It is hard to put into words the absolute magic that energized the theatre in the round space at the Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre on Wednesday's opening of Les Miserables. Being honored as being one of only five theatres in the country to gain the rights to produce this epic musical since its closing on Broadway last year, Marriott's Director Dominic Missimi has assembled a stellar cast which propels this version as the standard others will have to follow.

Producer Cameron Mackintosh's phenomenon which is Les Miserables has garnered over 50 awards internationally as well as winning 8 Tony awards including 1987's Best Musical & Score. Along with The Phantom of the Opera and Cats, remains one of the top grossing and longest running musicals ever written.

As with Marriott's production of Boublil and Schonberg's other mega hit Miss Saigon several years ago, the limited space makes you focus on the story and not the theatrics. Because of that, this production of Les Miz easily surpasses the original London and Broadway productions because it is the story and the relationships that are key. For those who don't know the plot or who haven't read Victor Hugo's classic novel, Les Miz tells the life story of Jean Valjean spanning three decades with the backdrop of the student uprising during 19th century France.

What propels this production into the stratosphere is the cast beginning with the mind blowing John Cudia's portrayal of Jean Valjean. Cudia, who in the only actor to play both the Phantom and Valjean on Broadway, and who just played the masked man in the recent Chicago Phantom tour stop, props the rest of the cast on his shoulders and carries them to theatrical glory. Forget his more famous predecessors including Colm Wilkinson and Peter Karrie. Cudia gives one of the best performances Chicago audiences will ever see, and embodies Valjean with a humanity that is palpable. Match that with a glorious tenor voice that had even the most jaded in the audience crying like a baby after "Bring Him Home". Cudia is quite simply the best Valjean ever to put on the uniform. Same can be said of Richard Todd Adams' Inspector Javert. It is a no hold bars performance and his aria, "Stars" is breathtaking.

Cudia's real life wife, Kathy Voytko, who just finished a successful run opposite Ana Gasteyer in Passion at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, resembles Patti Lupone's Fantine and her rendition of "I Dreamed A Dream" makes you wish the character wasn't killed off in the first half hour of the nearly three hour production.

The brilliance of the cast goes on and on. Chris Peluso's magnificent Marius is the perfect age to play this part, as usually casting directors skew it a little older. Peluso's ‘Empty Chairs at Empty Tables' is sung and staged perfectly. Anne Letscher's Eponine totally won the audience over at her first entrance and her belting rendition of ‘On My Own' revels any recording; Catherine Smitko and Michael Accardo steel every scene they are in as the Theinardiers.

The sets and lighting are genius and transforms the space into a multi-tiered venue for the actors to work their magic. Musical Director Brad Haak, has for the first time in years, been able to eliminate the tinty orchestral sound caused by the musicians being placed behind a glass wall and the sound piped in. How he did this remains a mystery, but boy does make a world of difference.

For those who love the show, or for those who just love theatre, Les Miserables at the Marriott Lincolnshire is not be missed.

Les Miserables runs through May 11, 2008 at The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, Illinois. For tickets and showtimes, please visit www.marriotttheatre.com

Pictured: Leah Horowitza and John Cudia