Is she the secret weapon of this musical comeback?

I am obviously biased here because we share the same Filipino heritage. However, when Les Misérables (The Miserable Ones) re-opened in November 2006, it initially advertised itself as a limited six-month engagement. Now ten months later, it has an open-run date and has scheduled shows all the way to January 2008. She wasn’t among the original revival cast, she came in 3 months prior to its supposed closing in May 2007. In that short time the role Lea currently plays had to be replaced not once but twice before everyone was comfortable with the character fit.

Although majority of the original cast are no longer in the show for various reasons, Lea maintains her role (7 months and counting) with the only two remaining original revival cast Adam Jacobs and Ali Ewoldt, who happen to be Filipino-Americans! It is a pleasant surprise that it is still playing in New York. I saw the musical in May this year and I was among those who weren’t totally impressed with this version. The critical reviews were rough. Learning that, I wasn’t inclined to watch until they especially singled out Lea Salonga to ’save’ Fantine’s role. It would have been really les misérable for me to sit through an almost three hour musical if I didn’t at least see Lea Salonga.

Les Miz as it’s devotedly called has pretty good statistics to brag about- 16 years in New York Broadway, 22 years in London West End, ranks third as the longest-running show in Broadway history, and has been witnessed by over 54 million people in 38 countries and 21 languages since its first London performance in October 1985. The original Broadway production opened in 1987, garnering 7 Tony Awards, including Best Musical for that year. The Broadway production ended in 2003 after 6,680 performances. So, what’s missing with the current production? Why isn’t it getting fantastic reviews? For starters, it has only been three years since its last curtain call and now she is back. You haven’t missed her long enough yet! Majority of the critics say it is premature to revive her this early. And I agree because thousands of people share a great love for this show the first time they saw it.

I fell in love with the original cast soundtrack not having even seen the original broadway production. That’s how powerful the original production was years ago. This is the problem with revivals. It will always be compared to the original. And if you can’t surpass your predecessor then you’re in trouble. Next is, they are having trouble casting the right people. Mind you, top caliber theater actors have played the part and are playing the part but for various reasons, the cast keep changing. Thirdly, the current theater is smaller (by almost 300 seats) so the stage look cramped hence there are also smaller miserables ensemble visually obvious on the student revolution of 1832 scene which is the highlight in Act II. Not to be missed though is the revolving stage which was innovative and good to see! There is such fine detail in their props, and great lighting set the tone and mood on stage.

High expectations of the show is the typical downer from those who has seen the original version. I didn’t have any but I wasn’t blown away even with Lea Salonga’s presence. The first time I heard I Dreamed a Dream on CD, Fantine’s signature song- I had goosebumps and was teary-eyed because I felt all her pain and agony just from listening. Fantine’s life is the most unfortunate of all in this musical of vast and multi-faceted characters. I was looking for that same intensity from Lea and I didn’t feel it. “I Dreamed a Dream” if the performer nails it, is the most powerful ballad in the musical and is known to be a show-stopper- that’s when the audience are so moved and so affected that they just give the song a standing ovation as if on cue and thundering applause follows. That didn’t happen that night.

I was not convinced of her playing a sickly factory worker turned into a prostitute in despair. I wasn’t emotionally involved with her character that I couldn’t make myself cry even on her death bed scene. She dies in Act I and is seen again as a ghost with Eponine guiding Jean Valjean to eternity in the finale of Act II. The thing is, it has gotten emotional in Act II halfway through the end and I was crying myself out, grieving over Eponine’s untimely death, lamenting over the meaningful death of Gavroche and Valjean’s touching death- when all the major characters were reunited with him in the finale. Yes, almost all of them die in this poignant show.The two lead roles of Jean Valjean and Javert played by Alexander Gemignani (now replaced by Drew Sarich) and Ben Davis (took over the role from Norm Lewis and now replaced by Ben Crawford) respectively, weren’t a standout. Their singing were solid and almost perfect but again the emotions are lacking. They’re supposed to be two angry mortal enemies playing cat and mouse thru the whole musical and find forgiveness and remorse in the end but you don’t feel it.

Ali Ewoldt as frail and beautiful Cosette (the girl on the Les Miz emblem) and Adam Jacobs as handsome Marius were cute and almost believable in their portrayals. Somehow, I find Ali’s voice too sharp and high-pitched for a soprano range. Ann Harada as deceitful Mme. Thenardier was delightful to watch having seen her in Avenue Q as the original Christmas Eve. She’s so fun to watch onstage whatever role she’s playing!Mandy Bruno (took over the role from Celia Keenan-Bolger and now replaced by Megan McGinnis) as sweet, heartbroken Eponine and Zach Rand (playing alternately with 2 other child actors) as vagabond, street smart, Gavroche stole the show for me! These two characters though have short exposure on the show are pivotal to the entire story that I think any actor given the role are lucky in that sense because the characters are so notable and captivating in itself that it doesn’t matter who plays it. You are just simply absorbed and moved.

That’s what I felt the first time I heard Lea Salonga sang “On my Own,” Eponine’s signature song, over a decade ago. While I was watching the Les Miz revival, I wished Lea was Eponine again! She owns that song! No one can sing it better than her! “On My Own” has been sang and recorded by so many but nothing comes close to Lea’s rendition. If I may refresh your memory, Lea Salonga became the first Asian actress ever to play Eponine on Broadway in 1993, perform the same role in the London production, and in Hawaii, and was the one invited to play at the historic Les Misérables 10th Anniversary Concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Sir Cameron Mackintosh hand-selected the cast for that concert, and has come to be called the Les Misérables Dream Cast, assembling cast members from around the world.

Lea Salonga, regardless of her performance when I saw her on stage that night, is one strong, remarkable woman whom we saw grow as a child singer and actress back in the Philippines and into this fine, brilliant Sir Olivier, Drama desk and Tony Award Broadway winner! She is drawing the crowd to watch her in Les Miz. There is no question that the musical is a masterpiece otherwise it wouldn’t have this long staying power all over the word. It is without doubt close to our hearts and withstands time being originally written as a French Novel by Victor Hugo in 1862. 145 years later, his characters are as real as the poor, wretched ones being oppressed around the world to this very day. I’m just saying, you still need a star like Lea Salonga to pull people in it. It is a story needed to be told. And Lea Salonga might as well be the driving force of this present revival. I don’t know what her contract is with the show or whether she’d give up the role when something better comes up but meantime, catch her while you still can!Incidentally Philippine President Gloria Arroyo, took a break from her tight schedule last week (September 27) in New York to watch the matinee of Les Miz at the Broadhurst Theater. She went up the stage after the finale for picture taking with the cast and greet Lea Salonga, Fil-Ams Ali Ewoldt and Adam Jacobs.

_________________________________
__________________________
Note: Yaikks! As I finished this article, I found out that Lea is in fact leaving Les Miz this month! It is unclear as to why. She may be preparing for her next role as Cinderella to be played in Manila, Philippines but that’s still in August 2008! Oh well, hurry now to New York to see her!!©

Les Misérables
Broadhurst Theatre
235 W. 44th Street,
New York City, New York
Date opened: November 2006

Official Les Misérables Website
Official Les Misérables-Broadway website

SO I WAS IN NEW YORK with a friend in June 2006. We got tickets to see the Mel Brooks hit musical “The Producers”. We arrived in NYC pretty early on Saturday after a three and a half hour car ride from Boston. We figured we’d check out other theaters and see if we can get good enough rates to watch more shows. Summer has officially started and NY has more visitors those days than any other season. Tickets were hard to come by unless you’re willing to pay premier seats that could go as high as $400.00 per person for a show (or scalped tickets at even ridiculously higher price for good shows). Since the shows we were interested in were all blocks away from each other, we decided to split and just call if there are seats left on the theaters we were at.

First stop for me was “Three Days of Rain,” which was only playing until Sunday, June 18. As expected tickets we’re sold out (except for premier seats!!). But I kept pressing for cheaper seats, until the ticket guy said- “here’s the deal, we’re selling ‘Standing Only’ tickets two hours before the show on a first come first serve basis. If you want it, you have to be in line way before two hours.” Those words sounded music to my ears and I was excited. “How much?” I asked. I was calculating, if orchestra tickets were at $112.00. Standing tickets must cost half of that! Shoot, $60 bucks! But what the hey, I’d take my chance. I wanted to see Julia Roberts in the flesh! And then the guy answered, “$26.25!”

Holy Molly!! For a fraction of the seated seat, I get to watch the show! You bet I’ll wait in line!! I don’t care if it was standing or lying down on the floor! I called my friend. It was 10am. I waited in line until they open the sale at noon time for the matinée. And so after 2 hours of waiting I got our tickets to watch Julia Roberts! That’s only the icing on the cake as I later find out. We had lunch and then it was time to see the play.

To my surprise, most theaters do ‘Standing Only’ tickets and we’ve never heard of it. All the time we’ve been going to New York to watch a show! They don’t advertise it of course and tickets we’re very limited to only about 20 people or less! Our tickets were numbered so each ticket had a specific area where you stand, it’s not the “you’re on your own because you’re standing type of ticket.” It was well organized.

The usher was very friendly with us when we were in our place at the back. More than friendly that I was going to tape her mouth to keep her from talking! She kept telling me what “Three Days of Rain” was all about! In my mind, I was like “look lady, I’ve read all the reviews and I know the boring story by heart by now. I’m only here to see Julia Roberts!” I just sweetly smiled and asked, “does Julia sign autographs after the show?”

Oh boy, was I glad I kept my temper with her- otherwise, I would have never known! She said “yes, Julia is very kind and accommodating, just today she came out to talk with us and have our pictures taken with her and blah, blah…” (”Lady. Tell me what to do!!”) Finally after a long talk, she tells me what I wanted to hear.I stood there for the whole first act. A 15-minute Intermission came. That same usher came to us and directed us to 2 empty seats at the near center!! She says, “these seats are available, you can seat here for the remaining act.” That lady was surely an angel! It pays to be nice sometimes! We endured the next hour pinching ourselves from sleeping (there were parts in the play that even the three characters looked like they were falling asleep themselves!) As soon as the curtain fell, I was dashing out of the theater to head for the backstage door for autographs!!

Outside, there was a barricade near the street and a few people, I showed my ticket and I was in! Security was very tight. It was a rather long wait but nobody seemed to mind! This was the cake! I would have never known where to go for autographs had we been sitting. I would have never talked to the usher at all and by the time we got out of the filled theater, Julia would have left or the guards wouldn’t have let me in!

Meanwhile, Julia’s bodyguards were making sure everyone were behaved. Only the ones inside the barricade were allowed to hang around the area. They were practically shoving and driving bystanders away. The guy made some funny ground rules like, “Julia has her own pen, do not give her a pen. Don’t ask Julia to smile for you- she’s tired, Don’t ask her any questions- she won’t answer. Don’t ask her to pose for you, she doesn’t have time. Take as much pictures as you want but don’t push, if this barricade even moves, Julia is out of here!”

So when Julia came out, the whole crowd just went silent. I’m not sure if it was because of what the bodyguard said. I think it was more of a shock, mouth agape in a state of amazement that THE Julia Roberts is in fact in our midst! I was star-struck!! To quote Hugh Grant in Notting Hill, “it was surreal but nice!” She looked almost ‘mortal’ in gray shirt and striped gray pants and flipflops! She signed about 5 playbill (the play’s souvenir program) on my side and she was gone! Just like that, she stayed about a minute on each side to sign autographs! And not even her own signature!!

Apparently, she never signs her own name in autographs, she just scribbles- so we all got different scribbles of Julia but we were happy!! Damn, this stupid phone cameras!! I was fumbling with it and panicking that I won’t get good shots of her. See my friend had to get our digital cameras because we were asked to deposit them before the show. By the time he got it, Julia was gone!! We were only able to get Paul Rudd’s pics in good quality. Bradley Cooper didn’t even show up!!! Paul Rudd actually stopped and smiled for me in my phone camera! He was so nice, stayed and signed (in his own name!) and chatted with the group.

Satisfied with our first day, my friend and I took an early start Sunday morning to conquer the unconquerable, the most popular show in broadway in 2006- The Jersey Boys! We went to the theater 3 times on Saturday to see if there were available seats for the Sunday show or if somebody cancelled out. The line was always long and the same answer, “we’re sold out, try tomorrow!” So we did. Crazy as we were, we went to check the theater at 9am! Wow, three people were already in the seemingly abandoned street- sitting by the theater. It is going to be a looong day for us. We talked ourselves in for a quick breakfast near the theater. At 9:30 I asked my friend to go and fall in line while I finished breakfast. I didn’t want to take any chances, slow eater as I am, that by the time I finish- ten people are already in line! We were 7th and 8th in the line!

As the time progressed, more and more people were showing up! Around 11am, the ticket guy separated the “Student Rush” and “Standing Only” group. The ticket center was about to open. They accommodated 12 students, no more and seven, SEVEN “standing only” tickets!! We were 2 and 3. We bought our tickets at 1pm!!

It was fun, insane and ludicrous waiting for four hours!! But we got in! We had a fabulous time standing! And did the same thing head for the door as soon as it was over and got myself an autograph and a picture of the BIGGEST MAN IN BROADWAY in 2006! If you’re a theatre buff like I’m becoming to be, be smart- go for the standing only or student rush tickets. You can stretch your one orchestra ticket easy to watching 3 broadway shows in the end! I can’t wait for my next Broadway experience and you bet, I’ll be waiting in line!©

THIS IS WHAT I LEARNED FROM “Three Days of Rain” and watching Broadway shows in general. This doesn’t make me an expert but I sure do know some stuff on how to get cheaper tickets, be ahead of everybody else and more! Hope you find it useful for your next New York trip.

1. There is such a thing as Standing Only tickets for $26.25 for same-day show. You have to ask at the ticket box to know the actual time they’re selling the tickets and show up at least 3 or 4 hours before the show and fall in line.

2. If you’re a student, you’re in even great luck! You can buy Student Rush tickets for only $25.00-26.25 and get assured seats in the front row!! Bring your student ID of course and a secondary ID. But again you really have to be early in the theater hours before the show and way before the box office opens. Don’t forget to say you’re there for the “Student Rush” tickets.

3. Bring binoculars! It works wonders! The first four to eight rows are the only best seats in the house and they’re expensive (well the very front is reserved for students!) Even if you buy seated seats, you’re lucky to even notice if the actors are wearing blue or black suits let alone see their faces. With the binoculars, you can see the tension in the characters faces, their shaky hands, their pimples if you will!!

4. BRING your camera BUT photo taking is never allowed inside the theater. Don’t even attempt to shoot while the play is going on because that is sooo NOT cool. Respect the theater and the actors. Besides, it’s a criminal offense and you could get fined or even go to jail- that’s embarrassing!

5. After the curtain call, IF you want the actor’s picture or authograph- head to the exit door at once with your camera and souvenir copy! (You can sell it on ebay later if you decide not to keep it!) Bring a Sharpie pen in case they don’t have one. Don’t delay so you will be among the first in line because the actors seldom stay for long. They’re tired and they’d rather be resting at those times. If you don’t care about those things good for you! But there are people like me who care about theater actors- they’re the real actors!!

6. Some theaters don’t sell ‘Standing Only’ tickets so you have to ask first. Also, ask how many they’re selling for that day so you don’t waste your time.

7. Some theaters instead of falling in line for ‘Standing Only’ tickets would raffle your names and pick them out. They’re only available to 10 or 20 people. Shows like Wicked, Spelling Bee, Hairspray, Avenue Q do lottery tickets for $25 bucks and under!

8. Don’t do the above if it’s your first time in New York! It’s time consuming. Unless all you came for was to watch shows then I highly recommend this! Like me, that’s all I wanted to do there! I only paid about $110.00 bucks for three BIG broadway shows in New York! That’s a steal. If you buy regular tickets, you’d spend about $250 to 300 for the three BIG shows!

9. There is one option but also entails waiting in line only shorter. TKTS ticket booth sells same-day discount for up to half the price of the original ticket price. There is one catch, they only sell not so popular shows and those that’s been running for awhile in Broadway. Last time we checked, you can not buy Jersey Boys, The Color Purple, The Drowsy Chaperone, Wicked tickets there. You have to buy them at their own theaters. Tickets available at TKTS are Chicago, The Producers, Beauty and the Beast, Tarzan and the like. TKTS booth is located temporarily just outside the New York Marriott Marquis on West 46th St. (between Broadway and 8th Avenue) while they create a major permanent home for them right in the middle of times square. Construction is on-going and from what I read should be finished by early winter this year, probably December.

10. I won’t recommend but you can buy online. I swore I’d never buy online tickets again after discovering the “standing Only” deal! Check out tickets online for Jersey boys or The Color Purple, you’ll be surprised of the ticket costs plus service fee!! My friend bought the only tickets available online for “The Producers” at $36.25 plus $7.75 online handling fee! Bad move. They were balcony seats and we were seated at the highest area of the theater, so high you’d feel nauseated if you look down! We found out you can buy walk-in tickets since “The Producers” aren’t as popular as it used to anymore. Plenty of seats available and you don’t have to pay online fees!! We could have saved or have chosen better seats right at the theater!

11. IF YOU WANT ASSURED TICKETS because that’s all you came for in New York, go ahead- buy online. No more worry if you’ll get tickets or not. I’m just saying that Jersey Boys is THE HOTTEST show in Broadway right now but we still got tickets for it buying them on the same day. It’s worth taking chances considering that Jersey Boys is sold out for the entire season! Chances are you won’t get it anywhere, even online without paying the high price. The best deal is still to stick it out there in the theater and fall in line! There will always be seats available to buy either at TKTS or at the Theater Box itself for major shows in Broadway- there’s really no need to buy online unless you want to support Ticketmaster!

12. There are plenty of cheap tickets available but as I mentioned, for the not so popular shows or those that’s been running in Broadway for ages. They’re also very good shows and worth watching. However, I suggest you watch them after you’ve watched bigger shows because nothing quite come close to watching the BIG ones and get the real Broadway experience.

CAN’T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU. I wanna hold you so much! Where were you all my life? I might just as well be in love with the real Frankie Valli, only he’s 70 years old now. BUT I am currently in love with his music and John Lloyd Young- 2006′ Tony Awards Best Actor in a Broadway Musical.

JERSEY BOYS is Broadway’s newest No.1 musical hit and twentysomething John Lloyd Young is Broadway’s newest musical sensation! To say that the show is phenomenal is simply an understatement! There are no words to describe it. The performers are superb, memorable and perfect in their roles! The story is touching and inspiring! Clever and unbelievable! No question it won Best Musical, Best Lighting Design, Best Actor and Best Featured Actor in the Tony Awards, the highest coveted award in Theater. It is what Oscars is in the movies.

Jersey Boys is the Story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. This group along with the Beach Boys were perhaps the only American groups to have survived the British Invasion of The Beatles in 1964. They sold over 100 million records worldwide making them the most successful boy band in rock and roll history.

In 1990, The Four Seasons are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I know you don’t know him and his group if you were born after the 70’s. I didn’t know him or the group either. But you’d be surprised as I am to know that majority of his songs are probably songs you love and listen to all the time.

“Oh What a Night,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man,” “Dawn (Go Away),” “Stay,” “Let’s Hang On to What We’ve Got,”"Bye Bye baby,” “C’mon Marianne,” “Working My Way Back To You,” “Who Loves You,” “Fallen Angel,” “Sherry,” “Grease,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” “My Eyes Adored You” are just among his and the group’s hits! All those songs powered by a great storyline and magnificent cast make it one of the best Broadway shows to watch. It’s the music industry meeting the Sopranos and Goodfellas or the Godfather, put comedy and drama into it, then you have a sure winner!

The Jersey Boys (2005 Original Broadway Cast) CAST RECORDING is a must-have cd to add to your collection even if you haven’t seen the show! But hey, if you happen to be in New York and have only one show to watch, make it this one! ©

Jersey Boys. The Story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons
August Wilson Theater
245 West 52nd Street
New York City, New York
Date opened: November 2005
Official Jersey Boys Website
Broadway.com