Les Misérables - Tour at Orpheum Theatre

Les Misérables - what is there to say? The original novel by Victor Hugo was adapted for the musical stage in France by Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil, and Jean-Marc Natel back in 1980.  In 1985 the English adaptation (lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer) was produced on the West End by Cameron Mackintosh and has become the longest running musical on the West End. It eventually transfered to Broadway in 1987 and closed in 2003 making it the second longest running musical on Broadway, until it was surpassed by Phantom of the Opera in 2006. Since there there have been two revivals on Broadway, one in 2006 and closing in 2009, and this production which opened in 2014 and closed in 2016. While the original Broadway production certainly toured in the 90's and more, this new production is a very different experience.

The original production was very bare, using lighting, a turntable, and small set pieces to creating the setting. This was one reason why the Barricade scene often got applause - it was the first use in that production of some major scenery from what I remember. And it was thrilling to see these large wooden set pieces transform from buildings into a barricade, spanning across the turntable. The production has an actual set. Both sides of the procenium have three level sets, though only two are used. These slide together and come apart so that changes can be made behind them, and thus the transitions between scenes is so smooth, flawless, and almost cinematic. It is gorgeous to watch, and the added benefit is that it creates actual playing spaces that the audience can see, which makes the action and characters more real, and the story more intimate. I don't ever remember hearing sniffles during death scenes when I saw the original production. Last night however, there were sniffles through out the house on multiple occasions (and yes, I do realize it is cold/flu/covid "season", but the sniffles weren't there during other scenes). The other huge change to this production is the use of projections. When I first heard about projections being used in 2014, and on the Tony Awards, I was a little put off. However, seeing it on stage it really is incredible. As an example, I am sure we all remember the end of Act One (and yes, I am assuming everyone has some experience seeing this show, or maybe the film). It is the iconic "One Day More" that ends with the company in a triangle formation, doing the move of taking two steps forward, one step back, slowly advancing towards the front of the stage. It was brilliant staging, and very moving when I first saw it on the West End, then on tour a number of times. Last night, the cast gathered in rows and stepped in place, but the projection behind them gave the visual that they were moving down the streets. It was just as brilliant as the original, and very moving.

The performances through out were fantastic. This production starts with the group of criminals, originally part of a chain gang, on a ship instead, rowing. There was one moment during the prologue where Valjean (Nick Cartell) optioned up and I wasn't sure where the night was headed. Seeing the ship, and the option up, my brain momentarily went to the film version. Luckily that was the only time my mind went there - though there were a lot of moments where Valjean and Javert (Hayden Tee) both spoke lines instead of singing them. Overall, it worked but when you have fantastic voices like these two, trust that the audience wants to hear them, and that we understand the emotional journey the character is on. Very small quibble that bothered me, but I doubt it bothered anyone else. There was one small mic issue that happened with Fantine (Haley Dortch) during her demise scene (selling her hair, becoming a prostitute) where her mic somehow disconnected. However, even without a mic you could hear her - though I was on the main floor center. Still, impressive vocals. There are two actors playing Gavroche but I am not sure who I saw last night. I could not understand him at all. There was something about his accent, or the way he was spitting out his words (and it was not a sound issue) but I got very little of what he said. Which, in turn, made me see more of him and where he was on stage and how he played into scenes. The full chorus numbers were overwhelming in their power, in a good way. The whole cast sounded incredible together, and in the solo sections that the chorus has as well. 

There were some amazing choices made in this production when it comes to direction, and design. Fantine's scene mentioned above takes place after Fantine is fired from the factory. In this production, Fantine's first john is the foreman from the factory she was just fired from. Such a great choice. There is a moment at the Barricade where the drunk student sings about how life is meaningless, and how they are all going to die. He then moves away from the students and leans against a wall, turned away from them and the audience. Gavroche goes over and gives him a hug. In fact Gavroche has some really great moments through out the show. He is not my favorite character, but in this production his role is given much more prescence, or at least he seems more present. The use of real fire on stage, of pop-guns that gave off a slightly gunpowder scented smoke, the atmospheric fog and smoke used through out the show helped create such a vivid environment. It also helped the incredible lighting - seeing light stream through windows, and the way the lighting was used when people died. Fantastic choices and design. The song post-Barricade named Turning, where the women sing about the turning of the ages, and mourning the loss of the students. This leads into a very powerful "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" and it all comes down to the direction. I won't give it away but it is stunning.

There are so many adaptations of this story - a sequel published in 1872, a film made in 1897, and the most recent film from 2012. With all those options, I still highly recommend getting tickets and seeing this specific production. If you only know the production from the first Broadway tour, you owe it to yourself to see this. It is an incredible production, with fantastic performances through out. It is long (possibly 3 hours that includes intermission time), but the story moves so quickly and seamlessly that it never feels long. And please, do not be late getting to your seat. You will NOT want to miss the prologue!

All Photos: Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade