936 Singing narrative
The second half of the show at the Almeida Theater begins.
The long wait is a test for any audience.
Two and a half hours seems to be a long time, but it also seems to be very short. For a dinner of a sandwich and a cup of coffee, this time is really too long; but for a formal French or Italian dinner, There is so much time and so little time that I can’t even spare time for a glass of red wine..
Such a long time without embarrassment is really a challenge for the audience's loyalty and patience..
Before today's official premiere, the length of the play and the intervals between breaks have become the focus of concern for many mainstream media. "Three hours plus three hours", the entire six-hour work, even for senior professional fans It is said that this is also a torture, not to mention ordinary viewers, which is enough to deter many people..
Some netizens on Facebook and Twitter joked about it：
“The intermission is really too long. If you are not careful, the audience may leave and never find their way back; or they may take a nap in the coffee shop, only to be unable to wake up and miss the second half. show. So maybe the Almeida Theater should consider shortening the break and moving dinner to the theater to avoid a second half disaster.”
Ridicule, everywhere.
But what about the fact？
Mark Lacante truly felt the length of time. Two and a half hours seemed like two centuries. Every minute and every second was torture. He had been waiting, waiting for the time to return to the theater. Can’t wait to enter the world of the second half.
The three-hour performance in the first half, when you carefully reflect on it, is endlessly rewarding. The fragments that remain in your mind are so exciting and wonderful that you can't help yourself. You can't wait to sit in the Almeida Theater again right away. and receive another three hours of baptism.
leave? Taking a nap? torment？
None of this exists at all, and it has never been something that Mark worries about. His excited and excited brain simply cannot stop, he just wants to finish this masterpiece and become one of the trendsetters of the times..
Therefore, after the admission reopened in the second half, he rushed into the Almeida Theater as soon as possible, even if he just sat in the red velvet chair, he was satisfied.
After the performance started again, the exclamations never stopped, and it was completely mesmerizing. Marius and Enjolras jointly performed "The Red and the Black", Eponine's classic "Alone", and the main "One-Day-More", in which cast members take turns, is definitely a climax and exciting show.
Those familiar scenes and unfamiliar plots continue from the third act to the fourth act in the second half, truly showing the picture of the entire era in front of the audience. In just a few strokes, the pathos and sadness of the era are outlined with a number of characters. The grandeur of destiny.
When I saw all the people unite, stand up, and bravely fight against the rule and injustice, the boiling blood rushed to their foreheads instantly, and the whole soul was trembling with excitement. In a trance, they also became the torrent of history. A member of the group raised his right hand high and joined the tide of resistance..
The wave of revolution has finally arrived！
In the accident, Jean Valjean discovered the secret of Cosette, the secret between Cosette and Marius..
The two young people fell in love desperately and met like moths to a flame. Amidst the tragedy of the times and the fear of society, they became each other's biggest concern and reliance. He was her biggest concern, and She is the driving force for him to keep moving forward, and they are inseparable from each other..
After realizing the truth, Jean-Ajean fell into the battle between heaven and man..
Because he knew that tonight's battle was about to break out, and Marius was still fighting at the forefront. Facing the overwhelming army, those who resisted might be wiped out, and Marius might also become one of the countless corpses on the streets. a member.
Jean-Valjean is not a hero who saves the world, nor is he a martyr who changes society. He is powerless; but at least, he can protect Cosette, the last glimmer of hope, and the unswerving commitment. He should save Mari Si's life.
Regardless of his safety, Jean-Jean reached the barricade and joined the battle on the front line..
Here, he met Javert who had become a prisoner. He witnessed the passionate young fighter. By chance, he saved Enjolras. As a condition of gratitude, he chose to let Javert go without any conditions. There was no deal, just forgiving Javert.
This move completely overturned Javert's entire world, and the cycle of fate finally formed a loop..
But more importantly, Javert also met Marius, Enjolras and other fighters. Even if the enemy was outnumbered, even if there was little hope, even if the future was uncertain, they still stood on the front line without fear. Those who were once defeated The criminals whom Javert considered to be social unrest were subverting the society with actual actions and seeking welfare for the people. This made Javert deeply shocked..
Similarly, Jean Valjean also found Marius.
In the sadness and depression before the war, Marius recalled Cosette fondly, full of nostalgia and love, which made Jean-Valjean feel like a knife. He hoped to save Marius, and also I hope to save this group of young people, and I hope to change the entire society, but my thin shoulders are not enough to support the weight of the times..
So, Jean Valjean thought of Bishop Miriam again, and he chose to pray and pray to God devoutly..
This is not just to save Marius. After experiencing vicissitudes, suffering, and pain, Jean Valjean finally had another epiphany in his life. The cry and repentance from the heart, the epiphany and redemption from the soul, love and Trust, forgive and sacrifice, embrace every suffering in life with a warm heart of love, and call for God’s salvation and forgiveness.
From panic to firm belief, from being alone to throwing himself into the torrent, from being full of resentment to facing it calmly, standing in front of Javert, standing in front of Cosette, standing in front of Marius, Jean-Ajean finally completed a thorough transformation. Metamorphosis.
When his eyes fell on Marius, he was full of tenderness and care. Although this was only their first official meeting, for Jean-Valjean, Marius represented every young and lively person. Life represents every vigorous and energetic hope, which is the vitality that belongs to the entire society..
Jean Valjean devoutly looked forward to this chance of survival..
“"Bring- Him-Home", this is Jean Valjean's heartfelt voice, and it is also Jean Valjean's confession, and it is also Jean Valjean's sentiments. This track is not suitable for ordinary audiences. Familiar, at least not as well-known as several other famous songs; but for professional audiences, the level of difficulty even exceeds the classic passages of Fantine and Éponine, which can be called a masterpiece in this work..
Not only because this is the transformation and sublimation of Jean Valjean, which truly elevates the core idea of this play to a whole new level; but also because the difficulty of the song itself is eye-catching..
In the Queen's Theater version, this song is a severe test for the actors in every version of Jean Valjean; and in the Almeida Theater version, people have been curious whether this song will be removed after the entire repertoire is changed. song, or make an arrangement.
However, when the first note sounded, the entire audience could not help but hold their breath. They knew that the truly difficult moment had come, the real test moment had come.！
Involuntarily, Mark sat upright, leaning forward slightly, staring at the stage intently. It seemed that just by getting a little closer, he could more vividly capture the delicate changes in the world, and his whole heart slowly rose. , anticipation and excitement are slowly building up..
Enjoy, this is the real enjoyment! Enjoy every minute and every second in the theater.
The melody was flowing slowly, but Jean Valjean, who was standing on the right side of the stage, was not in a hurry to speak immediately. He walked slowly behind Marius, and his gaze slowly changed under the light.：
From unfamiliarity to anxiety, from unfamiliarity to curiosity, from attention to care, from care and pity, from sadness to perseverance.
The changes in the halo of sight made ripples bit by bit under the hesitant and hesitant steps, like a father guarding his children, carrying the weight of the entire world, blocking the storm, but Only a warm smile is left to accompany the child's journey of growth.
No words or actions are needed. All the stories just flowed out slowly. The surrounding lights slowly dimmed, like a big umbrella that was folded up. The other young fighters around them were gradually hidden in the darkness. Among them, everything, the light turned into a spotlight, shrouding Jean-Valjean and Marius, constructing a cream-colored world.
So beautiful that it brings tears to your eyes.
Jean- Valjean took steps forward, and finally stopped in front of the right side of the stage. Like a beacon, guiding Marius in the direction of progress, he was also like a navigator, clearing away the fog, blocking the wind and rain, and opening up a path. , towards survival.
Slowly, Jean Valjean raised his head and looked towards the endless distance. The ray of light projected down was like the halo of God covering his cheek, outlining the vicissitudes and fatigue of that face. , the ravines left by wind and frost carry suffering and hardship, and then, calling piously and expressively.
“God above, hear my prayers and you are always there for me when I need you.”
When the first lyrics came out, the powerful force silenced the entire Almeida Theater. Every note and every word seemed to tell a story, and his eyes were fixed on Jean Valjean in front of him. , as if he is not singing or performing, but trembling and resonating from the depths of his soul..
Even the trembling of a pitch is so sincere. At this moment, what they appreciate is not the performance, but the reality.
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