I was really excited to see the show again, mostly because the wonderful Colm Wilkinson was starring, but also because I'd heard really good things about the whole cast, and my last experience with the show had been less than a total success. I was also seeing the show with several good friends - Karen and Gill Blackman and Lindsey Wiegers.

We were sitting about 14th row in the orchestra, so I didn't have to worry about that detached-balcony-feeling. And the cast certainly did not disappoint. From the opening notes, I knew this was going to be wonderful.

Colm was everything I could have possibly expected. It was Todd Alan Johnson as I Javert, who I had seen in Vancouver (see Second Experience), so I knew what to expect there too, and though I still didn't like him, it wasn't as big a disappointment as the first time.

Susan Gilmour as Fantine was excellent. She looked really familiar to me, and it wasn't until recently that Karen pointed out that I have her singing I Dreamed a Dream on TV that I realized why. :-) She has a very pretty voice though, and her acting is very good.

Just a random note...I don't understand why they took out the line "It's a runaway cart!" during the runaway cart scene. If I didn't already *know* it was a runaway cart, I think I would be sitting there going, "Why on earth are they all running around the stage in slow motion?" But maybe that's just me.

The Thenardiers were very good...I'd seen J.P. Dougherty as Thenardier both the other times I'd seen the show as well, so I knew he would be good. I had major problems with the little Cosette, who was not only off key half the time but actually dropped one of the lines. However, I saw her subsequent times, and she was better, so maybe it was just an off night.

The students were fabulous. I didn't care much for Kurt Kovalenko as Enjolras, but Tim Howar as Marius was incredible (which became a recurring theme over the next few months :-), and Stephen Bishop as Grantaire was hilarious! (Though I didn't actually see him the first time...I guess I'm combining all my reviews into one here. :-). Jessica-Snow Wilson as Eponine was really good as well...she's the only one in the cast who didn't sound classically trained, but it kind of worked, since she's supposed to be from the street anyway. And Regan Thiel as Cosette was absolutely adorable. She's the only one I've ever seen that made me like that role!

I guess I'll summarize by just saying that I really enjoyed the show overall. We also hit the stage door after the show, of course, and the whole cast was very friendly. I got to meet Colm, which was great, and Tim was simply the sweetest guy ever.