Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Les Mis

My husband surprised me with tickets to Les Miserables for my birthday. It was so wonderful. I have loved this music for years but never had the opportunity to see the play. It was so moving. I cried from act 1 to the ending. What a powerful Play. Blake even said he liked it. (i think he was moved a little) side note: Blake HATES musical. For those of you who don't know the story of Jean Valjean here is my cliff notes of it.
Les Misérables is set in the Parisian underworld. Jean Valjean, is sentenced to prison for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread. After his release, Valjean plans to rob monseigneur Myriel, a saintlike bishop, but cancels his plan. However, he forfeits his parole by committing a minor crime, and for this crime Valjean is haunted by the police inspector Javert. Valjean eventually reforms and becomes under the name of M. Madeleine a successful businessman, benefactor and mayor of a northern town. To save an innocent man, Valjean gives himself up and is imprisoned in Toulon. He escapes and adopts Cosette, an illegitimate child of a poor woman, Fantine. Cosette grows up and falls in love with Marius, who is wounded during a revolutionary fight. Valjean rescues Marius by means of a flight through the sewers of Paris. Cosette and Marius marries and Valjean reveals his past. It is so much more than that. The music is so powerful. I asked Blake later what the moral of the story was. He had to think about it for a sec but he got it. I think Valjean, Fantine and Eponine summed the moral up beautifully as they sang, "Take my hand, and lead me to salvation. Take my love, For love is everlasting. And remember the truth that once was spoken, TO LOVE ANOTHER PERSON IS TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD"


I just wanted to Thank Blake for the wonderful surprise. I had a great time. I love you!!

1 comment:

Heather said...

Les Miserables is one of my all time favorites as well. The music moves me. Isn't it wonderful. Nice present Blake!