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Regional Reviews: Phoenix Les Misérables: School Edition Also see Gil's review of Dial M for Murder
Set in 19th-century France, Les Misérables follows the journey of Jean Valjean, a man sentenced to five years in prison after stealing a loaf of bread to feed his starving nephew. His punishment is extended due to his attempts to escape, leaving him bitter and distrustful after 19 years of incarceration. Upon his release, Valjean, desperate and destitute, steals from a kind bishop who, instead of condemning him, offers forgiveness and a second chance. This profound act of kindness transforms Valjean, setting him on a path of redemption. As he dedicates his life to helping others, he is pursued relentlessly by Inspector Javert, whose pursuit of justice fuels much of the story's tension and drama. Valjean's journey and his struggle to remain free while making a positive impact on others forms the emotional core of this powerful tale. Les Misérables is one of the most popular and cherished musicals worldwide. For the school edition, the creators streamlined the show by cutting a few minor scenes and trimming some verses in several songs. These smartly made adjustments, while cutting down the three-hour run time, preserve the depth and emotional impact of the story that Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg, and Herbert Kretzmer so masterfully adapted, allowing younger performers to bring its powerful themes to life without losing any of the power or emotional resonance. Co-directors Marielle Czajkowski and Katie Czajkowski have assembled a group of very talented young actors and singers for this production. All members of the large cast deliver emotionally distinct portrayals with a firm connection to each other under the rich direction from the Czajkowskis. Jake Price gives a powerful performance as Valjean, effectively capturing the character's growth over the years. His clear, expressive singing voice brings emotional depth to his many songs, creating a strong connection to the lyrics. Andrei Igdanes is impressive as Javert, the relentless inspector determined to track Valjean down. He projects an intense, calculated demeanor and commanding delivery, especially in his stirring and excellent performance of "Stars," which highlights his character's unyielding resolve and determination to hunt Valjean down. Darcy Sylvester shines as Fantine, the tragic mother whose child, Cosette, is later taken in by Valjean. Her rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" is both haunting and heartfelt, capturing Fantine's deep regret over her life's hardships. Dash Deusterman brings warmth and determination to Marius, the idealistic student who falls for the grown-up Cosette. He injects the role with hope and compassion to those around him, and his moving performance of "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" is beautifully executed, highlighting the sorrow and resilience of his character. Jaysa Valdez presents a heartfelt performance as Eponine, the poor girl hopelessly in love with Marius, capturing Eponine's unrequited love beautifully, especially in her stirring rendition of "On My Own." Emily Anton shines as Cosette, Fantine's daughter who is taken in by Valjean and who becomes Marius's love interest. Her lovely voice reaches impressive high notes. Dominic Demark commands the stage as Enjolras, the fierce leader of the student revolutionaries, exuding strength and authority. Luke Chester and Angelina Restuccia make a memorable duo as the Thénardiers, Eponine's conniving parents and Cosette's original caretakers, providing much-needed humor with sharp comic timing. Jackson Beeson is excellent as Gavroche, the spirited boy who aids the students with fierce bravery. The large ensemble shifts seamlessly between roles, and under Ken Goodenberger's music direction, they create a powerful wall of sound that fills the theater with emotion and energy. The creative elements are good. The costumes by Delani Piasecki and the hair and make-up designs by Falin Taylor are character and period appropriate and, while Mike Armstrong's set with scenic painting by Logan Swope is fairly simple, it still works to effectively depict the many locations in the musical. The lighting by Nevaeh Monk uses shadows and cool colors to depict the nighttime scenes, and Monk's sound design delivers crisp vocals and some impressive sound effects. As great as the cast is and effective as the creative aspects are, I do have a few small quibbles. While the backing tracks are excellent, they are also sometimes a bit too loud, almost overpowering the vocals. During both "I Dreamed a Dream" and "Bring Him Home" there is some unnecessary movement in the direction of Sylvester and Price that threatens to detract from the emotion and meaning of the lyrics. Also, in "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables," when Marius sings about the friends he has lost and the "phantom faces at the window, phantom shadows on the floor" that he sees, in every other production of this musical I've seen, the ghosts of his friends who died on the barricade appear on the stage with Marius. Here, the song is sung simply by Marius alone on stage. Not having the ghosts present detracts from the lyrics and the emotional connection between Marius and the students and also the connection between the audience and those characters who died on the barricade. Even with those few small shortcomings, Les Misérables: School Edition at Spotlight has a fantastic cast, and the emotion and heart of this beloved musical shine brightly though. Les Misérables: School Edition runs through November 10, 2024, at Spotlight Youth Theatre, 10620 N 43rd Avenue, Glendale AZ. For tickets and information, please visit www.spotlightyouththeatre.org or call 602-843-8318. Directors: Marielle Czajkowski and Katie Czajkowski Cast: |
