Pope John Paul II Raises Curtain on 'Les Miserables'

If you took a group of theateregoers and asked them their favorite musical of all time, one title nearly always appears near the top of the list, even for the most casual of fans: Les Miserables.

The Boublil & Schönberg masterpiece and Broadway sensation that has captivated audiences for more than 25 years makes an indelible impression upon those who see it.

As a U.S. tour of the re-imagined Broadway show continues with scenery and staging that were inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo, it seemed appropriate to director Marusia Lynn that the first musical performed in the fabulous auditorium at Pope John Paul II High School be her favorite.

“This is the show that inspired me to pursue my career in theater,” said Lynn. “This show means so much to me personally that I thought it was the perfect show to start our legacy here at PJP with.”

Much like the Broadway show, PJP2’s production of Les Miserables features breathtaking scenery and period costumes that instantly transport the audience to a time of turmoil and tragedy in France in the early 19th century.

In one of musical theater's most vocally taxing scripts, the play follows the life of protagonist Jean Valjean, who, after 19 years on a chain gang, escapes and tries to blend into the mainstream during the French Revolution.

Years after escaping and creating a new identity, Valjean establishes himself as a successful businessman and mayor of a town while battling inner demons. Meanwhile, his nemesis, Inspector Javert, is still hot on the trail of the escapee once known as prisoner 24601.

The lawman's dogged pursuit of Valjean mirrors Valjean's personal struggle for delivery from his past and for redemption, which takes place against the backdrop of Napoleonic France and the country's subsequent Bourbon Restoration period.

“It’s a monster,” said senior Tom Madracchia (Jean Valjean) when asked of the demands the show puts on the actors and actresses. “It’s my favorite musical of all time, and it has been amazing to be part of something like this. I have been working on this personally since last summer. It will be so awesome to have an audience in here and to feel their energy as we perform.”

“It's a thrill to get to do this play in my senior year,” said Alex Maldonado (Inspector Javert). “I get charged up just looking at the auditorium some night(s) when it’s empty. It's going to be amazing when people are here. It’s amazing to be around this much talent.”

“It’s pretty intense to act out my suicide,” said Maldonado, who will be pursuing  a career in theater at New Jersey City University, where he will major in musical performance. “Tonight, I talked about it with some of the other cast members. It takes a few moments afterward to remember it’s just a character. Sometimes, you can get emotionally drained when you have such a complex personality to portray.”

With more than 80 cast members, 20 crew members, and an army of moms and dads to design the costumes and build the sets, it has been a monumental undertaking to produce such an extravagant show.

“We have had so much support from the parents,” said Lynn. “There are actually moms who have come in to cook and feed everybody. We are so lucky to have a group of dads that love to be involved. The sets are amazing.”

“It’s overwhelming at times,” said senior Jill Walsh of playing iconic character Cosette. “This is my all time favorite musical. I can’t wait until this weekend. We have all worked so hard to get the music down, and when we see the audience out there, I will probably get chills and shed a tear or two.”

As impressive as the costumes and sets are, one aspect of the production that will keep all eyes riveted to the stage as the show opens Friday night is the original score.

“The music is what makes this show spectacular,” said Lynn, who attended Catholic University in Washington, D.C. “When you dissect the show as a director, you realize that it is genius how the audience’s experience is so seamless. One song blends into another so perfectly that before they realize it, the audience is humming the songs.”

“Yes, this a show where everybody dies, and some call it depressing,” added Lynn. “I think it is just very intense. It’s dark at times, and at others, it's uplifting. I have been so blessed with so much talent in this senior class, and it was that talent that made it possible to do a show the caliber of Les Mis. I think our audiences will leave here feeling like they have seen something special.”

The show times will be in the auditorium of Pope John Paul II High School.