Nathan Bois McDonald plays Marius en Francais in Les Miserables in Quebec June/July/August, 2026

 

This is Marius as a young man in the musical Les Miserables based on the novel of the same name written by Victor Hugo in 1862.

    I have the good fortune to have two fine sons and one fine daughter-in-law wherein two have raised three sons who contribute significantly in digital arts, theatrical arts and robotic engineering (which may lead to a career practicing physician a number of years from now). They are Benjamin 25, Nathan 24, Thomas 19; and there's me who is a proud parent/grandparent at 85 this September. 

    Terryl and I will see Nathan in the role of Marius on June 21 in Montreal when I will have re-read the book and be wearing my puffy arm shirt and a poor-boy cap.

Nathan in his regular clothes

I thought a quote from Hugo's writing would be appropriate at this point, but first I'll summarize that which I have recently read about our man Marius.

    After years of hard times where Marius is as poor as a church mouse he now has two black suits, three white shirts and has been called to the Bar and earns 700 francs a year. His food, lodging and clothing cost 650 francs annually and now here's Victor Hugo's work..."This left him with 50 francs. He was rich...He had undergone everything, in the shape of privation; he had done everything except get into debt. Rather than borrow, he did not eat."

😞

Marius as a young man takes a daily walk and always sees an older man and an attractive young woman. He always keeps his distance and watches them in conversation while they sit on a favourite park bench.

    After several daily tours Marius begins to imagine meeting them on some future walk in the park; the exact same walk that precedes his view of the pretty young lady and her much older companion sitting on the same park bench. Weeks passed where Marius has not been seen by the young lady but her beauty has captured his heart and imagination. However on the day he decided he would say hello, when he sighted the park bench the couple were nowhere to be seen.

😭

                                         

 I'm looking into Victor Hugo's characterization of other leads in Les Miserables with great interest. Jean Valjean is the main person in his book along with many others that captured the hearts and minds of book lovers in the 1800's and continues deserving adoration from readers, theatre and music lovers around the world. 

😇

    It's June 17th and Terryl and I will Via Train it from Port Credit to Downtown Montreal on June 20th. Cab it to the Warwick Crystal hotel and meet Greg and Marie-Lou perhaps for a dinner or a night's celebration before Nathan's performance at 14:00 on Sunday. We can't wait.

    We are in Montreal with this giant billboard greeting in sight:

Marius (Nathan) is on your right

Nathan fooling around

    The Warwick Chrystal is a highly recommended hotel in Montreal that fit our needs completely. Greg and Marie-Lou with their youngest Thomas (19) happily joined us at the Warwick and at 19:00 we hopped into an Uber to dinner at BISristorante and met Maylia who is Thomas's female friend and we six thoroughly enjoyed the food and a very lively anticipated conversation about the weekend we were to have.

    Sunday morning we had lunch at noon where Nathan and his girl An walked in to joined us with Nathan leaving in ten minutes to get ready for his performance right across the street at the beautiful St. Denis theatre. At 13:30 we walked out just after Ben (the oldest son) and Mathew appeared to witness a huge lineup around the block. We joined everybody while a trickle of rain fell. 

    We are in excellent seats 12 rows back of Stage Right. The lights lower, the curtain rises, the music begins with the actors, the scenery and an 18th Century France history lesson unfolds.

    To say it was a wonderful performance would understate the 3.5 hours of entertainment filled with historical nostalgia, creative theatrical arts and personal family pride.

    The post party was held at Weinstein & Gravino's Italian Restaurant where the food and drink was great and plentiful for twelve very happy guests all hosted by Greg and Marie-Lou.

                                    An and Nathan

                                Greg and Thomas

                          Thomas and Marie-Lou

Maylia and Marie-Lou

Terryl and Mathew

I'll end this post with an entry written by Nathan in a Les Miserables notebook that I will cherish forever:

"Grampstickle! You gem of a man. Thank you for supporting my dreams and inspiring me to forge a grand story just as you have. I hope this journal offers you space for clarity and creation. I love you dearly."

Nathan

21/6/2026