‘Les Miserables’ as big as it gets

Doesn’t “Les Miserables,” the epic musical about social justice and filial love in France, sound a little ambitious for a summer-stock theater?

Yes, that’s the way it sounded to the people at the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre, too, when they discovered they had become one of the few regional theaters to win the rights.

“Oh God, what did we do?” was artistic director Roger Welch’s first reaction.

But then he and his team went to work. They have installed a turntable stage, built a barricade set and hired actors in the lead roles with experience on the Broadway and national touring productions.

Now, the theater is ready to open what is probably the most complicated production in the theater’s history. The public is already responding; one additional performance has already been added due to high demand.

This Victor Hugo-inspired world of revolutionaries and romantics may turn out to be the perfect way to add some heft to a day at the beach.

“Les Miz” opens Saturday and continues Sunday and Aug. 14-17 and 20-23. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. except for 2 p.m. Sunday matinees, at the Schuler Auditorium, North Idaho College. Tickets are $25 to $35, available by calling (800) 4-CDATIX or (208) 769-7780.