WRITING STYLE 2 DRAFT 2

Les Miserables

On arriving at the theatre, the excitement is already whiling up in me to the point that I feel the anticipation of what’s to come. I am caught ear wigging to the conversation of what people around me are talking about. One couple mention that they have seen Les Mis, five times, and are still as excited as the first time. We are shown to our seats, and it’s comfortable and there is enough leg room.

The orchestra are tuning there instrument and suddenly the lights dims and the atmosphere changes. The curtain goes up and the whole place is deafeningly quite. My heart slows and I hold my breath. The orchestra open with a rapturous overture of the chain gang with Valjean and a back drop of the year set in 1815, Toulon. ‘’LOOK DOWN, LOOK DOWN’’ the prisoner sing as Javert looks over the prisoners. After 19 years of imprisonment for stealing a loaf of bread Jean Valjean is released. He is bitter and feels despair and becomes a desperate man. He meets Bishop Digne who treats him with kindness, because of that he has a chance to turn his life around. With hard work he eventually becomes a factory owner and Mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer. Javert, a policeman, is after him because he has broken his parole. One of his workers, Fantine, is about to die and Valjean promises to take care of her daughter, Cosette. Valjean pays much more to the Thenardies then he needs to for cosette who have been staying with them. They are not very nice people. Nine years on we see Cosette as a young woman. Falling in love with a young student revolutionary called Marius. After a long day of battle Marius is wounded and falls unconscious and is rescued by Valjean and before he dies he is able to see Marius and Cosette wed.

The revolving stage and barricades were designed by John Napier and gives a perpetual sense of movement to the scene. The props of the barricades fits together like a glove, moving like a bolder and suddenly it has depth. The most dramatic scene is the battle itself, where the students are shot, their dead blooded bodies are draped over, and hanging off the barricades, with the French flag flying on top.

The lighting was designed by David Hersey. He cleverly illuminates the dramatic scene and creates the intensity that is required. Again the barricade scene stands to mind. The scene is cut into several sequence to create the different time zone, like the student in the café, cosette and Marius in the garden and the street scene where the students are revolting.

The costumes draws you back in time and hence the world of make believe is created. From the poor workers, the soldiers and the colourful dresses all creates a world of realism. Colour, light and action makes for a wonderful production of a beautiful tale.

‘’Les Miserables, reminds us that we are each part of the same human family, and that what ever our outward differences may be, our longings for individual liberty and peace are the same.’’ I truly believe in that.