Wed. February 23, 2011
By John Olson
Just as with the production values, it would be impossible to get away with short-changing audiences on the vocal abilities of the Equity cast, as we can compare to the global all-star cast assembled for the symphonic recording. With that as a bar, Andrew Varela is as strong a Javert as any I've heard. 2009 Cincinnati Conservatory of Music graduate Justin Scott Brown is a handsome and stunning Marius, and Jeremy Hays a charismatic Enjolras. Newcomer Jenny Latimer puts her lovely soprano to good use as the older Cosette. The comic relief of the Thénardiers is handled most effectively—dryly and never too broadly—by Michael Kostroff and Shawna M. Hamic.
The team Mackintosh has assembled has put together a production that lives up to the memory of the original, while respectfully freshening it up just a bit. This touring production offers good reasons for longtime fans to revisit the piece from a slightly altered perspective while giving newcomers a chance to experience the show in a production equal in quality to those that have played around the world for the past quarter-century.
Les Misérables will play the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago, through February 27, 2011. Tickets are available at all Broadway in Chicago Box Offices, by phone at 800-775-2000, through Ticketmaster and online at www.broadwayinchicago.com. For more information on the tour, visit www.lesmis.com.
Photo: Michael Kostroff, Shawna M. Hamic
and Company (photo by: Dean Van Meer)
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