Hello there, it’s me, Evan! Once again writing an article for the Optimist. I hope you’ve been enjoying the comics, even with all the cat references.

For those who don’t know, ACU is, for some reason, the home to hundreds (or maybe thousands) of stray cats. If you haven’t seen them before, they live around and under the art building and Mabee Hall. If this is all news to you, go back and read my last four comics with this new information, and they will suddenly be funny (spoiler: they won’t).

What these cats are doing, I have no idea, but I like to imagine that their presence hearkens to some deeper mystery.

Anyway, this past weekend I was fortunate enough to have seen the Broadway production of Les Miserables at the Bass Hall in downtown Fortworth, and it was fantastic. Les Miserables (or simply, Les Miz, for those of us who feel awkward trying to pronounce miserables) is a musical (based on a novel of the same name) that follows a multitude of poor and destitute characters at the beginning of the French Revolution.

The story perfectly captures the feeling of the time period and the oppression that the poor endured. Revolution happens not only in physical form, but also the spiritual as well, as characters are forced to make decisions that risk either their own life, or the lives of others. The music should be well known to most, but if you have yet to hear it, I highly recommend a listen. A good production, such as the one I just saw, is a very touching thing, and I am not afraid to say I teared up more than once.

I couldn’t have timed my viewing better, as the Hollywood version of Les Miserables is due to be released this Christmas. The film stars Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman, as well as Russell Crowe as ‘bad-guy’ cop, Javert. And it looks amazing. Seriously, go watch the trailer right now. The film is also one of the first musicals where the actors sang their songs live on set. Most, if not all musicals have had the actors sing their parts beforehand, and then lip-sync their part while the camera is rolling. This movie however, does not, and it will hopefully be the better for it.

So there you go. Go see Les Miserables, or read the book or whatever. Or don’t, it doesn’t bother me (it will, a little). If you like it, remember I sent you, if not, then feel free to forget!