Lea breathes life into ‘Les Miserables’

NEW YORK — Back so soon? Motherhood sidelined Lea Salonga for about a year, but she is back on Broadway, her return hailed by a Manhattan newspaper as “pride and joy" of the “Les Miserables" cast. In Les Mis, Lea appropriately plays Fantine, a working-class mother who has a daughter, is forced into prostitution to support her child, and eventually succumbs into madness. Her tragic character is a short but poignant role where she gets to sing “I Dreamed a Dream," previously trademarked to the legendary Patti Lupone and one of the play’s most memorable songs. The return of Les Mis has been met with huge disappointment by New York’s theater watchers, citing its uninspired cast. Lea changed some of that air of gloom. “The current Les Miz is badly miscast across the board, lacking even a single stellar player," reports one of the many hostile reviews in 2006. Lea joined the cast in March of this year, a move hailed by AM New York, a popular Manhattan tabloid, as the “the pride and joy of the replacement cast." “The revival is more powerful than it was one year ago," added the paper. “I am flattered!" the Tony awardee (for “Miss Saigon") blushed when she spoke to Philippine News for an exclusive interview at her dressing room at Broadhurst Theatre. Brushing aside the media hype, she added: “This was not exactly a company in need of rescuing, it was in fine shape when I came in, and it’s in great shape now!" Theater fans were just as effusive and welcoming. “Les Miserables is an enjoyable treat to watch with Lea in it," said Emerald Damian who watched the musical with her husband Glen. “It’s a treat to listen to her voice and her rendition of I Dreamed A Dream made my hair stood up – What an amazing voice!" “Lea’s voice is so pure and beautiful and she sings with such ease, it is really something to behold!" said Patricia Balmaceda. “She seemed like a really sweet, good-hearted, even slightly innocent woman thrust into a very terrible situation, making her demise even more tragic." This performance marked Lea’s second appearance in Les Mis, the first time receiving critical acclaim for her portrayal of Eponine in 1993. Due to strong box-office receipts, Les Mis is being extended through the summer, and Lea will stay with the production through the entire period. Lea said she was offered the role so she didn’t have to audition for it. “When I get offered something, it makes me feel ‘oh that’s really nice that they thought of me right away’ and it’s a really a nice feeling." She said she’s “perfectly happy" doing Broadway. “This is my comfort zone. I just know this medium very well. I just open my mouth to sing and I know that I’ll be okay," she said in all perkiness. - Philippine News