Say, Do You Hear the Distant Drums?

“Epilogue,” US 3rd National Tour, 2005. Randal Keith as Jean Valjean, Joan Almedilla as Fantine, Sierra Boggess as Cosette, Adam Jacobs as Marius, Melissa Lyons as Éponine.

I don’t know what the whirring and clicking sound is that recurs throughout this clip – did cameras make that sound in the early 2000s? – but it’s only a minor annoyance.

This a beautiful performance from the later years of the US 3rd National Tour. I managed to see all of these lead performers, except the one who went on to be the best-known of all – Sierra Boggess, here understudying Cosette before Phantom and The Little Mermaid launched her to fame.

Randal and Adam are still my favorites of the Valjeans and Marii I’ve seen onstage and I have good memories of Joan’s Fantine and Melissa’s Éponine too.

“One Day More,” US 3rd National Tour, 2005. Randal Keith as Jean Valjean, Adam Jacobs as Marius, Sierra Boggess as Cosette, Melissa Lyons as Éponine, Victor Wallace as Enjolras, Robert Hunt as Javert, David McDonald as Thénardier, Jennifer Butt as Mme. Thénardier.

A fine performance from the 3rd National Tour toward the end of its distinguished 18-year run, with a young, not-yet-famous Sierra Boggess understudying Cosette.

“Epilogue,” London, 2012. Gerónimo Rauch as Jean Valjean, Sierra Boggess as Fantine, Samantha Dorsey as Cosette, Johnny Purchase as Marius, Danielle Hope as Éponine.

This is a beautiful performance.

Gerónimo’s Valjean is very touching: so feeble, pained and full of yearning for heaven at the beginning, then so sweetly overjoyed to see Cosette again. The way he laughs and cries at the same time on “Now you are here... again beside me...” is beautifully poignant. I also love the way he stands so tall and robust after he rises as a spirit and sings “Forgive me all my trespasses...” in a strong, full voice that sharply contrasts with the feeble voice he’s been using throughout the scene.

Samantha’s Cosette is also touching in her tenderness and grief.

Sierra’s Fantine is appropriately angelic. Being a soprano, not a mezzo, she does have to whisper through the low notes on “And you will be with God” (she really should have sung it transposed up, as in the School Edition), but the sweetness of her voice and her lovely demeanor make up for that one weakness.

The whole cast sings beautifully and ends the performance on appropriately moving, stirring note.

The lovely Sierra Boggess sings a lovely rendition of IDAD.