Radio Theater: Les Miserables


It's not often that I get an opportunity to review anything other than books, so when I saw the chance to review Focus on the Family's radio theater presentation of Les Miserables, I definitely had to get it.

I have listened to some Lamplighter productions, but never any from Focus on the Family, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I've never read the book, but I'm familiar with the musical. So I can't really say which is more accurate, the radio presentation or the musical, although there were things in the radio performance that I thought were odd- they cut out a lot and sometimes even changed things. The biggest probably the fact that Eponine didn't die. ???

The voices? Sometimes I felt the acting was a little melodramatic, and I didn't like Fantine's voice at all. Jean Valjean's was okay, as was Cosette's; I liked the the Thenardiers and Marius. And Enjolras and Gavroche *sob*

However, this performance wasn't just as emotionally charged as the musical (although it's certainly cleaner). I kept feeling like it needed music, no surprise. It was enjoyable, but not spectacular.  However, it's a good way to introduce one to this amazing story of redemption and grace.

I received this product from the publisher for free in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 7

Comments

  1. Diane EstrellaJanuary 2, 2013 at 1:25 PM

    This sounds like an interesting CD. Thanks for your thoughts and the review.

    BTW-I have 7 giveaways going on at my site if you want to pop over. Happy New Year!

    Diane :O)
    www.dianeestrella.com

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

In This Moment

Image
  In This Moment Gabrielle Meyer Bethany House Publishers Maggie inherited a gift from her time-crossing parents that allows her to live three separate lives in 1861, 1941, and 2001. Each night she goes to sleep in one time period and wakes up in another. Until, that is, she turns twenty-one, when she will have to forfeit two of those lives--and everyone she knows in them--forever. In 1861, Maggie is the daughter of an influential senator at the outbreak of the Civil War, navigating a capital full of Southern spies and wounded soldiers. In 1941, she is a Navy nurse, grappling with her knowledge of the future when she's asked to join a hospital ship being sent to Pearl Harbor. And in 2001, she's a brilliant young medical student, fulfilling her dream of becoming a surgeon, yet unable to use her modern skills in her other paths. While Maggie has sworn off romance until she makes her final choice, an intriguing man tugs at her heart in each era. The mysterious Brit...
Read more

The Seamstress of Acadie

Image
As 1754 is drawing to a close, tensions between the French and the British on Canada's Acadian shore are reaching a fever pitch. Seamstress Sylvie Galant and her family--French-speaking Acadians wishing to remain neutral--are caught in the middle, their land positioned between two forts flying rival flags. Amid preparations for the celebration of Noël, the talk is of unrest, coming war, and William Blackburn, the British Army Ranger raising havoc across North America's borderlands. As summer takes hold in 1755 and British ships appear on the horizon, Sylvie encounters Blackburn, who warns her of the coming invasion. Rather than participate in the forced removal of the Acadians from their land, he resigns his commission. But that cannot save Sylvie or her kin. Relocated on a ramshackle ship to Virginia, Sylvie struggles to pick up the pieces of her life. When her path crosses once more with William's, they must work through the complex tangle of their shared, shattered past ...
Read more

Before Midnight

Image
this is the cover of the book I had, but I thought this cover was really pretty! Before Midnight Cameron Dokey Simon and Shuster I’ve heard of this series for a long time now, but I hadn’t gotten a chance to read any of the books until just recently. I really did enjoy this retelling of Cinderella, although there were things about it I didn’t care for. However, it was one of those books whose flaws you don’t notice until you’re done reading and sit back and reflect on the story. One thing I did like about this book was the way it was written, and that it really drew me right in. The twists on the story of Cinderella were interesting, and a few were unexpected. Another thing I liked was that the main character was called Cendrillon , the original French version of the name Cinderella , and that her nickname was Rilla. However, the romance wasn’t really as great; it felt like almost an afterthought. The Prince was barely in it, and their relationship wasn’t given ...
Read more