There are school performances and there are school performances! Last night, we attended the Sale Waterside Robert Bolt theatre to watch the final night of Ashton-on-Mersey School's production of Les Miserables and it was a night not to be missed. The audience were constantly reaching for their tissues as the performers successfully and convincingly invoked every human emotion. From tears and tension to joy and laughter as we listened to Little Cosette (Niamh Dean), Jean Valjean (Calum Burke) movingly pray to God for the safety of Marius (Damon Daniels) and Msr et Mme Thenadier (Cameron Davies and Lorna Hughes) as they sang with obvious relish and enjoyment the Innkeeper's song. I felt emotionally drained after the show and for the right reasons!
What struck me about the production was the supreme talent, confidence and very strong stage presence of all the cast. Javert and Gavroche played by Joe Fairbrother and Jacob Ashcroft respectively were very good examples of this. We heard powerful singing voices from Fantine (Rachel Mayon), Enjolras (Jenny Booth) and The Bishop of Digne (Jenny Flanagan) and great tenderness in the love expressed by Marius, Cosette (Shobi Miller-Lawson) and Eponine (Lorna Smyth).
The whole cast had clearly worked hard on this production and invested a lot of personal emotion into the performances. They were a joy to watch and listen to and a credit, not only to their school and the teaching staff who have encouraged them but to young people of their generation. But there was something else going on last night as well. Not only did the performers work together as a team but a team behind the scenes supported the great stage spectacle we could see. Musicians, set-design, scene changers, lighting, make-up, costume design all came together in a very professional way.
I'll take a gamble with this next statement: I think we saw last night some actors that are destined to become household names.
The audience loved it and gave the entire cast a standing ovation. We look forward to many more excellent performances.
Vive L' Ashton-on-Mersey School!!
(or is it la? perhaps the head of French will let me know! UPDATE: I am informed that actually it is L')
Cllr John Lamb
