First Photo of Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean — Page 2

sueb1863, it is definitely still the same as it always was - number on the chest.

Hm! That's wild, I've seen it six times and I'm pretty sure it's never been a number. I've got a Les Miz souvenir photo book somewhere in which Valjean's tearing open his shirt and it's very clearly a black bar. I think it's Craig Schulman...

In the novel, there is no numbered brand. During the falsely accused man's trial, several of Valjean's former prison mates, all of whom are still prisoners, are brought in to identify the falsely accused man as Valjean. When the real Valjean shows up, he proves his identity by revealing secrets about his former prison mates that only he would know. The prison mates confirm what he says, the falsely accused man is then freed, and Valjean's packed off to a prison shipyard, which he escapes some time later after saving the life of another man. That's when he goes and rescues Cosette from the Thenardiers.

They didn't have time for all this on stage, which I'm guessing is why they used the brand instead.

Updated On: 3/20/12 at 08:44 PM

There's a nice closeup of Hugh and all the scars in the photo attached to this article. There's also a new photo of Colm Wilkinson - looks like his Bishop's garb is under that coat. A photo of the original Broadway cast is also in the article.
Jackman's Scars and Colm Wilkinson

Fan2, from those pictures it is clear that you were correct about the dark bar being the tie of the coat.

Bunch more photos here as well.

I think we are starting to get to the point that we are gonna be getting A TON of pictures daily.



Gallery of Set Photos.

OMG !! I swear I could hear him!
ANOTHER STORY MUST BEGGIIINNNN...!!!

OMG !! I swear I could hear him!
ANOTHER STORY MUST BEGGIIINNNN...!!!

When Hugh did his TheaterTalk show with Reidel, he was asked about JVJ. He said Hooper wanted him to be lean in the face since he had been in prison, but he wanted him to look massive like an ox in the arms and legs because he was on a chain gang and hauling ropes, etc. So he won't necessarily look thin anywhere but the face, and that does look a bit gaunt.

And you can definitely hear him on that video!!!

Updated On: 3/22/12 at 09:02 AM

That last note on 'begiiiiiiin' is a G#. This means Hugh is singing Valjean's Soliloquy a half step lower than in the show.

I wonder if it's been lowered to match Russell Crowe's suicide song.

I refer to the show key that Colm Wilkinson, Gary Morris, and Alfie Boe sang it in. I don't know how many times the key has been changed for official productions, but Hugh is singing it a half step lower than it's been most famously sung.

I know the key has been changed for non-professional productions. The high sections of the song were dramatically lowered for the student edition, for example.

Really really hope that they didn't lower "Bring Him Home." My ear isn't as good for vocals, but I wonder if they lowered all of his stuff a half-step.

Updated On: 3/22/12 at 03:53 PM

I don't care what key he sings it in. I just want it to be good.

I also really hope the leaks stop coming now. I don't want to scrutinize every note from 50 yards away over an iPhone mic. It feels too much like a science project under a microscope, then.

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