Les Hit or Les Mis? - Alicia Mainjeni

Framed within the context of the 19th century, the reborn, not-so-dream of a production, Les Misérables proved disappointing as it took the Orpheum’s stage for the North American Tour. Directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell, the lack of cohesive storytelling and substandard artistic choices were disenchanting for a first-time Les Mis goer.

Beginning its journey as a novel by Victor Hugo, published in 1862, Les Misérables explores themes of justice, love, and redemption. The novel's able to offer perspectives of the human condition against political turmoil and eventually the story was adapted into a concept album by Alain Boublil—laying the foundation for the stage musical. Despite its rich history, the North American Tour of Les Misérables failed to capture the essence of the historical tale, leaving me to question the musical theater community’s shared love for the show. 

The lack of emotion due to rushed storytelling was a glaring issue for the entirety of the performance. When pivotal moments occurred, such as the tragic death of Fantine, the narrative felt hasty. Fantine’s descent into poverty along with her passing are supposed to be heart-wrenching moments. Instead, the production failed to allow the audience to register her suffering before moving to the next scene. This pattern repeats itself during the climactic battle at the barricades when key characters such as Eponine and Gavroche die. The deaths of these key characters were glossed over so quickly, the emotional impact of their sacrifices to the plot were lost. It felt as though the production was working to check off the fact that a scene was over and move on as opposed to allowing the story to breathe and resonate with viewers. 

Due to the rapid pacing, moments of sorrow and loss felt insincere. The portrayal of grief in this production is an area where the show fell short. Marius’ grief over the loss of his friends was touched on by a moment of silence that felt like a “wait, what’s the next scene” pause as opposed to a pause of grief before moving to the next scene because he just stood there with minimal acting and then the lights went black. The emotional journey of Marius felt superficial and unconvincing due to the lack of time and intentionality behind the direction of the production. It didn’t feel like the actors could fully absorb the characters’ pain. The rushed scenes robbed the show and audience members of the cathartic experience that Les Misérables is known for. It felt merely impossible to deeply feel each character’s joys and sorrows. 

Poor lighting additionally distracted from the emotional weight of the scenes. Key solo moments such as, “I Dreamed a Dream” were atrociously lit. It was difficult to see Lindsay Heather Pearce’s expressions and fully engage with Fantine’s plight. This issue was not isolated and was prevalent in nearly every critical scene. The lack of proper lighting made it difficult to fully engage with the characters’ struggles and triumphs because the physical attributes that bring a character to life were hidden and unclear. 

While Les Misérables remains a beloved classic with an enthralling past, this particular tour did not do justice to its “legacy.” It is a reminder that even the most celebrated works require thoughtful and vigilant direction to truly shine.