Critical Review at Hennepin Arts

Huxley Westemeier  Les Misérables   Anything but Miserable!  In an era of blockbuster musicals relying on special effects and elaborate dance numbers to capture audience attention, Les Misérables is refreshing and minimalistic. The plot follows convict Jean Valjean throughout a timeless tale of rebellion, and introduces believable characters and melancholic moments that highlight the true brutality of love and war. This intricate storyline immersed in a backdrop of intriguing characters, grief, poverty, and passionate perseverance creates a powerful, intimate, and poignant experience. I was pleasantly shocked by the pure talent of every cast member. Their convincing performances were assisted by amazing technical harmonies with great emotional range, thanks to precise direction by Laurence Connor (School of Rock, Miss Saigon) and James Powell (Mary Poppins). Nick Cartell (Jean Valjean) and Hayden Tee (Javert) were both fantastic, illustrating their character’s inte...

 Maya Athena  Lés Misérables  A Performance Worth Dreaming Of Without a doubt, Lés Misérables, brilliantly adorned with glorious vocals and design, swept every last audience member off their feet on December 7, 2022 at the Orpheum Theatre. A combination of the enthralling story by Victor Hugo and the equally mesmerizing compositions of Claude-Michel Schönberg, Lés Misérables certainly entranced the audience, leaving them in awe.  Lés Misérables, undisputedly known as one of the most popular musicals, tells the tale of Jean Valjean, an ex-convict who reinvents himself in society as he is being chased by Javert, an officer from the prison. Jean Valjean finds himself in the midst of social conflict and matters of the heart throughout his life through illustrious song.  While every single voice on stage shone in its own way, the vocals of Haley Dortch (Fantine) lit up the stage. The infamous song, “I Dreamed a Dream” was performed with unmatched artistry and was a s...

Moriah Weiss  Les Misérables The Song(s) of Angry Men   Many are familiar with the emotionally visceral and musically astounding account of the French revolution: the iconic musical, Les Miserables. Based on the 1862 novel by Victor Hugo of the same title, it was first brought to the stage by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil in 1985. With the many nuances of the characters and themes it portrays, it is an understandably complicated production. The national tour’s rendition of Les Mis at the Orpheum in Minneapolis displayed succinct professionalism in all elements of the show, bringing audience members to both tears and abject silence. The audience was immediately immersed in the vivid and rustic setting of 1800’s France, with impressive set pieces and ominous lighting, further brought to life by a screen upstage to act as a backdrop in the changing scenery. The stark lights and set design combined heightened the romantic tension in “A Heart Full of Love” and made the ...

Lennox Tan Les Misérables What a Journey Have you ever procrastinated on your work and then found out later that you had too much work and not enough time? Well then you can relate to Les Misérables . Being one of the most popular musicals of all time, Les Misérables , directed by Robert Hossein, dates back to 1862 as an adaption of Victor Hugo’s novel, “ Les Misérables ”, before opening on Broadway on March 12, 1987. Dating back to the French revolution, Les Misérables portrays the journey of Jean Valjean, an escaped prisoner, who takes in a factory worker’s daughter. However, while being a complete play with a stunning execution, a functional plot can be debated upon.  Despite the plot, I’ve never seen such a powerful execution. The characters were well-developed and were given their childhood backstory, which is not something that you’d usually see in a musical. The orchestra played flawlessly and I especially enjoyed the vocals of Hayden Tee, who plays the main antagonist Javer...

  Les Misérables Review           I’m going to be 100% honest; I really had no prior knowledge of Les Misérables other than some songs and that it takes place in France. Despite being possibly one of the only people in the world who still hasn’t seen the infamous show, I was completely blown away.  Les Misérables follows the story of Jean Valjean and his path to redemption after being a prisoner for 19 years. Set in the backdrop of the aftermath of the French revolution, Les Misérables is a story of tragedy, love, and reclamation. Having an incredibly strong cast is paramount to the success of this production. The show is completely vocal and bolsters a difficult but fabulous score. Actor Nick Cartel who played Jean Valjean demonstrated his ability to nail such a role. From power belting to intimate falsetto ballads, he left the stage receiving not one but three separate ovations. Another favorite performance was by  Haley Dortch who port...