BAAY does Les Mis
by Christopher Key
Wanna do one of the most difficult musicals in the standard
canon with middle and high school actors?
Who ya gonna call? How about
David Post at Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth? The man has no fear and he instills that in
his young students. The way they respond
defies expectations and he’s been doing it for years.
Les Miserables is
frightening for even professional companies because the music is challenging,
to say the least, and the staging requirements are daunting. Director Post and his gifted students are
more than up to the challenge.
I’m going to go out on a limb and assume most of you know
the story so that I can focus on the actors and techies that make this show
sing.
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| Photo credit - Christopher Key |
This is the story of Jean Valjean and if you don’t have a badass
actor in this role, you’re sunk. Noah
Dunn is stunning, both as an actor and a singer with an amazing range.
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| Photo credit - Christopher Key |
His nemesis is Inspector Javert. I haven’t seen Nick Schackel onstage in a
while and I missed something. Schackel
has seriously found himself as an actor and singer. His Javert is definitive.
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| Photo credit - Christopher Key |
Rosamund Dyer plays Fantine, the single mother who struggles
to protect her daughter Cosette. Dyer
has a dreamy voice and lovely stage presence.
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| Photo credit - Christopher Key |
The power of any musical must be tempered by some comic
relief and Thénardier provides that as the cheerfully amoral street
entrepreneur. Kaleb Harrison is
raucously perfect.
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| Photo credit - Christopher Key |
Corinne Charbonneau is both brilliant and brassy as his
partner in crime.
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| Photo credit - Christopher Key |
The Thénardier’s daughter, Éponine, is played by Olivia
Brice and her portrayal of unrequited love is a thing of beauty.
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| Photo credit - Christopher Key |
Marius, the object of that unrequited affection, is played
by Colin Glaze, whose acting and vocal skills are unparalleled, even though he
has one of those baby faces that will keep him playing male ingénues for years. I know from painful experience.
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| Photo credit - Christopher Key |
He requites the affection of the grown-up Cosette, played by
Amy Wilson. She has an ethereal stage
presence and lovely voice.
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| Photo credit - Christopher Key |
Despite all the distractions, there is some serious history
going on here and Jack Shaughnessy rallies the troops as Gavroche, a leader of
the revolution.
Les Mis is,
obviously, a historical drama and as such requires period costuming. Dana Crediford works wonders. Sixteen-year-old Asher Suloway-Baker delivers
a complex lighting design and Ian Bivins designed the deceptively simple set. Music Director Steve Barnes has his charges
singing at a level that most adult theatre companies would envy.
You won’t believe your eyes and ears unless you see this for
yourself. Les Miserables plays January 29 through February 7 at the BAAY
Playhouse, 1059 North State Street. Tickets
are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.
For further details, see the BAAY website.
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