[Musical of the Month] Les Miserables

[BFG]

 

So straight up, this is the musical I have seen more than any other - and more than most films I own on DVD.  I watched it for the first time when I was about 13 on a trip to London with my family, again at 14 and 16 with school (I don't know why they kept choosing Les Mis, but...), again at 22 and most recently at 28...  Suffice to say I love this musical and will happily see it live pretty much anywhere. 

 

This is about the stage production musical, not the film as I have not seen the film, and under consideration of the reviews probably won't.  The videos are from different productions, dependent on what I found on Youtube. 

 

I'm not going to post videos of every song, just my favourites (and I've been ruthless, so some fairly well known songs are left out, because they're not amongst my favourites, and even so there are a lot of videos).  The summary of the musical will be brief, because if you don't already know it then go WATCH! NOW at the theatre (if possible)

 

 

 

 

 

So, we're all at the same place *nods* excellent.  Let's continue

 

 

Oh and Spoilers sweetie

 

 

 

Les Mis tells three several intertwining stories...

 

We begin with Valjean and Javert,

I had to include this (apologies for the video sound quality).  This kicks off the entire show.  We're introduced to Valjean, a prisoner up for parole and Javert, an officer of the law.  We learn that Valjean was imprisoned 5 years for stealing a loaf of bread and 14 for trying to escape.  I've seen this done a couple of ways.  Traditionally (4/5) it's been set in the fields, most recently it's been set on a ship and I believe in the film it's in the docks.  We then follow Valjean as he is cheated out of pay for his work, and eventually breaks parole and tries to steal from a bishop.  He's caught and the Bishop speaks for him, Valjean goes free and vows to start over.

 

Some years later...  We move to a factory (owned by Valjean), where we meet Fantine, a worker.  She's discovered as a single mother and cast out of the factory (and paid employment) and winds up on the streets.

 

We are reintroduced to Javert, whose been hunting Valjean since he broke parole.  The two meet, and Javert fails to recognise Valjean, but who comments on Valjeans strength and comments that they've caught Valjean and that he's to be hung tomorrow.  Valjean then faces a moral dilemma, can he allow an innocent man to die instead of him?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk-wj6F_sms

 

Valjean escapes and meets Fantine as she's dying.  He recognises her from the factory and vows to find and protect her daughter Cosette.  As Fantine's dying Javert catches up and the two have one of my favourite duets (in fact, the base for this song is probably my favourite from any musical, at least it is while I'm listening to it)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KZ6PVK6mVo
 

Valjean escapes (again) and finds Cosette (and mushy ugh) (Castle on a Cloud).  We meet the Innkeeper and his wife, unscrupulous people who take advantage of every passerby.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oi0Rlfble3A

 

The upshot is that Valjean leaves with Cosette and time passes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wt7NzjxEuM

 

We start the third plot.  The people are unhappy and talk of revolt is stirring. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V-xuTH57G0

Enjolras :wub:

Marius, a student involved with the revolt meets Cosette and falls in love with her.  She falls in love back, and they part.  Marius asks his old friend Epinine to find her and she reluctantly agrees.  She takes Marius to Cosette where they meet, leaving Epinine an unfortunate third wheel.  Unfortunately the Innkeeper has also discovered the whereabouts of Valjean and has decided to rob him.  Epinine alerts Valjean to her fathers presence and the Innkeeper runs off.  Valjean, thinking the intruders were Javert decides to leave again, parting the erstwhile young love, leaving Marius with a decision - to stay and fight or leave with Cosette.

 

He stays.

 

Enjolras :wub:

 

Javert spies on the rebels as they're building the barricades before being ousted by Gavroche.  Valjean lets Javert go, who then rejoins the French Army.

 

(I have a strange fondness for this song)

 

We're then mostly out of the romance as the fighting and tension build, except for Marius pining over Cosette, over heard by Valjean.  Epinine having delivered a message to Cosette on behalf of Marius returns to the Barricades and is shot and dies in Marius's arms.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXedRn3fow0

:cries: The first time I saw this, I have been reliably informed that I was bawling at Gavroches death, and it still brings a lump to my throat

 

The rebellion fails, the only survivors Valjean, who carries Marius to safety.

 

Meanwhile, Javert commits suicide as he can't live in a world owing a debt to Valjean. 

 

(I've seen this done two ways, the first where he 'jumps' from the bridge, the bridge is lifted up and he 'rolls' on the floor as if drowning.  The second (and more recent works much better) where he jumps and is suspended on wire.  The bridge goes backwards and it's like an endless fall.  I actually quite like Javert (mostly because every song he sings is epic), so this generally has me quite upset as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0kFkXkR_SI

 

We then have the aftermath of the fight - the women left behind and Marius left seeing ghosts (as much as I dislike Marius, this bit is sad and an excellent song)

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9-OA8ZpjK0'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9-OA8ZpjK0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQDGr8DElB0

 

The ending of Les Mis, is for me, the weakest section - I don't particularly like any of the end songs, wince instead of laugh at the Innkeeper.  Cosette and Marius marry, the Innkeeper and wife crash the party, Valjean dies confessing his sins to Cosette.  Fantine and Epinine show up as ghosts to help him over (really don't know why Epinine is included here as she has no real connection to him, it does get her on stage)

 

The finale is good, as is traditional it takes us through most of the refrains from the musical.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9-OA8ZpjK0

[Hallia]

This is something that I think is amazing.  He does all the different parts and highlights many of the songs.  He's impressive!

 

One Man Les Mis

[Nyanna al'Meara]

Ohhhhhhhh yaaaaaaAyyy!! Iwas jurst watchingt his yesterday, and the day before! Saw it at the shop and had to get it on DVD XD the film, that is... I'd been to see it atv the theatre too and looov=ed it

(btwsliiightly drunk here so sorry if it makes little sense but I have ti gush now - after that I promise Ill sleep ) :p

 

mk, so I'd heard of Les Mis before, heresay mostly didn't know much about the plot - but I got very interested when I heard a film version was coming out t wtith Anne Hathawayy, Hugh frickin Jackman, Helena B-C, the Gladiator, etcetc anyhoo so when the opportuiniuty arose (I met up with someone from couchsurfing - a french chick, actually - who was going to see it so yay, someone who was actually knowledgevable about the revolution and stuuuuuuffs)

 

Back on topic.. I loved the film, veeeerrry muchly. Especially after I found out midway through that EDDIE REDMAYNE IS IN IT aaaand THAT EDDIE REDMAYNE SINGS gosh

 

I adore Red & Black. And Eponine's songs....soo gooood.....and so saaad and adorable and..... I also bawled at Gavroche'ss death and Eponines :(( Oh and I ship Eponine, if you havent realised it yet XD she really loved Marius, and did so much for him and ...*bawl* twasnt faaaaiiir!!

 

It's an interstin story too... one thing I didn't like was how it jumped so many years and STILL Valjean looked so much like....fit, hunky HughJackman-y Valjean. XD at the end he did get old though.

 

Erm, yeah. The songs have been in my head aaaaall day :) The whole musical dooes a great jopb of rousing hearts and giving rise to noble t houghts and whatnot, and certainly kept me riveted all through. And now I has it on DVD *fawns over it and watches wheneeeever I want* hehehe

 

I do definitely want to see it live one day though. It must definitely be a whole new experience and delight seeing it all before you and hearing it around you and RAAAWWWR *can se e self runnnning out screaming CAN YOU HEAR THE PEOPLE SING and waving a flag hystericly*

 

 

.......one more thing. When I first heard the song Red&Black, I had one moment of weirdness where the melody sounded very similar to Do Re Mi from The Sound Of Music. So 'cours e I couldn't resist and had to take the mickey out of it and...

 

*giggle* I leave you wiiith...

 

 

 

 

 

[Nyanna al'Meara]

This is something that I think is amazing.  He does all the different parts and highlights many of the songs.  He's impressive!

 

One Man Les Mis

 

....thiss guy....Yes.

 

Jis range is insaaane

[F Horn of Valere]

Great musical! BFG, one great note about the movie addresses one of your last comments, regarding Epinine.

 

 

Epinine is replaced with the priest from the beginning.

 

[dapianoplay3r]

Can we pull the film appart?

 

I really love the musical and loved the film but Russell. Good god

[dicetosser1]

Javert in those clips is THE MAN!!!  he is by far the best Javert. When i sing along with the songs i always hear his voice.

 

BFG  you are lucky you included the Confrontation or i would have had to hunt you down....

[BFG]

writing this took a long time, because despite my best efforts, once the song had started I had to listen through, and sing along - it becomes tricky when trying to do both sections to some of the duets (Confrontation in particular).

 

Feel free to talk about the film  -I've only heard good things about it, apparantly Marius is less 'wet' in the film and more of a leading man, and the director was smart enough to realise that he'd never match the intensity of a theatre, so focused on the stuff that film can do that theatre can't - i.e. close-ups and long distance shots.  But... I love the stage musical (evidently), Marius, Cosette are my least favourite characters, and Javert is one of my favourites (and like dapianoplay3r says Russell Crowe, really?).

 

I love that sequence of songs, Who Am I? The trial, Confrontation, Stars...  And the Valjean/Javert section is by far my favourite.  Although the students (exc. Marius) are a close second, Marius/Cosette are so far in the distance as to be not funny and are only saved by Epinine, In A Heart Full of Love I'm always waiting for her (what?) 3 sentences.

[dicetosser1]

marius blows!

 

and thats my fav section too BFG  im actually pretty good at singing both parts of the confrontation

[dapianoplay3r]

In the film the whole style of filming was very close up and weird. I hear it put off a lot of people.

 

Tbh it made the songs more emotional. However listening to the soundtrack without the images it all falls appart. There is very little of the film soundtrack that works listening without watching

[BFG]

marius blows!

 

and thats my fav section too BFG  im actually pretty good at singing both parts of the confrontation

 

But can you sing both parts at the same time, in full? - that's the problem I have :)

 

 

 

I think Epinine in the film, is the only one to have come from the theatre - she entered the BBC Search for Nancy/problem like Maria/something (she didn't win, but was good enough to earn her parts).  Apparantly Anne's version of I dreamed a dream is very good - but as you said filmed in closeup...  But I don't see how the cast as a whole have the voices to stand against people singing it live in the theatre every night. 

[dapianoplay3r]

They don't

However the performances hold the film together (hence the soundtrack not holding up)

[dicetosser1]

yes she is in it as is the ORIGINAL valjean   he plays the priest

 

I thought anne Hathaway was brilliant!!  particularly for that one song!

[dapianoplay3r]

She is exceptional considering how much screen time she has and the impression she made

[The Bard Babe]

24601111111111111111111111111111111111111111!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I sooooooooooooo, want to see this live!!!!!!! We just studied it for a bit in classroom music, which I was scared was going to ruin the musical for me, but Les Mis withstood my classroom music teacher and survived with me still enjoying it! Yay!

 

Ok, I haven't seen it on stage, (despite how much I want to), but the first version I saw was that Anniversary edition on youtube, which I looooooved XD It was awesome, the vocals were great. Javert was absolutely fantastic and I fell in love with the song Stars.

 

I loved the film as well, but I'm notoriously bad at not loving films. XD   I was a little disappointed with the vocals on Russel Crowe's part, but the whole walking across the top of the wall thingy and all the acting and stuff really made it work for me. So, Stars wasn't fantastic, but I didn't hate it, and that was enough for me.

 

Everything else, I loved!!! Especially Master of the House :p It was awesome! I really enjoyed it, it was really funny and really enjoyable. There are so many amazing songs in that. Red and Black is awesome, as is Confrontation, I just love Javert's theme, it's so awesome. For whatever reason, I love the scene a while before Confrontation, where Javert tells the Mayor that he thought he was Valjean. So good! That bit was fantastic in the film.

[The Bard Babe]

OOH! And Empty Chairs and Empty Tables!!!!

That song makes me cry so muuuuuuuuuch! So, so much

[StephenTownsley]

Not really sure what to say,but rarely have i ever been blown away by music/books/films as i was by this, i got to see it in the early 2000s and my word what a show, its an absolute rollercoaster of emotions, and i thought the movie did a good job of also conveying this but still not as good as the live show.

[BFG]

An alternative summary...

 

Jack does Les Mis

 

It is in fair Paris where we set our scene

Of students made into a fighting machine

The miserable tale the whole world has seen

To dance with Jak o' the Shadows.

 

Valjeans locked in jail for stealing some bread

Meanwhile Javert sleeps happily in his bed

Little knowing his fate is to wind up dead

To dance with Jak o' the Shadows

 

Our story breaks with a happy interval

Valjean is mayor the fool does a somersault

Javerts reaction borders the visceral

To dance with Jak o' the Shadows

 

Oh no! Tragedy strikes, alas and alack

Look behind you Valjean for Javert is back

Determined to not let him slip through a crack

To dance with Jak o' the Shadows

 

They fight to a draw then Valjean runs away

To rescue a girl and keep the world at bay

They hope tomorrow is a happier day

To dance with Jak o' the Shadows

 

At last we're in Paris where the students stir

In protest against those who are wearing fur

Revolting against those whom they should call Sir

To dance with Jak o' the Shadows

 

Cosette coos to Marius a trap she baits

While in the shadows lonely Epinene waits

To die alone is her eventual fate

To dance with Jak o' the Shadows

 

Back with the students where the fight now kicks off

Not realising that they are the ones who are soft

In the audience a pin drops, some lone person coughs

To dance with Jak o' the Shadows.

 

From the bridge so high our tragic Javert jumps

An extreme reaction when down in the dumps

Valjeans action what gave him the needed bump(s)

To dance with Jak o' the Shadows

 

The tale ends with some lovedove sappy stuff

Marius is alive, anything but buff

Not even the Innkeeper can save this guff

From dancing with Jak o' the Shadows

 

This tale ends when all the students are dead

Noone is left to remember what they said

The people are hungry they haven't been fed

To dance with Jak o' the Shadows

[Rasheta Ardashir]

I always felt super bad for Epinine. Poor thing. :( I never like the actress who plays Cosette I don't know why. *laughs* All the times I've seen it I'm just like...why that person as Cosette? LOL

[dicetosser1]

Nice Jots BFG. Remember to post it in the JoTs thread for points

[BFG]

Already done Dice.

 

 

I always felt super bad for Epinine. Poor thing. :( I never like the actress who plays Cosette I don't know why. *laughs* All the times I've seen it I'm just like...why that person as Cosette? LOL

 

 

No I find Cosette as a character very hard to warm to, but then her & Marius storyline is just blergh.  Why Epinine wastes her time on him?.. :(

[dicetosser1]

I agree and add Fantine to that list.