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| AND I'M JAVERT... |
On the 16th May, I found out that I was to play my all time dream role of Inspector Javert in Les Misérables. It's taken almost a month, but it's finally sunk in that it's all real!
At the callback on the 15th May, the talent of everyone else auditioning was extraordinary, and these were people who had lots of experience from performing Les Misérables at the Edinburgh Fringe the previous two years. When I found out I had been cast as Inspector Javert, my day turned from one of the worst days, to one of the best days of my life!
What Les Misérables means to me...
I first got introduced to Les Misérables through my Mum (Who is a big fan of the show and has seen it in London and Edinburgh a lot more than I have) who introduced me to the Complete Symphonic Recording. It was a rainy day not long after my birthday in 2008 and I was inside doing a very complicated jigsaw puzzle of the world (a 3D globe if you must know) and I needed some music in the background. So my Mum suggested Les Misérables, which I agreed to, since the only real musicals I'd seen before were Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Scrooge and Mary Poppins (plus I had knowledge of others from watching the films, but at this point there was no Les Misérables film), I decided I would give it a listen.
It was the best decision I ever made in my opinion. From day one I was drawn to the character of Inspector Javert (I think part of it was the fact that one track was called "Javert's Suicide") and I listened to the musical, mostly following that character. Then I loved it so much I sat for a second time the next day and listened to it all the way through again. The power, the misery, the epicness, suddenly burst into the ears and became imprinted on the brain. From the second listening, I knew from that moment on, that I would never let this musical go! And on the brain it has remained ever since.
At this time I was a cheapskate, and had a very good MP3 player (I say very good in a very sarcastic manner since the MP3 player was... not the best, but not the worst, let's say it did the job) and Les Misérables was the most played music on it. Many paper-rounds were spent listening to it, many were also spent singing along to it whilst on my travels, earning me the title of "The Singing Paper-Boy" among the customers I delivered to. I don't know why it was my most played, because I didn't understand most of the story at this point, just loved the music.
It was after I'd listened to it more than 10 times on my MP3 player that my Mum introduced me to the Vocal Selections from Les Misérables book. I couldn't believe she owned that. Instantly I took it into school and would stand with my then singing teacher (rest in peace Thomas) and sing the numbers while he bashed the notes out on the piano. He definitely heard the people sing the songs of angry men who would not be slaves again...
"Stars, in your multitudes, scarce to be counted, filling the darkness with order and light, you are the sentinels, silent and sure, keeping watch in the night, keeping watch in the night..."
When I discovered Stars, there was no going back. I have sung the song many many times, with all 3 of my singing teachers and at countless school concerts (one of my more memorable performances was a costume and make-up performance during a song and dance show which I was asked to sing at. My make-up was incredible (Thanks again Connor! I might need you for the Fringe ;) ) and the performance felt so real. It was amazing! (see the picture at the top of the page)
Then it was my turn to go and see the show, for real! Les Misérables celebrated its 25th Anniversary by releasing a touring production. I went to see it on the 27th April (a Tuesday night) and my Mum and I had two of the best seats in the theatre. Apart from the plonker who came in halfway through who am I and forgot to turn his phone off, my experience of the musical on stage was phenomenal! John Owen Jones as Jean Valjean and Earl Carpenter as Javert... I will always remember them, especially Earl who is the best Javert in my opinion (sorry Philip). I laughed and sobbed that night. And from then on my obsession grew...
Jump forward to 15/06/2013 and I hold in my hands, the vocal score of "Les Misérables School Edition", and it all becomes real. I'm playing Javert in less than 2 months! I should say I'm looking forward to it, but at the same time, I'm shitting bricks (or should I say barricades to make it fit into the context better?)
I don't know what else to say really. I've dreamed this dream (hungered for it) all my life and in August I get to live it!
If you are interested in coming to see Captivate Drama's 2013 production of Les Misérables School Edition, then you can buy tickets here. The show is being performed at Broughton High School on East Fettes avenue so make sure you know where that is before booking ;)
https://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/musicals-and-operas/les-miserables-school-edition
I hope to see you there! I can't wait to be a part of the best musical ever written (sorry Sweeney, I've loved Les Mis a lot longer and although you're my joint first favourite musical, Les Mis wins this time) and to join in Captivate Drama's crusade in bringing the musical to life at this years Edinburgh Fringe.
Best Regards
Gordon H
