DO YOU HEAR THE PEOPLE SING, SAY, DO YOU HEAR THE DISTANT DRUMS??

It is fair to say that I am a fan of Les Miserables. I have the CD, I have the DVD and I've seen the show a couple of times in the West End, although I don't have the T-Shirt.

It is also true to say that I am not a massive fan of school productions. Yes they are more interesting when your child is in one and we certainly have sat and enjoyed many nativity plays and school productions over the years at various schools our two kids have attended, but I have never come away afterwards thinking "Wow"........until last night.

It was the evening of St Aidan's High School's first performance of Les Miserables (School Edition) and amazingly my wife and daughter got ready early enough for us to make it in good time to the school. It soon became apparent that the Harrogate school were taking this very seriously indeed and had constructed tiered seating in the school hall so everyone could get a pretty good view of France in the 1800's.

Teaching staff and students selling programmes were smartly dressed in black tie and there was a real buzz in the audience. Did people know something I didn't?

From the opening bars of the Prologue and the appearance on stage of the Toulon Chain Gang it became apparent this was to be no ordinary school production.

Susan Boyle brought the song "I Dreamed a Dream" to the wider public's knowledge but it was marvellous to hear Sorrel Brown (playing Fantine) performing the song in its proper context. Her crystal clear voice brought the first lump to my throat and generous audience applause followed. Stirring cast performances of "At the End of the Day"and"Lovely Ladies" had set the tone and many more treats were to follow.

The first tear fell from my eye at the death of Fantine. Her duet with Jean Valjean (played masterfully by George Mulryan) on "Come To Me"was exquisite. When the song began, and Fantine was "looking" and talking to her daughter Cosette some audience members were craning thir necks to see the front of the stage. No guys .....Cosette wasn't there...she was at the Thenardiers Inn!

Another famous song from the musical is "Castle on a Cloud" and  Catherine Richard's angelic rendition as Young Cosette was enchanting.This role is alternated with Elenore Cockerham.

Enter a little comedy.... with the horrendously good Monsieur and Madame Thenardier. Julia Thomson-Smith was really scary and suitably hag like as Madame and have you ever seen a seedier villain than Sam Jackson playing Thenardier himself? The wonderful "Master of the House" was a great production and it went down a storm.

Another villain (though in the guise of the Police Inpector, Javert )was played by Tom Booth wonderfully displaying the blinkered approach to "justice" in his relentless pursuit throughout the story of our hero Valjean. Tom looked and sounded the part and excellently handled the very difficult solo "Stars."

By now the student rebellion was gathering pace and stirring versions of "Red and Black" and "Do You Hear The People Sing" were led by Enjolras ,energetically and emotionally played by Richard Upton.

Act One was brought to a fabulous end with the Company marching to "One Day More."

The audience were led on their own march to the main school for refreshments but by the time the snake of people arrived there, there was only a couple of minutes to have a warming coffee and a digestive before we had to march back again!

Act Two opened with one of the highlights of the evening. Eponine (who is the love interest scorned by Marius.....foolish boy!)sings "On My Own." Elisha Ainsley's performance throughout but especially of this song was simply stunning. It would not have been out of place on a West End stage. Elisha's movement and interpretation coupled with her lovely voice surely has her marked for greater things in the future.

Other highlights included the emotional "Bring Him Home" sung by Valjean, and the little urchin Gavroche played alternatively by Tom Knowles and David Paynes. Another high point was Marius (played by the dashing James MacCallum) ruing the loss of his fallen comrades at the barricades in "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables"

Onto the tear laden wonderful finale.......I always go to bits along with my wife at the part where the ghost of Fantine comes for Valjean and Cosette is pleading with her "father"not to leave (a great performance by Katie Pearson too) and those wonderful words are sung by Valjean "To love another person is to see the Face of God"

Tonight was no exception and there were tears and tissues everywhere!

The Company brought the show to a stirring end and received two well deserved standing ovations.

Special mention must be made about the performance throughout of the lead, George Mulryhan as Jean Valjean. Here is another supremely talented young guy who is surely destined for the top if he continues as a performer. His strength of voice and superb presence lifted the show whenever he was on stage.

It is a real shame everyone can not be specifically named and praised for their contributions but as a very impressed parent I have to mention the dedication of the teaching staff without which this memorable production would not have taken place. A special mention to the Director/Producer Fran Bray and Musical Director Mark Pallant for a very special evening. You have just cause to be proud of every cast, crew and musician connected with Les Miserables. Well done. You are a credit to your School.And finally................WOW!!!!

PS I understand  from the Head Teacher that the show is now completely sold out so you will have to take my word for it how good this was!