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<p>It seems as though it was just yesterday that I was obsessed with a new musical called <em>Les Miserables</em>.  I knew the score backwards and forwards. </p>

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<p>During my freshman year in college, my suitemate created a cassette tape for me called "Beautiful Men Singing Love Songs".  (Yes, cassettes were still around -- yikes!  CDs were brand new and just starting to take off.)  My suitemate was a hopeful romantic like me and knew that I would be verklempt over her recording. </p>

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<p>A featured singer on this "Beautiful Men Singing Love Songs" recording was <strong><a href="http://www.michaelball.co.uk/bio/" target="_blank">Michael Ball</a></strong> from <em>Les Miserables.  </em>Michael played Marius in both the London and Broadway casts.  He was gorgeous and had a voice equally as smashing.  Frenchy and I would snuggle in our beds and dream of Michael (or someone like him) sweeping us off our feet and singing sweet music to us on a nightly basis. </p>

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<p>Like <em>that </em>has ever happened.  I have dated men who sing, but they have always been a highly dysfunctional lot. </p>

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<p>Oh, well.  It's always good for a girl to have fantasies. </p>

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<p>Last week, I was talking to my sis (another <em>Les Miserables</em> fanatic) who told me of the upcoming <em>Les Miserables </em>25th anniversary concert.  It was actually filmed in London in October but would broadcast for one night only in movie theatres around the world. </p>

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<p>And then my sister broke the news.  Nick Jonas would sing the part of Marius. </p>

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<p><span style="color: #ff0000;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><strong>WTF?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!</strong></span></span></p>

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<p>My sister reminded me that when Nick was a boy, he played the part of Gavroche on Broadway.  I relaxed a bit, thinking that this kid might have a set of pipes.  Perhaps he would be the Michael Ball of a new generation of <em>Les Miserables</em> fans. </p>

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<p>Day 53 was like Christmas for me.  I couldn't wait to get to the theatre at 7:30 that night for an epic musical that sings to the depths of my heart.</p>

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<p>When I arrived, the theatre was nearly full of <em>Les Miserables</em> fans.  Hurrah!  The buzz of excitement was palpable. </p>

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<p>The lights dimmed, the speakers blared, the idiots in front of me started singing (luckily the guy beside me hushed them), and...</p>

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<p><span style="color: #ff9900;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>Magic.  </strong></span></span></p>

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<p>It took me about 5 minutes to warm up to <strong><a href="http://www.alfie-boe.com/" target="_blank">Alfie Boe</a></strong> who played the leading part of Jean Valjean.  I am used to hearing <a href="http://www.colmwilkinson.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Colm Wilkinson</strong> </a>and <a href="http://garymorris.com/biography.html" target="_blank"><strong>Gary Morris.</strong></a>  But Alfie quickly blew me away with his stratospheric voice and soulful performance. </p>

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<p>The rest of the cast was equally stellar.  On the whole, the evening was stirring and memorable. </p>

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<p>Except for one glaring exception.</p>

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<p>Nick Jonas.</p>

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<p>Which made me question the judgment of Cameron Mackintosh, the producer of <em>Les Miserables.</em></p>

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<p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">Cameron Mackintosh, are you on crack?!?!  </span></strong></span></p>

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<p>How could you allow this to happen?  You don't need the money, so why did you sell out??  Shame on you! </p>

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<p><em>Les Miserables </em>is celebrating its 25th anniversary.  It is one of the most successful musicals of all time.  You didn't need to stoop to the bubblegum pop star heap to attract audiences.  But you got greedy.  And musical theatre fans will never forgive you. </p>

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<p>I kind of feel sorry for Nick, as he was placed in an impossible situation.  I am sure that he's fantastic at what he does in the teeny-bop world.  And from what I understand, he is a great role model in a time where teens need upstanding role models.  Many kudos to him for his success. </p>

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<p>He simply did not fit in amongst the phenomenal <em>Les Miserables </em>25th anniversary cast.  His acting was non-existent, and his voice lacked power. </p>

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<p>Readers, I will let you be the judge.  Who is the better Marius:  Michael Ball or Nick Jonas?  Please cast your vote in the comment section below. </p>

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