Accordingly, I purposely dressed in the blood of angry men and the dark of ages past. (That's the theater and show signage in the background.)
Our friend Randy got us amazing seats: third row, center orchestra. Here is an excited Kevin shortly before an usher accosted me for taking a cell phone shot in the theater, facing away from the stage, well before showtime. Whatever.
It's an interesting update to the show. I did recall years ago that they chucked out the Little People number, which I still think is a mistake which reduced Gravroche to a "who the hell is that?" character, and eviscerates most of not all of the emotional impact of his death. I did really enjoy the new set design, which loses the signature turntable in favor oaf period street scenes and interiors and some digital projection assistance.
There is so much more going on in this production, the ensemble is talented and active, so much so that the Master of the House number was so full of side antics that I felt like I was on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Peter Lockyear is a force as Jean Valenjean, and it's nice to see a hot, young, lithe Jean Valjean who can fill the notes and the role of a bull of a man. It's a shame they shaved his gorgeous head of hair just for the opening scenes as a convict, leaving him to wigs for the rest of the show. Don't get me wrong, the wigs are flawless, but having seen the shaved and carved head, the rest of the show you know these are wigs. The Thénardiers of this production are much more active and colorful than any other iteration I have seen, and wonderfully so.
Unfortunately for cast an audience, the producers seem more concerned with quantity than quality. The show is edited and ridiculously rushed for time. Half of the show is run through so quickly you might think Fantine accidentally left the iron on someplace. The result is that this show sounds like the cast album LP recorded for 33 RPM is being played at 45. The deep, emotional pleading of I Dreamed a Dream and On My Own are left harried and incidental. The actors talents lie wasted, and the audience cheated.
But even so, a great show.
Kevin had IM'd me a pic of these two fun ladies as he waited for me to arrive, as they too were in Les Miz theme of Red & Black. We met up with them at intermission and learned it was entirely accidental. However, they would be telling people from then on that it was entirely purposeful.
Good shows all around.
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