I do wonder if he'll have a "brand across his chest" - in the libretto in the courtroom he rips open his shirt to show the number, and Thenardier does sing "that brand across his chest" when he's outing him to Javert, so I guess it remains to be seen what they will do about that.
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.
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
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.
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.
For some reason, that video cracks me up. Something about the sight of that cameraman backing up so quickly followed by Hugh emerging after him holding that note like he's about to swallow him... I love show business.
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.
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.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
Over on IMDB, were starting to thinking that they are getting ready to shoot some stuff in Pinewood, so The only pictures that get out might be of the actors walking to their trailers.. but no video or anything.
I don't think they go on location again till later next week, and that is I think on military docks.