Les Miserables

[Hannah FitzGerald]

   I  f you are looking for an uplifting story, Les Miserables is not the musical for you. I saw the opening performance on December 6th at the Orpheum Theater and thought it was gloomy but entertaining. I also found it a bit confusing to follow as it was my first time seeing it.  The story is about a man who is arrested for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread.  He then tries to turn his life around and do good but everyone knows him as a thief so he starts to steal again.  The story is basically about how this is your lot in life and there is nothing you can do about it.  Not every good story has to have a happy ending and Les Miseralbes is a perfect example.  I still enjoyed the musical even though it was extremely gloomy.

     The music was phenomenal!  All of the lines were sung which, was something I hadn’t seen before.  The cast is incredible!  I don’t think I could pick a favorite.       

     The show had amazing lighting.  There was no pause waiting for the nest scene.  It was just a flick of the switch and it was there.  The attention to detail in this play blew me away.  At one point in the story, a cart falls over on to a man.  The broken car in that scene even had moving barrels inside of it to add to the effect.  I also found the use of real fire added a lot to the show.  I felt like I was really in the angry mob.         

      Something I found a bit strange were the prompt start to the show.  Not long after 7:30 the lights were turned off and the show began.  There wasn’t much time for people to finish their conversations before the show started.  It felt as if once the lights were off, the show had started.  This same thing happened after intermission.  There wasn’t much time for people to find their seats and get settled before the show was underway.  I noticed a few people running down the aisle to find their seats.  I also noticed a number a little kids in the audience which I found a bit odd.  I know if I were a little kid, I would not find Les Miserables Entertaining at all.     

            This show is not for everyone.  It is not a story that will leave you smiling, but more one that will make you think.  It will make you want to talk about the show with you friends and family.  If you are a person that can handle no happy ending then I defiantly recommend seeing Les miserable.        

[Dudley Voigt]

Unique perspective Hannah, particularly about the abrupt starts.  Good details in your description of the cart, and the mention of the fire and it's effect on you.  

I would have liked you to write more about the music (why was it phenomal?) and the performers (what made them phenomenal?  Who are the leads?  Who stood and why?)