Hempfield has hosted countless musicals through the years, but there was one classic that had never been showcased in the Performing Arts Center…until now!
This past weekend, the PAC was transformed into 19th Century France, granting audiences a magical experience.
Les Miserables, a musical created by Victor Hugo (1862), follows the ideas of rebellion, revolution, and redemption—Jean Valjean was an ex-convict who was imprisoned for stealing bread. Jean Valjean broke parole and started a new life. Jean Valjean meets this woman, Fantine, who dies of illness. Jean Valjean adopts her daughter, Cosette from a terrible home—in all of this, the June Rebellion has risen.
I saw Les Miserables on Saturday and from my personal opinion, it was outstanding. The story left me wondering what was next. I’ve never seen Les Mis prior. I’ve never been so captivated, and almost on the verge of tears as I was with this show. Not only was it the chemistry between everyone, but the costumes were perfectly incorporated in the show, giving us the background of each character—a way of knowing who was at a higher status and who wasn’t.
During the show, I was fully enchanted by the singing. It was harmonious, careful, and precise of how the character was feeling in that moment. Particularly I was blown away by Adeline Aument, a Hempfield High School student, who has experience in musical theater. Adeline portrayed Fantine, the mother of Cosette who fatally dies from illness, trying everything to get back to her daughter.
Adeline captivated me by her stage presence, vocal range, and general expression she brought to Fantine. I felt connected to Fantine because of her presence of being able to bring this character to life, who was full of pain and suffering from the start, only for that to be her chosen fate.
Alongside Adeline, Jonathan O’Maille, a Hempfield High School student, who has been apart of Fiddler on the Roof his sophomore year, and Pippin his junior year according to Hempfield’s Les Mis Cast Interviews by Cooper Martin; Jonathan O’Maille portrayed Jean Valjean and from the first moment he stepped on stage, he immediately captivated me, by how his voice has multiple ranges and brings a general light to the stage.
Jonathan portrayed Jean Valjean wonderfully, by his posture, voice, and acting of Jean Valjean. Bringing to light an ex-convict who has kindness, bravery, and loyalty to those he doesn’t even know.
At the end of the show, they got a standing ovation from the audience. People laughed, cried, and had a great experience during the show all thanks to those who put hard work and dedication into Les Mis, bringing a world I’ve never seen before to life is definitely a talent that I wouldn’t mind seeing again.
