Les Mis Revival = YUCK! — Page 3

Isn't the league Equity contract 6 mos? I think you could have gotten some fantastic people to play these parts. I refuse to believe that DRV was the best Fantine they could find. They were looking for a name.

I'm certainly not going to say that Daphne was the best person they could find but I don't think they were necessarily looking for a name, either. I had never seen the show before, so don't know how she compares to others before her, but from what I have read here she has a pretty different take on the role and on the song. Maybe that is what they were looking for. Maybe they liked the emotion she put into it. Or maybe you are right and they just wanted a name. Who knows. But if they could have found someone better I bet they could have found another name as well.

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Colle, The show has far exceeded anyone's expectations for several years. The "tribute revival" will do well for as long as it is supported. No argument there. But, in all honesty and strictly my opinion, to me, there is no logical or solid financial reason to record another CD of Les Miz. These are not new arrangements. No huge stars to sing the music or finance this. It's unlikely that that new investors will back this beyond 6 mos. unless the numbers skyrocket and remain there beyond Feb. which would be a long shot since it closed because it's numbers and fans were both dwindling. That's all I'm saying.
Again, Enjoy it while it's here. Peace!

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Lol, very true! And don't they say that no publicity is bad publicity? So no matter what people were saying about her, she had them talking!

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"We don't need to compare each Eponine (or even Fantine) to some baseline performance"

You are fairly new here, aen't you?

There are 1000's of threads comparing performers in every show. This board would practically be empty.

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When I saw Victor Hawks, it wasn't just that Javert was towering over him, it's that, during the first act at least, he didn't have enough command of the stage. If he had been a little more comfortable with the role, and took command of the stage from the start, it wouldn't have mattered so much that he wasn't tall. But during the second act he really got it together. His "Bring Him Home" was very strong.

In the Alex Gemignani interview that was posted here a few days ago, he said that he hasn't heard anyone mention a recording, but he would like to do one.

Ask Ali Ewoldt, although she already covered it a month ago.

http://lesmiz.lohudblogs.com/2006/10/13/here-mom-a-run-through-2/

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Eponine IS sweet (or at least sweet on Marius); and she IS certainly emerging from her "tomboyishness"; and the audience recognizes that, despite the circumstances of her upbringing, she IS sweet and good AND lovable. Celia portrays all of that perfectly.


P.s., that might be what you’re looking for in an Eponine, but everyone has his or her idea of what Eponine should be. Some prefer a more bitter, “street rat” portrayal for Eponine, while some prefer something in-between, and others don’t care as long as the Eponine is good.

I'm not arguing with you, I just don’t' think "sweet and loveable" is the ideal Eponine for everyone.

Personally, I loathe "cute" Eponines. If you go by the novel, Eponine is anything but "cute." Tragic? Certainly. Endearing in an almost grotesque manner? I would say so. But not "cute."

She is a dove that has been transformed into an osprey. In different circumstances, she could've arguably given Cosette a run for her money in the purity/sweetness department. But there is nothing adorable about Eponine. She is a product of her upbringing. Don't forget that in the novel she was the catalyst in Marius' decision to fight on the barricades. If she could not have Marius, she would rather see him die in battle than see Cosette have him. Of course she had a change of heart and ended up getting shot for him, but she was still very selfish in her love.

Eponine is NOT a saint. She is a human, and a flawed one at that. At no point in the novel did I think that Marius should leave Cosette for Eponine. For me, that is the largest flaw in the musical. Cosette is not well-developed enough to make the audience care for her. The argument that Marius should've been with Cosette is about as annoying to me as the argument that Christine should've chosen Erik over Raul.

Ok, I'm off my soapbox. But in short--add me to the list of people who dislike cute Eponine. That's why I prefer Eponines like Frances Ruffelle, Lea Salonga, and Shonagh Daly to the portrayals of Kaho Shimida and Diana Kaarina.

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Updated On: 11/14/06 at 05:40 PM