A Utah Theater Review by: B.J. Wright
I have had the pleasure of seeing Payson Community Theater’s presentation of Les Miserables multiple times, and have not walked away disappointed. Opening night, I brought along a friend of mine who was excited to see one of his favorite shows. When he found out it was a community theater production in a small town, performed on a high school stage, he wasn’t shy to share his reservations. As we exited the theater he commented, “I was pleasantly surprised. That was by far the best community theater I have ever seen.” As we drove home, my friend commented that he was surprised at how much talent such a small community was able to pull together, and I agree. The cast of this show is amazing!
Scott Johnson as Javert had a commanding voice. His diction was superb. While some of the other actors were difficult to understand, I was able to understand his words at all times. Steve Dunford (who always delivers a great performance for Payson) gave a strong vocal performance. With his voice alone, Dunford helped the audience to feel the range of emotions Valjean experiences. Kristen Quist brought some of that same emotion to Fantine. I enjoyed her interpretation of Fantine’s fall from grace. I could feel the heartache of not being able to care for a child, and the joy knowing that someone else would care for her after Fantine is gone.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the performances of the two youngest leads in the play. Malaina Dunford took control of the stage as Young Cosette while singing “Castle on a Cloud.” One night I saw her struggling with a chair she needed to lift. I was worried that she was going to get frustrated and fall apart. The little lady took it in stride, and earned my respect. Gavroche is played by William Ewell. He also captured the audience’s attention well. His task was a little harder, as he often had a stage full of actors to compete with. I especially enjoyed his acting during the scene where (spoiler alert!) Gavroche is shot. One thing he can do to make the performance even better would be to work on his diction. There were times it was difficult to understand what he was singing.
The love triangle of Cosette, Marius, and Eponine was also portrayed well. “In my Life/A Heart Full of Love” may indeed be my favorite part of Payson’s production. Amy Rachel Paulson plays Cosette. Paulson’s light and airy voice suited the part perfectly. I especially enjoyed how her face radiates every emotion she feels. Paul Cave brings a tenderness to Marius that I have missed in other productions of the show. At times, I wished his voice was a little stronger, but it was always a pleasure to listen to. Mikayla Gogan also did a commendable job as Eponine. There were times I wished she was a bit more on top of the pitch. However, her imperfections made Eponine more human to me.
The comic relief that Michelle Whitney provided as Madame Thenardier was delightful. It is a part that requires over-the-top acting, and she nailed it without going too far over-the-top. Because she played her part so well, I found that David Antiblain as Thenardier was not as boisterous in comparison.
Any good production is made better by a strong ensemble, and this ensemble makes the show better. I wish I could name each individual cast member and the little nuances they bring to the stage that make the show better. Unfortunately I can’t. Listed in the program are many featured soloists and students who fight at the barricade. As much talent as the lead actors have, this show would not have been as good without the contribution of these supporting actors.
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I commend Co-Artistic Directors Michael and Colleen Carrasco on a wonderful production. Each also contributed to the show in other capacities. Michael designed the set. I enjoyed the use of different techniques used in the set. A turntable stage was used to highlight different sides of a gate, a small stage was built out into the audience to bring the actors close to the audience during emotional solos allowing for a more personal feel, and two-story buildings on either side of the stage helped to create spaces for this large cast to spread out. Colleen served as costume designer and her creations were well done. I could always tell whether there was a bar, factory, hospital, or street scene on the stage. As the set didn’t change much between different scenes, the costumes themselves became very important in defining the location of the scene. Music director Justin Bills also was able to get the ensemble’s harmonies to bring chills to the audience. Whether it was the opening of the first act with the men singing, the entire ensemble at the end of the first act, or the ladies mourning the loss of the men in the second act, the music was spot on.
Unfortunately, not all aspects of the play were as perfect as I would have liked. There was a time or two when the acting took a back seat to the music and the production turned into a concert rather than a play. Also, as the barricade initially rolls out on the stage, it is made mostly out of different types and colors of doors. My friend and I joked that it looked like a scene out of Monsters Inc. rather than Les Mis. Fortunately, as the stage rotates the barricade around, a more proper barricade is on display for most of the barricade scene. Another thing that was not spot on was the sound. I had a hard time hearing many of the actors on opening night because the music tracks were too loud. Fortunately, as I returned another night, the sound levels had been adjusted and the evening was much more enjoyable. One other side note, the temperature in the auditorium seems to fluctuate from night to night. One night it was on the chilly side, and another it was rather warm. I would dress in layers to ensure you can be comfortable as you watch this play.
Overall, this is a great production. As my friend said, this is indeed one of the best community theater productions I also have seen. Don’t miss out on your chance to see a wonderful production of Les Mis. Shows run through Labor Day, but don’t wait. Both nights I attended the auditorium was nearly full, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this show sells out. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased in advance at paysoncommunitytheater.com.
Payson Community Theater Presents:
Les Miserables
Payosn High School
1050 South Main, Payson
Remaining shows:
August 29,30 and September 1
Show Time: 7:30 p.m.
Matinees Aug 30 and Sept 1 @ 2 p.m.
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