'LES MIZ' CAN STILL MOVE YOU.Byline: Valerie Kuklenski Staff Writer 'Les Miserables'' is back - and as grim as ever. Seventeen years after its Tony-winning opening season, the musical by Alain Boublil Alain Boublil is a librettist, born in Tunisia in 1941, best known for his collaborations with the composer Claude-Michel Schönberg. These include:
Victor Hugo's tale of Jean Valjean This article is about the Les Misérables character. For the novel by Solomon Cleaver, see Jean Val Jean. Jean Valjean is the chief protagonist of Victor Hugo's 1862 novel Les Misérables. , a thief who seeks redemption even as he is pursued relentlessly by the vengeful Inspector Javert, is a story of endless strife that somehow brings hope - without a single tap number nor bubbly blonde. With ``Evita'' and ``Cats,'' ``Les Miz'' was in the vanguard of musical theater's venture into dark, sometimes tragic stories. Set in the decades up to the 1832 street revolution in Paris, it brims with stirring music - 28 numbers and many bits of vocal exposition knit it together - so much so that it ought to be called an opera, but let's keep that a secret from those who presume opera is sleep-inducing. Schonberg's score and Herbert Kretzmer's lyrics on ``One Day More'' at the close of the first act pack both the love story of Cosette and Marius and the passion of the revolutionaries into one compelling number. Randal Keith leads this production as Valjean, the part he played when the Broadway run ended last year. It's a very demanding role, physically and vocally, and Keith proves himself up to it with a robust baritone in the first-act soliloquy soliloquy, the speech by a character in a literary composition, usually a play, delivered while the speaker is either alone addressing the audience directly or the other actors are silent. and a sweet, heady tenor in the prayerful prayer·ful adj. 1. Inclined or given to praying frequently; devout. 2. Typical or indicative of prayer, as a mannerism, gesture, or facial expression. ``Bring Him Home.'' And he brings out the flawed but saintly saint·ly adj. saint·li·er, saint·li·est Of, relating to, resembling, or befitting a saint. saint  li·ness n. nature of his character very honestly. The comic relief comic relief n. A humorous or farcical interlude in a serious literary work or drama, especially a tragedy, intended to relieve the dramatic tension or heighten the emotional impact by means of contrast. moments are suitably entrusted to David Benoit and Jennifer Butt as the innkeeper An individual who, as a regular business, provides accommodations for guests in exchange for reasonable compensation. An inn is defined as a place where lodgings are made available to the public for a charge, such as a hotel, motel, hostel, or guest house. Thenardier and his wife, both returning to roles they played on Broadway, for the raucous duet ``Master of the House.'' Other standouts: Melissa Lyons as Eponine, Adam Jacobs as Marius and Robert Hunt as Javert. Tonya Dixon performed Fantine well, but her fortissima voice turned too brassy for the role. The staging conceived by John Caird and Trevor Nunn needs a little polish. Too often the soloists planted their feet center stage and froze. Still there is much to appreciate about this musical in its current incarnation. It is in Hollywood for only five weeks, so as the promotions say, don't Mis out. Valerie Kuklenski, (818) 713-3750 valerie.kuklenski(at)dailynews.com LES MISERABLES - Three stars Where: Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. When: 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday; through Jan. 1. Tickets: $22.50 to $72.50. (213) 365-3500. In a nutshell: Seventeen years later, the musical misery of Jean Valjean is still compelling. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Randal Keith and Robert Hunt in ``Les Miserables.'' |
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