Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil’s "Les Misérables" has returned to New York City with a "massive Arena Concert Spectacular" at Radio City Music Hall, nearly a decade after its last Broadway run. The production, running through Aug. 9, offers a grand concert staging that emphasizes the musical’s iconic score and emotional impact.
Despite being a concert and not a full theatrical production, the show manages to be as rousing as ever. Actors primarily sing into standing microphones, but the performance features 34 performers on stage, supported by a 26-person orchestra. Period costumes are utilized, and a significant barricade prop features prominently, manned by the ensemble.
Radio City Music Hall itself becomes a crucial element of the staging, lending gravitas that complements the musical’s themes of righteousness and law. The venue’s storied association with Broadway, particularly the Tony Awards, adds to the atmosphere, though musicals are seldom performed there.
The concert staging is enhanced by a new sound system, reportedly modeled after the Sphere in Las Vegas. This, combined with the inherent scale of “Les Misérables,” allows the production to fill the iconic venue effectively.
Multiple performers are rotating in the lead roles. Killian Donnelly, Alfie Boe, and Geronimo Rauch each take on the role of Jean Valjean, while Bradley Jaden and Jeremy Secomb alternate as Inspector Javert. The reviewer saw Killian Donnelly and Bradley Jaden in their respective roles.
Donnelly, who previously played Valjean in the West End, delivers a performance marked by a powerful tenor, particularly in the ballad "Bring Him Home." His portrayal is noted for balancing Valjean’s saintly qualities with a more human vulnerability. Jaden's Javert is described as spunky, with his rendition of "Stars" possessing a dynamic thrust.
Other notable performances include Shan Ako as Eponine, who brings a gritty depth to the character's lament in "On My Own." Jac Yarrow sensitively performs Marius in "Empty Chairs and Empty Tables," and Christian Mark Gibbs is a strapping Enjolras.
Samantha Barks, who portrayed Fantine, is noted as being less effective, with her "I Dreamed A Dream" lacking the expected vulnerability. However, the review emphasizes that the musical’s strength lies in its robust score and timeless themes, which prevent any single performance from making or breaking the show.
The production marks what may be the last opportunity for New York audiences to experience "Les Misérables" in Manhattan for the foreseeable future, as the musical is not slated to return to Broadway or the city imminently. The concert’s extensive run provides ample opportunity for theatergoers to witness the spectacle.