Saturday Song: Tomorrow Comes!

How I love the musical "Les Miserables." Here a whole choir of Valjeans perform this rousing signature song, "Do You Hear the People Sing?"

Old Leaves: The Miserable Ones

The day after Christmas exactly a decade ago we got to see a brand new film in a huge theatre in New York. I really liked it.

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12-26-2012

 

Tonight was perhaps the most captivating night at the cinema of my life. Our daughter Brannon treated us to Lex Miserables, the musical movie, at Ziegfield Cinema near Times Square in New York City. The theater was sold out so we were glad to find seats down close slightly to the right. I had the aisle, giving my aching legs stretching room, and my eyes a full view, sometimes of individual sweating pores and tears building to a drop.

I have a bone or two to pick, but let me begin by saying that it is a magnificent piece of film, creatively imagined, expertly cast, gorgeously photographed, dramatically lighted, really acted, beautifully sung.


Hugh Jackman will give Daniel Day Lewis a run for the Oscar for best actor. One of the beauties of this story, the musical, and now the movie is its reminder to those of us who live in comfort and plenty that poor, dirty, despairing folk are folk. Behind the grime, the pretense, the toothless grins, the overdone make-up, the ragged clothes, the unkempt hair, the poor English... are flesh and blood humans with the same wants and needs, hurts and hearts of all men. Jackman as Valjean is unrecognizable and totally believable in the opening scenes as the depraved, dehumanized convict.

And he becomes one of the beloved characters of all literature.
I thought Jackman's singing was sometimes a little nasal. Where Colm Wilkinson, very effectively and purposefully, used falsetto, Jackman used a full, though somewhat strained voice.



Fantine (Anne Hathaway),



not of her own volition, takes the opposite path, falling from virtuous and beautiful to compromised and pitiful. Both are outstanding.

My favorite character and the strongest acting and singing was that of Eddie Redmayne.



His portrayal of the distraught Marius singing Empty Chairs at Empty Tables was heart-rendingly perfect. Redmayne deserves a supporting actor Oscar, in my humble and correct opinion.

Siblings Eponine (Samantha Barks) and  Gavroche (Danial Huttlestone) were captivating.

The Thernardiers were well cast, though I thought (my kids disagree) that they were overdone. The disgusting food scene was more graphic than necessary and not believable to me. Like Sheila, I was glad they were made more disgusting than comic though.

Russell Crowe as Javert has received the most criticism of any actor in the film, I suspect. I actually liked his acting. His singing was a little weak, though I like its understated manner except for the suicide when I wanted him to give me more overt pain and... volume.

The 1200 sold-out seats at the Zeigfield were filled with Les Mis enthusiasts, like the Shaws, who applauded for the announcement, after interminable previews, of the main attraction. They also applauded individual songs again and again, especially I Dreamed a Dream, On My Own, Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, and nearly brought the house down for One Day More and the Finale.

Drat it! One of my dreams is to sing the Valjean part someday in a local production or concert version. Folks will now picture Jackman (20 years my junior) in the role rather than an older Colm Wilkinson type. I'm already pushing the upper limit even with the Wilkinson image of ol' Jean.

Get your tickets. You don't want to miss this on the big screen, at least once. I'll see it again soon.

Gleaning Facebook: Les Mis Final Performance

Guess who is first in the long line for the final Saturday performance of Les Mis? This is our reflection in the Avo Theater front door. Leigh Whittingberg Callan So glad you are posting all of this excitement. My heart is there with you.
Terrell Sold out. 7:11 ...let's get this show going

 

Gleaning Facebook: The Four of Us

It feels so good to have the four of us together again.

 

With my daughters at Carlsbad's Flower Fields

My three girls. See the Carlsbad's Flower Fields, Carlsbad, and the Pacific Ocean in the background.

My favorite wife ... with Carlsbad's Flower Fields, Carlsbad, and the Pacific Ocean in the background.

In our North Coast Village condo...

At the condo in Oceanside...

On our way to see Brannon as Fantine in Les Miserables at the Avo Playhouse in Vista, CA. Break a leg, Bran!

Brannon's write-up in the Les Mis program.

Intermission: Oh. My. Huge musical in a small theater... A wall, a tsunami, of gorgeous voices twisting, blending, rolling, resounding. And, btw, my Fantine brought tears.

Sheila & Fantine

Gleaning Facebook: Fantine!

 Brannon as the tragic Fantine. Oh, I wish I could be in San Diego for all her performances!

From Brannon Shaw's Facebook:

First dress rehearsal (with audience) as Fantine!

Comments:

Ruth Baird Shaw
Brannon is a beautiful and talented young woman!

Michael J. Burton
Ditto Ruth Shaw

Laurie Craw
This girl needs to move a little closer to home so ALL her admirers can see her performances!

Terrell Shaw
Preach it, Laurie!

Gleaning Facebook: Fantine

Brannon as Fantine... can't wait!

From Star Repertory Theatre Facebook --

 

Gleaning FaceTime: Christmas 2012

New York bagels --from Lots o' Bagels -- eggs, cheese, coffee, and my girls.

(Actually they spell it Lot's O Bagels, but the English major in me forced me to relocate the apostrophe.)

Terrell Shaw
Of course I suppose there could be a guy named Lot who owns a bagel store called O Bagels.

Jackson Williamson
Are they...salty bagels?

Terrell Shaw
For JW who wants to know: Bran & I had "everything" bagels, Sheila had plain, and Lil had cinnamon raisin. 

Bran had the eggs & cheese among the few things left at her apartment and scrambled them together for us. The coffee was from Dunkin Donuts.

Ruthy Countryman
Perfect Christmas breakfast...actually I could really enjoy a REAL bagel some cream cheese & lox! 

Buzz Wachsteter
Bring home some real NY water bagels. They are the REAL bagels and I am betting very few folks in Rome have ever had one.

Julia Hilburn Dent
I am soo jealous!!!! Merry Christmas!!!

Charlie Hehn
Dude!!!!!! Bagels!!!!!!! I want a punperknickel toasted with cream cheese, lox, thick Bermuda onion slice and sprouts. Of course don't forget the thick black coffee. Ahhhhhh.....

Bob Doster
They got any grits up there?

Terrell Shaw
Actually Lillian had grits at the Stone Park Cafe in Brooklyn yesterday! And she says they were good.

Anita Stewart
Enjoy the New York life and fringes!

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We did it. Gluttony. We went back to Seva Indian Cuisine for lunch. Chicken Saag, Mulligatawny Soup, Naan, Tandoori Chicken Tikka, Navrattan Korma, Aloo Gobi Matar. Now for some coffee to keep me awake for Les Miserables, the movie musical.

I will now have to visit Seva every time I come to NYC.

Nancy John Singh

Lol, enjoy the movie:)...we may have to try this Seva...by the way Seva means to serve!

Mary Clemones Stanley

Since you know your way around NYC why not do a Christmas tour next year. You could make some "cha-ching"!

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Les miserables. Oh. My. I have a couple of bones to pick but what a gorgeous, awful, wonderful, terrifying, inspiring, emotionally draining two and a half hours. I have just vicariously experienced overwhelming despair, exhilarating optimism, desperste grief, and thrilling love.

Kendra L Harris I'm glad you got in. lol I had figured I may see you there... We were too late.. sold out before we arrived but are headed back tomorrow. So glad to know I have an almost 18 year old who is super excited to see it! 

Terrell Shaw It was sold out here in NYC too.

Kendra L Harris lol then I guess I wouldn't have run into you... wish I had though 

Jagdeep Singh Le Miz ... it WILL deliver everytime if done properly, thanks to Boublil, Shonberg, and of course Hugo.
Mary Nisbet Asbury So....you liked it???
Howard Smith sounds like LIFE!

John Vick It is a perfect example of art reflecting life, and it is always entertaining and emotional, both Hugo's theme and Webber's music. It never gets old.

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A bit of rhyme I wrote for my bride and daughters at Christmas a few years ago:

Exchanging Gifts

What gifts will you bring your Papa?

Pure gold, however they’re made—

Wrapped in sunshine of smiles;

Tied up with love that won’t fade.

What gift will you bring your Lover?

Its rich, whatever you’ve spent,

You’ve paid thrice in sweat and tears

and my promises, broken or bent.

What gifts can I bring my daughters?

What present is worthy my wife?

Tawdry trinkets diamonds would seem

On these precious true-treasures of life.

Gleaning Facebook: Broadway Spectacular III

Put it on your calendar now:

Broadway Spectacular III 

June 25, 26, and 27, and July 2, 3, and 4, 2010

Desoto Theater on Broad Street in Rome GA

Promises to be a good production. In it I get to play bits of three of my dream roles from musical theater: 

Jean Valjean from Les Miserables (Bring Him Home); 

Thernardier from Les Miserables (Master of the House) and 

Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof (If I were a Rich Man and Sunrise, Sunset). 

In addition I will play a (bearded!) Ben Franklin in two numbers from 1776 

(But Mr. Adams and The Egg) 

and sing a song from Aspects of Love (Love Changes Everything).

There will also be bits of Oklahoma, Cats, Man of La Mancha, and more. 

Y'all Come! 

Here's a link to an old post from 2006 about my favorite roles 

http://aloneonalimb.blogspot.com/.../dreaming-musical...

Comments

Carol Shaw Johnston
I will plan to be there! You know I love to hear you sing "Bring Him Home."

Terrell Shaw
Thanks Carol!

Jim Ellington
Break a leg, Terrell!!! If there are others in this show, should we pack a lunch? LOL!

Naomi Liles Crouse
Hey - how do we get tickets? We'll be picking up kids from Glisson around those dates and could probably swing by. Les Miserables is one of my favorite musicals ever!

Lillian Shaw
Awesome! But I won't get to be there... : (

Ruth Baird Shaw
Wow...I"m getting to be a cry baby just thinking about your singing Bring Him Home at my request at my celebration party in Dalton in 1990. Will the Fourth of July fireworks and the Cook Out at your house be on July 3?

Joan Shaw Turrentine
Will they make a professional video or audio for purchase? I will be there, but I sure would buy a video or audio too if available.

Ruth Baird Shaw
It would be a good time to have anoter Roman Holiday???