Les Miserables is a tale of epic proportions that highlights the unfortunate situation of “the miserable.” Les Mis, as it is commonly called, follows ex-convict Jean Valjean (Ramin Karimloo) who attempts to escape his past and recreate himself while under the pursuit of Inspector Javert (Will Swenson). Set to the backdrop of revolutionary France, Valjean’s journey is colored by a company of characters, including the tragic and beautiful Fantine (Caissie Levy), his adopted daughter Cosette (Samantha Hill), student revolutionaries, and the cheating Thenardiers.
The operetta features the music of Claude-Michel Schonberg, the composer of other classic hits such as Miss Saigon. The show revolves around a few recurring melodies that take different forms in various songs. Each one is lyrical and enchanting in it’s own way. The tune of “I Dreamed a Dream,” a hauntingly beautiful solo morphs into several forms throughout the show, including the show stopping Act One finale “One Day More.” Using the music as the common thread in the show is unbelievably powerful and helps to draw connections between the main characters.