Big things are happening at a little theater. 

The Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan, opened its curtains Friday to reveal its own version of “Les Miserables” – a powerhouse performance filled to the brim with spectacular singing and mesmerizing special effects. 

“Les Miserables” tells the story of Jean Valjean, a man imprisoned for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread and trying to escape. 

He breaks parole and tries to start a new life, all while being hunted by the clever Javert.

In the midst of their feud, the two characters become swept up in the middle of a street-side rebellion. 

David Foley Jr. shines as the protagonist Valjean, a moral man caught in the middle of an immoral world.

Foley’s singing reaches new heights inside the small theater, with each note resounding through the walls. 

He intermixes acting and singing with well-practiced ease, as the audience could feel the resentment he feels after being caught stealing silver from a bishop. 

Little moments like that are shown throughout the performance, with Foley executing each lyric and line with enough force to move even the most stonehearted audience member.

The only fault in Foley’s performance comes from a slight inability to reach higher notes; however, when he starts the song at a falsetto, he does so admirably. 

It is his interactions with the justice-seeking Javert, portrayed by Sean Zimmerman, that are the most memorable.

Every time Foley and Zimmerman meet on screen, be it in a factory under Valjean’s new identity or in the barricade of a street rebellion, the chemistry between the two characters is electric. 

When Javert explains to Valjean in the opening scenes why he has been imprisoned for nearly two decades, the audience can see the sadness across Viljean’s face, and the glee on Javert’s.

Zimmerman also portrays Javert’s stalwartness when he addresses Valjean by his prison number, 24601.   

Zimmerman plays a perfect foil to Foley’s Valjean, with Zimmerman bringing out the most sinister qualities of the antagonist. 

While softer than Foley’s voice, Zimmerman conveys a wickedly cunning persona through his own lyrics. 

In fact, one of the highlights of the performance comes from Zimmerman’s soliloquy toward the end of the production, in a moving piece that suits the character of Javert fittingly. 

The production of “Les Miserables” is filled with many side characters, and each one proves their worth – whether they are on stage for one scene or multiple scenes. 

Among the bright spots of side characters is the sinister couple, the Thenardiers.

Monsieur Thenardier, portrayed by John Baker, is magnificent as the crooked innkeeper looking to score extra cash any way he can. 

Where Zimmerman heightens Javert’s cleverness and persistence, Baker highlights Thenardier’s greediness and malevolence. 

His excellent singing, especially in his opening number “Master of the House,” helps move the play along smoothly.

Accompanying these performances is a live orchestra, conducted by Joshua Zecher-Ross. 

Zecher-Ross has a firm grasp on the mood of the performance and evokes everything from joy to peril to sorrow with every note played. 

Sometimes the lighting and effects in a production take a backseat to the main performances, but in The Little Theatre on the Square’s “Les Miserables,” it is front and center. 

Filling the stage with luscious shades of red and blue throughout the performance, all of the colored lights subtly accentuated the production.

The blue hues helped point out the deceased during the show, while the red highlighted the actual deaths and the ravages of the rebellion. 

Lights also play an important role, along with manufactured smoke, which entered the stage at vital moments. 

One of the most impressive pieces during the performance was the use of flashing lights, a smoke screen and every actor moving in slow motion at the climax of the rebellion.

The use of these effects worked in the production, allowing the audience to see how badly the rebels were affected during the climactic battle. 

“Les Miserables” will be continuing its run at The Little Theatre on the Square from Wednesday until Sunday. 

While the $37.50 for tickets might appear to be a little steep, it is the intimacy the theater provides that helps the audience connect with the characters on stage. 

By placing this sprawling epic into a smaller venue, it allows for every character to leap out of the stage at the audience in a spectacular fashion. 

“Les Miserables” offers a stunning cast with powerful voices, a compelling story and captivating effects that, for nearly three hours, makes a fictional world come to life. 

Bob Galuski can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].