LesMis 30-something Challenge 1.

I should not be up this late. Or, I should be up this late, but I should be writing my essays instead.

I decided I won't be able to do these challenges in 30 days (why do I keep typing challenges wrong?). Hence awkwardly-edited blog post title. Anywho, here we go!

Starting with Les Miserables (by anonymi-who-read-my-blog-but-don't-have-their-own-blog popular demand)! This topic will most likely be more well-known than the second challenge I chose. Gah- enough procrastinating.

Who is your favorite Valjean? Why?

My favorite Valjean is whoever can embody his character and portray his true emotion the most honestly and passionately. Cliche, but true. I suppose I have grown used to seeing Colm Wilkinson as Valjean, and therefore am biased, but he isn't my favorite character so I have no favorite actor, only those whom I prefer or are used to.
This is not to say I don't like the character of Valjean- he has some of the best numbers in the entire musical (there is a very slight possibility that he is the main character). Alfie Boe is amazing too, but he is an opera tenor and I feel like he is unable to give Valjean the raw emotion and desperation through his voice. And he's too pretty. Seriously. Valjean is supposed to be a saint-like figure, and it simply won't do to have people crushing on him.

Soo, my answer would have to be Wilkinson, or J. Mark McVey (the latter only because I saw him perform live, and that's just an unfair advantage.) However, there are a couple things about Wilkinson that annoy me. Firstly, he holds his notes well, but much longer than necessary. It becomes slightly cocky on his part. Secondly, he's too old (no ageism intended). It's just that he's supposed to be the same age as Javert, and well. Javert is always cast much younger than he's supposed to be.

First question answered! You can count on the rest being at least a little more decisive. Next.