Les Misérables

If every human every night let the spectacle of theatre capture himself or herself, the world would slowly become a better place as quickly as the gowned and suited strolled away from the theatre. I would also hope that the first change would be the appearance of theatre's audience. The seats would be equally filled with the faces of tattered trousers and torn jumpers . For the theatre is the marriage of music, language, and expression and moves the richest and poorest of souls. In essence, theatre becomes the Word that touches the mind, soul, and body of all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odrZ6NtPR2M

One day more.

The beginning of dreams, of hopes, of transformation. Each day, each dawn awakes a new beginning.

One day more.

The iron chain of loneliness, poverty, and pain slowly breaks its victims body with its clench and rust.

One day more.

The musical Les Misérables invites the viewer to be lost in the conflicts of humans and the tragedy they live. Les Misérables is literally translated “the miserable,” “the destitute,” or “the wretched” and is a story of individuals who seem to never break free from the iron chain that destined them from birth. But carved deeply into this story, through all the Hard Times, is a seed of freedom that can be found in understanding one’s own self, “the deep pulsation of this world,” and the power of their decisive actions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt-IBJpEMzA&feature=related

One day more.
Another day, another destiny.
This never-ending road to Cavalry.

Les Misérables begins in France in the year 1815 with the release of Jean Valjean from prison. Shortly after prison, Valjean steals a bishop’s tableware, who had graciously opened his house to him. Caught by the authorities and brought back to the bishop’s house for conviction, the bishop declares to the authorities that the silverware was a gift and Valjean had left the prize peaces, the two silver candlesticks. Wrongly freed from this betrayal, Valjean sees his evil self in the bishop's grace . From that moment, Valjean gives his life to Grace and becomes her giver.

Tomorrow will be far away
Tomorrow is the judgment day.
Tomorrow we’ll discover what our God in heaven has in stored.

The story now enters Paris during the 1832 uprising where many of the main characters bind themselves to the oaths and dreams of a better nation symbolized in a flag worth fighting for. Each man and each woman chooses to “not be slaves again,” and takes up arms and sacrifice themselves. A common voice “of the people, by the people, and for the people” formed through theory triggers an action, a chance to change. They died the second night… dreaming of a better nation beyond the barricade.

One day to a new beginning
Raise the flag of freedom high.
Every man will be a king.

The story of people--the people of the gutter, the people of the inn, the people of the brothel, the people of the factory, the people of the prison, the people of childhood, and the people of a new nation. A story with shredded threads of grace and unforgiveness, love and hate, and harmony and disagreement ties the hand of the viewer. Tears of war, of death, of broken dreams, and the lack of change hold the viewer wishing he or her could help, change, or mend the lives of those in need. Yet, their hands are tied. Though death visits many of the characters, it is not the end. For the end is not today, but only what tomorrow brings.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odrZ6NtPR2M

One day more.
Another day, another destiny.
This never-ending road to Cavalry.

“The never-ending road to Calvary.” There is something about this line. Through the miserable moments of Les Misérables it seemed improbable that anything would change. Yet, there are glimpses of a better reality seen through the unconditional love and grace represented through Valjean and his actions. This love then transcends and becomes reseeded in the pure, childish romance of Marias and Cossette (the life’s work of Valjean). Through the everyday (the never-ending), there is love. Love of money, love of war, love of power, but ultimately, the audience’s hearts silently blossomed at the fulfillment of love within these two lovers with a love that can cut the shredded threads from each of our hands.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzCSb6OnkZA&feature=related

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.
Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.

This musical, inspired from the novel by Victor Hugo, might seem dated. Not because of the historical content and political context, but because of the religious and didactic morals of the piece. Historically, this work uses religion as a source of hope (escape), but we post-modern humans are well aware. There is no author and there is no God. Hugo was a simple idealist who threaded is works with an optimistic moral and ideology to keep him and his readers sane. But beyond this resignification, post-modern, philosophical, literary, ideological argument, this three-hour performance grabs each ear and whispers "you have the opportunity to change this world." But why should the audience care about the prostitutes, the poor, the rich, the lonely, the loved, the lame, and the norm-all?

If one seat in the 1200 seats of the Queen’s Theatre did not feel the shredded threads cut, see the painting of a new reality, taste an opportunity to love, touch the bursting of human emotion then... then my theory in the beginning of this rant is rubbish.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCYr8TWAGn0&feature=related

They will put away the sword.
The chain will be broke and all men [women] 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 you bring when tomorrow comes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4924xJl38E&feature=fvw