"Les Miserbales" Previews- Page 3
"Les Miserbales" Previews
#50Les Miserables
Posted: 3/2/14 at 3:01pm
So...how different is this from the production we've all seen before?
No turntable, lots of fire, Victor Hugo's paintings as backdrops, Valjean ripping his shirt open in the prologue (!).
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#51Les Miserables
Posted: 3/2/14 at 3:39pm
Jovie,
Also don't forget to factor in the cost of manufacturing those sets and costumes. Those regional theatre's would just be paying to rent them for a finite amount of time. Also the cost of theatre rent on Broadway is going to be much higher than any regional house.
Joviedamian
Broadway Star Joined: 11/9/10
#53Les Miserables
Posted: 3/2/14 at 3:49pmHave they changed the orchestrations again? I Dreamed a Dream sounds different than on the 25th anniversary tour recording especially the beginning.
#54Les Miserables
Posted: 3/2/14 at 3:50pm^ I noticed that too.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
#55Les Miserables
Posted: 3/2/14 at 3:54pmI kind of liked the way the first verse was on the recording, but I know a lot of fans hated it so maybe that was the reason for the change.
#56Les Miserables
Posted: 3/2/14 at 3:55pm
A friend of mine went to see the show last night and said that the beginning of IDAD is a capella like the movie and apparently one of Gavroche's Look Down verses has been changed to the movie version.
I'm not really sure what to expect with the cast, but I guess I'll find out on April 8th. (Although I am disappointed that I'll most likely be seeing Ramin's Valjean, I wasn't a fan of it the first time round in London)
#57Les Miserables
Posted: 3/2/14 at 4:07pm
"I was there. I'll write more when I have time, but I found it to be a rather underwhelming evening. "
That's kind of how I felt about the tour. I am seeing this March 10 to see how this fares in the hands of a new cast. Betsy Morgan and Andrew Varela absolutely carried the touring production. I have always loved Caissie Levy and Will Swenson, so I am looking forward to seeing them.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
#58Les Miserables
Posted: 3/2/14 at 4:17pm
Per a press release on ATC, $37 rush tickets will be available beginning tomorrow night.
http://www.talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat/d.php?id=2192844
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
#59Les Miserables
Posted: 3/2/14 at 5:52pm
With regard to this:
Ramin Karimloo will not perform the Wednesday matinees taking place on March 19th and 26th. In addition, Mr. Karimloo will not perform from May 19 – 22, 2014 due to a pre-existing professional obligation. During these performances, the role of Jean Valjean will be performed by Aaron Walpole or Nathaniel Hackmann.
Does anybody know when this statement went up? I bought me tickets back in January for 3/19, and want to try to exchange them for a future date. I don't remember seeing it then, but am not 100% sure. Thanks.
"The price of love is loss, but still we pay; We love anyway."
TommyFlanagan4
Swing Joined: 11/20/13
#60Les Miserables
Posted: 3/2/14 at 6:07pm
I was there last night and I thought the best part was the ensemble. They were FANTASTIC together.
It was also really cute that at the stage door, SOOOO many people were there. One of the press agents asked us to sing "Do You Hear the People Sing?" and it was so loud that everyone in the cast opened their dressing room windows and sang with us and chanted. It was really fun.
Also, Summer Boggess is in the pit :)
Phantom4ever
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/17/07
#61Les Miserables
Posted: 3/2/14 at 6:59pmAnyone who's familiar with the tour know if there are any changes from the tour? More automation or anything that can be done on a tour such as scenery rising up from traps instead of tracked in from the side ?
#62Les Miserables
Posted: 3/2/14 at 7:11pm
For what it's worth, I was there at the first preview.
Ramin (as many before me have said) was an excellent Valjean. I won't elaborate here as you can read the something millions of other places.
I was also underwhelmed by Swenson. Was expecting to love him, but just ended up "meh".
I thought Andy was a wonderful Marius. His vocals could've been a bit stronger, but he acted the role subtly, which I thought worked well. I really enjoyed him.
Samantha was fine as Cosette. Nothing particularly exciting, but she was very good. Caissie, I thought, was a fantastic Fantine. Vocally, she sounded top notch. Keala and Cliff were wonderful Thenardiers, albeit, a little over-the-top.
As for the whooping and hollering, the only time that happened was at the beginning of the overture, the entrances of all the leads, and immediately after the prologue, when the "Les Miserables" logo was thrown up (via projection, think the opening scene in a television show, then they show the opening credits...). None of it was inappropriate, I didn't think.
Overall a really fun, exciting, and energetic night at the theatre. Oh, and also it was a very clean first preview. No stops. Did notice they were still hanging or fixing lights on the house left side in the mezzanine.
The stage door was absolute madness. No barricades. One door-guy. At least 100 people pushing and shoving their way to the front. I was there for a bit, but decided to leave because it was just insane.
#63Les Miserables
Posted: 3/2/14 at 7:49pm^Do you mean Chasen Harmon? I didn't particularly care for her when the tour came through DC.
Hey Dottie!
Did your colleagues enjoy the cake even though your cat decided to sit on it? ~GuyfromGermany
TommyFlanagan4
Swing Joined: 11/20/13
OperaBwayLover
Broadway Star Joined: 5/17/07
#66Les Miserables
Posted: 3/2/14 at 11:05pmAre there any new cuts or changes? I remember there was some talk during the Toronto try-out of new lyrics and songs being added/rewritten.
eyehrtfood
Chorus Member Joined: 4/26/12
#67Les Miserables
Posted: 3/2/14 at 11:57pmIf Swenson isn't cutting it - find Toronto (and past UK) Javert, Earl Carpenter and get him on the Bway boards. I've not heard or seen a better Valjean - as you may feel when you find the online bids of him in UK tour.
RW3
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
#69Les Miserables
Posted: 3/3/14 at 9:40am
If Swenson isn't cutting it - find Toronto (and past UK) Javert, Earl Carpenter and get him on the Bway boards.
Earl Carpenter has made it sound like he's done playing Javert: https://twitter.com/EarlCarpenter/status/426910535607521281
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#70Les Miserables
Posted: 3/3/14 at 10:01amI questioned Will's participation as Javert when it was announced that he was cast. Yet the powers that be thought it advantageous to replace the Cosette they had hired.
Hey Dottie!
Did your colleagues enjoy the cake even though your cat decided to sit on it? ~GuyfromGermany
brdway411
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/24/14
#71Les Miserables
Posted: 3/3/14 at 10:12amJust a quick update on Les Misérables rush. About 25 people. Line started around 630. And the tickets are all over the place. They only sold about 18 to 20 tickets.
#72Les Miserables
Posted: 3/3/14 at 11:35am
"I questioned Will's participation as Javert when it was announced that he was cast. Yet the powers that be thought it advantageous to replace the Cosette they had hired."
This.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
opal_blu
Swing Joined: 5/1/07
#73Les Miserables
Posted: 3/3/14 at 4:56pm
I've heard an audio recording of Nikki M. James' performance of On My Own, and I am beyond underwhelmed. I'm not sure if it's the way she pronounces certain words, or if it's because she messed up the lyrics at one point, or if it was because she clearly was rushing to catch up with the music towards the end of the song... there is just something in her delivery that left me feeling incredibly disappointed.
I was fortunate enough to see the show in Toronto, and I have to say, Melissa O'Neil who portrayed Eponine in the production (and is currently in the ensemble on Broadway) was far superior. Her rendition of On My Own was beautiful, and she's definitely one of the better Eponine's.
I get that the producers wanted to have a "name" and a Tony winner, but Nikki - in my opinion - just isn't right for the role.
Updated On: 3/3/14 at 04:56 PM
