Cappies Review Thomas Jefferson HS Production of 'Les Miserables'

From the Cappies: Change doesn't always come easily- sometimes you have to fight for it. In Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology's touching production of "Les Miserables," the characters are willing to lay down their lives and raise their muskets for the change they want, whether it be personal or societal.

Based on Victor Hugo's classic 1862 novel,"Les Miserables" premiered in Paris in 1980, before making the transition to Broadway in 1987. Widely beloved, it is the longest-running musical on London's West End, having been performed continuously for more than thirty years. Taking place in 19th-century France, the story follows ex-con Jean Valjean as he breaks his parole and attempts to start a new life as an honest man. The musical offers a glimpse into the lives and struggles of the downtrodden poor during an era of repeated revolution and political upheaval.

Thomas Jefferson High School's sizable cast formed a strong, unified ensemble. In a musical that revolves around the voices of the people, the full company numbers are of vital importance, and the students of Thomas Jefferson did not disappoint. The ensemble demonstrated impressive cohesion both as actors and as vocalists, masterfully executing complicated harmonies. Their rendition of "At the End of the Day" was immediately captivating.

Lead actor Matthew Heninger carried the weighty role of Jean Valjean with maturity and emotional intensity. His visceral expressiveness conveyed the show's thematic depth and his character's redemptive evolution. Heninger's vocals demonstrated an impressive range, standing out in stirring solo numbers such as "Who Am I?". Valjean's adopted daughter Cosette, meanwhile, was performed with lovely sweetness and strength by Olympia Hatzilambrou. Her enchantingly pure soprano vocals soared, hitting stellar high notes in "A Heart Full Of Love." Hatzilambrou also maintained an adorable, believable romantic onstage chemistry with Timmy Chan, who played the young revolutionary Marius Pontmercy. The starry-eyed lovers served as a point of light in an otherwise dark show. Chan himself, meanwhile, was infinitely charming in his role, and his clear tenor singing voice was heartbreaking and emotive in his solo number, "Empty Chairs and Empty Tables."

While "Les Miserables" is certainly a melancholy show, it is not utterly without comic relief. The Thenardiers, a pair of money-grubbing crooks, were played with high energy and witty, lewd hilarity by Joshua Mutterperl and Juliana Gruver. Mutterperl portrayed his character with the ideal dose of sliminess, with exaggerated mannerisms and comedic one-liners that landed perfectly. Gruver, meanwhile, acted as his wife with a similar shrewd humor, slipping in sarcastic comments about her husband that had the audience chuckling. The pair were an instant crowd favorite, lighting up the stage in their jovial musical number, "Master of the House."

The students of Thomas Jefferson High School also deserve note for the successful work done by those offstage. Although the actors and the pit orchestra occasionally found themselves out of sync, the orchestra itself was exquisite. They handled the show's difficult score with skill and poise. Meanwhile, head set designer Neha Khandelwal and the rest of the set team created several outstanding set pieces. As the curtain lifted for the show's opening scene, the audience was instantly wowed by the large, student-built ship that the characters were attempting to move. Similarly impressive in the second act was the remarkable multi-piece barricade on which the students stage their last stand.

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology has delivered a commendable production of "Les Miserables," portraying weighty themes such as injustice, sacrifice, and love with dedication and grace. The standing ovation they received from the audience was thoroughly deserved.

by Lydia Gompper of George Mason High School

Photo courtesy of the Cappies (From left to right: Matt Heninger, Olympia Hatzilambrou, Timmy Chan. The photo is by Patty Vitsupakorn, a student at Thomas Jefferson HS)