Gabe was on for Van when I caught up with the tour in Dallas a little more than a week ago. At first I was disappointed, but he turned out to be quite good. There was an emotional connection you felt with him that wasn't quite there when John Gallagher had the part....can't quite put my finger on it, but it was something like the monologues and the lyrics he delivered landed with a bit more punch, a bit more pain if you will, than John's did.
Nobody's topped Esper, Stark, and Rebecca (Naiomi Jones) yet. Those three owned those roles, and still do long after the original cast run ended.