He does just that, but in doing so breaks his parole by abandoning his old identity. In his new life he becomes a successful businessman and a compassionate mayor, but his luck changes when an innocent man is mistaken for him and is about to be sentenced by the court. Valjean’s conscious forces him to reveal his true identity to Inspector Javert who has been hunting Valjean for years. But fate again lends a hand to another escape, as Jean Valjean is determined to care for a recently orphaned little girl named Cosette, feeling unwittingly responsible for the death of her mother Fantine.

And then the main story begins!

This sweeping, complex story based on the Victor Hugo classic novel is a masterpiece of musical theatre, but it is also a challenge to put on for any theatre company. Under the direction of Shaun T. Evans, the new California Youth Conservatory undertook that challenge with only their second production, and managed to put together a relatively good show featuring some up-and-coming stars and giving important acting opportunities to youth new to the art.

Brandon Pohl is anything but a newbie, and his experience shown through with his fine performance and singing in the role of Jean Valjean that is especially poignant in Bring Him Home – his prayer for the dying Marius (Patrick Williams) who has fallen in love with Cosette (who by this time is a young adult). That Cosette is played by Piper Davis whose gorgeous voice shines in such numbers as A Heart Full of Love. Other fine voices include Cosette’s mother Fantine (Sonya Bender) who gives such a stirring I Dreamed a Dream, Victoria Doroski as the tragic Eponine whose rock star voice belts out On My Own, and Megan Evans with her beautifully and cruelly sung solo as the “factory witch” who gets Fantine fired, leading to her miserable end. Other strong performances include big-haired Madame Thenardier (Alex Wiesel) who, with her louse of a husband (Eric Wolford), make Cosette’s early life a nightmare and try to make Valjean’s life a nightmare as well, and young Austyn Myers shows extraordinary stage presence and charisma at little Gavroche who helps inspire the college revolutionaries fight for justice and social reform.