The epic tale is that of Jean Valjean, beginning with his release from a French prison chain gang where he suffered twenty years after stealing a loaf of bread. Upon his release, he gets a second chance after stealing silver from a kindly bishop, the bishop telling the authorities that he gave the silver to Valjean, then telling Valjean to use that silver to do good. But Valjean’s past, and the tenacious, stonehearted Inspector Javert, haunt Valjean as he creates his new life.

Adam Covalt shines as Jean Valjean, nailing the difficult vocals and subtly generating strong emotions as we see his character struggling with his conscience and his soul – from his life-changing choice to fulfill the bishop’s wish, to turning himself in rather than have an innocent man condemned in his place, to his decision on the fate of Javert, to his prayer for the young man who loves the girl he raises as a daughter with the beautiful Bring Him Home.

The cast is full of fantastic voices that make the sublime, haunting music all the more effective. Bethany Slomka is the spunky Eponine whose unrequited love for young university student Marius drives her songs and her courage. Her death scene is movingly performed by her and Marius (James Maslow). James is a charming and sonorous Marius who beams in the presence of his true love – the young Cosette (Lydia An) being raised by Valjean. The three of them combine for some terrific ballads. Other remarkable singing performances come from Melissa Magana as Cosette’s mother Fantine, Victoria Matthews offers a sweet solo as Young Cosette, and Benjamin Roy as the Bishop and later as teasing student Grantaire.

Daniel Mendoza and Natasha Cortes inject some over-the-top humor into the show as the “Masters of the House” – greedy, grimy innkeepers who sell young Cosette to Valjean but later decide their asking price was too low. Andrew Davis is the rigidly self-righteous Inspector Javert who sees everything as either good or evil, doggedly pursuing Jean Valjean, and doing so with a proper, disdainful air to him. Elsewhere, the charismatic Matt Ignacio leads an impressive group of students who seem both playfully young and seriously impassioned in their cause, while the rest of the ensemble mix their vocals together marvelously.

Performs December 8 - 17, 2005.

Rob Hopper
National Youth Theatre