Tuesday,September23,1997_ •_ •' ; ' . ___ Page9
Award-winning
musical giant i
to enliven /
Lied
Chris Thomas
Theater Critic
IOnly a musical with the epic proportions of “Les
Miserables” could sell out eight consecutive perfor
mances at Lincoln’s Lied Center for the Performing
Arts. The raw power and emotion of this play, com
bined with its award-winning music, has become a
favorite among critics and fans everywhere.
, Brought to the stage by composer Claude-Michel
I Schonberg and librettist Alain Boublil, “Les
f Miserables” is Victor Hugo’s classic story in a form
that is undeniably eloquent, remarkably influential
and truly unforgettable.
Set against the sweeping backdrop of the French
^Revolution, character arc and back story are devel
oped with immaculate precision.
| The musical opens in 1815 Digne, with Jean
I Valjean (Gregory Stone) breaking parole after a 19
F year prison sentence to begin his life anew. The epic
encompasses his life and those adjacent to it, includ
ing a pursuing inspector, Javert (Todd Johnson), an
r orphaned child, Cosette (Elizabeth Lundberg and Kate
Fisher), revolutionary students led by Enjolras (Matthew
Shepard) and France’s forgotten lower class.
Teeming with stunning plot twists, gorgeous
pageantry and elaborate sets, the three-hour performance
is best remembered for its music.
*** * % Led by Thenardier (J. P. Dougherty),
* _ “Master of the House” is a choral wonder
telling of the clever, yet maniacal, nature
a... ,jof the ill-do-well innkeeper, and con
\ trasting their poor but virtuous daugh
ter, Eponine (Rona Figueroa).
Soliloquies by Valjean, Javert
- and Marius (Rich Affannato) give
the epic a personal and empathetic
atmosphere the audience can
breathe in.
But the true power of “Les
Miserables” comes from incredi
ble cast numbers like “One Day
^ More,” “Look Down” and “Do
You Hear The People Sing?”
They fill the theater with
emotions incommunicable
with mere words, and over
whelm the listener.
“Les Miserables” is
playing sold-out Lied per
formances today through
Sunday. Also appearing
will be Lisa Capps as
- Fantine, Tregoney
Shepherd as Madame
Thenardier and
Jason L. Mays as
Gavroche.
-
■ H
Photo illustration
by MaryAnn Muggy/DN
CLUB 1427> 1427 0 St., features
wine tastings and an open micro
phone on the first and second
Tuesday of every month. Alternating
Tuesdays feature educational and
independent films.
is
§ i
■ YiaYia’s Beer Wine &
Pizza takes it to the other
side (Mi Tuesday evenings.
By MaryAnn Muggy
<■ Staff Reporter
So it’s Tuesday night and students
have been studying their brains out.
They want Jo take a break and hang
out with friends, but don’t want to get
too crazy - they have a test in the
morning. What is there to do?
At 1427 O St., there is a place
galled-- surprise! - Club 1427.
You’ve probably seen it next to
YiaYia’s Beer Wine & Pizza, 1423 O
St. The establishment has something
happening on Tuesday nights that’s
perfect for a study break or just hang
ing out.
Every second and fourth Tuesday
is movie night. On alternating
Tuesdays, the club features wine
tastings and an open microphone.On
movie nights, the people at Club
1427 show about five short films
from their collection of 250. Patrons
between the ages of 23 and 29 prob
ably liave seen many of them before
- they are the educational films
teachers showed in school.
Documentaries and independent
films round out the screenings,
which begin at 10 p.m.
- Although Club 1427 has a fully
stocked bar,mo food is allowed there,
so patrons should arrive early if they
want YiaYia’s pizza.
On wine-tasting nights, the club
showcases four of its 40 wines. For
$8, connoisseurs may sample each,
and select a glass of their favorite.
Complementary bread, cheese and
grapes a' ompany the tasting. Full
bottles also are available for $ 11.50.
Along with the wine tasting, an
open microphone is available for
musicians, poets, comedians or oth
ers who desire to let their artistic
juices flow. A master of ceremonies
introduces the brave, who are on their
own from there on.
Since alcohol is available on both
movie and wine-tasting nights, par
ticipants need to be 21 to attend.
So there it is - new alternatives to
an otherwise uneventful Tuesday
night. Just wander over to Club 1427,
stopping first at YiaYia’s for dinner,
and enjoy yourself. You’ve earned it
for all that studying.