The Valjean Quartet

It's PBS pledge-drive week, so we've been treated to repeat performances of the 25th Anniversary Performance of Les Miserables. My husband insists we actually own it on Blu-Ray (and therefore was not allowed to donate $185 that's not even in our charity budget), but I watched the whole thing -- well, aided by the DVR remote -- twice.

Despite the obvious stunt-casting of Nick Jonas as Marius (it's fine that he was once Gavroche on Broadway, but Marius at the O2? No thank you!), there were some amazing highlights. The biggest moment of the night was when the original 1985 cast came out at the end and there were Four Jean-Valjeans (past and present) on stage together. They performed what's been called the Valjean Quartet of the show-stopping, tear-evoking "Bring Him Home."

I have to be honest here and admit that I cried. I cried out of joy remembering the many years my stepsister Patty and I sang every song on the Broadway cast album, which we owned on cassette. I also cried remembering how my mother bought us tickets to see it when we visited her friends in NYC. I have one of those ubiquitous grey T-shirts to prove it. We saw other musicals too that visit, but it's "Les Miz" I just had to see. So my sister Diana can claim to having seen Patti & Mandy in "Evita," but I got to see Colm in "Les Miz"!

Here's to good musicals, great memories, and wonderful mothers who know when to treat you to both.

Comments

[April]

I so loved that moment, and when Frances Rufelle and the others came out! I've seen this show 8 times, but it's been over a decade since I've seen it last. It was nice to be reminded why I love it so!

[Jill]

No other show I have seen measures up to Les Miz. I cry every time. I loved the PBS showings, but suspect I would have enjoyed it more if I didn't have two little voices asking me to change the channel every two minutes.

[Miriam]

Les Miserables marked my childhood, I've read it three times, it's my favorite book. I would love to see this show.