It’s a musical of epic proportions and one that two brothers have immersed themselves in this year.
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Les Misérables is one of the world's most well-known and longest running productions and Taree’s Don Secomb and his Brisbane-based younger brother Geoff are the musical directors of their respective shows.
While Taree Arts Council’s season doesn’t start at the Manning Entertainment Centre until November, the Savoyards production is currently showing in Brisbane.
A huge undertaking, the show involves about three hours of continuous music and singing.
This is the first time Geoff has musically directed Les Misérables, while Don is doing it for the second time. Taree Arts Council’s 1995 production was his musical directorial debut for the company.
“I can’t believe that was the first show I really conducted and how I just went into it so blindly,” Don chuckled.
Mike Collins directed the 1995 production and when Don was approached about being musical director, he hadn’t actually seen it.
“I’d been living in Sydney and it had been on in Sydney but I had never been to see it. I was aware of some of the songs. I then went to see a semi-professional production in Castle Hill and I was crying all over the place.
“I thought, oh yes, we’re going to do it. I had no doubts about it, even though it is the hardest show in the world.”
The show holds a special place in his heart, especially when it comes to the music.
“The fact that when I come back and listen to it again, it can still move me and I’m still crying in certain places and its often the music itself. There’s something with the melodies and harmonies and moments that break into my heart and bring out the emotion to me.”
The show has big themes of revolution and the element of love and young love especially, which “really gets to your heart”.
Geoff said that musically, Les Misérables has “greater depth that a lot of other shows, particularly when you get into the orchestration and thematic matters.
“It’s a great story that has universal themes,” he said.
Don said one of the challenges for any amateur company in any show is trying to draw the best and way more out of the cast than what they thought they had in themselves, particularly when you are working with people of varying levels of vocal training, capabilities and onstage experience in singing and acting.
“Then you have to actually get to a point where everyone is on the same level and giving the same depth of thought. It’s a big challenge during a show to sort of nail it in terms being in a scene in a character.
“Striving for perfection with repetition requires discipline at rehearsals. Working in an amateur theatre situation, some people don’t understand. It is a social situation as well. The reason for discipline and quiet while rehearsing is so you can follow what’s being done in a rehearsal, even if you aren’t in a scene. For me it informs you how the story of the show proceeds. I think it’s important to follow,” said Don.
When it comes to show time, Geoff (pictured, left) said hydration is a big challenge, because you’re in front of an audience and can't stop. “I’ve got a water bottle with a straw and I reach for it when I need to.”
He also attempts to sing the whole show. “I’m really directing the voices.
“Another challenge is concentration as there is nowhere to stop and watch what’s coming next.”
Music has been a big part of their upbringing. Their mother was a singer and while she only started lessons herself and singing in choirs (including solo roles) after all her children were born, it was her wish that all four of her children took piano lessons, which they did.
Don and Geoff attended the Queensland Conservatorium of Music (Don majored in piano and Geoff in clarinet), and, among other things, have performed in orchestras, including professionally, and been musical director for many stage musicals.
Their approach to musical directing is similar. “We had a good chat earlier in the year and I was struck myself with how similar we were,” said Geoff.
“I think it stems from the fact we both trained at a conservatorium. The way we were trained is the way we tend to train other people,” said Don.
“Our early training has had a strong influence and the influence of our mother singing informed us on what we are looking for and how songs are presented,” added Geoff.