What is the aesthetic value of the musical Les Miserables based upon Les Miserables by Victor Hugo.?

Here are some opinions on the musical's aesthetic
value:

• The essential theme of the injustices
  against Jean Valjean is presented adequately in the musical.  The marking of Valjeanas a
  criminal for stealing food for his family, and the retribution sought against him even
  after he becomes a kind and generous man are well presented. In the musical, the evil of
  this hounding of Valjean is evinced in the character of Inspector Javert who appears and
  reappears.  His sinister presence is well represented in the musical score and with his
  vocals, although these thoughts are not revealed in the novel. Perhaps because more of
  his soul is presented in the musical, the tragedy of his death is enhanced in the
  musical.


• The themes of change and transformation in
  Valjean and the class conflicts are also presented well, albeit not as thoroughly, in
  the musical.  The poignancy of the love that Valjean has for Cosette and her love for
  Marius is aesthetically enhanced with the musical score and vocals as well as the human
  presence of actors on a stage.


• The presentation of the
  inn keepers, the villainous Monsieur and Madame Thenardier, in the musical is one
  of comic relief.  However, these nefarious characters are anything but funny in the
  original narrative.  For, Madame Thenardier mistreats Cosette cruelly, beating and
  starving the child.  The unconscionable M. Thenardier is a deserter in battle, and robs
  the dead soldiers.  His life is one of crime, although he does aid Valjean in escaping
  from the sewers.  In the musical the Thenardiers are made up as clownish figures and
  presented in a farcical way that is completely out of character.  Their characterization
  is a travesty of the villainous personages they should be.  Perhaps they have been given
  the comic roles to entertain children, but this design seems inappropriate,
  nevertheless.