard the news of a great deal of orchestra reduction in the current revival, and it was that news which thus far has prevented me from going to see this production. Can you give me a listing of the pit orchestra? I've asked around but no one's either cared enough to take the time to type up the pit listing out of the playbill, or understood why *I* would care enough to ask. That'd be awesome if you could 
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| Orestes Fasting |
As of the cast change--I don't know if anyone was replaced between the opening and then--the orchestra stands thus:
Conductor: Kevin Stiles Associate Conductor: Paul Raiman Assistant Conductor: Annbritt duChateau Flute/Piccolo/Alto Flute/Alto Recorder: Bob Bush Oboe/English Horn: Laura Wallis Clarinet/Bass Clarinet/Tenor Recorder: Jonathan Levine Trumpet/Flugel: Tim Schadt Bass Trombone/Tuba: Chris Olness French Horns: Michael Atkinson, Sara Cyrus Violin: Martin Agee Viola: Debra Shufelt-Dine Cello: Laura Bontrager Bass: Dave Phillips Mallets/Timpani/Percussion: Charles Descarfino Keyboards: Paul Raiman, Annbritt duChateau |
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| Fantine |
Don't expect too much about it, it isn't really fantastic or anything But I guess it's cool because it's Les Mis, right? I have some photo's of it which I could upload?
Montreuil is a very nice place though with lots of stuff named after Les Mis (a flower shop called 'Fantine' for example and chocolaterie 'Les Miserables') Hehe
I've been there like, two years ago? Oh wait! I still have my review and a scan of the programme on my website: http://www.geocities.com/fantine_fanlisting/montreuil |
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| Orestes Fasting |
Oh neat, thanks.
Not particularly surprised that it wasn't spectacular, but it'd still be neat to see it. Did you take the guided tour of Les Mis-related places in the town? |
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| NotoriousFunnt |
Thank you very much! I've been looking for that for a long time, so it's very much appreciated
One violin, though...one violin for the entire show? Eh, you who know me know my opinions on such things so I'll just keep them to myself 'cause I really don't come around here anymore anyway, lol. But...yeah. Just yeah. Alto flute though, it's nice to see *that* in a pit orchestra. Terribly awkward instrument to play (bass flute is much easier, surprisingly) but lovely when played right. |
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| Orestes Fasting |
Yep. One violin for the entire show. And people wonder why the new orchestrations don't sound as lush as the old ones. | ||||
| Quique |
Unfortunately, the majority of the theatre-going public doesn't care what's in the pit or even pay attention to the orchestra. They only subconciously perceive a change as a whole but usually can't pin-point exactly what it is. I firmly believe the revival would've gotten much better reviews had it had a full orchestra and used the original orchestrations.
NotoriousFunnt, you're not alone. I've been bitching about the orchestra for months, hehe. I even created a thread about my feelings on this titled "Am I Crazy?"  Check it out...
http://musicals.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=57775&start=0 |
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| The Very Angry Woman |
FWIW, I completely forgot the orchestrations were so different after about 20 minutes*. Then again, I've never played an instrument, other than a $1 plastic flute in third grade. * until the carnival-like sound of "Lovely Ladies" |
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| Quique |
lol. Ugh!! That carnival-like sound is annoying! The number went from being raunchy to clownish. The way the whores are dressed is clownish enough, why make it worse?! It's like, the circus has come to town!!
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| music is my life!!! |
TENOR recorder?!?!?!
I didn't know that was one of the orchestral parts! |
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| Quique |
Let's compare. 
Here's an August 2002 listing of the orchestra during the show's original Broadway run at the Imperial: Conductor: Dale Rieling Associate Conductor/Keyboards: Robert Meffe Assistant Conductor/Keyboards: Sariva Goetz Violins: Sean Carney (Concert Master), Marion Pinheiro, Katherine Livolsi-Stern, Richard Henrickson, Sasha Vselensky, Lori Miller Violas: Sam Kephart, Kathleen Foster Celli: Batia Lieberman, David W. Moore Flute/Piccolo: Joseph Piscitelli Clarinet/Alto Saxophone: Mitchell Weiss Oboe/English Horn: Kaethe Durham Trumpet/Piccolo Trumpet/Flugelhorn: David Gale, Robert Zottola Trumpet/Piccolo Trumpet: Pete Hyde Bass Trombone: John Rojack French Horns: Patricia Hackbarth, Katherine Canfield Guitar: Brian Koonin Bass: Brian Hamm Drums: William Lanham Percussion: Mark Belair And this is the orchestra listing for the 2004 tour engagement at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles: Conductor: R. Andrew Bryan Associate Conductor/Keyboards: Michael Gribbin Violins: Kathleen Robertson (Concert Master), Cameron Patrick Viola: Darrin McCann Cello: Missy Hassin Flute/Piccolo: Steve Kujala Clarinet/Alto Saxophone: Dick Mitchell Oboe/English Horn: Valerie DiCarlo Trumpets: Wayne Bergeron, Larry Hall Bass Trombone: Andy Martin French Horns: Nathan Campbell, Stephanie Stetson Guitar: David Boguslaw Bass: Michael Gerry Drums: John Spooner Percussion: Judy Chilnick Keyboards: Kathy Billie, Nick Venden Think what I hate most is that there are enough instruments in the revival orchestra to play the original orchestrations. The revival's orchestra isn't much smaller than the tour's and I thought the tour's sounded magnificent. It's just those damn new orchestrations that I hate most, grrr. Wow, and look at the size of the original Broadway production orchestra! Nice. I'll never forget that full, live sound. Thrilling. *Sigh* |
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| LesMisForever |
TVAW.... . That $1 comment made me laugh!
NF...OMG! where have you been? i hope you are well , and doing great
I wish i can play an instrument  . If i could, i would choose Violin. The ability of the violin to make sad sounds is amazing.
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| NotoriousFunnt |
Hey guys Surprising to see I'm still remembered. Quite nice, though!
Yeah I'm doing fine...I'm going to be a sophomore in college, majoring in music education and oboe, and most people probably aren't that surprised with me on that, lol. I play in a major youth orchestra in Philadelphia which is great fun and recently declared a flute minor, much to my surprise. To say the least, college is about a thousand times better than high school ever was
Ah, instruments are great fun. Violin's awesome when played right...I've been playing for almost three years and I'm okay at it but nowhere NEAR as amazing as a lot of other people I've heard. It is a gorgeous instrument though, and often I loan my violin to my friend who is an incredible violist and I greatly enjoy hearing my dear violin being played by someone who REALLY knows what they're doing and can make her sound beautiful, unlike myself
Yeah the orchestrations and the cut pit orchestra makes me angry, especially now...I've played a pit, I know what goes into it. It's hard work, but it's work we're willing to DO, dammit. And it's not right that this should happen, especially not to Les Mis. I think it was the one violin thing that shocked me the most...violins are a HUGE part of Les Mis. And heck, even in the pit I did we had more violins (remember when the national tour of Les Mis played at NJPAC about three years ago? I did a pit in that theatre), and we weren't Broadway. It's not right. *sigh* |