Perhaps the pinnacle of theatrical experiences is when we become so immersed in a production that we are watching that we forget the theatre we are sitting in, and willing suspend any disbelief that we have somehow been transported to some fantastic other world taking place on the stage. For me, Amity High School’s production of Les Miserable failed to reach that pinnacle. I was all too aware that I was sitting in the high school theatre, next to my eight year old daughter, about whom I worried if she would be able to make it through a three hour production well past her bed time. Also sitting next to me was my wife, decompressing after a long drive home from Hartford after a vehicle fire had closed I-91. Beyond them was my mother-in-law, my priest and his wife, my daughter’s school bus driver, and many friends from about town gathered for this important social event. This suspension of disbelief was further challenged when the smoke machines set off the fire alarms during Act II.

Beyond this, was the music of Les Miserable; much of which I knew by heart, and somehow, a 19th century France where the only communication is by people singing in English makes a suspension of disbelief more difficult. As the musical started, my mind wandered to political implications. In the opening scene Jean Valjean learns that his criminal background prevents him from finding gainful employment. Of course this was two hundred years ago, and we don’t have issues like that in twenty first century Connecticut, right? This year’s “Ban the Box” bill which would made it illegal for the state and businesses that contract with the state to ask applicants if they’ve been convicted of a crime during the first round of review, failed to make it out of committee.

Yet there was, perhaps, a more important willingness to suspend disbelief taking place at Amity High School last night. While the production failed to completely transport me to 19th century France, I did forget that I was not at a professional production. Early on when Marla Morris, in the role of Fantine, sang “I dreamed a dream”, my mind wandered to the sensation Susan Boyle created when she sang that song on “Britain’s Got Talent”. Yes, Simon Cowell might have some snide comment Marla Morris’ performance, but you won’t find comments like that from me. I thought her performance was stellar. It set the stage for high expectations for the rest of the night.

With this, I wondered how well Dalia Medovnikov would be able to carry off the great song “Castle in the Cloud”, in her role as the young Cosette. I was not disappointed and instead look forward to seeing her perform in a starring role at Amity High School when she is older.

Of course, the real star of the show was John Jorge in the role of Jean Valjean. After his performance as Roger Davis in last year’s production of Rent, there was little doubt that he would make an excellent Jean Valjean. This role demanded much more versatility as we followed Valjean through the years, and Davis carried it off with exceptional talent.

Ken Adair, after his success as Benjamin Coffin III in Rent last year, turned in another great performance as Valjean’s nemesis, Javert. Likewise, Connor Deane, after his success as Tom Collins in Rent last year, provided another strong performance, this time as Marius, and it was great to see Alli Kramer in her role as Eponine.

It has often been said that many standing ovations are caused by people wishing to get to the parking lot and head home, and it could easily be imagined that after a three hour performance, some people might stand for that reason. Yet that was not the case at opening night. Instead, the audience stood and clapped and did not move. Even after the house lights came up, there was no rush to leave. My eight year old daughter, barely still awake reveled in the experience, telling friends that she liked it even more than Mama Mia which she had seen at the Bushnell in Hartford.

No, the Amity High School production of Les Miserable did not transport me to nineteenth century France. Instead, it transported me to a small community in Connecticut that values the arts and has high school musicians delivering performances that exceeded many professional performances that I’ve seen. That is a place I’m much happier to have been transported to.

Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes

(Cross posted at the Woodbridge Citizen.)