Riding the blue wave, a triumphant ‘Les Misérables’ production lands in Olney

One of musical theater’s most iconic political protest shows debuted just outside the nation’s capital days after Democrats swept elections far beyond expectations.

“Les Misérables” premiered Thursday night at Olney Theatre Center, its biggest production of the year and the opening of the theater’s holiday season.

Artistic director Jason Loewith highlighted the timeliness of producing one of musical theater’s longest-running shows that questions right and wrong, power and humanity. Real-life protest groups around the world have adopted the song ”Do You Hear the People Sing?” — which serves as the show’s anthem for anti-monarchist protesters.

It’s also worth noting that President Donald Trump has repeatedly dubbed “Les Mis” his favorite musical.

This production of “Les Mis” is Olney Theatre at its biggest and brightest, a show taking a timely stance, featuring a masterful cast of Broadway alums and OTC darlings and creating a grandiose production of an all-time musical theater classic.

Vocals have never been better at OTC. Kevin S. McAllister (Inspector Javert) possesses a powerful baritone, Stephanie Waters (Fantine) and Alex De Bard (Éponine) deliver captivating renditions of “I Dreamed a Dream” and “On My Own,” respectively, and Trent Saunders (Jean Valjean) masters one of the most wide-ranging vocal roles in musical theater.

It was difficult to watch the three-hour production two days after the election without drawing parallels to the ways pundits, voters and politicians have interpreted midterm results as an emphatic pushback on the Trump administration’s policies.

Opening night audience members cheered “Les Mis” emphatically for references throughout the show to toppling monarchy and restoring power to the people.

Even lines that weren’t originally intended to make a political point felt pertinent. A throwaway joke about fighting “for the right to a night at the opera” held a different meaning at a theater roughly an hour from the Kennedy Center, where the Trump administration’s takeover and shutdown reverberated through the capital region performing arts scene.

To a theater community that has continuously made clear its stance against the current president, Olney Theatre’s big holiday show makes a timely case in support of fighting to make the future better for the collective — not just the few in power.

“Les Misérables” runs now through Jan. 31 at Olney Theatre Center’s Roberts Mainstage. Tickets range from $57-$118. The theater notes that the show would be PG-13 were it a film, due to language, violence — including the use of simulated firearms — death and suggestive adult behavior.