Like the forever-revolving turntable in the middle of John Napier's busy-busy set, Cameron Mackintosh's production of
Les Misérables has come 'round Manhattan way again after only a brief hiatus. The show, which initially bowed on Broadway just shy of 20 years ago, closed its doors barely more than three years back.

There are those, like myself, who will insist that the blockbuster musical's title refers more to besieged audience members than to the large cast of Victor Hugo's early 19th-century characters who crowd the stage for nearly three hours. But, while I've adamantly resisted the musical's portentous charms, even I have to admit there are many things to be said in favor of [...]