For the longest time, I thought my dream of watching Les Misérables would only come true if I ever get to reach West End in London, which is quite a far-off dream in itself already. So when the news came in October last year that a production will run the show in Manila, my friends and I did not miss a heartbeat and bought tickets. Deciding then and there that I'm taking Gabriel with me, even if he wasn't a fan. (I had months to make him one, and of course I was successful. :)))
Aside from having to go so far in the souuuutttthhh, our March 19 Les Mis Adventure was a great experience, getting to watch a piece of theater that has captured the hearts of millions for the past 30 years. And though the chosen venue for the show's Philippine run—an upscale hub of gambling—can make you do a double-take considering the theme of Victor Hugo's chef-d'oeuvre, we dared not miss the chance.
It was another Boublil-Schönberg work that introduced me and my friends to musicals, in the form of Miss Saigon, back in 2004. For more than a decade, we only had our imagination to accompany the emotional songs and the sweeping orchestra music. It was only in 2011 that I began to earnestly learn more about Les Mis and its incarnations, most notably the Boublil-Schönberg musical.
I know it's going to sound too cheesy, too Romantic (capital R for Grantaire haha), but when I came upon the fate of Les Amis de l'ABC, of Enjolras and the rest of the #BarricadeBoys, I was affected to the core. At that point, I was about to graduate and embark on the adult life, trying to figure out my purpose and my path. And there they were, merely schoolboys, so passionate about their cause and even dying for it. What grander sacrifice to live and die for La Patria? How full is the heart that aches for a brighter future, not for the self, but for the trodden ones?
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| Before getting into the theater, like the millenials that we are, we goofed around and posed for pictures in front of the posters. Here's me clasping Enjolras's hand, and all of us joining the cause of the Amis. :)) |
Needless to say, I was in shambles by the start of the Second Act until the end. That Gavroche-Grantaire Hug, the two whom I call the lost boys, broke me for real. In fact, it's all downhill from Drink With Me. I just feel so much for these young idealists, it's so absurd and embarrassing. And my heart swelled and got crushed in turn for the story of Valjean and Cosette—two worthy people who deserve utter and complete happiness.
Of course, the whole of the play was amazing. All the time, the word that kept springing to my mind was "evocative." It was the whole point of the work, to make people pine and cry and laugh and hope with the characters. (But mostly cry, haha.) The stellar performance of the actors (so, so, so good), the incredible and fascinating set (super gandaaaaa), the topnotch scoring and gorgeous costumes, all melded into a complete emotional roller coaster of an experience. Les Mis explores humanity and love, justice and mercy, survival and selflessness, which the musical translated into evocative performances. It was surreal to have finally been able to see it live.
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| Hey, Orestes. The people of Manila have stirred and don't seem to be abandoning you just yet. :)) |
Someday, when I get to watch it again, I will go to the stage door and see the actors in the flesh. Haha! Fangirl. Nonetheless, it was also a great way celebrate our official 15th month together, though Gabriel and I never really do "monthsaries."
Too bad we weren't able to take photos with Marifel and her sister, since they were heading the other way while we had to go back north. Haha. We ended the day with some ramen, and we patted ourselves on the back for embarking on another episode of #TitasofSanMateo. :))
