Les Misérables: There will never be anything better....

[jmaclover]

Posted: 12/5/04 at 4:55pm

Les Mis is such a well-written show with perfect music. For the most part, the character's are each developed perfectly. There are so many and the main ones are given their own soliliquy's so perfectly. Sometimes, I wished Enjolras had a solo - but I love the music so much.

Anyone else have any opinions?

I think Les Mis is by far ONE OF the best musicals ever written/perfromed.

[apdarcey]

Posted: 12/5/04 at 4:59pm

um, can you possibly be serious in terms of cosette? i often wonder if castle on a cloud is supposed to count for her character... i just always wish maybe that in my life were just her solo... andrew

[jmaclover]

Posted: 12/5/04 at 4:59pm

Although I was told by someone in the orchestra that the music was harsh to play - but it is a rock opera with army music.

[jmaclover]

Posted: 12/5/04 at 5:01pm

I agree, though I hate the character of Cosette - and in the book it's even worse!

I like Castle on a cloud - it's rare that a little girl gets a solo like it and a good actress can make you feel bad for her. Plus it shows so well how much she changes to becoming a rich, beautiful *snob*

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 12/5/04 at 5:26pm

When I saw this show I was holding back tears because it was so good.
Such as GREAT show: Well Written, driected, and performed.

Colm Wilkinson can get on my nerve sometimes though.

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 12/5/04 at 5:28pm

My favorite. :)

Colm... BLECH!

[hush_ethel]

Posted: 12/5/04 at 5:33pm

it definately is my favorite, i was in it about a year and a half ago, and i might be in it again this summer *keep your fingers crossed!* and i have never seen anything better than that musical, phantom of the opera is close, but les mis is def. the best, it was so hard to be in because the music is so awsome, and when we sounded good, it was hard not to cry! so pretty!

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 12/5/04 at 5:33pm

love les mis... it's in my top 3... actually going to see it tonight here in Los Angeles

not really hate... but colm wilkinson bugs the shi** out of me... when i watch the concert, i just want to shake the hell out of him...

love les mis... but i hate the changes made to the show to make it shorter... still not used to it

[grownupgroupie]

Posted: 12/5/04 at 5:40pm

I have a soft spot for this show.

It was by no the first musical I saw (summer stock, West End, etc.,) but it WAS my first Broadway experience back in '87, and for a jr. high theatre geek heading off to drama camp, it was heaven....I wanted to BE Frances Rufelle. I actually have never seen it since--why mess with a perfect memory?! But I listened to the OCR for years.

Anyone see that French film adaptation (non-musical--re-set in WWII/Holocaust era France) a few years ago? Absolutely devastating and SO well done.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 12/5/04 at 5:43pm

If there is anyone here who doesn't like Miz then I'm gonna smack their sorry assc :)

[LaeloftheLakes]

Posted: 12/5/04 at 5:50pm

I love the show. I've seen it in SF and Sacramento, and it stole my heart. But Cosette does occasionally make me want to shoot her, and she's even worse in the book.

"I understand," said Cosette, although she didn't. --Victor Hugo

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 12/5/04 at 5:56pm

I saw Les Mis for the first time last month and I went in not expecting to like it (I didn't enjoy Miss Saigon, so I was skeptical about the writing/music, etc.) but I LOVED it. It's not quite perfect (I agree about Cosette being under-developed) but I think a lot of it had to do with poor casting and/or a lack of chemistry between a few of the actors (namely the "young love" triangle...Marius left me feeling cold, and I didn't see much passion with him and Eponine OR Cosette).

However, the sets, the costumes, the music is all fantastic. I've become a fan. (Happy now, EponineThenardier? I admit it! Okay! Get that smug look off your face!)

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 12/5/04 at 5:58pm

Oh if only you could see my face Tiff! I converted somone! You do me proud Tiff! :)

[callitquits]

Posted: 12/5/04 at 6:04pm

I love it. I saw it at the Kennedy Center when I was about 6, and from then on, I sang Castle On A Cloud for just about every recital or concert I ever did. Then I sort of re-discovered it when a high school in my area did it, and started watching the TAC video day and night.

But to get a little off-topic from the music, it always cracks me up to watch the "One Day More" performance from the Tonys and, when they get to Frances Ruffelle's close-up, see how much makeup they used for Eponine. It's like, a smudge of dirt to highlight her cheekbones, and then dark red lipstick and gobs of mascara and eyeliner.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 12/5/04 at 6:12pm

haha. Where would a street waif be without her mascara?

[jmaclover]

Posted: 12/5/04 at 6:27pm

I agree, Colm gets un my nerves. So did Gary Morris (check the first name), but now I like him.

ULTIMATE CAST:
(I'm sure there are a lot of these around, but w/e)

Valjean - Randal Keith
Javert - Philip Quast
Fantine - Rose Laurens
Cosette - Sandra Turley
Eponine - Lea Salonga
Marius - Peter Lockyer/Jérôme Pradon
Enjolras - Anthony Warlow/Christopher Mark Peterson/Michel Sardou
Thenardier - Laurent Gendron/Nick Wyman
Mme. Thenardier - Marie-France Roussel/Betsy Joslyn
Gavroche - Alexis Tomassian/Fabrice Bernard

*Note: There are a lot of people I like. this was very difficult!

G-D some of that was so difficult!

[jmaclover]

Posted: 12/5/04 at 6:59pm

ANy1 else?

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 12/5/04 at 7:03pm

I don't have much to compare to, but Randal Keith was FANTASTIC as Valjean. And I LOVE Lea Salonga, so by default she has to play Eponine.

Can we make up other dream casting even w/o people who were in Les Mis? (PS jmac, who's the gal with the boobs in your avatar? I've been meaning to ask you!)

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 12/5/04 at 7:03pm

Les Miz is my favourite musical. I definitely agree that it's theatrical bliss. It's extremely well-constructed, with every character having his or own little moment, and it's amazing how the show can be both epic and intimate at the same time. To me, it's the perfect musical.

About Cosette: it's true that she's the least-developed character, but she's in the company of 8 other very well-developed characters. So 1 out of 9 isn't bad. Besides, the Cosette in the book wasn't well-developed either. It really is all about the performer, because I've seen Cosettes who were amazing and identifiable onstage.

Oh, and I LOVE Colm. But I guess I'm in the minority here. I can't get enough of his "Bring Him Home," the sustained note at the end is heaven!

[jmaclover]

Posted: 12/5/04 at 7:06pm

Colm is good. He's just so overused. He's like the Idina of Les Mis lol.

Tiff, now I am embarrassed....

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 12/5/04 at 7:14pm

Why are you embarrassed, jmac?

BlueWizard, I think you're right. I would have loved to see Colm's POTO. He sounded fine on Hey Mr. Producer.


I don't think the 10th Anni performance does this show justice at all. As well, yeah, Cosette's under-developed, but I don't think she really needs to be developed, right? She's not the heart of any storyline, really.

[Addicted2Seaweed]

Posted: 12/5/04 at 7:17pm

Les Mis was my first Broadway show and I loved it so much too. I definitely agree that Cosette can be annoying. She's so spoiled and whiny it drives me crazy. Colm has a voice that reminds me of someone whose vocal chords are coated in yougurt or something. But, he is supposed to be old, so... I guess it's kind of appropriate.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 12/5/04 at 7:20pm

Addicted, are you a sushi lover? your moniker compells me!


By yogurt, do you mean a smooth rich voice or yogurt as in flegmmy?

[jmaclover]

Posted: 12/5/04 at 7:21pm

Beacuse it is me, Tiff.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 12/5/04 at 7:22pm

BlueWizard, I think you're right. I would have loved to see Colm's POTO. He sounded fine on Hey Mr. Producer.

Oh yes, he was a fantastic Phantom. But an even better Jean Valjean: I had the chance to see him when he performed the role for the return Toronto engagement in 1998 - what an amazing performance! He really embodied the role of Valjean, and you really felt like you were in the divine presence of a saint.

I guess his voice is an acquired taste, but I do like the ethereal quality of it. It definitely adds to how Valjean becomes an almost blessed soul.