Don’t Boo the Bad Guy

Jeff McCarthy hates being called a bad guy.

“I really resent it when people do that,” says the actor who plays Javert, the unforgiving policeman who hounds hero Jean Valjean in “Les Miserables” (at the Shubert). “The Thenardiers--the innkeeper and his wife--are the bad guys, not me. They’re really evil. But there I am with those humongous sideburns, dressed in black. . . . Yes, Javert is rigid and judgmental. He thinks there are laws you cannot break--and if you do, you’re condemned.”

The actor finds it not entirely unworthy a stance. “I like the fact that he has convictions and stands by them to the bitter end. That’s better than most people, who do what feels good at any given moment. When people boo him, I think it’s because they’re not listening carefully enough. They probably won’t like me for saying this, because they see it as melodrama: good/bad, right/wrong. But it’s not quite that simple.”

Nor is playing the role. The California native, a veteran of “Zorba” and “Pirates of Penzance” on Broadway, was recently forced to take three weeks off the show and switch vocal teachers when he began losing his singing voice. Nonetheless, he says he’s got it pretty good . . . considering what some of “Les Miz’s” other actors have to go through.

“Traditionally, the ensemble works 12 times harder than the principals. I mean, 650 costumes for 33 actors: They’re running back and forth a lot.”

McCarthy is not totally exempt from the rigor. “I have to change my boots four times,” he said in mock horror. “We’re talking big black leather boots. Then when Javert gets old, they change my wig. And you know, pin curls are not the most comfortable things in the world.”