Magical Performances

There’s something breathtaking about seeing art performed live. Maybe it’s the knowledge that the performers have one shot to get it right, and there’s no room for errors that will spoil the illusion for the audience. Or maybe it’s knowing that if you look away, you will miss something, and there’s no play back or rewind or pause.

I’m not selective of the medium either. I enjoy live music, live theatre, and even oral storytellers. Good performances are mesmerizing and leave behind a deep satisfaction of a job well done.

While in New York City in 2010, I watched Wicked at the Gershwin theatre and fell in love with musicals. The talent, the scenes, and the storyline had all been magical and breathtaking. I was hooked.

So this year I’m the proud owner of season tickets to the traveling Broadway shows that visit New Orleans.

Recently, the first of many shows found me in attendance. Les Miserables is a musical based on Victor Hugo’s novel that follows Jean Valjean’s journey to redemption. It contains themes of love and death and war and sacrifice. All the makings of a dramatic story. I can’t say that I’ve watched the novel that the musical is based on. It is the longest novel ever written, and I’ve never attempted the read, but I can say that the musical makes a wonderful story.

I’d watched the video of a recorded stage performance before watching the live performance, but it doesn’t compare to being in the theater, waiting for it to unfold before you. The singers can’t blow you away with their voices on a video as they can on stage.

I know many don’t believe live theater or anything live really can compare to the technology at the fingertips of moviemakers or even video game creators. And though I love a good action movie with special effects, there is still something special about going to a theater for a performance. No one gets dressed up to go to the movies anymore, and at Saturday night’s performance there were ties, dresses, heels, and suits. All adding to the magical quality of the experience.

And even though Les Miserables the movie will probably find me in attendance Christmas Day when it debuts, there’s something about knowing that the singing is all natural instead of technology enhanced that makes the experience magical.

It truly was a great performance that served to get me excited about all the shows to come. I’m ready for the next one and can’t wait to see my daughter’s face as she watches Mary Poppins on stage.