Culture

Bill Clinton and Groucho Marx together at the Walnut Street Theatre? Les Miserables

Walnut Street Theatre is America’s oldest theatre, having been in continuous operation since 1809. Felix Guggenfeller, the janitor who sweeps the floor after everyone’s gone, was there on opening night doing the same thing. He’s kind of slow but he’s a hard worker. And he did pick up Thomas Jefferson’s Junior Mint wrappers and discarded Mountain Dew cup that one time.

But there are other reasons to visit the Walnut Street Theatre besides Felix.

Right now you can catch a world-class production of the world’s most popular musical, Les Miserables. The show schedule has even been extended by popular demand.

This e-mail just in: “Hey, writer boy, you insufferable jackass. Can you think of an instance where a show has been extended due to lack of demand?”

Well, no. Moving right along.

This musical that continues to sweep the world is a truly spectacular finale to the Walnut’s 199th season. In case you’re not up on your musical history, Les Mis is based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel by the same name, except there’s music and singing. Not many books do that. That’s why it’s called a musical, okay?

The tale pits the fugitive, Jean Valjean, against the tenacious Inspector Javert in a lifelong struggle to evade capture. You may have heard the terms sweeping, heartfelt, and epic bandied around in casual conversation, though usually applied to such towering works of art as Desperate Housewives.

While it’s true that Les Mis is no Desperate Housewives (thank God for small favors), those terms can be safely applied to the musical at hand. It is sweeping, heartfelt, and epic. This deeply personal saga set against the monumental historical backdrop is, how do you say, touching.

This is one story you’re going to walk out thinking about, not instantly discard like the splash and dash at your local cineplex. This has something Hollywood forgot about along the way – a story!

There you have it. Get your ticket and show information at the Walnut Street Theatre. Playing at the Walnut Theatre through August 3rd, including a Fourth of July show at 8 pm. The Walnut is located at 825 Walnut Street (see how that works?), Philadelphia, PA, 19107. Telephone at 215.574.3550, ext.1.

By the way, you probably won’t see Felix. He’s sneaky.

Find more Philadelphia theatre events on our calendar.

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