A heart full of love...

Do you know how hard it is to find a happy quote from Les Misérables? It's so full of pain, tragedy, and death that happy words seem few and far between. Even the show's great love song has another character lamenting her sad state of affairs in the background.

Last Friday night I attended a student production of Les Misérables at Woodstock High School, presented by the Valley Young Company. Les Misérables is third on my list of Top Five Musicals (anyone care to guess the other four?), so naturally I was eager to see it performed live. Eager is actually an understatement. I am so attached to the compelling characters and the glorious music of this play that as the lights dimmed and the orchestra started, I could hardly contain my joy.

This version of the show did not disappoint. The set and costumes were masterful. The wonderful revolving stage deserves praise, as it is an essential storytelling component of the show, literally moving the story along in some places. I also enjoyed the use of the scrim, which allowed for unobtrusive scene changes that did not impede the flow of the evening's proceedings.

Highlights of the evening for me included the energetic "At the End of the Day", the rollicking "Master of the House", the stirring "The People's Song", the tender "A Heart Full of Love", and of course, the action-packed battle scenes where half the characters die. "The Epilogue", where Val Jean is finally at peace, never fails to give me goosebumps. I was particularly impressed by the performances of Val Jean, Cosette, Marius, Gavroche, and Fantine.

Another highlight of the production was the fabulous 14 member orchestra, under the direction of Amy Anderson. For me, part of the appeal of Les Misérables lies in its memorable musical themes., and to hear this music performed live was a true delight.

Throughout the evening, I was continually moved by the genuine, sincere effort put forth by everyone involved in all aspects of the production. Congratulations to all involved.