The famous tale of the unfortunate, “ Les Misérables,” is now playing at the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts (PCPA).
Known as the Central Coast’s resident professional theatre company, PCPA presents an all-star cast including Erik Stein and Sam Zeller as Inspector Javert and Jean Valjean respectively, both Broadway and PCPA Alumni. The show also features resident artists Andrew Philpot and Elizabeth Stuart as the Thenardiers, Michael Jenkinson plays Marius, Vanessa Ballam appears as Cosette and Valerie Rachelle as Fantine as well as special appearances by young actors Alexandra Medina and Michaela White as the Young Cosette and Gavroche, respectively.
“Les Misérables,” based on the classic novel by Victor Hugo, is a story of unrequited love, vengeance, deception and redemption.
The play spans two decades and chronicles the lives of its diverse group of characters who come from all levels of the social arena, each living in their own way in the middle of the French Revolution.
Intended to be a commentary on the period’s social injustices, “Les Misérables” revolves around central character Jean Valjean, who receives parole after a 19-year internment for stealing a loaf of bread.
When revolution strikes, every character’s life and everything around them begins to tear at the seams.
PCPA’s rendition of “Les Misérables” does a wonderful job of portraying the emotional strife of every character. Director Roger DeLaurier and his team present an astonishing performance that incorporates both on-stage and behind-the-scenes perfection. From lead to ensemble character, it is obvious that the entire cast is committed to not only the performance but to their individual characters.
“Everyone is so talented and I am so privileged to get to work with this cast,” Sam Zeller said.“When you put in all the elements and everyone does their homework you get a production like the one we have.”
“I was blown away by (Zeller) and (Stein),” theater senior Ashleigh Droz said. “From the moment Jean Valjean came out on stage I thought ‘wow, this is amazing.’”
All aspects of the theater, both in and out of view of the audience, are used intricately and give the façade that the stage is much larger than it is. The dynamic use of moveable walls provides an interesting way of moving both scenery and actors on and off stage.
To parallel the creativity of stage use, choreographer Michael Jenkins has prepared a visual masterpiece in the use of “grid work” that the thrust stage of the Marian Theater requires as well as an innovative use of slow motion acting.
“I’ve never actually seen ‘Les Mis’ before and I had heard that they usually use a revolving stage,” Droz said. “I was impressed that they did the scenery change without that typical aspect.”
Zeller and his stage foe, Erik Stein, have worked together before playing best friends in a show called “Babes in Arms.”
Hard sought to find an imposing person to match the 6-foot-2 Zeller, the 6-foot-6 Stein plays an enticingly evil and conflicted Javert.
Despite the tragic foreground of “Les Misérables,” Zeller hopes the audience will leave with a sense of hope.
“Even though the title means ‘the miserable ones,’ and we look out into the audience during the finale and see people crying, ‘Les Mis’ is really about enjoying life and telling you to do good things with it,” Zeller said. “We’re really telling a poignant story.”
“Les Misérables” is being performed at Hancock College’s Marian Theatre in Santa Maria and runs throughout the months of April and May. The play will then move to the Festival Theater in Solvang through June and July. Ticket Prices vary from night to night and can be viewed on the PCPA Web site.