Paul’s Lesson from Les Mis (and the New Trailer!!) [VIDEO]

Les Miserables taught me an important lesson as an adolescent boy. My mom purchased tickets so she could take me and my two sisters to see it at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh, PA. I think I was 13 or 14 years old, and just really getting into rock and roll. I loved Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and the Doors. The LAST thing I wanted to do was go see a musical. How wimpy. How girly. How wrong I was.

Even though I fought her tooth and nail and sported a bad attitude the whole way, she forced me to go. The curtain opened...and I was enthralled for the entire 3 hours. I loved the music, the story, and the entire production. It was history. It was love and justice and the music is just brilliant. I loved how it flowed and how the same musical theme kept creeping up throughout the story. It was very similar to my favorite record (then and now) the Wall by Pink Floyd.

Afterwards, I listened to the music almost constantly and my sister and I could pretty much perform the whole thing on the spot.

What I learned from that experience is that I am stupid and my mom is smart. :) Just kidding, but I did learn not to judge a book by its cover. I was surprised at how wrong I was. Before we went I was so frustrated by the fact that she was making me go see something as stupid as a musical. When I was absolutely blown away by it, I started to wonder, 'What else are my prejudices preventing me from enjoying?'

I try to ask myself that question to this day. And, by the way, I can't wait to see the new movie in theaters!