Whenever possible I try to go to the annual musical theater presentation at the Hollywood Bowl. This summer it was Les Miserables, the blockbuster musical composed by French composer Claude-Michel Schoneberg with a libretto by Alain Boublil. A huge Broadway hit and still the longest running musical playing in London’s West End, it has had several Broadway revivals already. Its well-known songs include “On My Own,” “Master of The House,” “Bring Him Home,” and “Do you Hear The People Sing.”

It is a long piece (though shortened some at the Bowl), and when sung well it is absolutely stirring. In this production, it was well sung, well staged, and a rousing anthem to freedom. Despite the fact that it is not one of my favorite musicals, because it so truncates the story and is hard to follow, I really enjoyed myself, more than on the several occasions when I saw it in New York.

The cast was really extraordinary. Jean Valjean was sung by J. Mark McVey, who has performed the role nearly 3000 times yet is still fully committed in his portrayal of the fugitive. He has a superb voice and his “On My Own” was thrilling.

His nemesis, Javert, was played by the one and only Brian Stokes Mitchell, who seems to be making the Bowl a kind of West Coast home. Surprisingly, he seemed a bit off his mark at first, straining a little, but soon we were treated to his gorgeous baritone voice. One can easily see why he is Broadway’s current superstar.

If we had been treated only to McVey and Mitchell, I would have been fairly happy, but there was not a bad voice in the lot. Tony winner (for Jersey Boys) John Lloyd was impressive as Marius, as were the hysterical Michael McCormick and Ruth Williamson (replacing the indisposed Rosie O’Donnell) as the scheming Thenardiers.  Also excellent were Melora Hardin (of The Office) as Fantine, the strong-voiced Tom Lowe as Enjolras, and Lea Michele as Eponine. Young Sage Ryan impressed as Gavroche.

Director Richard-Jay Alexander did a marvelous job of bringing the sprawling epic to the Bowl stage. Les Miserables played Aug 8, 9, and 10 as part of the Hollywood Bowl Summer Season.