Earl Carpenter (Les Mis on Sat night)

[Marway44]

Posted: 8/25/14 at 3:13pm

I just have to say he was amazing on Saturday night! He is by far the best "Javert" I've ever seen live! He plays well off of Ramin and he brought a truly tormented person to the table.

As a side note, all the leads were in and Nikki improved slightly since April (very slightly), and all the rest were terrific. The "Master of the House" scene was easily more funny and a welcome comic relief scene.

Has anyone seen Earl and do you share my thoughts on him?

[Littleshopofcarrie]

Posted: 8/25/14 at 3:20pm

Great to hear that the show is improving! Hoping to make another visit by the end of the month after seeing it in May last year.

[macnyc]

Posted: 8/25/14 at 4:40pm

I saw Earl Carpenter at the Wednesday matinee, and I agree with you. Amazing voice and acting. Aaron Walpole was on for Ramin, and I thought he was great too! It's a really wonderful show. The place was packed, and the audience was very well-behaved: no cell phones going off, no coughing, etc. That was a nice surprise.

Updated On: 8/25/14 at 04:40 PM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 8/25/14 at 4:54pm

Im looking forward to seeing this on Wednesday, I just really hope Ramin is in since he is the main draw for me. Earl Carpenter seems to be a good fit.

[mrkringas]

Posted: 8/25/14 at 5:23pm

I've seen Earl play Javert opposite several Valjeans. He remains my favourite in the role.

Pretty good in Phantom, Sunset Boulevard, Secret Garden and everything else I've seen him in. Delighted getting to make his broadway debut.

[teresa2]

Posted: 8/25/14 at 5:48pm

Does anyone know when Nikki will be going on vacation? I have seen her twice and would really rather not see her again. I do want to see Earl tho as I have heard so much about him. If I have to sit thru Nikki again I will, but would rather not be subjected to her Eponine again.

[Marway44]

Posted: 8/25/14 at 6:35pm

We had a great audience on Saturday as well! No talking, no cell phones and the only coughing was when people started to cry.

macnyc: just curious...does Aaron rip open his shirt like Ramin and do Ramin and Earl have good chemistry?

[macnyc]

Posted: 8/25/14 at 8:10pm

I haven't seen Ramin in the role, so I don't know if Aaron rips his shirt open like Ramin, but he does rip open his shirt to show his "tattoo." As far as I could tell, there was good chemistry.

[broadwayfan1995]

Posted: 8/25/14 at 8:16pm

^^Aaron only slightly rips open his shirt to show his tattoo. Ramin rips it completely open and I think Nate does the same.

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 8/25/14 at 8:29pm

Nikki's out tomorrow and Wednesday.

[Marway44]

Posted: 8/25/14 at 8:31pm

Thanks for clarifying the shirt issue guys. I was curious.

[broadwayfan1995]

Posted: 8/26/14 at 2:16pm

Nikki may also be out Thursday night (8/2. I remember Erin Clemons tweeted something in reply to someone a while back but I cannot find it anymore. It may not be the case, but just in case anyone wants to know.



Updated On: 8/27/14 at 02:16 PM

[Marway44]

Posted: 8/26/14 at 2:31pm

It's funny...I can't catch it when Nikki is out, but every time I go, there is an understudy for the Bishop.

[Princeton Returns]

Posted: 8/26/14 at 2:39pm

Earl is one of, if not the, best javarts I've seen. Excellent in everything I've seen him in, except phantom which for me just didn't work

[Marway44]

Posted: 8/26/14 at 2:48pm

Princeton: I never saw Earl in "Phantom". Does he lack the singing or acting chops for it?

[Revolutionary]

Posted: 8/26/14 at 11:26pm

I like his Javert, but he's never been a real standout one to me. Just a very competent classic Javert. I think my personal favorite is Hadley Fraser from the London cast. Did anyone see Earl in London in 2009 or whenever it was? I would like to know if his Javery has gone a little stale since then, or is it still fresh?

[Danielle26]

Posted: 8/27/14 at 12:40am

I saw Earl, Ramin and Nikki tonight (Tues.) It was my first time seeing the new production. Of course, Ramin and Earl were fabulous, but I thought Nikki was wonderful, as well. I don't understand why others don't like her in the role. The audience was certainly appreciative of her performance - lots of cheering.

I do wish the management would make an announcement regarding "unwrapping a soothing lozenge" before the start of the show like they do at Jersey Boys. I wanted to scream at the people opening their candy bags during "Bring Him Home"! Who would even think about doing that?! Also, I could hear a door closing every now and then. Something should be done to make it close silently - very annoying.

Even with the distractions, I enjoyed it more than the original production!

[theatrefan9660]

Posted: 8/27/14 at 12:56am

When I saw the Pre-Broadway tryout in Toronto with Aaron and Earl (I was looking forward to seeing Ramin but Aaron was absolutely fantastic), he [Aaron] didn't rip open or open his shirt at all to reveal his tattoo. Maybe it was a change made when the show moved to broadway I'm not sure. Anyway, I found that Earl was also fantastic. I find that he portrays Javert as a cold, calculating Javert who will stop at absolutely nothing to catch Valjean (as most Javerts are but I felt that Earl had something that I've never seen in a Javert before). Earl is arguably one of the best Javerts I've ever seen.

[Revolutionary]

Posted: 8/27/14 at 12:59am

^ And what is that something special in Earl's Javert that you've never seen?? Can you describe it?

[theatrefan9660]

Posted: 8/27/14 at 1:06am

@Revolutionary I've been trying to find the way to describe it but hard as I try I just can't put my finger on it. The best way to describe it I guess would be to say he really makes some excellent character choices when it comes to Javert. His actions and expressions show how really desperate and obsessed he is with re-arresting Valjean. He shows no emotion other than anger except in the scene where he commits suicide but even then he still doesn't show any signs of having been defeated. I wish I could describe it in more detail but for some reason I just don't know what to say.

[Princeton Returns]

Posted: 8/27/14 at 8:26am

@Marway44 Im honestly not sure, he just doesnt seem to fit Phantom as well as he does Javart. He didnt really make an impact. So i guess that might be more on the acting side of things.

To be honest ive always felt the same about John Owen Jones, brilliant Valjean but way too OTT as the Phantom for my tastes

[Marway44]

Posted: 8/27/14 at 11:12am

Princeton: JOJ is also one of my favorites as "Valjean", but the favorite title goes to J. Mark McVey! I always cried the most with his performance. By the way, I did see JOJ as the "Phantom" and it didn't work for me so I see your point about Carpenter as the "Phantom". I just wish Earl had more time here. 3 months is not enough. Oh well, at least we have these 3 months to enjoy his amazing performance!

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 8/27/14 at 12:16pm

"but I thought Nikki was wonderful, as well. I don't understand why others don't like her in the role."

The screeching thing she does when she sings is so painful


Saw Earl last night and loved him. Also loved Melissa as Eponine and Dennis Moench as thenardier--does anyone know if that was the first time he went on? From the cast's reaction at curtain call it seemed to be.

Updated On: 8/27/14 at 12:16 PM

[Danielle26]

Posted: 8/27/14 at 1:09pm

You are right, Blockhead 24! It was Melissa playing Eponine last night. I misplaced my Playbill insert! I guess I'm the "blockhead" now! ; )

[adam.peterson44]

Posted: 8/27/14 at 1:36pm

Loved the performances of both Earl as Javert and Melissa as Eponine (and Ramin as JVJ) when i saw it in Toronto before it went to NYC.