For the production Les Miserables, and it was l'magnificents.
That all the actors were high school students at George Mason High School was, honestly, incroyable. Impossible! No way. Broadway had come to town, and it wasn't at the Kennedy Center.
And could they sing!
The lead, Sam Waters who played the role of Jean Valjean, is well on his way to a career as an operatic tenor, which is his goal, according to the program notes. The quality of his singing was unbelievable, with maturity and notes far exceeding what a listener would ever expect from a high school student, or anyone close to his age.
After he finished a number, you could hear members of the audience gasp.
My favorite actor was the haughty Javert, played by Misha Terman, who "made me hate you," said one man at the play's end, congratulating the cast which lined up at the exit to receive enthusiastic praise from playgoers. Terman's performance and song were outstanding. I hope he is able to keep his hat which perfectly fit his character, that of the parole officer who remained grim and uncompromising throughout the musical.
If you do not know the story by Victor Hugo, it's considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century, about social injustice in France and events in the early to mid 1800s leading to revolution, involving many characters, rights and wrongs, and chiefly focused on one man (Jean Valjean) and his efforts to overcome his checkered past.
The Mason production was absolutely stunning in every sense: from the lighting of battle, under the direction of Kal Stankov, to the vocals, astonishing in their depth and sound.
The many costumes and costume changes were amazing, created under the direction of Lisa Ensign, the mother of one of the actors, Aleeya Ensign, who played a bewitching woman, Madame Thenardier, whose last costume perfectly matched her temperament and hair color (red).
Her husband, played by Bryan Ward, was evil, conniving and oh, so funny and perfectly cast to match the talents of his spouse.
A live orchestra of 18 musicians and populated by many Mason students added to the night's enjoyment. MJ West was the conductor.
Applause to all the students who built the creative set that was quickly adaptable to new locales and time, never leaving an audience member bored or hungry for change.
Les Miserables was directed by Pamela Ricker who was assisted by student director, Sarah Johnson, musical director, Lauren Glass, and technical director, John Ballou.
The production began its three night run last Thursday, and Friday's and Saturday's performances sold out long before curtain. Standing room was offered up Saturday for the three hour play after the school's administrators spent the last hour before showtime dragging in extra seating which was quickly occupied.
About 50 persons stood patiently in line 20 minutes before the last show, hoping to get in. When was the last time you saw that at professional theater?
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