BWW Reviews: LES MISERABLES at Kennedy Center's Opera House, Still a Must-See

I have to admit seeing Les Miserables for the second time at the Kennedy Center's Opera House  brought back a lot of memories. It was January of 1986 that I organized a suprise birthday party for my wife Lisa and invited about 30 of my friends to see this new pre-Broadway musical that no one had heard of.  Some knew of the Victor Hugo book but no one was familiar with the music. I remember it was also the same day of a terrible train wreck in Chase, Maryland.

Well, everyone thorougly enjoyed this new musical which went on to Broadway to critical acclaim and many Tony Awards.

Now it's back but in a different form. There is no more revolving set. There are now projections (by Matt Kinley) used so successfully in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical The Woman in White which make walking through a sewer like walking through a sewer. Also included are set designs inspired by actual drawings of Victor Hugo.

I noticed immediately that the lighting was different. It seemed most of the lights were ON the stage not on each side of the theater.  After speaking to a member of the production team, I was right. The lighting designer (Paule Constable) uses light in a very different way, more akin to modern dance. There are more shadows than what one normally sees in musical theater. There are two follow spots high above the stage and one on each side.  There is also used a different kind of lighting fixture that one sees only in television and film and not in the theater. It's quite unusal but exquisite.

The orchestrations (by Christopher Jahnke) do sound a little different from the original orchestrations by John Cameron.  I really miss the acoustic guitar from the song "A Little Fall of Rain".

The sound (by Mick Potter) is so good one can hear every lyric.

The costumes by Andreane Neofitou seem more realistic and definitely more sensuous (noticable in "Lovely Ladies").

The 15 piece orchestra under Robert Bilig is just fabulous.  I noticed Doug Lawler in the pit listed in the program as a Keyboard Sub. I've worked with Doug in the past and it's always nice to see a talented musician get his due.

Director Laurence Connor has done a superb job with an amazing cast let by the incredible J. Mark McVey as Jean Valjean. (I just read Hugh Jackman has been nabbed for this role in the upcoming film).  McVey is a consummate performer and has an amazing voice.  But so does everyone in this show. But I must point out especially Chasten Harmon as Eponine who is specatacular.

Andew Varela is a superb Javert and special mention must be made to the Thernadiers played by Shawna M. Hamic and Richard Vida.

If you've seen it before (and who hasn't seen it?), see again for the first time.

For tickets, call 202-467-4600 or visit www.kennedy-center.org.

For comments, write to cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.

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