BWW Reviews: Hear the People Sing - LES MISERABLES Plays the Majestic

The longest-running musical in the world, Les Misérables, opened Tuesday night at San Antonio's Majestic Theatre.  The national tour will be performing at the Majestic through January 8.

Based on Victor Hugo's classic novel, Les Misérables is an epic and uplifting story about the survival of the human spirit.  The magnificent score of Les Misérables includes the classic songs "I Dreamed a Dream," "On My Own," "Stars," "Bring Him Home," "Do You Hear the People Sing?," "One Day More," "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables," "Master Of The House" and many more.

Cameron Mackintosh's new production of Boublil and Schönberg's Les Misérables has music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer from the original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel, additional material by James Fenton and original adaptation by Trevor Nunn and John Caird. The original Les Misérables orchestrations are by John Cameron with new orchestrations by Christopher Jahnke and additional orchestrations by Stephen Metcalfe and Stephen Brooker.  The production is directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell, designed by Matt Kinley inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo with costumes by Andreane Neofitou and additional costumes by Christine Rowlands, lighting by Paule Constable, sound by Mick Potter, musical staging by Michael Ashcroft and projections by Fifty-Nine Productions. 

Starring J. Mark McVey as Jean Valjean and Andrew Varela as Javert, Les Mis tells the story of Valjean's strifes, triumphs, and tribulations as a marked felon in a time of brooding civil unrest.  It is a bold, moving production with an incredible cast and – though I thought impossible – an even more incredible set design.  The backdrops are awe inducing and are a character unto themselves.

As someone who traditionally doesn't care for older musicals, and as someone who repeatedly failed to find a point of interest in televised productions of this show, I was extremely relieved and excited to find that I genuinely enjoyed both the story and the production.  I will contend (assuredly with copious amounts of dissenting opinions) that the story of Marius' love for Cosette felt forced and unnecessary and detracted from the overall story, but what is a musical without a love song or two?

Tickets for Les Misérables start as low as $28 and are available by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 982.ARTS (2787), www.ticketmaster.com or at all Ticketmaster outlets including the Majestic Box Office.  The Majestic Box Office does not accept single ticket orders over the phone; all ticket sales must be made in person or by calling Ticketmaster. Majestic Box Office hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday hours vary weekly, call (210) 226.3333 to verify.   Orders for groups 15 or more may be placed by calling (210) 226-5967.