While there were empty chairs at empty tables onstage, there was not an empty seat in the audience as Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School paid homage to the classic literary masterpiece that is “Les Misérables”.

This widely venerated musical is based on the tale author Victor Hugo crafted after his unintentional escapades behind the barricades of the June Revolution in 1832. The story was first put onstage in 1980 at the Palais des Sports but closed soon after. Several years later, the original French piece was translated and opened in London where it enjoyed abundant success. The show follows Jean ValJean, a man convicted of a trite crime long before the curtain rises, and his attempts to forge a new life for himself free from the confines of his “yellow work ticket”. His pursuer, Javert, will stop at nothing to see Jean ValJean aptly punished, but as revolution ensues (lead by the valiant Marius and his ardent gang of school boys), loyalties are tested and morals are contemplated over.

Beth Tfiloh’s production stayed true to the nature of the tale while tastefully censoring some of the more salacious plot elements. The leads were entrancing but the ensemble’s tight harmonies and anarchistic vitality were unequivocally enlivening. The special effects were elegant and not at all overdone, giving the show a striking edge while constructing a clear separation between delusions and reality.

Daniel Goldman as Jean ValJean embraced his arduous role, commanding attention and never faltering, even during grueling numbers like “Bring Him Home” that made use of his extensive range. Aaron Stein created a poignant Javert and carried his character through impressive amounts of development. Stein and Goldman displayed exemplary chemistry and played off of one another with ease.

Rebecca Robin enamored her audience as Fantine, crooning a captivating rendition of the hallowed torch song “I Dreamed a Dream” and passing with heartbreaking realism as she reached out for her daughter, Cosette, played by Ilyssa Rubin. Rubin was entrancing, reaching her highest notes with phenomenal clarity. Her vocal dexterity was met if not exceeded by her acting prowess, formulating beautifully accessible emotions whenever she was onstage. Molly Azrael portrayed a charming Eponine, leaving audience members in tears after her heartbreaking rendition of “A Little Fall of Rain”. Ethan Cuttler as Marius was thoroughly charming and his connections with both Rubin and Cuttler were engrossing. Noah Broth as Enjolras was both enamoring and talented, adding a layer of optimism to the show until his character’s final moments.

The set was attractively minimalistic, allowing for multi-purpose crates to be seamlessly shifted in and out of scenes whenever needed. Most notable, however, was the barricade, incorporating the recurring crates and spinning to reveal a change in focal point. The Publicity Committee did a skillful marketing job. From flash mobs to a popular Instagram account, the team clearly utilized all of their assets to popularize the show.

You don’t want to wait “One Day More” to see Beth Tfiloh’s refreshing rendition of “Les Misérables”!