Total Rating: 
***1/2
Previews: 
October 24, 2006
Opened: 
November 9, 2006
Ended: 
January 6, 2008
Country: 
USA
State: 
New York
City: 
New York
Company/Producers: 
Cameron Mackintosh
Theater Type: 
Broadway
Theater: 
Broadhurst Theater
Theater Address: 
235 West 44th Street
Phone: 
(212) 239-6200
Running Time: 
3 hrs
Genre: 
Musical
Author: 
Book: Alain-Boublil & Claude-Michel Schonberg, based on French text by Boublil & Jean-Marc Natel, based on novel by Victor Hugo. Music: Claude-Michel Schonberg; Lyrics: Herbert Kretzmer; Add'l material: James Fenton; Adapted by Trevor Nunn & John Caird
Director: 
Trevor Nunn & John Caird
Review: 

Les Miserables by Alain Boubil and Claude-Michel Schoenberg, is arguably the greatest musical ever created, and the powerful, moving, new production brings much needed theatrical life back to Broadway. Strongly but sensitively directed (John Caird and Trevor Nunn), brilliantly designed (John Napier) and lighted (David Hersey -- I've never seen better lighting in a theater in my life) by the originals, it has breathtaking moments of theatrical grandeur mixed with the gripping plot of the story of the pursued Jean Valjean. Playing him is Alexander Gemignani in a Brian Dennehy mold. Gemignani's voice swoops high, low, huge, whispering, soars.

There are unforgettable visual images, and a chorus of Broadway singers who inspired me and stirred my revolutionary soul. Except for one embarrassingly inept performer with a whispery, wavery voice: Daphne Rubin-Vega as Fantine (I cringed at her death scene), the cast is first rate -- wonderful singers, fine actors, especially Celia Keenan-Bolger as Eponine, Aaron Lazar as the revolutionary leader, Adam Jacobs as the romantic lead, Gary Beach and Jenny Galloway as the comic relief, and Norm Lewis as Javert.

Injustice, love, a revolution -- all the parts, technical and performance-wise fit in this magnificent show, which has everything one could hope for in a theatrical experience. Long may it wave!

Cast: 
Alexander Gemignani (Jean), Norm Lewis, Gary Beach (Thenardier), Daphne Rubin-Vega, Jenny Galloway (Mme. Thenardier), Celia Keenan-Bolger (Eponine), Aaron Lazar (Enjolras), Adam Jacobs (Marius), Ali Ewoldt (Cosette), Victor Hawks, Tess Adams, Gabrielle Piacentile, Kylie Liya Goldstein, Jacob Levine, Brian D'Adario (Gavroche), J.D. Goldblatt, James Chip Leonard, Jeff Kready, Drew Sarich, Justin Bohon, Nehal Joshi, Blake Ginther, Daniel Bogart, Robert Hunt, Doug Kreeger, Karen Elliot, Farah Alvin, Haviland Stillwell, Nikki Renee Daniels, Becca Ayres, Megan McGinnis, Marya Grandy, Idara Victor.
Technical: 
Set: John Napier; Costumes: Adreane Neofitou & Elise Napier; Sound: Andrew Bruce & John Weston; Music Dir: Kevin Stites; Orch: John Cameron
Critic: 
Richmond Shepard
Date Reviewed: 
November 2006