By Kana Rasmussen

Just recently, on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday the Memorial High School arts programs put on a production of the French Revolution classic Les Miserables, a musical that is very special to many. I was excited to see how Memorial High School would perform such a classic, and to say it in the simplest way possible: the show did not disappoint. It was really, truly amazing.

While the story of Les Miserables in itself is very fast-paced and exciting, what kept the audience watching so closely and attentively was the remarkable talent of all of the people involved in it. To discover that a great number of the kids that you see in the hallway daily, or that you have classes with, casually have the most incredible singing voice or acting skills is such a fun surprise. The arts are really a beautiful thing: to hear the combined efforts of so many different people sharing their unique talents through a performance that can be appreciated deeply by so many is always a really special experience. 

By nature, Les Miserables is a very dynamic show and it was extremely impressive how quickly the actors were able to change the mood and tone of a scene. Going from the streets of France, to prostitutes on a dock, to moving around the barricade in battle was done very impressively. The quick costume changes of beige prison clothes to the long skirts and button-downs of the French townspeople, and then colorful ball gowns was another remarkable detail that helped make the musical shine. No doubt the choices in lighting that varied by scene and the set design also played a role. As for the cast, a few of them were asked to say a little bit about the experience of putting on the show. 

Jens Pizzitola, who played Thenardier, (who you may have seen staggering around the stage drunkenly singing “Master of The House”) remarked “I would say that it was a great time for everyone from the constant jokes every week to the blunder that was tech week, it was a worthwhile experience.” 

Similarly, Ensemble member Annie Ram (seen arm wrestling in the back of the inn) commented on the cast’s ability to overcome and the experience being part of the musical, saying “It’s been an amazing feeling to have been part of a community who came together through both lively and difficult times to put on such a beautiful show. The memories we made are unforgettable, and we are so grateful for everyone who supported us. Memorial did a wonderful job of celebrating the arts and each other.” 

But apart from the great work that happened on stage, the pit orchestra was what really tied together the whole ensemble. A huge part of a great musical is having great music to accompany the action happening on stage, and hearing all of the incredibly talented musicians play live during the show was one of the coolest aspects of the musical for me. The music in Les Miserables is famously complex and quite difficult. Many would agree that having such a wonderful music program at MHS that could execute the soundtrack of Les Miserables live elevated the entire show. 

As a side note: While I’m sure there were logistical issues that I’m completely unaware and uneducated on that prevented this, I (and many others) wish that the orchestra could’ve been visible for the performance. Perhaps the orchestra could have been in front of the stage or underneath? I think that seeing the musicians visually is such a classic component of a musical experience. I would’ve loved to see them get to take a bow at the end to be recognized for the hours of rehearsals and countless pages of sheet music that went into the orchestral performance. 

In all, Les Miserables was a beautiful and memorable performance. All of the work that goes into putting on a school production truly is a monumental task. The dedication and hard work that everyone involved put forward to make the show great deserves to be celebrated. 

The Talon would also like to recognize the cast members that contributed greatly to the musical as a whole, through positivity, humour, and effort during rehearsal, but could not be a part of some or all of the official performances. Thank you for your hard work and contribution to our school, it does not go unnoticed.