On Friday night I went to a concert called "Do You Hear The People Sing".
It was a production of some of Alain Boubill and Claude-Michel Schonburg's musicals. Now, if you're a musical geek like me, those names mean a lot to you. They're the men who brought us Les Mis and Miss Saigon, among others.
The concert also included music from The Pirate Queen (which I love!), Martin Guerre (which I'm now in love with because it has a very Phantom of The Opera storyline) and -
La Révolution Française-which was the first thing they wrote together, musicalising the entire French Revolution.
The show started The Heat is On in Saigon, which is one of my favorites!
Then, the amazing baritone Brian Stokes Mitchell graced us with Boi Dui, which of course, three minutes into the damn show and I'm crying.
Phenomenal tenor, and Broadway's Javert, Terrance Mann, became The Engineer for The American Dream.
Stephanie J Block, the Pirate Queen (and eventual Elphaba) herself performed a brand new song written for Ellen that will added when Miss Saigon goes on world tour in 2013!! It was the first time the song has been performed and it was just lovely! Can't wait to see Miss Saigon in 2013!! (lots of exclamation points, but, warranted)
And of course, Miss Saigon herself, Lea Salonga! She opened with I'd Give My Life For You. Which, naturally, was amazing.
Lea and Peter Lockyer becoming Chris and Kim for "Last Night Of The World"
"Played on a solo saxophone...."
It was so surreal to see Lea singing Miss Saigon--I mean, hello, she's the
original Kim. It's her voice that I've always listened to on the soundtrack. And she's still fabulous.
They talked about how Miss Saigon came to be--about Alain Boubill wanting to modernize the opera Madame Butterfly and how Claude-Michel Schonburg saw a photo in Time magazine of a Vietnamese woman giving her half white daughter over to her G.I father to take to America to a better life. Which, as we know, is the foundation of Miss Saigon and what Kim wants for her son.
Then Stephanie talked a bit about playing Grace, The Pirate Queen and how much she loved the story. The creators of Riverdance actually approached Alain and Claude-Michel about creating the musical based on the life of this Irish cheiftan. I never did get to see The Pirate Queen on Broadway, but, naturally, I have the soundtrack (and, British Boyfriend Number Two played Tiernan, so, there's THAT).
Stephanie J Block and Peter Lockyer as The Pirate Queen and her one love, Tiernan.
AMAZING.
"I wonder what you'd say, wonder what you'd do, If I said 'My love, I love you'"
"Yet steady as the sea"
Marie Zamora (the original Cossette in the first production--the French version of Les Mis) and Peter Lockyer sing Martin Guerre. Beautiful!!
I don't know anything about this play really, but, they gave a little background and I have already been singing it all weekend. It's just a lovely story and naturally, beautiful music!
"But by heaven they're sure to see there's more to Martin Guerre than a name!"
Stephanie J Block as Fantine for a duet with Lea in I Dreamed A Dream. I've never seen a standing ovation so forceful as the one given at the end of that song. And it was beyond well deserved! Lea and Stephanie smashed it!
The entire company welcomed us to the second act with At The End Of The Day from Les Mis.
"And there's trouble for all when there's trouble for one!"
"Oh yes, the virtuous Fantine...."
Then Peter Lockyer, who played Valjean in the 25th Tour in Europe busted out some heart breakingly gorgeous Bring Him Home action.
"God on high, hear my prayer"
"He is young, he's afraid, let him rest, heaven blessed....."
And of course, to bring us back from tears, it was time to laugh with Master of The House.
"Welcome monsieur, sit yourself down and meet the best innkeeper in town!"
Terrance Mann and Stephanie J Block were HANDS DOWN the best Thernardier's I have EVER seen. And mind you I've seen Les Mis eleventy billion times. I have not laughed so hard in the Master of The House scene as I did on Friday. Cameron Mack, let's get these two cast in those roles PRONTO. I'd pay good money to see that again.
Seriously,
hilarious.
Lea, Peter and Marie did "In My Life"
"If he asked, I'd be his"
"Dear Eponine, you're the friend that has brought me here"
"The trees are bare and everywhere the streets are full of strangers". Lea sang On My Own--which is the song that launched her career. She's insanely amazing. And don't we all love that song?
On My Own was the first song written for Les Mis, as Eponine was the character that jumped off the page of Victor Hugo's novel to them. And let's be honest, who doesn't love Eponine? She's such a rich and complex character and to properly fill that role, the voice must follow. Lea has that voice (I'm looking at you Taylor Swift), and it was surreal to hear her sing it once more.
Could she be more stunningly beautiful?! Ahem, she's 41. Forty freaking one. I know, she still looks like young 17 year old Kim. COME ON.
The finale was of course, the encore of Do You Hear The People Sing, which, my heck,
always makes me cry (seriously, ask TPG, I was BAWLING when we saw it over Christmas). The Dallas Children's Choir lent their sweet voices to that song and I think everyone in the stadium was singing along.
Terrance Man and Stephanie J Block at the finale.
"They will live again in freedom in the garden of the Lord. They will walk behind the ploughshare, they will put away the sword. The chain will be broken and all men will have their reward."
HOLY EFFING TEARS.
Then. Then. THEN. As if that wasn't amazing enough. Guess who was there?
(no, not Hugh Jackman. I know, I hoped too. Apparently he's
busy filming Les Mis or
something. Rude. Whatever)
The legends themselves: Alan Boubill and Claude-Michel Schonburg. I DIE. I mean, these men are insane legends and just oh my gahhhh. I lost it here. For real. It was worse than when I saw ALW at Phantom 25. I know, who'd have ever thought someone would top Lloyd Webber?!
I absolutely love this shot--everyone signing those iconic words.
"Will you join in our crusade? Who will be strong and stand with me? Somewhere beyond the barricade is there a world you long to see? Do you hear the people sing? Say, do you hear the distant drums? It is the future that they bring when tomorrow comes!"
I'm so not even sorry that y'all just had picture overload.
It was such a FUN night and I feel so lucky to have gotten to be there to see these people who I look up to and admire.
If this show ends up touring or if you have the chance to see any of these performers, please do so! You will
not be sorry!
