From January 17th to the 22nd Les Misérables came to good old St. Louis. The Fabulous Fox theater featured this musical many years ago, but it’s back now and better than ever. Last time the musical came to town was in 2019. I saw the show then and I saw it now, and much has improved since.  

This show was heartbreaking, comedic, powerful and so much more. Through this emotional roller coaster, I cried and laughed while watching the actors, along with the other thousand people in the audience. 

It takes place in France during the 19th century and during the Napoleonic Wars.

The story follows Jean Valjean, and his ‘adoptive’ daughter Cossette, along with many other characters.

Jean Valjean, who was an ex-convict, struggled to find his way back into a good life. He seeked amends after a Bishop took pity on him. After the mercy he was shown, Valjean turned his life around.

Eventually he takes in Cosette, after her mother dies from illness. Years later, Cosette meets a young man named Marius, and the two fall in love instantly. But it only leaves his friend, Éponine, behind for heartbreak. 

As time goes on, aka the second act, the war begins. This is where the sadness shows through as many people unfortunately die leaving only two remaining, Marius and Vaijean. Both are injured but live on thanks to Vaijean, who soon dies after Cosette and Marius are married. 

Many elements played into what made this musical phenomenal. The set was astonishing, not only was it time-period appropriate, but it consisted of small detail that made it all more realistic. The pieces moved flawlessly around the stage to set each scene. 

Another fantastic element included was the costume details. I enjoyed seeing each character’s uniqueness and personality expressed through the costumes. It takes a large amount of time to get it right, but these were just perfect.

Lastly, the most important thing was the quality of the actors’ voices. Each actor fit, and played their roles flawlessly. Almost every time they sang, I got chills or goosebumps. If you get the chance to make it to The Fox, head on out, it’s always worth it!