REVIEW: “Les Miserables” Storms the Stage at Encore Musical Theater

Posted by Angie M. Lai

DEXTER — Local theaters are in the grip of Les Miz mania, largely thanks to the success of the recent Hollywood film version and performance rights becoming available for a limited time before the musical returns to Broadway for yet another engagement in 2014. 

Audiences will have their pick of productions throughout southeastern Michigan in the next several months, including the current one at Dexter’s Encore Musical Theater Company, running now through Aug. 18.

Based on the epic novel by novelist Victor Hugo, the action takes place after the famous French Revolution, but in a time still beset by political turmoil. At the center is Jean Valjean (J. Michael Bailey), a convict who breaks parole after serving nearly two decades in prison for his original crime of stealing a loaf of bread. He is relentlessly pursued by the staunch policeman Javert (Stephen West), who is determined to bring him back to justice.

After being shown an act of kindness by a benevolent bishop (Matt Hook), Valjean begins a quest for personal redemption, including caring for the orphaned Cosette (Erika Henningsen) as the June Rebellion of 1832 looms in the background. 

The role of Valjean is one of the most vocally demanding roles in musical theater, but Bailey navigates much of the score with ease. Stephen West’s booming baritone voice makes Javert appropriately intimidating, and delivers the character’s big solo number, “Stars," with striking conviction.

Jeff Steinhauer and Marlene Inman Reilly are clearly enjoying themselves while playing the cunning Thenardiers, and one of the production’s brightest spots is their performance of the crowd-pleasing number “Master of the House."

Despite rather limited stage time, Henningsen finds some wonderful moments for Cosette—a character often criticized for being too one dimensional. Other notable performances came from include Darcy Link as her mother, the doomed prostitute Fantine; Elias Wygodny as Cosette’s love interest, Marius; Madison Deadman as the lovelorn Eponine; and Zach Barnes as the charismatic student revolutionary, Enjolras.

It takes some doing to condense the story’s multiple settings onto a full size stage. The original Broadway production famously made use of a turntable to achieve that end. The Encore’s stage is not afforded that luxury, and so the settings become even more pared down in the intimate setting. Though this in some ways diminishes its epic scale, it places less emphasis on flashy spectacle.

Audiences need not fear the absence of the famous barricade, cleverly situated on the stage so as to fit, while still giving an impression of size.

Performances run Thursdays at 7 p.m.; Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m.; and Sundays at 3 p.m., July 11-Aug. 18. For tickets, call 734-268-6200 or visit www.theencoretheatre.org.