Please check me on the US tour
Ok, I am just looking for someone to check my perception. I've seen Les Mis every 3-4 years since I first saw it on Broadway in the early 90s. Absolutely my favorite musical of all times.
So I just saw the US touring show in Minneapolis again. I feel like there have been some continued edits/updates and I'm not such a fan. Here are my observations: 1) I think they have increased the tempo of some of the songs in order to move through some number quickly. I noticed it immediately in the opening numbers, but also in various songs later in the show. 2) I think they have added verses to some of the songs. I was sitting there tracking the song and suddenly there is a verse that I don't think I've ever heard. My only guess is that they are trying to outright explain more of the story to the audience, rather than having the audience have to follow the story closely 3). The show was 2 hrs and 55 min long. I don't remember it every being so long. Obviously relating to #2, more versus and filler results in a longer show
So, as I said, I am hoping someone can check me on this. In addition to now being old and probably a more fluid memory, I am also a bit more biased. When I was younger, I felt like I had to be engaged in the story to really follow everything; now it feels like the story is fed to the audience on a platter.
Happy to receive any input.