Back to the barricades, as ‘Les MisÉrables’ returns to Manila
Boublil and Schonberg’s “Les Misérables” is a grand musical retelling of the novel by Victor Hugo. It is the story of a nation, France, in turmoil during the 19th century, of revolution and romance amid the barricades, of students rising up against their government in Paris, and a deadly cat-and-mouse game between a victim of society (the saintly convict Jean Valjean) and the uncompromising upholder of the law (Inspector Javert).
The gallery of fascinating characters, along with the rich historical background, is one of the strengths of the new production, presented by the Manila-based GMG Productions, now on a world tour, including Manila.
All these—plus the music, of course.
Lea Salonga, who played the young Eponine in London in 1995, the 10th anniversary of the show, is now the bellicose Madame Thenardier, the bitter wife of the villainous bar owner Thenardier. The Thenardiers figure prominently in the show-stopping “Master of the House,” backed up by a male chorus of bar habitués.
Madame Thenardier torments the child Cosette, who would grow up to be the beloved of the hero Marius (“A Heart Filled with Love”), and is adopted by Jean Valjean.
Cosette’s mother is the tragic Fantine, known for her celebrated aria “I Dreamed a Dream.”
Marius is besotted by Cosette, to the annoyance of his friends who are about to take up arms against the state. “We are fighting for a higher cause,” declares the revolutionary Enjolras. “And here comes Don Juan!”
Feeling guilty, Marius joins the revolution and is wounded in battle. He is rescued by Valjean, and in the famous Paris sewage scene, the adoptive father of Cosette prays that the unconscious youth will survive (“Bring Him Home”).
The fighting goes on: “Do you hear the people sing? Singing a song of angry men. It is the music of the people who will not be slaves again. When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drums, there is a life about to start when tomorrow comes!” INQ
(“Les Misérables” will run from Jan. 20 to March 1 at Samsung Performing Arts Theater, Ayala Malls Circuit, Makati.)
