Review of Les Misérables' Closing Night in Calgary
Last night felt a little strange to me. Living in a city that doesn't seem to care the slightest about musical theatre, for the past 9 years I've had to travel to the US and Europe to see shows (we last had Phantom here in 1992). So, to me, going to the theatre has - at least for the last 15 or so shows I've seen - involved strolling through London at night and down the Haymarket or up around Piccadilly Circus to the Palace Theatre. When I saw Les Mis last August, I would have never dreamed that it would be playing within 10 minutes of my place a year later.
Apart from the theatre atmosphere being so lame here compared to what it is in London, I really don't think that there is such a thing as a bad Les Mis cast, though I've seen quite a number of bad actors in POTO who make the entire cast look bad.
Randal Keith was superb as Valjean; a little on the short side, but he was a Valjean one can truly hate at the beginning, and love for the rest of the show. While I've never had the chance to see him as the Phantom, I'd only heard good reviews about him, and for some reason I always love actors who've played the Phantom, Che and Valjean - and my theory holds true once again :-). He was definitely stronger in the role than Simon Bowman, whom I was "treated to" last time.
After having always seen very pale and blonde Fantines in London, I saw Thursday Farrar here, so look-wise Fantine was a change for me this time. Her voice was so strong, I could almost bet that she has operatic training. Javert (Graham Rowat), although I can't stand the character's guts, was brilliant as well; another fine performer whom I'd certainly go see again. Great voice, great acting, not more one could ask for.
But one of the characters I was most looking forward to this time was Eponine, played by Diana Kaarina, whom I'd last seen as Meg in Vancouver. (Except back then she still signed one of my drawings as Diana Wong; I've been told that she now uses her middle name). I loved her Meg each time, so I was anxious to see her in a different role. Perfect Eponine as well, imo, and her running around the stage was just adorable (sorry, can't think of a more normal way of putting it, but that's a compliment :-)
The Thénardiers (Aymee Garcia and J.P. Dougherty) were a scream once again. Such comic relief, but these two really exaggerated the phallic references. I don't know if I just missed it the last times, or whether this was pulled off because it was closing night, but it was hilarious nonetheless! The only thing that bugged me was that when the "silver" was dropped on the stage you could definitely tell it's plastic or some other light stuff that doesn't bend. And then of course there's that grate that's got to be the lightest thing and they have to pretend it's heavy.
The little Gavroche Dutch Whitlock) stole everyone's hearts again as well. Such a little rascal on stage, and his bio says Les Mis is his dream come true... and he's only eleven. (Update from August 21: Some people say Dutch left the cast, but this Gavroche definitely looked like him, and there was no playbill insert stating otherwise, though according to the Calgary playbill Eddie Brandt should have been on. In any case, Gavroche was wonderful).
I'm probably missing a lot here, but just wanted to write this before I forget too much. Definitely loved the show here, and it was nice going into the Jube again, after I'd spent all those late nights there backstage in '97. If I didn't have to work, it would be too tempting to go up to Edmonton to catch the show again there.
Oh, and how could I ever forget one of my favourite chacters, Enjolras (Stephen Tewksbury)?!?! He was another great Enjolras, though look-wise he threw me off as well, as I'd been spoiled with the Michael Maguire-looking Enjolrases in the past couple of years. Great acting and voice though ;-) It's such a dramatic scene when Enjolras lays dead on the barricade; that one always makes Les Mis worth it.
[9:29 PM]
