The second half of the Almeida Theatre began.

A long wait is a test for any audience.

Two and a half hours seem to be very long, but it seems to be very short. It is really too long for a sandwich and a cup of coffee. And for a formal French or Italian dinner, it is too short for even a glass of red wine.

Such an awkward length of time is really a challenge to the audience's loyalty and patience.

Before today's official premiere, the length of the play and the interval of rest became the focus of concern for many mainstream media. "Three hours plus three hours", the entire six-hour work, even for veteran and professional enthusiasts, is a torment, let alone ordinary audiences, which is enough to discourage many people.

Some netizens joked on Facebook and Twitter:

"The intermission is really long. If you are not careful, the audience may never find their way back after leaving; or, taking a nap in the coffee house, but failing to wake up and missing the second half of the performance. So, maybe Almeda Theater should consider shortening the break and changing the dinner in the theater to avoid the disaster in the second half."

Teasing, everywhere.

But what is the truth?

Mark Lacanter really felt the long time. Two and a half hours were like two centuries, every minute and every second was a torment. He was waiting, waiting for the time to return to the theater, and couldn't wait to enter the second half of the world.

The three-hour performance in the first half was meticulous and rewarding endlessly. The remaining clips in my mind were too wonderful and wonderful, and I couldn't extricate myself. I wish I could sit in the Almeda Theater again immediately and receive the baptism of the other three hours.

Leave? Take a nap? Suffer?

All of this does not exist at all, and it has never been something Mark was worried about. His excited and excited brain couldn't stop. He just wanted to finish reading this masterpiece and become one of the trendsetters of the times.

So, after reopening in the second half, he rushed into the Almeida Theater as soon as possible, even if he was just sitting in a red velvet chair, he was satisfied.

After the performance started again, the amazement never stopped, which was completely fascinating. The "Red and Black" that Marius and Enjolah jointly contributed, the classic "Single" of Epenny, and the "One-day-more" in which the main cast actors took turns to play, were definitely high/climax and exciting.

Those familiar plots and unfamiliar plots continued from the third act in the second half to the fourth act, truly presenting the scroll of the entire era to the audience. With just a few strokes, a group of characters outlined the sadness of the times and the magnificence of fate.

When they saw all the people unite, stand up, bravely fight against rule and injustice, the boiling blood rushed to their foreheads instantly, and the whole soul trembled with excitement. In a trance, they also became a member of the torrent of history, raised their right hand high, and joined the tide of resistance.

The wave of revolution has finally arrived!

In an accident, Jean-Argen discovered Cosette's secret, the secret between Cosette and Marius.

These two young people fell in love with each other desperately and met like moths to the flames. In the tragedy of the times and the fear of society, they became each other's greatest concern and support. He was her greatest concern in her heart, and she was the driving force for him to continue to move forward, and he was in harmony with each other and did not distinguish between each other.

After realizing the truth, Ran Ajang fell into a battle between heaven and man.

Because he knew that the battle tonight was about to begin, Marius was still fighting on the front line. Facing the overwhelming army, the rebels might be wiped out, and Marius might also become one of the countless corpses on the street.

Jean-Argent is not a hero who saves the world or a martyr who changes society. He is powerless; but at least, he can protect Cosette, protect the last glimmer of hope, and protect the unswerving promise. He should save Marius's life.

Fightingly, Ran-Rang came to the barricade and joined the battle on the front line.

Here, he met Javier who was reduced to prison. He witnessed the passionate young fighter. By chance, he saved Enjolah. As a condition of thanks, he chose to let Javier go. There was no condition or any transaction, and he simply forgave Javier.

This move completely overturned the entire world of Javier, and the cycle of destiny finally formed a circle.

But more importantly, Javereign also met the fighters such as Marius, Enjolaer, and even if the enemy is large and we are few, even if the hope is slim and the future is uncertain, they still stand on the front line without fear. Those criminals who were once considered by Javereign as social unrest are subverting this society with practical actions and seeking benefits for the people, which has put Javereign in a deep shock.

Similarly, Jean-Argent found Marius.

In the sadness and depression between the war was about to come, Marius recalled Cosette affectionately, full of longing and love, which made Jean-Argent feel like a knife. He hoped to save Marius, and also hoped to save this group of young people, and even more hoped to change the entire society, but his thin shoulders were not enough to support the weight of the times.

So, Jean-Arjean remembered Bishop Milière again, and he chose to pray and pray to God devoutly.

This is not just to save Marius. After experiencing vicissitudes, hardships, and pain, Jean Argent's life finally realized again, with crying and confession from the heart, enlightenment and redemption from the soul, love and trust, forgiveness and sacrifice, embrace a warm heart of love, embrace every suffering in life, and call for God's salvation and forgiveness.

From panic to firm belief, from being alone to being devoted to the torrent, from being full of resentment to facing calmly, standing in front of Zave, standing in front of Cosette, and standing in front of Marius, Jean-Argen finally completed a complete transformation.

When the eyes fell on Marius, it was full of tenderness and care. Although this was only their first official meeting, for Jean-Ajean, Marius represented every young and lively life, and also every vigorous and vibrant hope, which belongs to the vitality of the entire society.

Ran Ajang devoutly looked forward to the ability to survive this vitality.

"Take him home (bring-him-he)" is Ran Ajong's voice, Ran Ajong's confession, and Ran Ajong's perception. This song is not familiar to ordinary audiences, and at least not many other famous songs are widely known; but for professional audiences, the difficulty is even higher than that of Fantine and Aepini's classic plot, which can be regarded as the masterpiece of this work.

Not only because this is Jean-Argent's transformation and sublimation, it truly raises the core idea of ​​this play by a height; it is also because the difficulty of the song itself is eye-catching.

The Queen's Theatre version, this song is a severe test for every version of the Jean-Argen actor; and the Almeda Theatre version, people are still curious whether the song will be removed after the entire play is changed, or an adaptation will be made.

However, when the first note sounded, the audience couldn't help but hold their breath. They knew that the real difficult moment was coming, and the real test moment was coming!

Involuntarily, Mark sat upright, leaning forward slightly, staring at the stage without turning his eyes, as if he could catch the delicate changes in that world more vividly. His whole heart slowly rose, and his expectation and excitement slowly spread out.

Enjoy, this is the real enjoyment! Enjoy every minute and every second in the theater.

The melody was flowing slowly, but Jean-Agen, who was standing on the right side of the stage, did not rush to speak immediately, and his steps slowly passed behind Marius, and his gaze slowly changed under the light:

From strangeness to nervousness, from awkwardness to curiosity, from attention to care, from caring to pity, from sadness to perseverance.

The changes in the halo of sight were rippling ripples little by little under the hesitant and hesitant steps, like a father guarding the child, carrying the weight of the whole world, blocking the storm, but leaving only a warm smile to accompany the child's growth journey.

No words or actions were needed, all the stories slowly flowed out, and the lights around slowly dimmed, like a big umbrella, gathered together, and the other young fighters around them gradually hid in the darkness. All the lights turned into spotlights, covering Jean-Argent and Marius, creating a creamy world.

It is so beautiful that it makes people cry.

Jean-Alger took a step and finally stopped in front of the right side of the stage, like a beacon, guiding Marius's direction, and like a navigator, clearing away the fog, blocking the wind and rain, opening up a path, and moving towards survival.

Slowly, Ran Ajane raised his head and looked into the endless distance. The ray of light cast was like the halo of God covering his cheeks, outlining the vicissitudes and fatigue of that face. The ravines left by the wind and frost carries suffering and hardship, and then calls out with a pious and devout look.

"God is above me, listen to my prayers, and you are always by my side when I need it."

When the first lyrics blurted out, the powerful force calmed the entire Almeda Theater. Every note and every word seemed to tell the story, and his eyes were motionlessly locking onto the Ran-Argen in front of him, as if he was not singing or performing, but trembling and resonance from the depths of his soul.

Even a tremor in a transverse voice was so sincere. At this moment, they appreciated not the performance, but the reality.
Chapter completed!