'Au Revoir' performance of 'Les
Miserables' at Fabulous Fox fitting farewell, sets bar
for 2006-07 Broadway Series
by Daniel Hines
Publisher
America's Seniors at
www.TodaysSeniorsNetwork.com
In a farewell performance in the
final week of its Broadway Series Tour, 'Les Miserables' filled the
Fabulous Fox Theater in St. Louis with a rousing spectacle suitable
to its theme set against the currents of history.
Appropriately, it starts with the two
protagonists. Randal Keith is commanding as Jean Valjean with
his great voice, projection and stage presence, providing us with
insights of his continual struggle to merit the redemption offered
to him by a Catholic priest whose kindness and charity Valjean
repays by stealing silver eating utensils, only to be shamed into
redemption when the priest denies to authorities that the items were
stolen, even adding to the booty which he reminds Valjean were 'left
behind' inadvertently.
Had the kindly
priest said the items were stolen, Valjean, on parole after years of
chain-gang work for stealing a loaf of bread, would have been
returned to his futile life.
Instead, he
becomes a great success, years later even becoming the mayor
of his newly adopted village.
But, in almost
Biblical fashion, his path to redemption is sidetracked when he
again encounters Javert, who has a flash of recognition when
Valjean's tremendous strength--used before during his time in
jail--lifts a wagon off of a man, saving his life.
When confronted
by Javert, who wonders if this could be Valjean, he denies it, but
then when Javert reveals that the 'real Valjean' has been captured
and being tried, the true Valjean must step forward to identify his
secret life.
As he flees, he
also assumes the responsibility to take care of the waif Cosette,
who shall become his charge throughout life.
Robert
Hunt offers a new, almost sympathetic insight into Javert's
character, enhanced by the tremendous presence and commanding vocals
he brings to the production.
The
play continues into the future where an older Valjean and Cosette
are now living in Paris. And, once again, his path is about to
cross that of Javert.
A
bit of comic relief comes along the way with Norman Large as
Thenardier, the ' master of the house' (or as his equally
treacherous wife, played by Jennifer Butt with a nastiness of a
women consigned to her fate--a life with a con artist
husband--sings, 'the bastard of the house.' These people deserve
each other.
The
show is a historical pageant, also, carrying us into a French
revolution, which, of course, fails, but does provide the backdrop
for a love affair between the now flowering Cosette (Ali Esoldt) and
a student revolutionary (Daniel Bogart).
And, while each
has a pleasing quality, they pale somewhat in comparison as a sop to
the young girls in the audience by providing a 'romantic interest'.
As such, they offer a cotton candy flavor of sugary affections, but,
detract from the primary theme--the quest for redemption, the
struggle with duty, and the realization that once one sets out on a
path of attempting to earn redemption, it is a journey that will
never end--and never be fully satisfying, as it requires sacrifice
of self for others.
A bit
heavy-handed, perhaps, but as presented on this farewell tour, an
entirely gratifying way to say goodbye.
The production sets the
bar high for the 2006-07 season. The lineup, which we will
review in our annual interview with the Fox' Mike Isaacson, is
already drawing favorable reaction from many people, featuring both
some audience favorites and some new things.
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