To Love Another Person is to See the Face of God

After seven sold out performances; numerous standing ovations and countless hours of careful work, the final curtain came down on the 2023 Musical, Les Misérables.

The last time Barker College Music-Drama performed this timeless classic in the musical theatre repertoire was in 2006 and we were thrilled to bring it to life once again, telling this powerful old story to a new generation in the Barker community.

In the final moments of Les Misérables, the lead characters, Jean Valjean, Eponine and Fantine, jointly sing the line that best captures the entire story: To love another person is to see the face of God. It is a story for all the ages and for all times.

Set against the backdrop of the turbulent years of post-Napoleonic France, the musical Les Misérables takes portions of Victor Hugo’s epic novel of the same name and creates a sweeping storyline from 1815 in the Toulon prison galleys to Montreuil-Sur-Mer in 1823 to the Paris Revolution of 1832, when economic hardship across the land was exacerbated by a horrific cholera epidemic. In such desperate times, it was the poor and the powerless who suffered the greatest hardships and we first meet the central figure, Jean Valjean, in his most pitiable state as he completes his nineteen-year sentence for the theft of a loaf of bread and for attempting to escape.

His life is changed by the kindness of the Bishop of Digne, who returns love for Valjean’s hate and “bought his soul for God”. The rest of the narrative of Les Misérables, with all its complicated subplots, plays from this extravagant moment of loving grace by the kindly Bishop.

The Barker production team assembled a cast and crew worthy of the renown of this work. The show required performers who were capable of meeting the demands of the score and the acting of a story so well-known and beloved by generations. The soloists defied their youthful age and offered such depth and beauty to their performance. The chorus scenes, which were plentiful in Les Misérables, were critically important to the story telling and hence very demanding on a young cast. Broadening the ensemble to include students in Year 10 as well as Years 11 and 12 helped us add strength to an already eager and capable cast and crew.

We also welcomed students from our Junior School and Year 7 who played the role of Little Cosette and Little Eponine.

The creative skill of the production team was a delight from first to last: Pia Midgley and Simon Smith’s unfailing support, Karen James’ diligent and wise administration, Teresa Huzij’s skilful choreography and costuming, Dugal Parker’s theatre craft and creative energy, and Kath Day’s finesse in accompaniment in countless hours of rehearsal. It was a joy to work with Emma Scarlis, a truly gifted and creative Drama/ English educator who assisted with the direction. And the musical genius of Peter Ellis, in his first musical theatre production as Music Director, scaled new heights in the work with the ensemble.

Above all, however, our admiration and thanks must be expressed to the students of Barker, both on stage and in the production crew. The performance of Jean Valjean (Ryan), Fantine (Georgie), Eponine (Leah), Enjolras (Kyle), Javert (Andrew), Cosette (Sarah), Marius (Tom), and the Thenardiers (Jamison and Eli) will long be remembered. The Ensemble of students and ladies was extraordinary.

This show requires a broad and capable cast and the 2023 surpassed all expectations. You are our inspiration and delight and we truly honour the hours of sacrifice and discipline you gave to make this beautiful show a reality –from page to stage, a toilsome delight. As Valjean, Fantine and Eponine reminds us, “To love another person is to see the face of God”. This is what you have all accomplished. Merci.

Phillip Heath AM Director