Les Mis Revival = YUCK!- Page 3

[Moooo1]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 3:54pm

My perception of his height was probably influenced by the fact that he walked right up next to a much taller Javert. I certainly understand shorter doesn't mean weaker since I'm 6'5" and everybody could kick my #%&.

[Moooo1]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 3:57pm

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.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 4:00pm

If it looks like a Duck,
and quacks like a Duck,

It's a Duck.

[NJRae]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 4:02pm

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.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 4:03pm

If they wanted a "name" then they wouldn't have chosen Daphne.

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 4:06pm

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!

[KQuill]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 4:24pm

well, wether you guys liked her or not - casting Daphne sure created a hype.

[NJRae]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 4:30pm

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!

[p.s.]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 4:37pm

Regarding: I am thoroughly confused, at this point, about Celia. I hear "too sweet" "too tomboyish" "more like the book" which all seem to contradict each other. How can there be such diverse opinions on HOW Celia portrays her character (as opposed to whether you like it or not?)

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. For those of us who have seen the show fifteen or twenty times or more ( including six times for me in these past three weeks ) -- why do we keep going, if not to experience new, different, oftentimes improved or improving performances?
I've seen the show in NY, LA, Newark, Phila, and Waterbury -- and enjoyed each experience. We don't need to compare each Eponine (or even Fantine) to some baseline performance, except in furtherance of that enjoyment.

For those who are seeing Les Miz for the first or second time, this is a remarkable, totally enjoyable, Broadway Theater experience.


Updated On: 11/13/06 at 04:37 PM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 4:47pm

"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.

[somebear]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 4:48pm

Saw the show on the night of the 11th, and just wanted to put my two cents in. Victor replaced, did well considering. Odd hearing Valjean with a thick American accent, but I forgive him. My sister, who has been waiting for this for a long time (big LM fan, wanting to see on broadway and was devestated when it closed the first time), turned to me at intermission and said, "Wow! Were you as glad as I was when Fantine died?" Unfortunately, just like in RENT, she came back (and seemed to have trouble standing???). I like Celia, as she sings my fav song in Spelling Bee, so I feel a bit biased. Cosette, well, who cares right? Javert...I liked him.
I liked some of the minor staging differences (did you catch them?) but am not so sure about some song changes. I may be wrong, but I think an entire verse from Castle on a Cloud was missing and I know that Little People was missing everything from "And little people know..." Then, when Gavroche(sp?) died, he wasn't singing Little People, but something else. My roomie said this was part of the original or something like that. I don't know. I think if you are going to revive a show that most fans can recite line by line (as someone was behind me, prompting my ice-dagger glares) that you shouldn't mess with the words that people are familiar with. They will notice and it throws them off.

But that's just me...

[o.0]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 4:51pm

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.

[StarStruckGB]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 5:15pm

I got to see it yesterday via school function and I thought it was absolutely fantastic...
...Granted I am absolutely in love with Gary Beach but still.

The only thing I didn't like was that since it was with teachers and all, no stage door-ing for me.
Which really made me upset because I mean, that would've practically made my life.

MY STORY ASIDE:

Does anyone know if they're making a recording of this cast?

[Revolutionary]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 5:18pm

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.

[StarStruckGB]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 5:39pm

I think they should, no question.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 5:59pm

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

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

[p.s.]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 1:12am

I've been knocked down, but since the count never actually reaches ten -- I'll try again.
What I was trying to express is that although it is fair, and right and purposeful, (and the reason for thousands of these threads,) to compare to other performances...
I feel, however, that the comparison should not be made solely to one single, what I referred to as, "baseline performance".
It seems to me that too many were comparing Eponine (and other characters) only to what they consider to be the single correct, usually the first or original, Broadway portrayal of the character.

p.s. Thank you TheatreDiva for your generous response to my private message.

[HumATune]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 1:31am

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.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 5:23pm

I don't see this extending. It's not selling amazingly anyways.

I don't think it's a valid point to say you liked someone's performance because they were "cute." How does being cute = a great performance? I swear, some people...

[Kitzarina]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 5:40pm

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.

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

[MovieGuy1031]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 10:36pm

I COMPLETELY AGREE, KITZARINA! Lea Salonga's Eponine is a child of the streets, obviously raised by the Thenardiers. She will do ANYTHING to be with Marius, almost to the point of creepy stalkerness. Same with Frances. She protrayed Eponine true to the book. Somewhere along the 20 years it has been running, the Eponine has transformed from madly-in-love urchin to cute schoolgirl who just isn't love in return.

...so which is Celia? I'm seeing it on Saturday (Nov. 18th at 8:00), and i'm really curious as to what I should expect from her!