A seasoned cast assures success in overcoming the challenges, led by Matt Tucker who reprises the lead role of Jean Valjean that he performed in the award-winning Carlsbad High School production last year. Matt captures even more of the nuances of the character and offers a stronger vocal performance as he drives the story forward. That story begins with Valjean working on a French prison chain gang in 1815, having spent twenty years there after being caught stealing a loaf of bread for his sister’s child. Disillusioned by his life as a parolee, he steals silver from a bishop (Gedaly Guberek) who had taken him in for the night. The police catch him, but the bishop mercifully lies and tells the officers that the stolen silver was given to Valjean as a gift, along with silver candleholders that he “forgot” to take. Touched by the generosity and mercy of the bishop, Valjean begins a new life that includes great fortune and misfortune.

Eight years after skipping parole and forging a new life as a business owner and mayor, his next round of misfortune begins when he is found by determined and unforgiving French officer Javert, strongly and coldly played and sung by Max Myers. Valjean’s life back on the run begins at the same time that he learns a former employee, single mother Fantine (Brittany Nicastro), is about to die and leave a young daughter Cosette as an orphan. Valjean, who was unknowingly partially to blame for the circumstances, swears at Fantine’s deathbed to raise Cosette as his own. But first he has to buy her from her foster parents – the incomparable Thenardier (Kit Medina) and his wife (Rachel Wasko). They provide most of the humor as the disgustingly shady and greedy innkeepers that you love to hate, leading the ensemble in the big Master of the House number.

Other fine performances include the lovely operatic voice of Kelsey Henderson as grown-up Cosette who falls in love with Marius (Jesse Brodie). Jesse’s remarkable vocal gifts join beautifully with Kelsey in their ballads and offer a moving Empty Chairs at Empty Tables that he sings to his fallen comrades after their failed uprising. Sonya Bender gives a beautiful performance as grown-up Eponine, good-hearted daughter of Thenardier who pines for Marius. Sonya’s voice and heartfelt performance create many of the most compelling moments of the play. Drew Pelisek is a hoot as young, street-smart Gavroche who eventually motivates the revolutionary students to new heights when he dies in the arms of always-drunk Grantaire (Collin McConnell), sobering him up along with the rest to the stark reality that they faced in taking on the French army for their righteous cause. The terrific ensemble cast nails the drama, comedy, and singing as the poorer classes of France alternately selling themselves for prostitution, relaxing at the inn while Thenardier robs them blind, and raising up their revolutionary zeal as they seek a better world.

The production wasn’t without its little glitches, with timing problems proving the biggest distractions – to be expected in such a complicated production, especially considering their relatively small number of rehearsals before opening. But in the end these were minor distractions compared to the outstanding singing and acting performances that lifted the show up throughout. Next up for Rising Stars is another ambitious show – the local premiere of Seussical the Musical!

Rob Hopper
National Arts Digest