Don't Miss Les Miz!
Written: Mar 14 '01 (Updated Mar 22 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: As good as it gets on Broadway
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: Outstanding!
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| AlexG's Full Review: Les Misérables |
Les Miserables celebrated its fourteenth anniversary on Broadway on March 12, 2001. I saw the show the following night, and I loved it! Now that Cats are finally put to sleep (thank God), Les Miserables has taken the reigns of Broadway’s longest currently-running show—-fourth longest running show of all time. Incidentally, it is also Broadway’s longest running show (No, I’m not repeating myself)—three hours.
It’s mind-boggling that Les Miserables (and very few other musicals, namely Phantom of the Opera) can survive for fourteen (!) years; nine performances a week, every week of the year, and continue going strong into its fifteenth year-—the Imperial Theatre was filled to 100% capacity on Tuesday night (courtesy of New York’s never-ending flow of tourists).
What’s even more amazing is the dedication and professionalism of the cast and crew. I felt like the performance I attended was something special, something that happens rarely, and something that one is truly lucky to see. In other words, I felt like this was the performance—-a special night—-the night when everyone puts 110% just this one time. In reality, of course, it happens every night (this is true for other Broadway shows as well).
The story, based on a 1000-plus-pages classic book by Victor Hugo, takes place in France during the first half of the 19th century. The plot is somewhat complicated and hard to squeeze into this review with justice without making it too long for anyone to finish reading it. Plus, you can always read about it on www.lesmis.com, or refer to other (already written) reviews on Epinions which I recommend doing before going to the show.
The cast, the music, the production—-terrific! There are many memorable songs—solo and company. Among solo performances, I particularly liked Eponine’s “On My Own.” Prior to seeing the show I had read a review by Jake Danishevsky (“jdanishevsky”) here on Epinions, where he mentioned how incredible the actresses who play Eponine are. Jake saw Les Miserables twice with different casts and both times he watched, he thought Eponine’s character was one of the best in the play, as far as the singing and the music goes. I completely agree. Catherine Brunell, who plays Eponine at the time of this review, is absolutely outstanding—-one of the best voices I have ever heard on Broadway.
Among songs performed by a group, I have to mention “Master of the House,” which is probably the only funny song in the musical, which in turn makes it quite memorable. “Do You Hear the People Sing?” is symbolically one of the most important and powerful songs of the show, performed by about a dozen male members of the cast as the Revolutionaries getting ready to hit the barricades—-a grand way to end the first half of the show. And, of course, the "Overture/Work Song," which is the underlying music theme of the show, sounding more powerful with every beat as the show progresses.
I enjoyed Les Miserables immensely. New Yorkers really have it good to have such a masterpiece playing in their backyard every day. It is an excellent show, and if you are not one of 42 million people who have seen Les Miserables, I highly recommend you put it close to the top of your “To See” list.
Two enthusiastic thumbs up for Les Miserables!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
AlexG
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 - Top 500 |
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Location: New York, NY
Reviews written: 130
Trusted by: 237 members
About Me:
Alex has a voracious appetite for travel. Travel hasn't satisfied an appetite. It's created one.
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