Les Misérables national tour starts back up today

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 11:02am

Lubbock, TX ~ 10/15-10/17
Albuquerque, NM ~ 10/19-10/24

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/89013.html

Updated On: 10/15/04 at 11:02 AM

[jmaclover]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 12:50pm

I am so happy

But it's not coming near me this season

I am so upset

Bring Nick Wyman back!
~ He's the best!~

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 12:59pm

TELL ME HOW THE NEW CAST IS! (Isn't Ebonic_Singer seeing it soon?) I'm seeing it on Vancouver next month, and I've got to interview a few of the cast members, but I'm not familiar with the show AT ALL. I tried to watch the 10th Anniversary DVD and fell asleep.

[jmaclover]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 1:02pm

I know everything about the show (I even played Eponine in France (a youth production))

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 1:04pm

Fabulous. Then you and EponineThenardier can get me worked up for it! Did you ever see Eponine's detailed and hilarious summary of the show? It was posted a few months ago, and then cited a few times last month.

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 1:07pm

Tonya Dixon and Melissa Lyons are two of the best voices out there...and they are both in this show...go see it if you get a chance!!

[jmaclover]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 1:08pm

Type,

No, ive never read it. I dunno its werid because the show was a flop in France for an obvious reason.

Forbidden Bway had the best synopsis of the show though

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 1:13pm

is FB's summary online? lemme find eponine's summary...

[jmaclover]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 1:15pm

well, there are a bunch of songs where they mock the show and what not.

Amazon.com probably has clips of them

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 1:28pm

Alright, I'm cutting and pasting Eponine's synopsis.




Here you are Type_A_Tiff. You'd better read it. It's really good.

Les Miz synopsis:

Okay here it goes. Once upon a time in a place called France they’re lived a man named Jean Valjean (he is the protagonist, with me so far?) This is in the late 19th century. And the story opens (after the kick ass overture) with a chain gang, one of the members includes our very own Valjean. We later learn he has been imprisoned for 20 years for stealing a loaf of bread, because his sister’s child was starving and this is miserable 19th century France (hence the title). Anyway in enters from stage left the “baddy” policeman whose name is Javert. He wears a funny hat, has a deep voice, carries a big stick and always has his signature fluffy sideburns. He gives Valjean his yellow parole ticket, and calls Valjean 24601, which is his chain gang number. Remember that number it comes up later in the show. And this is only the first song… Anyway Valjean is “free” but finds that he is not accepted into the other working areas, farmers and inns kick him out because he is an ex-criminal. Valjean is very bitter about this, so bitter that he sings a song about it. Next he meets a bishop, who changes his life. (oops sorry, gave the plot away). Anyway, the bishop offers Valjean food, shelter, money, the lot. And Valjean repays this by stealing the bishops silver candlesticks, and he runs for it (duh), but then is caught (F**k!). And the bishop pretends that he gave Valjean the silver, and tells him to be a good boy and live an honest life. Valjean is now very confused and sings “What Have I Done.” The end part of this song is really cool. Breaks his parole and runs away.
Fast forward several years, and to a different town, where the poor and homeless come through the smoke machine smoke in some very cool lighting affects, this is “At the end of the Day.” (they are very dirty btw, although not necessarily the kind you like!) Anyway the scene shifts in the middle of the song to a factory, and we see a very horny foreman, who is after Fantine (another lead, well until she dies. Sorry spoiler. Should have put that after I wrote it, oh well.) Fantine gets into a fight with a factory girl, whom mocks Fantine about her daughter and takes a letter from her. Valjean arrives during the fight, he has now a different name, and is now a major. Fantine explains that she has a daughter who lives with Innkeepers and she still pays for the child, that’s why she has a job in the first place. Oh, and her lover/father of her child ran off. (Cheerful so far) Anyway everyone gets pissed because Fantine isn’t supposed to have a daughter, and the foreman throws her out. And Valjean just looks away and doesn’t do anything to help. Fantine sings “I Dreamed a Dream.” (The song speaks for itself once you hear it, so I won’t elaborate). Anyway Fantine happens to run across a group of prostitutes, since she has no money and has to save her daughter she sells her hair, her locket and then herself (this is in the song “Lovely Ladies” where the chorus girls wear big hats and lots of period underwear.) Anyway a big old ugly rich man appears and wants to buy Fantine for the night, she is disgusted and depressed and refuses him. He gets rough and she slaps him, then he calls for the police. Javert arrives and get pissed. Valjean was watching all this btw, and he THEN steps in (great timing, smart ass). He insists that she needs a doctor (she’s sick). And Javert somehow lets it go. Meanwhile a horse got spooked, and its cart comes hurling down the street (err stage left, or right depending on how the rotating stage is going at the moment). And everyone runs around in circles and the cart “lands” on a guy. Valjean saves him, and Javert (who has been obsessively searching for Valjean since he broke his parole) recognizing his strength (but not his face? Maybe Javert blind or something). Anyway Javert says it can’t be we caught Valjean, it’s all good. Then Valjean sings a song “Who Am I” where he tries to decide whether to save his own skin or save an innocent man (who is thought to be Valjean. And since he is indeed the hero of the story he admits that he’s really Valjean and Javert looks dumbfounded). Oh yea and Valjean tears his shirt open to show lots of ugly old man chest hair, yeah and 24601 which was branded on his skin during chain gang. He runs off, and goes to see Fantine who is dying. Valjean promises to her that he’ll find Cosette (Fantine’s daughter) and raise her as his own (“Come to Me”). Fantine then dies, and Javert shows up with mussed sideburns and a pissy attitude. Valjean beats the pulp out of Javert with a chair that breaks apart on purpose and runs off to rescue Cosette.
Next town. Mont-sur Mermiel (or something to that extent). Sue me I don’t know the names, I’m not that much of a Les Miz dork! Here comes the song “Castle on a Cloud” which LITTLE Cosette sings (little Cosette has her own song, but older Cosette doesn’t. That must suck). And Madame Thenardier appears and yells and bitches at little Cosette whom she and her husband abuse and make her do all the housework. The Thenardier’s are the Innkeepers btw, and they spoil their real daughter Eponine (yay!). The next song is what Thenardier sings about his urine smelling old Inn, “Master of the House.” It’s a lovely happy song where everyone gets drunk. Afterwards Valjean find little Cosette in the woods and offers her a doll and a home and of course Cosette accepts because Fantine never taught her any better. Valjean buys Cosette off the Thenardier’s “Waltz of Treachery.” Then they leave for better lives.
Next scene. 10 Years later, this is in Paris, and all the poor smelling people hang out looking for money and drugs and whatnot. They are good singer though and they sing about being poor smelling ugly people “Look Down.” You meet a little boy named Gavroche, who sings a little solo. And then you meet Enjorlas and Marius. Enjorlas is trying to start a revolution because they’re lives suck. This is the song "It Sucks to Be Me" oh wait wrong musical. We meet up with the Thenardier’s again and their gang of weirdoes, this includes their (now grown up daughter) Eponine (who is lovely and has perfect teeth because she is a romantic leading role). She flirts with Marius who she’s obsessed with, and then Marius bumps (literally) into a older Cosette and they fall in love at first site. Then Thenardier gets into a fight with Valjean, he recognizes that he bought Cosette and (I think) he was also a chain gain member. Anyway Javert shows up (again) this time with much greyer sideburns and bitches about the filth on the street and realizes that Valjean is nearby, he sings about catching Valjean and swears by it in the song “Stars.”
Eponine later realizes that the girl who stole her man was the same girl that she grew up with. And when Marius asks her to show him where Cosette lives she tells him to f**k off. (Actually she agrees, the whimp. “Eponine’s Errand”). Next scene all the boys/student played by semi-hot men in their thirties and forties gang together to start their revolution, lead by Enjorlas. Marius shows up and brags how he found the girl of his dreams (Cosette) and they make fun of him. They sing of the Revolution etc in “Red/Black” and everyone favorite cliché song “Do You Hear the People Steam.” (I mean Sing).
And then. In a lovely garden with a very tall iron gate and pretty girl in an ugly doily of a dress sings about not remembering her past and about Marius (“In My Life”). Valjean shows up and refuses to tell her about her past or his, and heads back into the house (aka: off stage to get a smoke before his next scene). Marius shows up followed by Eponine who showed him where the house was. Cosette and Marius meet and get all over each other (okay they hold hands. How exciting…) and Eponine watches on and looks sad. Then they sing all together “A Heart Full of Love” which sounds like “A Fart Full of Love” when Marius doesn’t work on his articulation. Then Thenardier’s gang show up and plan to rob Valjean’s house, Eponine fight back (finally..) and screams to alert Valjean, Marius, Cosette etc. because if they rob the house Marius will think she led the gang there. (“Attack on Rue Plumett” this number has an awesome score.) The gang run away, Marius sees Eponine and jumps the fence (very heroically) and they hide before Valjeans runs out. Cosette insists that she screamed to frighten the gang away, Valjean thinks that it was Javert and he plans to take Cosette and travel across the sea where they’ll be safe. Which would take Marius away from Cosette. (ooooh! Plot Twist!) The next number is one of the best called “One Day More.” This is the entire cast except Fantine cause she’s dead. And all the leads have solos about their major problems. And they all march towards the future with the revolution and their poor pitiful problems ahead, and every shrink in the audience wishes they were alive in the late 19th century France where they could make a Sh**t load of money for cureing people of their problems. And that’s the end of act 1. You’ll get Act II tomorrow. Whew….



for Type_A_Tiff
INTERMISSION: (in which Ulla paints the set blue…)

Okay. He we go, get comfy, but I’ll bet your butt still might go numb. Act II begins with the scrim down and this cool lighting effect and the chorus marching in the background as they were at the end of act 1. Makes you think they were marching there during whole of intermission (kinda…). Enjorlas (the girly barricade leader, in case you forgot) is leading the revolution, and everyone’s getting piped up about it. (YAY! Lets go die for a hopeless cause!). Enjorlas asked for someone to spy on the enemy (whoever that may be, they never really tell us). And Javert in disguise raises his hand and says he will and he knows all about the enemy because he served his time ith them. (This is a load of bull as Javert never did but just wants to find Valjean, even though Valjean himself doesn’t know he’ll be fighting at the barricades too. Ooooh Javert can see into the future!) Eponine shows up dressed as a boy with her signature trench coat and newsboy hat, and Marius being a self centered jerk and oblivious to Eponine’s feeling says here you can take this letter I wrote and take it to my TRUE love. Eponine does, she climbs over the iron gate again which she is pulled down from by Valjean. (In funny accent) “Get offfa ma LAND!” Valjean brings out a shotgun and promptly tries to….never mind. Eponine explains the letter is for Cosette and it’s from a boy at the Barricades. Valjean thanks her and then reads the letter, because it’s for Cosette and he thinks he might have pot connections. (And he is a concerned parent, oh and he wants some too..). He reads the note and realizes that his little girl is growing up, awww, and that theres this guy at the barricades whose going to die soon and he loves his daughter. So Valjean heads off to the barricades to protect him. Eponine btw, is majorly upset and walks through the streets and sings “On My Own” the song dreaded by casting directors everywhere. (Damn all you teenage girls who ruined MY song!). She decides to join Marius at the barricades.
Back at the barricades the students sing and drink and be merry and presently Javert returns and says oooh they won’t fight until tomorrow you can all get drunk tonight. Gavroche (who btw, watched Javert sing “Stars” [I forgot to say this before]) says that Javert is a liar and thief and he stole my precious… He is an Inspector and the students freak out (We trusted you!) and they tie him to a chair (this could get dirty).
Next scene, a student spots a “boy” climbing the barricade and it turns out it’s Eponine, who ran right through the enemy lines to get back to Marius. Marius immediately questions her about Cosette then thinks “wait a minute, Eponine, why did you spill ketchup on yourself?” Eponine lays in Marius’s arms and they sing “A Little Fall of Rain” and she dies. (but before she finally admits to loving Marius, and he feels like a total dick). Everyone is shocked because (OMG we’re fighting a war and someone DIED! This wasn’t supposed to happen. Just like Bush and Iraq and……). Anyway they all are depressed and tired and so they get drunk again, but first they sing “Drink With Me.” Soon Valjean arrives and offers his service they let him fight and the First Battle starts, they love what Valjean can do with a gun so they thank him, but Valjean asks if he can have Javert. (ooooh. I want to keep him and comb his sideburns and pet him and says he’s mine..). They give him Javert who tells Valjean to kill him, Valjean lets him go. Javert still vows to follow Valjean. Valjean fakes Javert’s death so everyone thinks that he’s dead. Somewhere in here (can’t remember exactly where,) there is another battle. And they are short on ammunition, which isn’t right because the heros never run out! Marius offers to go collect bullets from the other side of the barricade, which would mean certain death. Then Valjean offers cause he says he’s old and useless and before anyone can do anything Gavroche hops over the barricade and get the bullets and chucks them back to the barricade but he is shot and killed (this is truly heartbreaking). Then they all fall asleep and Valjean lovingly looks down at Marius (Mmmm, hot gay actor) and sings “Bring Him Home” about letting Marius live in the battle. Anyway there is another battle and everyone starts to kick ass and chew bubble gum, but they all die except for Valjean who was knocked out and Marius who was wounded but unconscious. How handy huh). This is where we have the lovely oboe solo (which is so beautiful) and the stage turns around to show Enjorlas (with his shirt wide open and fake blood on his mouth) symbolically on top of the Red revolutionary flag. Gavroche is also there who died earlier. Valjean picks up Marius (or tries to) and heaves him off to the sewer, which is also very dirty (not to mention smelly). Javert returns to the barricade in search of Valjean and somehow thinks (hmmm maybe he’s in the sewer) which he goes to as well.
Next scene is in the sewer (the stage with a lot of smoke) and Thenardier shows up with a “dead” chorus member whom he pulls a tooth out of. (hey! This isn’t Sweeney Todd) and he sings about how he cheats the good people and how their lives are a living hell “Dog Eat Dog.” Valjean collapses with exhaustion just next to Thenardier without realizing it. And Thenardier searches Marius and finds a ring (insert Gollum noises here). He then spots Valjean, freaks and leaves, taking the “dead” chorus member with him because he’s dead and can’t walk off stage himself. Valjean drags Marius across the stage in different positions and then stops right in front of Javert who has been waiting (Bwahahahaha!) Javert and Valjean go at it and sing tying to convince the other of their means. Valjean wins (yay..I think) and Javert finally lets Valjean go and save Marius (but says he’ll be back). Javert is now very confused and rethinks about his life and how all he’s been doing is running after Valjean (like a very obsessed fan girl). He sings “Javert’s Suicide” in the same tune as “What Have I Done.” And as the title indicates javet jumps off a bridge. Or rather a bridge flys above his head and Javert stays put, cause jumping into the stage would hurt. And there are cool lighting effects and Javert rolls around on stage. And drowns (aka: rolls offstage).
Next scene the women of Paris gather and mope about how all the students are dead and life sucks. (“Tuning”). A wounded Marius then laments about his dead friends in “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables,” one of the best songs if done right. And all the dead barricade people line up behind him while he’s singing, it’s very cool. Then the girl in the doily dress (aka: Cosette) shows up and says aww its okay we’re together it’s all good. They are getting married, but before Valjean shows up and tells Marius the truth about his past and how he must run away because he is caught then it will ruin Cosette’s life. Marius promises not to tell her.
Next scene is the wedding. Who knows where all the rich people came from? Anyway the Thenardier’s show up (all rich and decked out in ugly clothes) and they harass Marius about the ring that was stolen and say that Valjean saved his life. He beats the living pulp out of Thenardier and runs to find Valjean with Cosette before he leaves. The Thenardier’s meanwhile are helping themselves to the silver.
Valjean is sitting at home, but he isn’t leaving because he is old and about to bite the dust. He writes a letter explaining everything to Cosette, and Fantine appears. The angel of Fantine I should say, and they sing because Valjean is about to die. Marius and Cosette show up and thank Valjean for saving Marius’s life and Cosette cries because she doesn’t want Valjean to die. He gives her the letter and dies. Eponine appears and she and Fantine and the ghost of Valjean sing and reach towards Marius and Cosette. Then you hear the chorus singing in the background and the entire ensemble join in a reprise of “Do You Hear the People Sing?” And that’s the end.

[Musetta1957]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 1:57pm

Full cast can be found here...
http://www.piercepeterbrandt.com/newspage.html

[jmaclover]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 2:00pm

Thanks,

Yes! Randal Keith is awesome

The old Then is gone yay!

Jennifer Butt from the original bway wow

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 2:17pm

lol. Thanks Tiff :) You should be my publiscist!

If anyone is in doubt just go see it. Its always an incredible show. Too bad it isn't coming where I live.

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 3:37pm

Interesting to see that Ivan Rutherford who played Valjean is now understudying Randall Keith, who is really good...but you all know who my fave 24601 is. Glad they replaced the last Javert. He was a statue.

Also looks like Daniel Bogart, Matt's brother is no longer with the show. Glad to see LM start touring further from the East coast. Give the rest of the folks a chance to see a really nice production.

Thanks Mussetta for the cast link...care to post the "student Les Miz shows ? hee hee

[jmaclover]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 3:47pm

That's what I was wondering about Ivan Rutherford. Is Alex his son?

I think it will be in Pennsylvania - which is close to NYC.

The last Javert was pretty bad!

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 4:12pm

Just checked my review, Stephen Tewsbury was the stiff Javert. Much as I liked Randal Keith, I didn't sense much angst, or hatred between he and Javert. Perhaps the new Javert will spark some fury.

I beleive Alex is Ivan's son. But don't quote me. And yes, it's commig to Pittsburg, which is not too East coast. So I'm happy for them.

It's a good production, but a bit mechanical compared to others I've seen on Bd'w and a tour or two in Philly. Just one opinion.

[jmaclover]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 4:14pm

I dont care for the touring production as compared to the Bway (well, how can u really compare them?)

But, hey, its still Les Mis

[Musetta1957]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 9:42pm

Yes, Alex is Ivan's son.

And if you ask anyone who saw both the tour and Broadway in the late '90s/early 2000s, it'd be easy for them to tell you the tour was eons better...

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 10:57pm

Wow, that's exciting to see that jennifer Butt will play Madame Thénardier. I have never heard Randall Keith as ValJean, but Ivan Rutherford was outstanding when I saw him on Broadway. Woo I can't wait for this to come my way!!

Posted: 10/16/04 at 12:56am

AHHH I can't wait! Ever since the show closed on Broadway, I've been dying to see it again! So Dec. 19th is the BIG day for me! :)

~Rosalynn

[mizzie]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 11:04am

AW! It's not coming anywhere near me! It's my all-time favourite show, and the closest it'll come to me is on the other side of the country. Oh well- one can always hope they'll change their plans. I once had the priveledge of hearing Randal Keith live as Jean Valjean in Kitchener-Waterloo and he was incredible. I am SO happy that they got Jen Butt to play Madame Thenardier. She is phenominal on the OBC recording. I found Stephen Tewsbury an incredible Javert(he played opposite Randal in the show I saw). Especially in "Javert's Suicide". I was only 10 or 11, but that scene completely moved me.

[Musetta1957]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 11:27pm

You're a young 'un. Tewksbury didn't play Javert full-time until summer '02.

[dotmarie]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 11:36pm

I'm so excited! I can't wait til December.

I'm happy Tonya Dixon is Fantine. I saw her in The Lion King as Rafiki and in Ragtime as Sarah...two very different roles indeed...she was fabulous in both. :)

[Ebonic_Singer]

Posted: 10/16/04 at 11:38pm

Tiff--I'm not seeing it soon--I wish! You think it'll ever come to NY? Yeah right. I drove out to NJ to see it a couple of months ago--maybe that's what you're talking about?