AG Needs Some Les Mis Help!

[aspiringguy715]

Posted: 1/2/05 at 6:36pm

Hey guys!

So here's the deal. I have to sing "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" for a History project this Friday. I need to know where the song fits into the musical plot-wise. I haven't seen Les Mis, so I have no idea. I've searched for synopsis' and have only found general summaries. I can assume from the lyrics that Marius is reflecting on his dead friends as a result of the revolt. If anyone can give me some more info as to where it fits into the story, or any info at all, it would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks
AG Updated On: 1/3/05 at 06:36 PM

[insomniak]

Posted: 1/2/05 at 6:39pm

That's it, AG. It's after everyone else (or most of the rebels) have been killed. There's a synopsis in the CD booklet.

And hello in general. I think we may have 'met' before, but I've heard a lot about you and haven't really interacted with you much.

[aspiringguy715]

Posted: 1/2/05 at 6:43pm

Thanks for the info, insomniak!

I do believe we've "met." I haven't been around BWW much since the summer thanks to shows and school. If it weren't for school, I'd be here much more. I've even resorted to posting during my lunch period. I'm gonna try to get back here more, hopefully

[BWayBoy88]

Posted: 1/2/05 at 6:47pm

We all miss you here.

Basically you and insomniak covered it all. Marius is one of the only people to survive the revolution. He goes back to the cafe where he and his friends used to meet and form plans to revolt. I felt this song had a lot of meaning right after 9/11.

[insomniak]

Posted: 1/2/05 at 6:50pm

So do I, Bwayboy. 'Turning' also reminds me of the war right now.

AG, do come by more. I know what you mean about school though, I post during study hall when I'm finished with homework.

[aspiringguy715]

Posted: 1/2/05 at 6:52pm

Thanks for the additional info BwayBoy. I love the icon, but of course we've talked about *him* far too much for our own good

I'm definitely gonna try to be more active in the BWW community. Everyone is so great here and I've made so many friends, I can't stand not being here more. That being said...*chucks homework aside*

[insomniak]

Posted: 1/2/05 at 6:55pm

Homework? Pft! You don't need that silly school stuff. What do you have to do? I got off lucky this break.

[aspiringguy715]

Posted: 1/2/05 at 7:06pm

My homework load isn't too bad. It's a fair amount for the entire vacation.

I had to...
-Create a brochure explaining the Revolution of 1848
-Learn and memorize "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" as a part of the brochure/history project.
-Memorize 25 words and definitions from "Angels in America: Perestroika"
-Memorize lines to Act 2 of Hamlet 2 (comedic parody of Hamlet)

You'd think I go to a performing arts school, but nope. I just make everything theatre related so I can enjoy school more Updated On: 1/2/05 at 07:06 PM

[BWayBoy88]

Posted: 1/2/05 at 7:09pm

"I love the icon, but of course we've talked about *him* far too much for our own good"

What are you talking about? We never talk about him. Ew he is so ugly why would we want to talk about him? lol

[insomniak]

Posted: 1/2/05 at 7:10pm

That's one way to make it less miserable... have you figured out how to relate geometry to broadway yet? That's about all that would make it interesting for me.

[aspiringguy715]

Posted: 1/2/05 at 7:14pm

What are you talking about? We never talk about him. Ew he is so ugly why would we want to talk about him? lol

I know, what's up with him? He definitely just popped up as my icon one day. Jeez, I bet he's not even amazingly talented...:-P
I heart you BwayBoy

That's one way to make it less miserable... have you figured out how to relate geometry to broadway yet? That's about all that would make it interesting for me.

I've yet to make a connection. That's probably why Math is my worst and least favorite subject. Go figure. As soon as I find one I'll let you know, for sure. That is, after I reject Broadway for having anything to do with Math...ewww.

[2day4u9704301]

Posted: 1/2/05 at 7:16pm

less miserable.......I get it!

And we best not be dissing math!

[insomniak]

Posted: 1/2/05 at 7:18pm

Math is the scum of my existence. I really hate my english class this year too, there's no creative writing and a lot of it is just wasting time.

[BWayBoy88]

Posted: 1/2/05 at 7:21pm

Well I guess you could relate a circle to a theater-in-the-round stage and a square to a normal stage. Its a long shot, but its the only thing I could think of.

[aspiringguy715]

Posted: 1/2/05 at 7:29pm

Nothing against math or math majors, of course 2day4u, but I'm not a math fan at all. I diss the fact that I don't do well in math more than math itself

English is great this year for me. Lots of free reading, which means I'm doing lots of plays.

I like that relation BwayBoy. Maybe for my end of the year project I'll do something with area of theatre-in-the-round stages compared to rectangular stages. That's one long shot lol. It could work though!

[2day4u9704301]

Posted: 1/2/05 at 7:33pm

I know! I'm just teasing! :-P

[aspiringguy715]

Posted: 1/2/05 at 7:35pm

Well BWW, I'm off to go start memorizing lines. I'll be around here more hopefully.

Wish me luck!
AG

[eslgr8]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 2:58am

Aspiringguy715 and BWayBoy88! I have to say it, you are two of the cutest guys hanging around at Broadway World! Yum yum and yum again. By the way, (I wonder if anyone else has noticed?) you look enough alike that you could be twins! In any case, it makes me happy just knowing that there are two of you out there with such adorable faces and smiles!

[Feathah]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 3:12am

Just add new context to this song, Armistead Maupin (he wrote the "Tales of the City" series) spoke about this particular song through one of his characters. He said that Les Miz became part of America's culture just as AIDS began to emerge and claim the lives of many of his friends. "Empty Chairs..." brought him to tears because it reminded him of the many friends he lost to AIDS. Ever since reading that it has taken on a new meaning for me, too.

Sorry if that was too much of a tangent. This thread just made me think of that.

[bbroadwaybb]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 3:53am

Empty Chairs takes place after Jean Valjean finds Marius passed out and carrys him out of the barracks down through the sewers and out to safety. Marius wakes up and doesn't know who it was that saved him. All he knows is that he is the only one who has survived. He doesn't know why he was chosen to survive and feels guilty about it. Which is what the song is about. It isn't him just mourning, it's him feeling guilty for having lived and not knowing how to move forward when all he had is gone and everything has changed.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 6:58am

"I post during study hall when I'm finished with homework."

I will try that today and see if it helps releave some of the stress I have with homework.

Well, I am off to school...damn it is early!

Derric

Updated On: 1/3/05 at 06:58 AM

[zoran912]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 8:55am

eslgr8 - You do realize that both AG and BWayBoy are using images of Michael Arden as their avatar, don't you? Neither of them actually look like that.

[BWayBoy88]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 2:59pm

haha I WISH I looked like that.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 3:00pm

AHH! I missed an AG post!! Miss you, dear.

Updated On: 1/3/05 at 03:00 PM

[aspiringguy715]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 3:19pm

HAHA! No, that is not me. That's the amazing, talented, adorable...etc. Michael Arden.

Thanks to everyone for their info!

Emcee!!! I miss you too. We need get together again ASAP!
I love the new icon, though it's bittersweet