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Salonga lights up 'Les Miz'

By Matt Windman

Lea Salonga and the cast from 'Les Miserables' on Broadway.

It was only supposed to be a limited six-month engagement. At least that's what we were told. A bit over a year ago, mega-producer Cameron Macintosh announced that "Les Miz," which had ended its 6,680-performance Broadway run less than four years earlier, would return to the Great White Way. The staging would remain the same, but a mostly new cast would be introduced featuring some unorthodox casting choices.

If you recall, in spite of its unbelievable international success, "Les Miz" did not receive great reviews back in 1987. The reviews in 2006 were just as mixed, if slightly more hostile. "Why is this show back so soon?" wondered many a theater critic. The revival was even slammed by the Tony Awards, receiving no nominations.

Though the new cast featured many outstanding actors, they were miscast. Alexander Gemignani, for instance, was far too young to play Jean Valjean. Norm Lewis was too likeable for Javert. And Daphne-Rubin Vega was a disaster as Fantine.

Nevertheless, attendance has been consistently strong at the Broadhurst Theatre as more and more people, whether for the first or second time, take in this 1980s British spectacular about at least a dozen characters in mid-18th century France who climb the barricades. Tickets are now on sale through January 2008, there is no longer a tentative closing date and almost the entire cast has now changed.

The pride and joy of the replacement cast is Lea Salonga, who originated the role of Kim in "Miss Saigon," another Boublil and Schonberg musical, and has also played Eponine in the original "Les Miz." By rescuing the role of Fantine, who had previously been butchered by Daphne-Rubin Vega's awkward performance, the revival truly is more authentic and powerful than it was one year ago.

Other outstanding additions to the cast include Marissa McGowan as Eponine, Max von Essen as Enjolras and Chip Zien as Thenardier. Drew Sarich, as the aging ex-convict Jean Valjean, looks even younger than Alexander Gemignani. In fact, on a few weeks ago, Sarich was playing one of the boys on the barricade.

Of course, those rousing choral numbers and mesmerizing set designs remain. So even if "Les Miz" is not in the best of all possible conditions, it would be awful hard to not have a good time at this all-time popular pop opera. But how long will this be going on? One day more? One decade more?

Broadhurst Theatre, 235 West 44th St, 212-239-6200, $36.25-111.25. Open Run.