Successful opening night of Les Miserables created respect for student actors

Hailey Tallman

Les Mis.

Actors, playwrights, musicians, choirists, and any musical beings all are conscious of some sort the Les Miserables storyline. Fantine dreamed a dream of a life worth living, and since then all people in show biz can quote the tragic end of her existence.

At the Pointsettia Pavillion Friday April 12, the Performance Theatre for Young Artists presented their opening night of the school version of Les Miserables.

The actors were so perfect for each their roles. Their voices alone portrayed their characters’ desperation, which intrigued the audience and brought some to tears.

Enthusiasm for this play was easily read on each of the actor’s faces. Each one had a different motivation and background that led them to participate in this production. Their devotion was noticed.

“This musical is so amazing, the music is amazing, and it’s just so much fun to act it out and be in it,” said Foothill junior Veronica Mellring.

This aspect really added to the play’s credibility, as a minor can rarely convince the crowd of desperation and the need to support a family by any means possible. They definitely reached their goal.

Some of the characters were just bonded to their role.

“Right after my audition they offered me the part, so, yeah, it was pretty quick,” said homeschooled actor, Josh Stover, the role of Jean ValJean.

The choice was affirmed during Stover’s soliloquy, where his voice took over the stage and the audience began to explore his range and tone. He gave himself to the crowd whole-heartedly.

Talented performers were not the unique part of this play. Ages ranging from 7 to age 18 blended together to produce a well-rounded group of kids who lacked no amount of chemistry.

“You have the old people, who know a lot more than you, so you can ask them any random question and they’ll know it … it’s really fun having the little kids in there, too, because they’ll come up and they’ll play with you; they’ll play hide and seek, or truth or dare, or something, and so it’s really like being a kid again,” said Houska.

The relationship between the cast members was very close, even I could see that they cared for one another and had worked very hard to make the performance a whole one.

Lighting up the stage, Lindsey McDermott played the spunky little brother of Eponine, and son of Madame Thenardier. Her loud squeaky voice rose above the rest and her tragic character added a sympathetic undertone to the whole performance. Although one of the youngest, hers was also one of the most moving performances.

Her death due to the gun shots from the French army stunned the audience and created a great excitement when the rest of the rebels died along side her.

Group scenes were the most inspirational, with the range of soprano, alto, and bass vocalists who perfectly executed becoming one voice.

Only in two scenes were the actors guided by a conductor to time the beginning and endings of their song. This miraculous choir continued to send chills down spines as the play went on and finalized at the reminiscent scene in the end.

Another wonderful performance was done by Senior Zach Macias. He transformed from a complete lustful power-freak to a considerate earnest lover.

Macias played the role of the revolutionary Marius who was also drastically romanticized by the beautiful Cossete. His performance was very natural and his body language brought the audience to the edge of their seat when his character chose surrender to the call for action rather than stay with his beloved.

Macias acted in three different roles, which gave the play a casual feel, despite its very serious plotline. This did not distract the audience from Macias as an actor, though. All three characters were so different that Macias was almost unrecognizable as the obnoxious foremen when he was introduced to the audience as the sweet, devoted Marius.

 

Performance Theatre for Young Artists presents the school edition of Les Miserables at the Poinsettia Pavilion on April 12-21 2013.

What do you think?