The Andrew Varela School of Javert

[PB ENT.]

Calling Russel Crowe or anyone one looking to find out "how to Javert". Enroll now in the Andrew Varela Javert 101 class.

Just covered the 25th Ann. production Philly stop last night for BWW. IF Cam Mac does bring LM back to Broadway and doesn't cast Varela as Javert, well he might as well spend his time doing more remakes of Oliver!

Varela got a well deserved roaring ovation at the Academy.

[aasjb4ever]

Yesterday afternoon brought my second visit to the Les Mis tour and it was an awful wait between seeing the show again, but Andrew Varela is as, if not even more, INCREDIBLE in the role. I still can’t fathom what it would do to the show if he doesn’t transfer with the show.

[DEClarke]

He was awesome in Houston too!

[bwayphreak234]

He is truly something else. His performance was astounding.

[RENT_is_Wicked2]

He was incredible! I loved his Soliloquy.

[grumpyoptimist]

I thought Varela was the best Javert I've ever seen (think I've seen it 17 times now), including better than Norm Lewis on Broadway. And I think there is a definite, palpable chemistry between he and Peter Lockyer. I LOVE this touring cast (with the exception of one lead)...even better than the London production I saw in October!

[massofmen]

pretty sure my dad would be a better javert than Crowe..maybe Harvey fierstein would have been better and I am not joking

[chrisampm2]

Massofmen, if you're not joking then I can never take you seriously again.

[EponineAmneris]

After Philip Quast, Andrew Varela IS Javert. He is brilliant, amazing and every other positive adjective you can think of in the role.

[Elder Katt]

I saw him twice as Valjean on B'way during its original run and he was fantastic. I'm sure he's a great Javert, but I can't picture it since he was such a strong Valjean.

[TheatreFan27]

100% agreed. Andrew Varela is truly something else, it would be sacrilege not to bring him to the Broadway revival. I would love to see Anthony Warlow as Valjean when this revival happens as well, as I am not much of a fan of Alfie Boe.

Also, how is the new Fantine, Genevieve LeClerc?

[kec]

I have often said in discussions elsewhere that I would LOVE to see Andrew Varela play Javert opposite Alfie Boe's Valjean.

[theminutepast]

Has Varela been with the tour since the beginning? I saw the tour in Nashville in spring 2011, but I don't recall being amazed by the actor playing Javert. Now I'm intrigued. I love Philip Quast's Javert. He gives the character all the depth and complexity it deserves.

[PB ENT.]

He was with the 25th Ann. production in 2010 as well as the 2011 that I covered. He contines to get stronger and more impressive with each year, imo RE:Genevieve Leclerc's Fantine, personally I was not as impressed as I had hoped for. She needs to slow down and find some emotion to draw on.

I just submitted my BWW "Philly" review tonight. Again, these are just my opinions.

Pati b.

[aasjb4ever]

^She did only join the tour a month ago, so I’m sure she’s still finding her footing in the show. But she did also have the huge task of filling Betsy Morgan’s shoes, whose Fantine is still burned in to my mind and I remember as freshly as the time I saw her in the tour 2 years ago.

[PB ENT.]

Totally agree about Betsy Morgan's Fantine. Not since Philly's own Laurie Beechman, has anyone played the role so passionately.

I hope Leclerc finds her "sea legs" with this role. To me it seems too many of the actors fly through the lines like their on the clock for timing. I so loved the fact that the film took plenty of time to develop each character And allowed time for reflection, if only for 60 seconds.

[sorano916]

I haven't see the Les Mis tour since the first time it stopped by DC at the Kennedy. That was a really wonderful cast with J. Mark McVey as Jean Valjean, Betsy Morgan as Fatine, Justin Scott Brown as Marius, Jenny Latmer as Cosette, Jeremy Hays as Enjolras along with Andrew as Javert, of course.

My friend's seeing the tour on Wednesday. It'll be her first time seeing a live production of it. I hope the current cast knocks her socks off.

[Jamminman]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Warlow as Valjean!!!!

[ClumsyDude15]

I saw the tour tonight and Andrew completely blew me away - he got a rousing ovation from the audience after 'Stars' and the applause only died down due to the fact he was slowly backing off stage. I had seen Andrew in the Little Women tour awhile back in Philly, and he was fantastic, but his Javert is beyond real explanation. If he isn't brought on for the 2014 Broadway run, it'll a mistake - he truly makes a character who could be a monster of a person, humanized.

I saw a few understudies, which isn't surprising given I've heard they've been hit pretty hard by the flu. Jessica Keenan Lynn was on for Fantine, and I thought she did a pretty amazing job - she sang it very well and really seemed to make good choices acting wise. Weston Wells Olson was on for Enjolras, and he was truly fantastic and sort of looked like a young Matthew Morrison. Beth Kirkpatrick was on for Madame Thenardier - hilarious, over the top, and perfect.

I'd never seen the show live before, and this production was a dream. Between Varela's pitch perfect Javet, Peter Lockyer's passionate and rousing Jean Valjean, and a supporting cast including Briana Carlson Goodman, Lauren Wiley, Timothy Gulan, and Devin Ilaw, I was floored by it all.

If you have the chance to get to see the tour - please do so, it's a dream come true.

[PB ENT.]

Glad you enjoyed the show. I would have loved to see Weston play
Enjolras. He was a standout in this production, imo. Yes, he does look like Matthew Morrison. If I'm not mistaken Weston is also the understudy for Lockyer as Valjean. Amazing how some members of an ensemble can be that talented.

[ClumsyDude15]

Weston doesn't cover Valjean, just Enjorlas.

[kec]

For the Andrew Varela fans, have you seen this? (be sure to watch through the closing credits)
"Police State of Mind."