We nearly started to sing in the office when we heard the city’s latest musical theatre news: Les Misérables is coming back in 2012. After what’s been a gruelling six-year absence, the beloved musical will return to the Toronto stage next July with an all-new, all-Canadian cast, producer Cameron Mackintosh told the Toronto Star yesterday. The British impresario will team up with Mirvish Productions to stage the epic adaptation of Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel, which follows the redemption arc of reformed thief Jean Valjean set against the backdrop of the 1832 rebellion in France. But we’re starting to wonder whether Mackintosh is losing his marbles: he’s considering Justin Bieber for the part of Marius.
We already winced when we saw Nick Jonas’s squeaky, laboured performance in the 25th-anniversary edition, but the Biebs is an even worse choice. We love the kid as much as anyone, but his voice has barely even changed yet. He’s much better suited to the role of rascally street urchin Gavroche than the romantic male lead. (Others, particularly in the tween demographic, might disagree.)
Meanwhile, we have some of our own casting ideas, like Colm Feore as the dastardly Inspector Javert, Adam Brazier as Enjolras and Chilina Kennedy as Fantine. As for the role of Jean Valjean, we can’t imagine anyone but Colm Wilkinson in the part. He’s a little older than the last time he donned Valjean’s iconic blue and red jacket, but a recent solo show in Toronto proved that he still has what it takes (and he can still hit that high A).
(Image: Justin Bieber, Audrey Pilato)
Young Cosette seemed like such a small role for him, though.
October 6, 2011 at 4:18 pm | by ah123@ah123 Your comment has made this news almost tolerable.
Please don’t let the Bieber taint all that is holy with Les Miserables.
October 6, 2011 at 5:06 pm | by wert?I really dislike ‘Haters’ and my own country seems to have
October 7, 2011 at 3:13 am | by RockSolidsome of the worst.
Too bad for you that fans make stars, not ‘Haters’.
Like it or not he is the most popular entertainer in the world.
In only his last 4 shows he sold out 250,000 seats.
He made over a million a week last year, so why would he
want to freakin do a play in Toronto! Lmfao!!!
He may be popular, but he certainly doesn’t have the right voice for Les Mis. Nick Jonas – also very popular – was also not right for the part.
October 9, 2011 at 4:39 pm | by SarahAs a complete Les Miz addict,my reaction to Justin Bieber in the production is NO.NO.No.My concern would also be that if I am paying $100.00 plus for a ticket,what shall we be able to do about screeming teenage girls? I also agree Nick Jonas was not right for the part in the 25th Anniversay show.Again to Justin Bieber,NO.NO.NO…..
October 10, 2011 at 3:43 pm | by Lynn JohnsonI would love to see Melissa Thomson back in Les Mis. Last time around she played Eponine. She is older now but her voice is still amazing so she would be a perfect Fantine!
October 11, 2011 at 9:50 am | by SusanI have seen Les Miz more than 10 times and never been disappointed except for the 25th anniversary concert – because of Nick Jonas’ performance. I wouldn’t have expected Les Miz (of all productions) to sell out and cast someone based on popularity instead of talent. Actually, it seems rather insulting to assume that today’s kids and teenagers wouldn’t be interested in Les Miz without some teenage popstar in the cast. Les Miz is magic and I hope the producers have enough belief in that when casting for Toronto.
October 12, 2011 at 9:16 pm | by CherylNo No No No No. Biebs looks like a 12 year old lesbian (no offence to lesbians or 12 year olds everywhere). if he dares to try and be in les miz, aka the musical of the century. i will not ever see les mis ever again.
October 18, 2011 at 3:38 pm | by KObadgerI sure hope they bring back the original cast members from 1990-1991. Personally, Michael Burgess is FAR BETTER Jean Valjean than Colm Wilkinson. I’ve seen Les Mis numerous times with different cast members, but our own Toronto 1990-1991 cast was just incredible with Burgess as Valjean, Thomas Goerz as Javert, Susan Gilmour as Fantine, etc. Emotions were pouring from their performances and rivers of tears from my eyes.
We’ll have to wait and see, but seriously – Bieber in LesMis – would be disgrace. Let them select him for the movie instead where everything can be altered with special effects, especially his voice:-)
Since I cannot wait for July, I am crossing over to Buffalo first to see US Tour production in March, then we’ll go to TO.
October 23, 2011 at 8:18 am | by Sami personally think Nick Jonas was amazing in the 25th Anniversary performance. he is quite talented and dramatically skilled. but having Justin Bieber in les mis would not be the best choice because he is not classically trained and has not had enough experience for the role. i believe a more mature cast should be chosen.
November 3, 2011 at 10:03 pm | by LorHaving been a Les Miz fan since, well, forever (and I’m 37 now) I think casting Justin in the role would be a serious mistake. He is a POP artist. Not that the cross-over can’t be done, but it’s simply the wrong choice. I cringed in denial when I watched the 25th Anniversary performance because Joe Jonas was simply horrible. He doesn’t have the chops to pull it off – and he’s older than the Biebs. And Lynn is correct in her comment. If a SERIOUS theatre audience is dishing out upwards of $100 per ticket, what makes anyone think they want to have to try and hear over the screaming teeny-boppers every time he comes on stage?
Overall, it would be a disaster of epic proportions for casting to go this way. And I happen to agree with the author – Adam Brazier as Enjolras would be the right choice. As for Marius, you mean to tell me that our Canadian theatre programs haven’t produced enough talent to choose someone for the role of Marius? If I was the professors of those programs, I’d find that very insulting.
November 28, 2011 at 11:46 am | by AndreaWhoops – make that Nick Jonas (they’re all interchangable and just as horrible to me). Either way – it was sacrilegious.
November 28, 2011 at 11:51 am | by AndreaLes Mis has to be my favourite musical. When the source material comes from the Romantic era, you really can’t go wrong. I saw it when it was last in Toronto and was ecstatic when I heard it would be returning in 2012.
As for the casting, an emphatic NO THANK YOU to Justin Beiber as Marius. Gavroche I can see him as – especially since he already got experience being shot by police on CSI. If they must, they can have him in the film version and replace “Heart Full of Love” with “Baby Baby Baby” for all I care.
Kidding aside, can we honestly not find a classically trained vocalist for this?
December 18, 2011 at 6:35 am | by JasonI agree. This is not the place for Beiber. I just watched the 25th Anniversary again on youtube. Nick Jonas did ok. Just ok. But when Michael Ball came up at the end and sang, you remembered what a true singer can do. I flipped back to the 10th Anniversary and watched Michael Ball sing Empty Chairs and Empty Tables. OMG, what a voice. The song brought me to tears. Again.
Please please don’t make this a “throw away part” by putting the flavour of the month in it.
January 5, 2012 at 2:13 pm | by ChristineIf Biebs is in it, I’m not gonna waste my $100 Plus for the ticket.
February 9, 2012 at 12:17 am | by Quynh