The Cast Photo by Matthew Murphy

The musical is an adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel and follows the life of Jean Valjean in early 1800s France. After serving nineteen years in prison, five for stealing a loaf of bread plus additional years for attempts to escape, Valjean breaks parole to live a life free from the stigma connected to being an ex-convict. After he is extended mercy by a priest who has the power to send him back to prison, Valjean dedicates his life to God. The remainder of the complex story follows the character as he responds to that grace through acts of sacrifice and kindness to others, including Fantine, Cosette, Marius, and Javert, the policeman who diligently tracks him.

It is an engaging and emotional tale of redemption and epic storytelling at its best. A love story, social and historical commentary, and a tale of Christian morality are only a few of the elements contained in Hugo's book which are effectively transferred to the stage by creators Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg. The fact that so many characters are sufficiently developed and so many plot points are covered in just three hours is no small accomplishment.

Les Misérables is the finest example of the "all-sung pop opera" style that dominated the 1980s and 1990s on Broadway. The score, with music by Schönberg and lyrics by Alain Boublil and the late Herbert Kretzmer (the original French lyrics were written by Jean-Marc Natel), includes modern classics such as "Bring Him Home," "On My Own," and "I Dreamed a Dream." The melodies beautifully match the characters and settings, and yield high emotions from audience members. Though some melodic motifs are repeated too often for some tastes, there are numerous distinct examples of beautiful music and skilled, efficient, and subtly insightful lyrics to provide sufficient variation.

The original staging was accomplished by directors John Caird and Trevor Nunn. The current version with direction by Laurence Connor and James Powell has been presented on tour for quite some time now, and differs significantly from that famous initial staging. This is a grittier and smaller Les Misérables. The blocking remains a fluid, efficient, and theatrically thrilling presentation of the material. The original orchestrations by John Cameron have been tweaked by Chris Jahnke, Stephen Metcalfe, and Stephen Brooker, with some notable alterations. The 13-piece orchestra on this tour, under the direction of conductor Will Curry, sounds wonderful.

At the performance reviewed, understudy Colin Anderson performed as Jean Valjean. Anderson's take was one filled with passion and tenderness, and he possesses a lovely voice–one would never know he was an understudy. As Javert, Nick Rehberger is appropriately authoritative and a strong singer. He supplies more variation in his characterization than is often seen in the role. Lindsay Heather Pearce shows off an impressive belt as Fantine and garners the necessary sympathy from the audience. As Eponine, Mya Rena Hunter conveys the character's feisty nature and displays a booming voice. Jake David Smith is an eager and earnest Marius and a talented singer. Delaney Guyer is endearing as Cosette, and provides expressive vocals. The duets between Smith and Guyer, which become trios with either Hunter or Anderson, such as "A Heart Full of Love”, are some of the most pleasing vocals of the show. Portraying the Thénardiers, Matt Crowle and Victoria Huston-Elem earn lots of laughs. The rest of the cast give worthwhile performances as well. The show features several graduates from the Musical Theatre program at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM).

Set designer Matt Kinley uses traditional set pieces mixed with projections to provide handsome visuals inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo. The projections are effective (especially in the sewer scene) and aren't overused. Oddly enough, though, the projections of the year that were used in the original staging at each instance where a significant lapse of time takes place, are gone, and their absence hampers the understanding of that passage of time. The stark lighting by Paule Constable is theatrical and adds to the gritty take on the material. The costumes by Andreane Neofitou (with additional help from Christine Rowland and Paul Wills) are apt and period-appropriate.

This musical debuted in 1985 in London, and forty years later, it still feels fresh, necessary, and important in a time when fighting against tyranny and attempting to promote kindness are needed. The tour of Les Misérables is crafted with quality, mounted with care, and performed by talented performers.

Les Misérables runs through January 19, 2025, at the Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Cincinnati OH. For tickets and information, please call 513-621-2787 or visit cincinnati.broadway.com. For information on the tour, visit www.lesmis.com/us-tour/.