'Les Miserables' begins run at NBTHS tonight
BY JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer

NORTH BRUNSWICK - For several seniors at the township high school, the performance of "Les Miserables" this weekend will be their last - and possibly most difficult - production with the Alchemist Theatre Company.

The story chronicles Jean Valjean, a man who originally stole a loaf of bread to save his sister and niece, but who turns into a convict after being caught trying to escape prison on several accounts. Out on parole after 19 years, he becomes a bitter, angry person and still involves himself in situations of crime. Despite the Bishop of Digne befriending him, Valjean steals silver from him and is again caught by police. The bishop lies to the police to save Valjean, who then realizes he must start his life anew.

"We've all made mistakes. Everybody makes mistakes because nobody's perfect. This shows that even someone in prison can turn good. You just need one person to show you how nice they can be and you can turn your life around," said actor Ben Simons, who will portray Valjean.

A huge admirer of the show, Simons said he is excited to play such an intense character. However, he said it is nerve-wracking to have a student edition of a Broadway play because of the history and familiarity with the story line.

"Every single character up there is so complex ... so we really want to do it justice," he said. "There is a lot to live up to, but I think we can do it."

Actress Carol Leigh Womack will portray Cosette, a young, innocent, energetic girl who is the illegitimate daughter of Fantine, a woman who was thrown out of a factory owned by Valjean because of her pregnancy, became a prostitute and then died.

"The music is so powerful and the story just pulls you in from the very beginning. It's such an intense story and so much goes on," Womack said.

The young Cosette will be played by a different Judd Elementary School student on each night: 9-year-old Elaina Baaklini, 10-year-old Himani Modi and 11-year-old Elise Bender.

The intensity is also greatly attributed to the musical score and the fact that practically the entire production is sung. Joey Braccino, who plays the crook and villain Thenardiers, said his comic relief-based character adds a lightness to the drama but that the music brings the level back up again.

"I never considered myself a good singer and this is singing all the way through," he said. "We worked really hard and built up a lot of stamina, but the challenge will be to keep up that vocal demand," he said.

Yet Michael Sandor, who will have the role of the self-righteous police inspector Javert, who constantly tries to nab Valjean, said the dramatic musical adds an element of intensity that can be preferable to actors.

"It's a lot more interesting. You get to develop a character a little bit more, and it's just really more of a challenge, more than anything," he said. "I just like the challenge of it, being able to develop a character and sing the entire character and be that character the entire time."

The intensity is also relevant in the history of the play, which focuses on the takeover by Napoleon around 1815 in France.

"The show really does relate to society just because you have to stand up for injustice, even if it comes to your life, for anything that is important to you," Sandor said.

"Les Miserables" will be presented today at 7 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 8 p.m. at North Brunswick Township High School, 30 Raider Road. Tickets are $10 for adults, and $7 for students and senior citizens. The box office will be open 45 minutes prior to showtime on the day of the show only.