AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

"Drink with me to days gone by
Can it be you fear to die?"
Sings
Grantaire (Jon Lutyens) as he ambles across the stage
Village Theatre
2013 (random matinee)
One of my favorite moments in the show
DRINK WITH ME
a respite
a song of reflection
bordering on maudlin
yet camaraderie prevails
real and intimate moments happen on stage
A lullaby of sorts
as the cast falls asleep on stage
For Valjean, it is an opportunity
to focus
grab a sip of water from the cup hidden in the barricade
or from a bottle handed by (Alison Standly) a revolutionary
relax
breathe
Bring Him Home
is coming
so
watch the cast settle in
take in the setting
take in the moment
Focus
do a vocal check
voice is fine today
take slow
deep breaths
place yourself there
France
in war
while aware
you are in a theater
with an audience in anticipation
The orchestra diminuendos
The last few notes emanate from the pit
find my mark
take a deep breath
And in that instance
That VERY instance
Prepared to sing my prayer to God
A withered yet surprisingly loud woman exclaims,
"Oh I HATE this song!"