Les Misérables Is a Classic For a Reason by Katelyn Keyes

If I had to pick one word to encapsulate the current National Tour  of Les Misérables, it would be “art”. The lighting, designed by Paule Constable, transformed every scene into a painting, I could almost feel the sunlight on my face. The darkness was also used to the show’s advantage, leading to a shadowed opening; Prologue, where the low, rhythmic chorus deeply communicates the tragic circumstances the main character finds himself under. Imprisoned for simply stealing a loaf of bread to feed his family, Jean Valjean (Nick Cartell) breaks his parole and flees, leaving him to be chased by a relentless Inspector Javert (Nick Rehberger). Along the way, we meet Fantine (Lindsay Heather Pierce), her daughter Cosette (Emerson Mae Chen, Greta Scheafer, and Delaney Guyer in various ages), and others fighting for France in the Paris Uprising of 1832. 

The story is told mainly through song, which, while it does demand more of the audience’s attention to follow the story, really helps the flow as one scene seamlessly blends into the next. One of the songs that really stuck out to me was Who Am I? Sung by Nick Cartell as Valjean, the emotional weight he added to each line had the audience glued to the stage, and his powerful ending left me speechless. Another standout performance belongs to Cosette, both young (Emerson Mae Chen, Greta Scheafer), and old (Delaney Guyer). The simply adorable young Cosette enchants the audience with her innocent Castle on a Cloud that calls to mind Cinderella, while her older self resembles a life-size china doll (props to Sam Fleming for the beautiful costumes) whose high notes are nothing short of angelic. 

As this show is about a war, there is no shortage of tragedy, but there still manages to be pinpricks of light and humor, most shown in the rollicking Master of the House where Thénardier (Matt Crowle) lightens the mood with his endless whimsy and his wife (Victoria Huston-Elem) gets the audience laughing with her razor wit and all-too-real problems. Their multiple appearances throughout the show each brought a welcomed smile to my face.

The masterpiece that is Les Misérables was absolutely breathtaking. The wonderful set and special effects that brought the Paris Uprising to Minneapolis. The set, designed by Matt Kinley, consisted mainly of grandiose wooden structures that perfectly portrayed 1800s France. That, coupled with the sun-dappled lighting and ornate costumes created a whole world that, since I couldn’t live in it, I was content to watch. Smoking guns, real flaming torches, and impressively architectured barricades gave us a glimpse into a pivotal moment in French history and made it impossible to look away. I walked into Les Misérables hoping that it would live up to its reputation and walked out with a new appreciation for musical theater. Luckily, the Orpheum is showing this amazing production through December 1st, enough time for countless others to enjoy the magic.