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“Do you hear the people sing?”
Welcome to the very first installment of Broadway in Your Living Room! This monthly column will feature reviews of musical theatre performance DVDs, lesser-known movie musicals, and Broadway cast recordings. Musical theatre is one of my favorite things in the whole world, and I’m really excited to be bringing this column to you. So, without further ado, let’s get to our first review: Les Miserables in Concert.
Les Miserables closed on Broadway in 2003, after running for 16 years—making it the third longest-running musical in Broadway history. Based on Victor Hugo’s famous novel, this story of love, sacrifice, and redemption has enticed theatergoers since the late 80s. It’s the story of Jean Valjean, an ex-convict in France who has some trouble fitting back into society after he’s released on parole. He nearly falls back into a life of crime by robbing a bishop but is saved (in more ways than one) when the bishop refuses to turn him in to the police and gives Valjean two silver candlesticks to remind him to lead a better life.
This encounter changes Valjean, and he breaks parole, changes his name, and starts a new life. Along the way, he becomes a mayor, helps a desperate woman named Fantine (and adopts her daughter, Cosette, when Fantine passes away), fights with students in an insurrection, and raises Cosette to be a young woman. Although he tries to live a moral life, he is haunted by his past crimes when a police inspector named Javert recognizes him and relentlessly pursues him for years.
The story of Les Miserables has been told in many formats (most recently in the 1998 film starring Liam Neeson), but the Broadway production has been the most successful due in no small part to the outstanding music of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg. The musical version also accomplishes the daunting task of giving every character real depth (no easy feat, as there are nine major roles) and creating a terrific story arc that’s told entirely through song.
In 1998, a 10th Anniversary concert version of Les Miserables was staged at the Royal Albert Hall in London. This concert is often referred to as the “Dream Cast” performance, and with good reason. It stars Colm Wilkinson reprising his role as Valjean from the original London and Broadway performances. Also representing the original London cast are Michael Ball as Marius and Alun Armstrong as the comedic innkeeper, Thenardier. Cosette and the student revolutionary leader Enjolras are played by their Broadway originators, Judy Kuhn and Michael Maguire, respectively. Rounding out the cast is Philip Quast (hands-down the best Inspector Javert you’ll ever see), Ruthie Henshall as Fantine, Lea Salonga (who’s become known as the “definitive” Eponine), and Jenny Galloway as Madame Thenardier.
The concert version includes almost all of the songs from the show (only a few less-important snippets of “sung dialogue” are excluded), backed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and a 200-member chorus. Although the limitations of a concert prohibit the traditional staging of this show, all of the characters are in full costume, and movie screens on the side of the stage depict the staging for some of the bigger numbers (and occasionally help with exposition).
The strengths of this DVD include some of the best performances you’ll ever hear, a bigger orchestra and chorus than you’d get on any other recording, and the added benefit of being the only performance of Les Miserables available on DVD (at this time). The only weakness is the lack of traditional staging, which can cause some confusion if you’re unfamiliar with the show.
Extra features on the DVD include interviews, a plot synopsis, actor bios, subtitles, and a photo library. Les Miserables in Concert is a DVD capture of one of the greatest musicals to ever run on Broadway. I couldn’t recommend it more.
Overall Grade: A+
NOTE: There is also a CD recording of the concert available.
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