JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 47

W

hile many musicals are 
entertaining, even moving, 
only a few merit repeat 
viewings. Les Miserables is one of those 
shows, a magnificent production that 
unites first-time audiences with a 
worldwide cadre of loyal fans who line 
up to see it again … and again and 
again. 
The current North American 
tour, playing at the Fisher Theatre 
through Jan. 8, features a superb cast 
of performers who bring new life to 
this timeless story and its spellbinding 
score. 
Les Miserables, based on Victor 
Hugo’s 1862 novel of the same name, 
began as a French concept album 
written and composed by Claude-
Michel Schönberg, Alain Boubil and 
Jean-Marc Natel, which led to a short-
lived stage production in 1980. After 
hearing the soundtrack, producer 
Cameron Mackintosh developed an 

English version with new lyrics by 
Herbert Kretzmer. After a successful 
London premiere, the show opened on 
Broadway in 1987, winning multiple 
Tony Awards and critical acclaim. To 
date, Les Mis has been translated into 
22 languages and been performed in 45 
countries. More than 70 million people 
have been touched by the iconic songs 
and enduring message of hope and 
redemption.
Set in 19th-century France, the 
musical opens as ruthless law officer 
Javert (Preston Truman Boyd) releases 
Jean Valjean (Nick Cartell) from 
19 years of harsh imprisonment for 
stealing a loaf of bread to save his 
sister’s ailing child. The story follows 
Valjean as he becomes a respected 
member of society and fulfills a 
deathbed promise to take care of the 
daughter of Fantine (Haley Dortch), a 
downtrodden villager. 
The subsequent adventures of Valjean 

and his surrogate daughter, Cosette 
(Addie Morales), are set against the 
backdrop of an unsuccessful revolution 
against the French army, planned by 
a group of idealistic but ill-prepared 
students. 
What makes the musical so 
inspirational is that it begins with the 
depths of the human condition — soul-
crushing poverty, humiliating working 
conditions and unrequited love — and 
soars to the heights of sublime love, 
true friendship and devotion to a cause 
worth dying for. 
Every performance in this production 
is excellent, especially Cartell and Boyd 
as Valjean and his nemesis Javert and 
Christine Heesun Hwang, who plays the 
lovelorn Eponine. Exceptional acting 
skills and comic relief are provided 
by Matt Crowle as the unscrupulous 
innkeeper Thenardier. 
While it is hard to highlight one or 
even two scenes, notable moments 
include Javert’s suicide jump into the 
realistically depicted roiling waters 
of the Seine, the bloody battle on the 
barricade and the lavish wedding of 
Cosette and Marius (Gregory Lee 
Rodriguez).
Every song inspires awe in its own 
way, especially Eponine’s poignant “On 
My Own,” the rousing “Red and Black” 
by Enroljas (Devon Archer) and his 
fellow revolutionaries and the comical 
“Master of the House” by innkeeper 
Thenardier, his wife (Christina Rose 
Hall) and their unsuspecting patrons. 

ARTS&LIFE
THEATER REVIEW

A stellar cast brings the timeless 
story of hope to the Fisher stage. 

After 37 Years, 
 
 
 Les Mis Still 
MESMERIZES

RONELLE GRIER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Les Miserables runs through Sunday, 
Jan. 8, at the Fisher Theatre, 3011 W. 
Grand Blvd. in Detroit. Ticket prices 
start at $45 (including facility and 
parking fees). Tickets for the Open 
Captioned (ASL) performance on 
Friday, Jan. 6, must be purchased 
in person at the Fisher Theatre Box 
Office or by phone at (313) 872-
1000, ext. 0. Group sales available 
at broadwayindetroitgroups@
theambassadors.com or (313) 871-
1132. For general tickets or more 
information, call (313) 872-1000 or 
visit www.broadwayindetroit.com. 

MATTHEW MURPHY & EVAN ZIMMERMAN FOR MURPHYMADE

Matt Crowle 
and the cast 
of Les Mis