PAM KRAGEN
Staff Writer
"Les Miserables," one of the most popular stage musicals of the late 20th century, is coming to North County ---- but not on the stage at Moonlight Amphitheatre or even the Welk Resort Theatre. Instead, it's having its local premiere at Carlsbad High School.
Yep, you read that right.
Carlsbad High scored a major coup getting the rights to stage the slightly shortened "school edition" of the ambitious Alain Boubil/Claude-Michel Schonberg musical based on Victor Hugo's epic novel. Based on its reputation for staging big musicals ---- such as the West Coast premiere of Stephen Sondheim's "Saturday Night," and a lavish production of "Mame" ---- licensing agents offered director Monica Hall the rights to "Les Miz" and she jumped at the chance.
Cameron Mackintosh's original production is best-known for its turntable stage, huge battlements, hundreds of costumes and a seeming cast of thousands. The Carlsbad High production will be almost equally as ambitious, with a 25-foot turntable stage, 110 cast and crew members and a parent brigade to sew costumes and raise money for the production. The production is also supported by a grant from the Carlsbad Arts Office.
Hall is directing, with musical direction by Heather Megill, choreography by Suzanne Fernandez, technical direction by Justin Hall and costume designs by Sue Team. There are 60 students in the cast, 30 in the stage crew and 20 in the pit orchestra.
The musical tells the story of the French Revolution from the perspective of Jean Valjean, a man who makes a new, honest life for himself and his foster daughter after escaping from prison, where he was sent as a boy for stealing a loaf of bread. Blocking the way to Jean Vajean's future happiness, though, is the cruel policeman Javert, who wants to find the escapee and send him back to prison. Their story unfolds as the inpoverished citizens or Paris stage a revolt against the government.
Les Misérables - School Edition by Carlsbad High School Based on Victor Hugo’s epic tale, Les Misérables became one of the most popular and longest-running musicals in Broadway history. The powerful story, told through music and lyrics that capture the soul of the Hugo classic, is set in early nineteenth-century France and centers on the character of Jean Valjean, a man who serves twenty years in a prison chain gang for stealing a loaf of bread to save his sister’s young son. Upon his parole, Valjean quickly discovers that life is not much easier on the outside, as he finds his permanent status as an ex-convict renders him ostracized from the community and no longer able to make an honest living. Thus he quickly turns back to a dishonest living, stealing some silver from a kind bishop who had put him up for the night. Problem is, Valjean simply isn’t very good at stealing, and just like twenty years before, he is immediately caught again. Fortunately in this case, the bishop gives Valjean one more chance to rebuild his life, insisting to the police that he gave the silver to Valjean as a gift, and expressing his hope that he will use this second chance to do good.This “School Edition” of Les Miz is about an hour shorter than the original, but it is so deftly trimmed (a few stanzas here, a bit of non-essential dialogue there) that the story and music remain remarkably intact – still creating one of the most moving musicals ever. But it’s also one of the most difficult, which just makes Carlsbad High School’s ambitious production of it all the more remarkable. With a number of jaw-dropping voices, some strong dramatic (and a couple of highly comic) performances, professional-looking sets, costumes, and lighting effects, and excellent work by the high school orchestra on the complicated musical score, Director Monica Hogue Hall’s production is impressive in all aspects. The performance takes place in the Carlsbad Cultural Arts Center’s theatre space located on the grounds of Carlsbad High School – a comfortable and roomy theatre that would be the envy of many professional theatre companies, let alone high schools.Matt Tucker has the look and feel of the rugged Jean Valjean whose soul goes through so many difficult trials during the nine years encompassed by the play. His centerpiece song, Bring Him Home, sung as a prayer over the unconscious Marius who is in love with his adopted daughter Cosette, is sung well both vocally and emotionally.Those previously mentioned “jaw-dropping voices” pop up all over the cast. John Cardenas as the French officer Javert who is in charge of paroled convicts, and who becomes especially obsessed with trying to capture Jean Valjean. John’s voice, coldness of heart, and pitiless expressions combine for a magnificent performance. Then there is the rich voice of Rachel Wasko as Fantine, the single mother who gives up everything to support her young child Cosette (Alexa Bergman). Alexa’s sweet, innocent, and melancholy voice delivers a touching Castle on the Cloud. She grows up to be the stunning Emily O’Brien as adult Cosette, who has an equally stunning voice to match. Marius (Ryan Johnson), with an exceptionally smooth voice of his own, can’t help but fall in love with her at first sight and sound. They team up with Eponine (Lauren Campbell) to create a spellbindingly beautiful rendition of A Heart Full of Love. Eponine, a childhood rival of Cosette who is raised under the awful guidance of her parents (rascally innkeeper Thenardier and his wife), grows up to be streetwise and slippery, yet also capable of unlimited love. Unfortunately for her, that love is reserved for the handsome student Marius who cannot see Eponine as anything more than a friend. Highly talented actress Lauren Campbell imbues the character with the perfect amounts of both charm and tragedy, belting out her stirring solo On My Own with personality and passion, and closing with an authentic and heart-wrenching performance as she finally gets to be held on Marius’s arms.Fortunately there’s also a bit of comedy mixed into the play. Not much, but when it happens, it’s well worth the wait. Devin Fearn and Catherine McEniry, as the disgustingly unscrupulous (and mostly toothless) innkeepers and the parents of Eponine, are absolutely hysterical throughout – lighting up the play with their comical singing, expressions, body language, and choice of clothing. Their duet of the irresistible Master of the House, backed up by a phenomenal ensemble of rowdy patrons, was definitely one of the show’s biggest numbers.A few of the other standouts include a charming performance by the very young and confident revolutionary Gavroche (Kyle Wooley), the charismatic revolutionary student leader Enjolras (Collin McConnell), the tender singing of Mikael Thomas as the bishop, and the gorgeous voice of Fantine’s cruel factory co-worker Aubri Burnham. The colorfully dressed and lovely-voiced prostitutes bang out an enthusiastic Lovely Ladies, with the entire ensemble rising up for the inspiring conclusions to both the optimistic first act, and the hopeful ending.