The Visor

Les Misérables proves to be anything but miserable

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May 17, 2010

Marie Hofer

“Master of the house, doling out the charm ready with a handshake and an open palm.”

A line from Master of the House, a song which captivated Les Mis’ audiences while charming them with the wit and passionate talent of the cast and crew.

Every year in the spring the theater department puts on a musical but this year Brother Philip Smith decided to take a different path that better demonstrated the high caliber talent of Hoban’s actors.

“I chose Les Misérables because of the talent level of this year’s senior class. Many of them are going on to music/theater schools and I felt that they should have the privelage of performing and showcasing their voices with this opera,” Br. Phil said. “Also because Mr. Kelvingtion had the extremely challenging job of directing and I didn’t have to,” Smith said in a jolly, playful manner.

“Les Misérables is most likely why I have this job,” Kelvington said joking along.

Hoban’s production of Les Mis was an edited version of Victor Hugo’s creation. It was edited to be school appropriate. It is set in the 19th century and is the story of Jean Valjean played by Senior Bill Darby. Valjean is imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread.

After he works off his sentence on a chain gang, Valjean breaks his parole and is pursued by Inspector Javert whose life is his job. Throughout the story Valjean turns his life around and becomes a love adoptive father as well as a successful businessman. This all comes crashing down when he is faced with both Javert and the violence of the French Revolution.

(Pictured left Darby and Breen)

Sophomore Kaitlyn Mann played young Cosette who was orphaned early on in the production.

“I felt the performances were all moving or touching in their own ways. Marie Kunze and John Walker stole the show and without their comic relief the musical would have been too intense for viewers,” Mann said, “Being a part of the cast is a great experience we all become one big family and support each other and everyone is equally important big or small roles.”

“I loved every minute of it, I will miss this group of people next year but I also cant wait for next year,” Mann said.

Senior Marie Kunze played the role of the trashy but witty Madame Thenardier.

“My favorite part was definitely the innkeeper’s song, it was the most fun and the happiest number in the musical,” Kunze said. “Just being a part of something so amazing and being able to say I contributed to something that made so many people laugh as well as cry is just such a good feeling.”

“After I graduate I hope to be apart of the Kent State Theater program and continue to entertain people,” Kunze said.

Senior John Walker played her lovable thieving husband Monsieur Thenardier.

“I really liked that I got to be the comic relief in the show. I love to entertain people and Les Misérables is pretty depressing so it was nice to be the laughter of the show,” Walker said.

(Pictured left in order from left to right, Kunze, Walker, Michaels and Crookston)

Senior David Breen played the relentless and morally torn Inspector Javert.

“Glad I’m able to entertain because this make-up is not worth wearing without being able to entertain people. It takes forever to get off and the fake old hair takes at least three washes to get out,” Breen said.

Senior Lauren Paoletta was a member of the Ensemble.

“Les Mis went great! The whole cast was very passionate about it which made it an emotionally charged show.” Paoletta said. “We poured everything we had into it and the audience could totally tell. I think we touched a lot of people.”

Junior Julie Crookston played Cosette who was madly in love with Marius.

“I was in my element! It has always been a dream of mine to sing in an opera, who knew that Hoban would present me with such an opportunity.” Crookston said, “I am classically trained and have always been interested in opera. From the time I was two I ran around the house trying to sing louder then my mom.”

Senior Ryan Michaels played a political rebel and the love interest of Cosette.

“It has been such a pleasure working with such a fine and talented group of indivduals as wall as fantastic directors. This years production of Les Mis was so epic and moving that I don’t really know what could top this! Thank you to everyone who put countless hours in if we only had ‘One Day More’,” Michaels said.

John Gutbrod played the rebellion leader Enjolras.

“Doing the opera style was a completely new experience. It was less about expression through movement, and more about standing still—putting all your energy into song,” Gutbrod said, “If a story can be told entirely in continuous beautiful melodies than why muddle it with dialogue?”

Darby played the reformed and emotional convict Jean Valjean.

“The main difference between musical performances and opera performances is that a musical has mostly spoken lines with singing here and there while an opera is constant singing and rarely is there dialogue,” Darby said. “I liked the opera style just as much as the musical style but the opera was so much more work.”

“I am attending the Ohio State School of Music in the fall and will hopefully continue with theater there,” Darby said. “It has been a nice four years and hopefully everyone will see me succeed through music again someday.”

Junior Rachel Smith played Fantine, the struggling mother of Cosette.

“I personally loved the opera style of the musical because it gave the show a professional feel—we really had to watch Mr. Kelvington for cues and tempo. I felt like it connected all the cast members in a really unique way,” Rachel Smith said. “I feel so privileged to have been a part of a production as incredible as Hoban’s Les Misérables was this year, and I think there’s only room for improvement for years to come.”

(Pictured left Rachel Smith as Cosette)

(Maria Rizzo and Ryan Michaels sing together in Les Miz)

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