LES MISERABLES – Music by Claude-Michel Schonberg; Lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer; Co-Directors Cathy Salaymeh and Jalyn Courtenay Webb; Musical Direction by Mason Siders; Choreography by Dallas Padoven. Produced by Candlelight Dinner Playhouse (4700 Marketplace Drive, Johnstown) through November 15. Tickets available at 970-744-3747 or info@ColoradoCandlelight.com.
LES MIZ has always been a little controversial. You either really don’t like it – “it’s too dark – too gloomy – nobody wins – the music sounds like a funeral.” Or you love it. You respond in some deep visceral way to the heartbeats as the prisoners swing their pickaxes. You hear the longing in the constant “I want” songs – “I want freedom” – “I want respect” – “I want him to love me” – I want her to notice me” – “I want a pocket or two to pick.” From the first time you hear the music and forever after, it can resonate in your soul in a way you don’t understand. We don’t really know what those students are protesting, but, by God!, we want them to win. And when they start singing about empty tables, everyone you have ever lost in your personal life comes to sit next to you at one of those tables. I’m obviously in the second group.
The familiar traditional settings for this production could have been problematic for a less clever group of playmakers. Lacking a turntable for the opening prison scene, the directors had the prisoners come down the center aisle of the restaurant part of the building, a highly effective and dramatic entrance. Changes of location were denoted by movable wall sections and stair units. A stubborn garden gate unit that refused to stay close has certainly been thoroughly chastised and repaired. The “barricade” was formidable and well-constructed. The total picture of the show is one of thoughtful solutions to the demands of multiple settings. Designed by Casey Kearns; built by Josiah Buhre, Connor Sheets and crew; painted by Joel Adam Chavez and others; Lit by Vance McKenzie; made audible by Steve Stevens; and dressed in costumes designed by Savana Leveille. These workers are joined by additional hard-working artisans to make the whole production come alive by their skills. It takes a village.
But – OMG, you guys! This cast!! Full of favorite Candlelight regulars and a gaggle of brand new and talented debut performers. Let’s start at the top. This is Jean Valjean’s story, start to finish. As I knew he would, Patric Case owns this part – from the angry prisoner– to the citizen who remakes his life — to the father of an orphaned girl — to the man who carries a wounded soldier to safety over this shoulder — to the elder who finds peace with his life and rejoins his forbidden love. Out of the 44 songs in the score (which is close to operatic), he supports 20 of them. His voice has never been better or used more effectively. It is his story, and he claims it with grace and confidence. It’s clear he’s waited a long time for this.
To create a hero, you need an equally formidable villain. John Sosna filled the bill, returning to Candlelight after six years and bringing an impressive musical resume with him. His place in the cast is well earned and well filled. He brings determination, confusion, deviousness, and a personal (but misguided) insight to his role. You try hard to dislike him but end up feeling sorry for him. His voice is up to the task of making Javert a worthy opponent to Valjean. Welcome back, John.
The Thenardier’s are the comic relief in this whole spectacle – the shady side of “respectability.” And who better to fill these roles but long-time participants in Candlelight’s history. Jalyn Courtenay Webb has appeared in six other Candlelight productions and co-directs this “little” piece. Chas Lederer has brought his comic chops to six productions as well and directed a previous show. These two know how to make people laugh and have fun doing it. These greedy two-faced purveyors of watered down drinks and shady victuals at their common house bring back-handed joy to the evening. Watching them abuse their customers and each other takes your mind off the deeper story for a minute or two while filling an important role in the storytelling. This was natural casting; you had to see it coming!!
And the women of the show. Jennasea Pearce comes back to Candlelight to bring her luminous beauty and powerful voice to the role of Fantine, the doomed mother of Cosette. She maintains her presence no matter what they do to her hair or her soul. Her young daughter is played on alternate nights by one of three adorable young actresses, but her adult daughter is played by one of the debut actresses, Ella Frasier. With her wide-eyed wonder look and beautiful voice, you can believe that she falls in love at first sight. Her rival for the affection of Marius is Madison Bode as Eponine. She has a slightly whimsical quality to her characterization – a sort of a “What did you expect? Look who my parents are” attitude. Until she joins the student rebellion. Then she turns fierce.
A mix of regulars (Hugh Butterfield, Alisha Winter Hayes, Eric Heine, Brooklyn Buhre, Jerod Mose, Carter Edward Smith (in a variety of supporting roles), Melissa Foreman, and Chloe Wheeler) are joined by a group of talented singers making a Candlelight debut. Levi Thompson, Rin Tarsy, Jori Silber, Conor Sheehan, Brandon Moyer, Wyatt Halley, Tyler Cox (as the winsome student Marius who wins the heart of both Eponine, Cosette, and her father), and Zachary Lee Boswell create a whole new pool of singer/dancers to add to the Candlelight family and safeguard the quality of future productions. The children’s roles are filled on alternate nights with either Tanner Anderson or Noah Noyes as the brave little warrior Gavroche. Violet Nelson, Georgia Kate Scamehorn, Evelyn Shelton share the roles of the young Cosette and Eponine. As they work together to tell the story, a powerful cast emerges to thrill the audience.
If you have never seen this formidable script enacted, here is your chance to see one of the best you’ll ever see. If you have seen the show before, you will rejoice in the new memories you are making by watching this powerful group of people sing their b**** off doing it again. Either way . . . . You need to get to Candlelight.
A WOW factor of 10!!