(no subject)
Mom and I watched the 25th Anniversary concert of Les Miserables this weekend. My thoughts:
Overall, very well done. Alfie Boe as Valjean was amazing - ever so much better than Colm Wilkinson (whom I never liked). I have already hit Amazon to order his latest CD. Norm Lewis was a phenomenal Javert, all the women's roles were terrific as well.
But...who thought that Nick Jonas could pull off Marius? He was outclassed in every possible way, and it became even more painfully apparent when they brought out the 1985 cast and you heard Michael Ball. If they had wanted a star, why not Josh Groban? Nick Jonas - honestly. I just pictured Michael Ball sitting backstage, shaking his head. And everyone else in the cast thinking "Why is this guy here?" I did find it amusing when the current cast members joined the ones from '85 - Nick Jonas preferred to stay where he was than go over and stand next to Michael Ball.
Speaking of the 1985 cast - all of them still sound great (except Wilkinson - he sounds the same as ever). However, a note to Frances Ruffelle: I loved you as Eponine - you're still my favorite, but you are too old to wear that dress. Yes, you have nice legs, but I don't need to see them all the way up to your birth canal.
Overall, very well done. Alfie Boe as Valjean was amazing - ever so much better than Colm Wilkinson (whom I never liked). I have already hit Amazon to order his latest CD. Norm Lewis was a phenomenal Javert, all the women's roles were terrific as well.
But...who thought that Nick Jonas could pull off Marius? He was outclassed in every possible way, and it became even more painfully apparent when they brought out the 1985 cast and you heard Michael Ball. If they had wanted a star, why not Josh Groban? Nick Jonas - honestly. I just pictured Michael Ball sitting backstage, shaking his head. And everyone else in the cast thinking "Why is this guy here?" I did find it amusing when the current cast members joined the ones from '85 - Nick Jonas preferred to stay where he was than go over and stand next to Michael Ball.
Speaking of the 1985 cast - all of them still sound great (except Wilkinson - he sounds the same as ever). However, a note to Frances Ruffelle: I loved you as Eponine - you're still my favorite, but you are too old to wear that dress. Yes, you have nice legs, but I don't need to see them all the way up to your birth canal.