'Less Miserables' is great comedy

LESS MISERABLES: A REVOLUTION OF COMEDY, Desert Star Cabaret Theatre, Murray, through Aug. 25 (266-7600), running time: two hours (two intermissions and olio acts)

MURRAY — You've got to hand it to the Desert Star team. Not only do they whittle "Les Miserables" down to a much more manageable 75 or so minutes, but they make fun of everything from "The Princess Bride" to Broadway musicals in general, with some local, topical humor tossed in, too.

With the real "Les Miz" currently winding down a 10-week regional run up at Pioneer Memorial Theatre, this spoof is well-timed.

Naturally, playwright Tom Jordon and director Scott Holman take theatrical liberties to stage their show with a cast of only eight (some playing multiple roles). The Friday night players were hilarious, with great comedy timing and strong voices.

Garrick Dean is an impressive Jean ValJean, who progresses from prisoner No. 867-5309 (his number is scrawled on walls around town) to the heroic and successful owner of a factory that makes — what else? — jeans.

Holman gets hissed at a lot as the villainous Javert. His best part was his irate scolding of pianist Alex Marshall, telling him that if he'd stop playing all that music, the folks on stage would stop their infuriating singing and rhyming.

Spencer Ashby certainly takes the spotlight as Mme. Thenardier, with Matt Kohler as her conniving husband. (You won't find a "recommended by Duncan Hines" sign over their tavern door.)

Ashley Mayfield is nicely cast as Cossette (not to be confused with "cassettes" — those being sold as souvenirs with her sad likeness on the covers), with Bryan Matthew Hague as the handsome rebel Marius. ("I'm revolting," he tells her when they first meet.)

Toward the end, there's a "Who's On First" double-talk routine as Cossette wonders "Who will marry us?" They have fun with the "Marius" vs. "marry us" dialogue.

Hague also has a brief but hilarious bit as the priest who gives ValJean the candlesticks after his night at the church. His speech impediment is right out of "The Princess Bride."

Mary Parker Williams does a fine job as the spoiled Eponine and Melody L. Baugh has a hilariously drawn-out death scene as Fantine.