As musicals go, Les Misérables is awesome. The religious, historical and political story of hardship, redemption, love and sacrifice, delivered in sweet melodies and earnest lyrics, can convert even cynical hearts. Victor Hugo could be proud of this musical adaptation of his 1862 novel.
Broadway By the Bay, a theatrical nonprofit, recently staged it to critical acclaim at the Fox Theater in Redwood City. They’re packing up that production and bringing it to Golden State Theatre (owned by the same couple who own the Fox, Lori and Eric Lochtefeld) for four performances this and next weekend.
Jasen Jeffrey directs Les Misérables.
“We didn’t take the Broadway version and re-create it. We created it from scratch,” he says. “I did a lot of research. I read the book, studied about [Victor Hugo’s] influences, studied numerous amounts of other [versions] of the musical. I don’t like to replicate anything that’s been done before.”
Some of the tweaks include some concert-like staging, foreshadowing between the child characters and their later adult selves, and, because GST is smaller than the Fox, more intimate staging including a thrust stage that takes the action out into the audience. The storytelling, Jeffrey says, will remain untouched, and the music comes from a live orchestra.
“People love Les Misérables,” says Monterey County Theater Alliance President Teresa Del Piero. “That may bring people to the [Golden State] show.”
Broadway By the Bay put on the musical Anything Goes at GST last November; in addition to Les Misérables, they’re filling this year in Monterey with My Fair Lady, West Side Story and Kiss Me Kate.
Some local theater companies have grumbled about Broadway By the Bay because they don’t employ local theater crew or talent, and they don’t, as MCTA members do, coordinate to avoid replicating each other’s productions.
But Del Piero says that with recent losses in local theater venues, it’s in all their interest to keep theater present.
“We’re all hoping to build an audience,” she says. “We’ve got to get the next generation interested in live theater.”
Les Misérables is one of the most popular Broadway musicals ever, thanks to its formidable and iconic songs, set pieces, period costumes, primary color lighting, and, most importantly, the story of the tragedies and triumphs of human lives.
Will local audiences love Broadway By the Bay’s Les Misérables?