Wednesday, 20 May 2009

• Viva le long weekends! :D
  
  This weekend got off to a wonderful start. First it was a birthday BBQ at my sisters on Friday night, then it was Rangoli's for lunch on Saturday followed by a viewing of Les Miserables for our 9th anniversary!
  
  I've seen Les Mis once before at Queen Elizabeth theatre a few years ago and it was *amazing*. This time Sean and I got tickets from his brother as a birthday present for an Arts Club Theatre production at the Stanley Theatre. I was wary of how good the quality of such a world-renowned musical would fare under the hands of a local community theatre group, but holy wow, I feel stupid now to have doubted them! Honestly, it was not far from the Broadway production I had seen before. The calibre of the actors was top notch and I spent the second half of the show crying at all the emotional bits!
  
  It was easy choose my favourite actor this time 'round. I've seen Jonathan Winsby, who played Enjolras, in a couple of other shows before and I think we even passed each other in the halls in the School of Music at UBC when I was just a wee 1st year student. He was the *perfect* match for Enjolras. By far he was the most passionate singer of the bunch with infectious enthusiasm and his face and stature fit the bill to a T.
  
  I spent the first half of the show debating whether or not I liked Kieran Martin Murphy's voice or not (Jean Valjean). There were times when it was so powerful and sincere, and other times I felt as if he was rushing and the notes were far too flat - although, I have a feeling that that may have been the product of the songs being sped up... maybe they were trying to keep the length of the show down? It's a long musical and actually, I think they cut out a few snippets of songs here and there from the original. Anyhow, after Jean Valjean uttered his first line of "Bring Him Home" I was sold. I cried the first time I heard this song performed live, and this time the tears came much quicker! It was *SO GOOD*! Way to go Jean Valjean!
  
  And of course, Javert, had to be good since he's a key role in the whole story (why are so many musicals male dominated?!) I was a bit distracted though because I kept on thinking about how much Rejean Cournoyer who played Javert looked like Anthony Bourdain. lol. Where does Vancouver keep hiding these gems of talent? Another perfect fit.
  
  Usually I find the supporting characters much more interesting than the leading roles (Mr. and Mrs. Thernardier for instance). However, I will give kudos for the actors who played Cosette and Marius for portraying their roles (however cliche they were) with a great deal of expertise. Their voices sounded lovely together along with Eponine at the end of "A Heart Full of Love". "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" was another one that gave me wet cheeks. It's such a haunting song and even more so with the Marius' dead friends lining up behind him in the shadows. Another round of kudos also to Joshua Ballard who played little Gavroche who gave a touching performance by someone who's itty bitty but has got some bite.
  
  I guess I could say more about the rest of the cast, but I think I'll stop for now. :) If you haven't ever seen Les Miserables before and are in Vancouver, go do it now!! I think they're here until July or August and it's only about $40 a ticket. Totally worth it!
  
  K, that's all for now.
  smooches!
  
  I think I need to re-align my eyes... :)
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  

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