For one weekend only Ivan Rutherford, the Broadway legend who played the role of Jean Valjean in “Les Misérables” over 2,000 times, returned to the Columbia Theatre for Performing Arts to reprise his starring role.
“Les Misérables,” based on the novel by Victor Hugo, is the story of ex-convict Jean Valjean in France in the early 1800s. After Valjean is saved by a bishop, he turns his life around, eventually taking young Cosette into his care after her mother dies. Years later, Cosette falls in love with student Marius, who is involved in the French Revolution.
This production of Boublil and Schonberg’s “Les Misérables” was presented by Fuhrmann Performing Arts of Covington. The production opened at the Columbia Theatre on Friday, Aug. 30 and was performed again on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. Rutherford flew into Hammond just for opening weekend.
“I was here last year, and I got wind of a ‘Les Mis’ production here,” said Rutherford. “I contacted the powers that be and worked that out. I always jump at a chance to do ‘Les Mis.’ I think it went great.”
On opening night the Columbia Theatre was nearly filled to capacity with viewers from Southeastern, Hammond and Covington. The thunderous applause at the end of each song boasted of the audience’s approval.
“That was amazing,” said Chelsea Krause, a senior double majoring in marketing and general studies with a theatre concentration. “[Rutherford] did a great job, really brought the show together. Altogether it was a really awesome production. I was crying. My best friend over here was crying. We were both over here in tears, it was really that good. I think that’s really nice of Rutherford, that he came and did that. That’s very awesome.”
In addition to Rutherford, several past and present Southeastern students took to the Columbia stage opening weekend. Jarred Frey, a current student majoring in vocal performance, took to the stage to portray the role of Marius. Bethany Putnam, a Southeastern alumna with past experience on the stage, played Cosette.
“This has been the most amazing experience of my whole year,” said Putnam. “It was awesome. It’s just crazy amazing. Ivan is the show. He made every scene come to life. It was amazing.”
Some of the standout numbers in the production were Rutherford’s “Who Am I?” and “Bring Him Home,” as well as the Thernardiers’ lighthearted “Master of the House” and Eponine’s heart-breaking solo “On My Own.” The entire ensemble stood together and performed “One Day More” and “Do You Hear the People Sing?”
Directors of the Fuhrmann production of “Les Misérables” were Randy Perkins, a Southeastern alumnus, his wife Lynn Perkins and Dione Yager.
After opening weekend at the Columbia Theatre, the production then moved on to Greater Covington Center for the following two weekends with Joel Rainey in the role of Jean Valjean.
For additional information on current and future Fuhrmann Performing Arts productions, visit www.fpa-theater.com.