Charity
took me to see Les Miserables last week. She had been able to get tickets through the Butler family, who had purchased at the group rate, and had some extras. First off, I must say it is an
incredible show. The colors and the scenes, costumes and set pieces
going back and forth, make it truly a work of art and a visual delight.
The music adds the auditory delight. I love the song, “Bring Him
Home.” And it was performed beautifully. “I dreamed a Dream” is also a
favorite, and it was well performed. My only regret is that they
jumped into it so fast, I missed the first part of the song. The
Timpani covered over some of the vocals which was frustrating, and
Javert was hard to understand when he sang “Stars.”
The
play clarified some points. The song “Who am I” has a part sung before
the court, where Valjean reveals himself. Eponine and Cosette were
play mates at the inn. That was something I hadn’t realized. One song
really stood out in terms of the blocking, this being “Empty Chairs at
Empty Tables.” They had a light representing the friends who had passed
away at the barricade. The friends come out and take their light. At
the end they were all dimmed, with the exception of the light Marius
held. It was very effective.
Another moving
part is the death of Gavroche. The students were much affected by
this. Eponine did a very good job of singing “On My Own.” That she
gave her life, so her love could have someone else is very moving.
Another
place where they really did a great job with set, and making things
move when they really weren’t was in the sewers, including Javert’s
suicide.
Even with all the grandeur, I had a feeling something was not quite right. I think it had to do with the morality. On our way home Charity expressed that she enjoyed it all except a couple of side things. She noticed that there were a couple of times in the side business, that people were pretending to be engaged sexual relations. I had missed this, but had the feeling everything was not right. I do not think such beautiful things should be used as a forum to promote irreverent and immoral behavior.
Even with all the grandeur, I had a feeling something was not quite right. I think it had to do with the morality. On our way home Charity expressed that she enjoyed it all except a couple of side things. She noticed that there were a couple of times in the side business, that people were pretending to be engaged sexual relations. I had missed this, but had the feeling everything was not right. I do not think such beautiful things should be used as a forum to promote irreverent and immoral behavior.
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