Les Miserables Randal Keith interview --> Opening night review!- Page 3

[jmaclover]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:15pm

It all depends what you want to get out of the show. I think so many people see Les Mis again (at least why I did) was to focus on each part.

1) Good vs. Evil
2) Purely Historical (the revolt against the French Government)
3) The Love Triangle (Cosette-Marius-Eponine)
4) The poor's struggle to survive*
5) Women's role in society**

*This goes along with Part 2.
**This goes along with part 2 and also invloves the worst song ever, Turning, Turning.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:17pm

Who's Grantaire?

Crap, I have GOT to leave this thread to read about the show!

So that's my last question for now! Who's Grantaire?

[bythesword84]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:18pm

Not a big fan of Turning? A lot of people don't like it but it doesn't bother me. It's really just a filler anyway.

Why did I see it over and over again? I found that it was such an emotional piece and that I became so attached to the characters (although it irks me to no end that they never mention Gavroche is a Thenardier) that I just loved seeing it. You get something from it every single time, even with the students' dynamics, the better you know the story the more you can pick out of it to love.

[bythesword84]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:19pm

Grantaire is one of the students.

[jmaclover]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:19pm

Very true

To be very basic, Grantaire is the drunkard (student). He also takes care of Gavroche at the barricade.

I hate when the woman says "Another mouth to feed..." (even though it makes it so realistic). I dunno y!

[jmaclover]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:21pm

Rats!
You beat me again lol!

Whenever I say rats I think of Dog Eats Dog (which is the song that has most been edited! - In the student edition, they cut out the beginning part and cut out the Dog eats dog part - hello....? lol)

[bythesword84]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:22pm

Grantaire has my favorite lines of the entire show, his verse in Drink With Me is my absolute favorite. I think its the only time you get to see what he was like in the book.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:26pm

Grantaire is not a huge part, and really not essential to the story. (I'm saying this to not freak you out Tiff, if you don't read up on Grantaire it will NOT come back to bite you in the butt!)

[jmaclover]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:27pm

Yeah, I like that part.

I also like the Thenardiers role in One Day More because it's a side you normally don't see (from the poor).

Also, it continues the whole part of M. Thénardier fighting with Napoleon, stealing from the corpses and stumbling upon and accidently saving Marius' grandfather (who was on the Concpt CD along with the mentioning of Azelma's name (blanked on her name) -- Whoa there Ally! Don't want to overload them with too much exposition....*). The theme is later picked up in Dog Eats Dog and concludes in Beggars at the Feast.

Ah, Tiff, didn't know there were so may themes and motifs (if you will) to Les Mis.

*Urinetown reference

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:27pm

Thanks. okay, now I'm really walking away for a while so I can figure this story out. (this board is addictive.)

[bythesword84]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:28pm

Oh, yeah, our side tangent on Grantaire was not to freak you out. It was just because I like Grantaire. Then again I was REALLY obsessed with the students for a very long time. I adore all of them.


EDIT: Jmac, I got your Urinetown reference, my icon is Spencer Kayden. If I didn't get it, I'd be a sad human being.

Updated On: 11/3/04 at 10:28 PM

[jmaclover]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:28pm

It is!

And I still have (ironically) Theatre HW to do!

[bythesword84]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:30pm

I agree that it is addicting, especially since I haven't had a (decent) Les Mis discussion in so long...I think I'm in love with this thread.

[jmaclover]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:33pm

Me 2

I remember doing this when I was playing Eponine. And it was educational theatre. I had to read the book again (am I complaining? NO!) and write a 20 page paper (in French of course) on Eponine. Each character had to do that. I really felt bad for the students that didn't have names lol.

But, if there's anyway to get into character...

P.S. Understudies had it the worst - they had to write a 15 page paper for each of their characters.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:37pm

This thread is addictive and I haven't even seen the show yet!

Okay, NOW I'm walking away. I mean it! (How many times have I said this?)

[jmaclover]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:38pm

5...?

LOL, Post when you are back and we can continue

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:39pm

Type-A- Tiff. Do you care? I would like to know who are you writing for? Have you interviewed or reviewed before?

Just a piece of friendly advice, try not to ask the exact same questions that every interviewer would ask of Valjean. Find out about his desires that lead him to sing/act. Who inspired him? Ask about any histroy of performing in his family. How about his son, who plays Gavroche? Ask him about the challanges of the role? Dream roles?

Please do your homework. There's always a lot to learn about an actor that people would like to know. Listen to the manner in which he answeres and take a cue from that. Often you can discover a wonderful person if you encourage him/her to open up and share. Actors always appreciate being interviewed by some one who shows sincerity, respect and a knowledge of the craft.

Just some tips from a long time interveiwer. Have fun!

Updated On: 11/3/04 at 10:39 PM

[jmaclover]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:41pm

Listen to PB ENT,

Randal Keith is extremely nice and will answer most likely whatever you got (within reason).

Def. ask about his son in the show and all that.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:42pm

I think I got all the songs Tiff, but just in case:

1. Prologue (chain gang, Valjean, Javert)
2. Valjean's Soliloquy (What Have I Done?) Valjean
3. At the End of the Day, (Factory Workers, Fantine, Valjean)
4. I Dreamed a Dream (Fantine)
5. Lovely Ladies (Whores, Fantine, Valjean, Javert)
6. Fantine's Arrest (Javert, Fantine, Valjean)
7. Runaway Cart (Valjean, Onlookers)
8. Who Am I?/The Trial (Valjean)
9. Fantine's Death/ Come to Me (Fantine, Valjean)
10. Confrontation (Valjean, Javert)
11. Castle on a Cloud (Young Cosette)
12. Master of the House (The Thenardiers, Townspeople)
13. Bargain-The Waltz of Treachery (Thenariders, Valjean) 14. Look Down (The Poor)
15. Robbery-Javert's Intervention (Another Brawl) (Javert, Thenardier)
16. Stars (Javert)
17. Eponine's Errand (eponine, Marius)
18. ABC Cafe/Red and Black (Enjolras, Marius, Students)
19. Do You Hear the People Sing? (Enjolras, Marius, Students, Gavroche)
20. Rue Plumet-In My Life (Cosette (grown up), Valjean, Marius, Eponine)
21. Heart Full of Love (Marius, Cosette, Eponine)
22. Attack on Rue Plumet (Eponine, Thenardier + gang)
23. One More Day (Everyone but Fantine [whos dead])
END OF ACT 1

1. At the Barricade (Upon These Stones) (Enjolras, Marius, Students, Eponine, Javert)
2. On My Own (Eponine)
3. Building the Barricade (Enjolras, Marius, Students, Gavroche)
4. Javert's Arrival (Enjorlas, Marius, Javert, Gavroche, Students)
5. Little People (Gavroche)
6. Little Fall of Rain (Marius, Eponine)
7. Night of Anguish (Marius, Students)
8. First Attack (Enjorlas, Marius, Students, Gavroche)
9. Drink With Me (Grantaire, Students, Marius)
10. Bring Him Home (Valjean)
11. Dawn of Anguish (Enjorlas, Students)
12. Second Attack (Death of Gavroche) (Students, Enjolras, Marius, Valjean, Gavroche)
13. Final Battle (Enjolras, Students, Valjean)
14. Sewers - Dog Eats Dog (Thenardier)
15. Javert's Suicide (Javert)
16. Turning- (Women ensemble)
17. Empty Chairs at Empty Tables (Marius)
18. Every Day (Marius and Cosette and Valjean)
19. Valjean's Confession (Valjean, Marius)
20. Wedding Chorale/Beggars at the Feast (Marius, The Thenariders, wedding guests)
21. Epilogue (Finale) (Everyone, and I mean everyone!)

[jmaclover]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:44pm

HeHE, although the person who playus Fantine is in One Day More - as a bullet boy!

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:47pm

Yes, PB ENT, I've written many interviews and reviews with theatre actors. (I write for a local paper here in Vancouver.) I usually ask all the questions about background, acting inspirations, motivations, etc. etc., but I'm looking for Les Mis/Randal-specific questions. I'm not too worried about this one...I've had to do interviews where it's entirely a shot in the dark, but I like to be over-prepared and I'm genuinely interested in deeply understanding Les Mis going into the interview and into the theatre.

It's not an indication of my abilities as a journalist. (Not saying that's what you were implying.)

Crap, I said I was leaving, didn't I?

Updated On: 11/3/04 at 10:47 PM

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:49pm

heehee, yup. Nothing wrong with that. Thats really the only sucky part about being Fantine, you are a lead and don't have a solo in ODM.

[jmaclover]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:49pm

You didn't leave yet!?

Way to go, Idaho!

(Sorry, had to)

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:51pm

No, U Da Ho!

Okay, I'm gone. Really. Eponine, I'm not responding to your PM or I'll never leave. Like I am now. Leaving. Bye!

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:53pm

Tiff just loves us all way too much!