While the rest of us have been either working from home, watching Netflix or perusing social media, one young actor has been busy live streaming a one-man, two-and-a-half hour production of Les Miserables.
聽鈥淚 wanted to do something creative that day (March 23) to fill the void that the (Gateway) show would have. So, I decided to do it to honour the fact that I was supposed to start rehearsal that day,鈥� explained Jason Sakaki, a Steveston resident and McMath secondary grad.
Gateway Theatre鈥檚 production, From Alaska, was cancelled earlier this month due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sakaki added, 鈥�(I didn鈥檛) think it would pick up so much traction with many people being super invested in the show,鈥� which was staged in every room in his house to give the impression of set changes.
Sakaki鈥檚 choice of Les Miserables was no coincidence.
Les Miserables is a story about people going through a difficult time, similar to what Richmond and the world is going through today, he explained.
鈥淲e鈥檙e in this time of 鈥榳hat鈥檚 happening next鈥� and no one really knows. Even though the musical takes place in the 1800s, it鈥檚 completely relevant to what we鈥檙e experiencing right now,鈥� Sakaki added.
Like many residents, the pandemic is affecting Sakaki as a performing artist financially, but the fear of the community turning away from theatre frightens him even more.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a little bit unsettling for actors because we don鈥檛 know when it鈥檚 going to end. Since we will not be able to get back to work until it鈥檚 fully over. That鈥檚 the scary thing right now I think,鈥� said Sakaki.
鈥淲hat we鈥檙e a little scared about is when we come back, are people going to come back to theatres and so 鈥� we want to keep them interested in what we鈥檙e doing.鈥�
Sakaki will be hosting another one-man production of Beauty and the Beast on April 3 at 7 p.m. on Instagram @jasonsakaki.
For those who missed his Les Miserables show, the full show can be seen at
