I am hella possessive of this song. And I am hella from southern California saying hella which is a blasphemy depending on who you ask. Or I'm just hella cool cause I'm defying the society regional norm. I grew up listening to Les Miserables like a good little thespian child. I related to the tragic abandonment of Cosette in her sweetly sung "Castle on a Cloud" and only later related to the strong desire to escape to an illusive place built on ether that felt beautiful and safe. I had a mother, and was and am still grateful for that (She is a wonderful person too, we are hella tight) but nonetheless, at a very young age, I realized this important character's plight, her pain and her good fortune being whisked away from abuse by a strong, compassionate father-figure. Maybe that is where the interest came in for me, being rescued by a dad, because mine left.
So having divulged a full psych-bio to you parelled by the musical interpretation of Victor Hugo's masterpiece (which I have not read, have you seen how lengthy that shit is?!) I will get on with my point, like a stubborn donkey.
Eponine is the greatest character that ever lived. She is the little girl in the red coat in Schindler's list. She is the Crimson Rose Atrophaneur Hector, the most beautiful birdwinged butterfly, that's lifetime only spans a meager 72 hours. Like the milliondollar bouquet of flowers, your life and mine, a perfect sandcastle, and oh my god how I want to grab hold and squeeze it so it's mine. But to do so clearly would ruin everything (how can you grab/own a sunset?? you can Instagram it!!!!). The most beautiful thing of all is always fleeting, so utterly temporary that before you truly absorb how fascinating it is, it's already dying. The play Les Miserbles is fucking fantastic. Every song, ever visual, is impactful and meaningful. But the part that makes it so brilliant to me is that they chose the most EPIC voice to be used in all of 3 songs. And then she dies right after. UHG!!
Before I begin to ramble on, I'll just say I have a really hard time allowing other people to have there own experiences. I have an equally hard time allowing people, the "general public" watch Les Miserables in a diluted half-assed fashion on screen. Film is wonderful, but this production has it's place, and that is on stage. I hate to think people can walk into this cultural blessing, and walk out not feeling the weight I've felt, the lump in the back of your throat, a face cleansed with tears, and a gratitude to have not lived in 18th century, stinky France. I'm sure it will be well done, and I know it is just my selfish, possessiveness that cannot let the exclusivity of Broadway go. I have always been the only freak singing to myself I Dreamed a Dream, and then freaking Susan Boyle came along and started to tear down my fort. We work hard defending that which makes us odd, only to have it not be so odd anymore.
I cannot find the MP3 I want to play for you. So please, for me, next time you see something beautiful don't steal it by taking a picture and posting it on facebook. Just be present to it, take it in, and let it go.
