Last night I had the privilege to attend what was (reportedly) the final tour of the sensational Broadway musical Les Miserables. Les Miserables has been my favorite musical since I first heard the Original Cast Recording. Scott had spent a summer in Australia and had seen the show and came back singing its praises and the rest is history. I fell in love with the music and later Mary and I were able to see the tour in Tulsa. I had last seen Les Miserables in 1995 on Broadway and I hadn’t realised until recently how much I wanted to see the show again.
On the recent trip to Chicago conversation turned to Les Miserables and the fact that Jeff and Keri had not seen it and Scott and I encouraged them to see it if the opportunity ever came. A few weeks later Scott emailed that Les Miserables was making a quick one-week stop here in Kansas City. Scott had a friend in the show who he assured could get us great seats and the plans were put in motion. I’ve been listening to the CD off and on for the past few weeks and I was really excited about last night’s performance.
The experience was incredible! Les Miserables is a powerful musical about sacrifice and redemption…about the power of mercy and forgiveness…about the dangers of pursuing justice at all costs with no room for grace…and ultimately about the rewards of a life lived in loving and giving to others. Maybe it is because of my faith and beliefs that I have always been profoundly moved by the music and the images of Les Miserables. I won’t go into detail about the story as that can be found here, it is enough to say that its message seems timeless and it is as amazing to see today as it was when it opened on Broadway in 1987.
Scott’s friend Trent Blanton is a member of the touring cast playing Bamatobois and Grantaire. Graintaire is the larger role and he was terrific. He also backs up the lead role of Javert and, despite the other actor’s great performance, we were all slightly disappointed that Trent didn’t get to step into that role just for this one performance. Trent was able to reserve house seats for us and they were AMAZING! We were 11 rows back right on the center aisle. It was so great to be that close…to be able to see everyone’s facial expressions, etc. I was beyond pleased that we were able to get those seats. They were great! Afterwards we met Trent at the stage entrance and he took us back stage and showed us around the stage, wardrobe and changing areas, and talked to us for a long time about the show, how its done, etc. He answered questions and then we were able to just chat for awhile about him and our mutual friend Scott and other things. We were backstage so long that they finally had to chase us out. Trent was beyond nice and I don’t know when I’ve met someone who was so generous and sincerely friendly to people he had just met. It added a wonderful dimension to the evening to watch him onstage and then be able to visit with him afterwards. We even discovered that he is a fairly recent Neil Gaiman fan!
This cast was outstanding. The lead for Jean Valjean was replaced by the understudy and he was outstanding. Having listened to the original cast for years I did not believe anyone could equal Colm Wilkinson in the role but David Michael Felty came close…very close. He was great!
I know I am not doing a great job describing how magical an experience this was…the whole day and evening was phenomenal…its just that I got very little sleep last night and what sleep I did get was filled with Les Miserables music…seriously…I dreamt about it all night with the exception of one brief dream in which Trent was over at our house and had brought some DVD’s (can’t recall which ones)!
Thank you Scott and Trent for helping to arrange such a wonderful evening. If I never have the privilege of seeing Les Miserables again I can be satisfied in remembering this performance for its marvelous cast and for the great vantage point that we had from which to enjoy the show.
I close this with the last verse and then the chorus to the Finale of Les Miserables…I get chills every time I hear it as it resonates with such truth and inspiration.
And remember
The truth that once was spoken
To love another person
Is to see the face of God!
CHORUS
Do you hear the people sing
Lost in the valley of the night?
It is the music of a people
Who are climbing to the light.
For the wretched of the earth
There is a flame that never dies.
Even the darkest night will end
And the sun will rise.
They will live again in freedom
In the garden of the Lord.
They will walk behind the plough-share,
They will put away the sword.
The chain will be broken
And all men will have their reward.
Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing?
Say, do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that they bring
When tomorrow comes!
Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing?
Say, do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that they bring
When tomorrow comes…
Tomorrow comes!
Mmmm, brings back memories. Fantastic musical. 🙂
Just reading the words gave me chills. What a wonderful experience for you. I was able to sit that close a few times and it ruins a person – for the rest of one’s life. It is so neat to be able to actually see their faces. I’m thrilled for you that you had that experience. Now I’m going to go listen to my cd.
It does indeed ruin one…the last 2 theatre experiences I’ve had have been ‘up close’ experiences so I feel really, really spoiled!
glad it all worked out and you enjoyed it. trent is indeed a great guy (and for what it’s worth mary…if it wasn’t for me, trent also wouldn’t have met his wife-to-be, not that i’d remind anyone of such things!) i haven’t seen the show for years…but it’s probably about time to do so again.
Scott, you are so predictable…he,he….I told Trent last night about Mary and I and how he will have to get used to the idea of hearing this tale for the rest of his life. I think its hilarious that you just brought this up. Its been a good weekend, so I’ll thank you again! 😉
but carl my predciability is just my attempt to give you some stability in your life. after all, isn’t it nice to know that my telling the story and you always procrastinating are the 2 most sure things you have? they’re like rocks you can build the rest of your life on.
it’s an incredibly powerful musical. i cry every time i see it live. and still at times it makes me wish i would have gone into vocal performance.
and wow Scott, since your so successful as matchmaker.. do you know any single, Christian guys in the Indy area? hehe
True…its nice to have firm foundations! 🙂
Thanks again to Carl and Scott for recommending this show. It was a wonderful and powerful story. Thanks also to Trent for getting us such amazing seats and for spending so much time with us afterwords. It was great evening. I know Keri and I will always remember it and we are so glad we were able to enjoy it with Mary and you.
I am so thankful to Carl, Scott and Trent. It was a wonderful evening. I tried my best not to cry too much at the end, (I rarely where mascara, but I did that night, should have known better.) but it was very hard. I loved it! That’s two extraordinary shows in a row that we’ve been able to see because of Carl and Scott and I don’t know how to properly show my gratitude. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
I’m glad you had a good time!
kerri… gold bullion and exotic women from faraway places are always appropriate tokens of thanks for me.
glad you guys enjoyed it too.
(and angela, don’t tell carl i said this, but i’ve never really been that instrumental in any of these pairings..more of a “fate at that moment” kind of thing. also, i did introduce one couple who had a quick marriage and a longer messy divorce..so you’d probably do better on your own. sorry…i will keep my ears open though!!)
um, yeah.. never mind then.
So exotic women from Gary, Indiana are out of the question then????
i think you confused “exotic” with “toxic.”
I LOVE Les Miz! I once sang “On My Own” as a solo to audition for a chorale.
Seeing it on stage was a magical experience for me.
The show was wonderful! I am so glad we were able to go. A big thanks to Scott (AKA Mr. Connection) and Trent (AKA Mr. I-Can-Get-A-Transcript-Any-Time-I-Want) for setting us up with the tickets. Thanks, Carl, for planning this. I sure enjoyed the music, acting, singing, and the great company of Jeff and Keri.
Scott, tell Trent thanks again. He has a wonderful voice and heart to match.
Love this musical! The first time I saw it I was in Dallas with Rob. It was my first professional theater experience, and I soaked in every beautiful moment!
The second was in London. I was extremely sleep deprived, and my friend fell asleep! Strangely enough she was awake only for the slow songs. Afterwards I asked her if she enjoyed the boisterous songs by the Thernardier couple. She had no idea they were even apart of the musical!
Sounds like a great time! I’ve only ever seen Les Mis on tape. I just went and saw a local production of “The Bride”. I wish I had my new glasses though, I’d’ve been able to see the stage better!
I love Les Mis. I probably know by heart the lyrics to most of the songs in the musical. My favorites are Red and Black, Stars and Castle on a Cloud and of course Master of the House.
Found you through fondofsnape(Janet). I absolutely love Les Mis; it is by far my favorite. I’ve seen it 4 times. I am completely jealous but happy that you were able to experience the show through a friend!
I just checked out your site yesterday and looked through some of your pics on your flicker site cuz I had asked Janet who the girls in the pics of one of her recent posts was. I feel really blessed to have been able to see Les Miz for the 3rd time and doubly blessed for to have been so close to the stage and for it to have been such a wonderful production.
I love Les Miz, found your site when I was googleing around…just so you know, ‘plough-share’ is actually ‘bloodshed’…just thought you might wanna know!!!
Having seen this amazing production on and off Broadway as well as Internationally over 17 times I was crushed when it left Broadway and then the final performance in London @ Wembly Stadium. It was sheer joy to introduce this to ones that have never seen the show. I was privledged to be able to bring my elderly parents who had not only never seen a Broadway Show but had not been back to NYC since their honeymoon as “kids” 19 and 21 years of age in 1944 upon my dads return from WW II. I was so engrossed in watching them get drawn in and watch them breathe to the beat of the music I forgot to watch the actual performance. Watching my parents shed tears brought me to tears knowing that I as their son was able to give them something they would have never done. My father passed shortly thereafter, and my mother not long after that. I cherish that 1 memory of my parents “leaping” yes leaping to their 84 and 86 y.o. feet for the standing ovation. I was able to share with my 4 y.o. son Robbie (his Granfather’s name) the joy of Les Mis in Baltimore MD on it’s final off Broadway run. Having listened to the CD with his mother and I it was fun to watch him clap to the music of the Innkeeper and his wife. I hope there is a return of this show to Broadway.
Wow Bill, thanks for sharing that. Those are fantastic memories and it is easy to see why this musical would have such special meaning for you. It should definitely still be on Broadway and I am sincerely hoping that its ‘final’ off-Broadway performances will be like Cher’s farewell tours in that they will repeat and repeat and repeat…
I fell in love with the music as soon as I was introduced to Les Miserables. I am seeing it 13 days from today in Chicago and am extremely excited! It will be my first time seeing it. Front row, too! Your detailed experience gives me even more excitement for the show!
I’m very excited for you Rini. I envy you that first time experience. It is such a powerful show. I hope it exceeds all of your expectations.