Director’s Note

Les Misérables is more than just a beloved musical, it is a classic story of mercy and justice at a time when the world was just beginning to wake up to the possibilities of equality and the inalienable rights of the human person. Our protagonist, John Valjean, comes of age at a time when the social class to which you are born is the height of what you can achieve. His imprisonment for a small misdemeanor cuts his young life short. By the time he is released in his early thirties, he has become hardened by a system that has oppressed him all his life.  However, once he is released from prison, events unfold that demand he rise beyond the expectations of society.  He is ultimately redeemed by the good works that he dedicates his life to after his encounter with the Bishop.

Over the course of rehearsals, we at YAA have explored several of the themes of this play with our company. Even our own society, in which we claim to have "liberty and justice for all," is guilty of practicing similar injustices.  We often jump too quickly to judge an action without looking beyond to the greater context that led to that moment. By doing so we often perpetuate societal problems for years to come. This fixed mindset can be seen through the character of Javért as he wrestles with the inability to reconcile the two halves of Jean Valjean's character.

Ultimately this is the story of the power of love to transform a person’s soul.  The ability to love another person, to practice compassion towards those we don't know personally, and to sacrifice self for those we love requires an open heart and humility.  In this age of social media where we often surround ourselves with mirrors of our own opinions, mindsets, and "truths" we too easily lose our ability to humbly listen and approach each other with the dignity each person deserves.  As you enjoy this afternoon's performance, I invite you to ponder the ultimate lesson of Les Misérables: "to love another person is to see the face of God."  Whether you are religious or not, I truly believe that it is through love that we see the best in humanity.