You didn't send it to me, but I've seen it on here many, many a time. I don't think you'll have to know a lot about the show because for some people it takes ages to learn all the little details. Really what you need to know is about Valjean.
Basic things to know about Vajean are:
-The show begins with him being let out on parole from Toulon prison where he was put in jail for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister's family because they were starving. He's been in jail 19 years because he tried to escape several times and each time he got caught he got sent back for a longer period of time
-Once he's released he finds that life basically sucks because you always have to show everyone you were a convicted criminal and then no one likes you.
-One day he gets told to go the house of this man (the Bishop of Digne) who takes him in, feeds him and gives him a place to stay for the night. Valjean steals all the silver from him and runs away but gets caught and brought back to the Bishop. Instead of getting him in trouble the Bishop saves him by saying "But why didn't you take the silver candlesticks I gave to you also?" following Valjean's claim that he was given all the silver as a gift. Valjean is released and the Bishop explains that he has now saved his soul for God.
-Valjean has an experience of becoming a Christian and throughout the show the candlesticks are constantly around as a reminder
-Valjean tears up his notice that he's a convict and changes his name and starts over again in a new city where he becomes a mayor. He inadvertantly allows a foreman of his to fire a woman named Fantine because she has an illegitimate child.
-Later he witnesses Fantine's arrest for prostitution (a last ditch effort to get money for her child) and when she calls him on allowing her to have been fired he feels awful and has her taken to a hospital. He stays by her side and when she dies he vows to take care of her child, Cosette.
-At this point he also finds out that Javert (the police officer who wants him re-arrested) has "found valjean" and the real valjean can't let this innocent man they think is him go to jail so he goes to the court and tells them who he is but gets out of there before they can catch him and goes to get Cosette
-He obtains Cosette from the Thenardiers (a horrible couple she was being raised as a servant to) by paying for her and takes her in as his daughter
-Forward 10 years, he and Cosette are living in Paris
-He comes to believe that his past is haunting him and that he and Cosette must leave France for their own safety. However he learns that Cosette is in love with a Student named Marius and he goes to the barricades to serve with the students. He manages to save Marius and bring him home alive although Marius never knows who saved him
-Time passes and Valjean feels he's going to die so he tells Marius the truth about Cosette's mother etc and leaves
-Marius and Cosette get married and the Thenardier's come trying to get money from them. They tell Marius they saw Valjean carrying a body the night of the barricades and Marius realizes Valjean is the one who saved him. He gets Cosette and they go off to find Valjean
-They find the near death Valjean and everything comes out about the stories and Valjean feels forgiven and he finally dies in peace.
EDIT: Fantine is Cosette's Mother, she dies early in act I. Eponine is the Thenardier's daughter. She lives on the streets and is in love with Marius but gets killed at the barricades.
And hang on, when did you win the discus?
Updated On: 11/3/04 at 09:04 PM
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