Les Miserables; the student version

#1

Les Miserables; the student version

Posted: 2/12/05 at 5:27pm

Has anyone here done the Les Miz student version? I think it's terrible, how much they changed it. I just came back from like the 2nd rehersal, but i dunno if i'm going to do it... I'm 17 years old...it's like 45 min away from where i live. I'm not rich, i dont have enough money for gas to go all the way ou t there all the time. Especially if it's for a show that i dont enjoy. It's sorta depressing because les miz has always been my favorite show since i was like 7. But yea, what do ya'll think of the student version?

#2

re: Les Miserables; the student version

Posted: 2/12/05 at 5:29pm

who are you playing?

#3

re: Les Miserables; the student version

Posted: 2/12/05 at 5:33pm

Do it anyway, look at it this way YOUR IN YOUR FAVORATE SHOW. it's only the 2nd reh. It will get better.

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Attend the tale of Bovine Boy His party threads we all enjoy But does he have Mad Cow Disease? He doesn't eat beef - but cows skating? - oh please!!! With cocoa!?! And lemonade!?! The heifer-mad poster of Broadway (World)

#4

re: Les Miserables; the student version

Posted: 2/12/05 at 5:34pm

is the student version really all that different from the original? i'm not really familiar with either one (how uncultured of me) but i've heard from a few people there are only a few minor changes...

#5

re: Les Miserables; the student version

Posted: 2/12/05 at 5:35pm

yeah, i had always heard that there weren't many changes, just that it was shortened a little. unlike the stupid junior version of into the woods which is just the first act, and no second act. can you believe it. the whole point of that show is the second act!

#6

re: Les Miserables; the student version

Posted: 2/12/05 at 5:49pm

The student version isn't really that much different acctually. I did it this past summer. One of Thenardier's solos is cut from in the sewers, one of cossette's solos i think, and Gavrosh's little people song is shortened. most of the great songs are kept in though. It doesn't MAJORLY alter the whole show. It shouldn't be that different. If it's your FAVORITE show, then don't give up on it. Make it the best you can. I LOVE les mis too, and it's a beautiful story. Just the feeling of being in this show is awesome. I was just chorus, but I still did it, and it's a pretty long show with great songs that aren't cut. But if you absolutely are disappointed with it, don't do it if it won't make you happy.

#7

re: Les Miserables; the student version

Posted: 2/12/05 at 5:56pm

LMSE = butchered piece of crap that symbolizes the evils of the almighty buck (or pound, if you will)

#8

re: Les Miserables; the student version

Posted: 2/12/05 at 6:37pm

I played Jean Valjean in the school version of LES MISERABLES. There's not that much missing at all. The show flows just the same, if not a little better.

The ONLY thing that I really, truly, deeply missed was THE CONFRONTATION. I don't know what would possess them to cut that part of the show. That is one of the best parts of "Les Miserables."

Other than that, I didn't miss any of the minor line cuts.

- Michael

#9

re: Les Miserables; the student version

Posted: 2/12/05 at 7:43pm

They cut the CONFRONTATION!? Why would they do such evil?
It is one of the best moments in theatre.

#10

re: Les Miserables; the student version

Posted: 2/12/05 at 7:59pm

I was Jean Valjean in it as well. Yes, they cut about a half hour out, but we put stuff back in. Here are main things they cut:

First half of "What Have I Done" (we put this back in)
First part of "Come to Me" (we put this in)
"Confrontation" (sadly, left this out )
Some of "Castle on a Cloud"
Some of "Stars"
Pretty much all of "The Sewers"
Some of "Javert's Suidice"
Like half of "Turning"

That is all I remember now, i'll add some more stuff later...

Updated On: 2/12/05 at 07:59 PM

#11

re: Les Miserables; the student version

Posted: 2/12/05 at 8:40pm

yea i've been in it as Marius, they cut a lot out for time sake and the creators didn't think that teens and kids could take on a 3hr show, other than that i thought the changes were efficient and the show turned out really well...it was fun...
ric

#12

re: Les Miserables; the student version

Posted: 2/12/05 at 10:59pm

WHen they did the school Edition the confrontation was still there. I didn't really notice a difference.

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CAGES OR WINGS? WHICH DO YOU PREFER? ASK THE BIRDS. FEAR OR LOVE, BABY? DON'T SAY THE ANSWER, ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.

#13

re: Les Miserables; the student version

Posted: 2/12/05 at 11:08pm

The intro to the con. is there (VALJEAN, AT LAST, WE SEE EACH OTHER PLAIN...."

The part where they sing together was cut.

It's not terribly different...although Master of the House has been changed a lot and (very sad) the beginning of Stars is gone (it starts at "Stars...in your multitudes...."

#14

re: Les Miserables; the student version

Posted: 2/12/05 at 11:09pm

The second act of INTO THE WOODS JR. is cut?! That is ridiculous! I was asked to be in a production of it this upcoming summer and I turned it down... Boy, am I glad that I did! I'll probably go see it now and leave angry.

#15

re: Les Miserables; the student version

Posted: 2/13/05 at 12:18am

I'm not sure if this was a choice on the part of my director, but Master of the House was split between Mme. et M. Thenardier. I didn't like that because when Mme.Thenardier started singing, "I used to dream that I would meet a prince..." it took a lot away from what I thought was a great entrance.

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"This is what I trained to do, and this is what I love about theater. What I love about being an actress is being able to really look into myself and understand another human being. And out my own self, to shape and form and fashion a real human being--and to present that in such a way that people see something of themselves or their own understanding in that human being." --Phylicia Rashad

#16

re: Les Miserables; the student version

Posted: 2/13/05 at 12:26am

I was in it two years ago, and at first was aprehensive b/c i thought so much was changed, but in its entirety, it is still awesome!!! If it's one of your favorites, you will still love it, i promise.

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awkward.

"I think it was the Korean tour or something. They were all frickin' asian!" -Zoran912

#17

re: Les Miserables; the student version

Posted: 2/13/05 at 12:28am

It hasn't changed that much. sometimes, the directors' will make their own personal changes in order to add more people or make a part larger. But, originally, the show only differs in the tempo of most of the song and some lines that are cut out. However, once again, a director of the show is what truly makes ur experience good or bad. For instance, in our show, so the producer could have her 7 year old daughter in the show, the director had to give Gavroche his own little gang, who didn't do anything, they just stood around and hung out with Gavroche, then during the barricade scenes, like went away. It was completely pointless, and disciplining those kids took up about 20 minutes of rehersal each day. BUt the overall production in the end was great.

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"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.

#18

re: Les Miserables; the student version

Posted: 2/13/05 at 12:37am

It really isnt that much different. Basically they cut out a few verses of some songs and they shortened a lot of the barricade songs. All the major songs are still in there, and the plot is exactly the same.

#19

re: Les Miserables; the student version

Posted: 2/13/05 at 12:58am

Gypsy, as I said in my post before, it was changed...

And you are right, it took away from that enterance...oh, well!

#20

re: Les Miserables; the student version

Posted: 2/13/05 at 4:16am

"they cut a lot out for time sake and the creators didn't think that teens and kids could take on a 3hr show"

Although they still force boys with freshly changed voices to crack their way through Bring Him Home...

#21

re: Les Miserables; the student version

Posted: 2/13/05 at 4:42am

Our Marius was the only one that had some pubescent issues...

#22

re: Les Miserables; the student version

Posted: 2/13/05 at 2:09pm

I'm doing it next year in school anyway, so i'll still be doing it even if i dont do this one, the distance is sucha problem too though.

#23

re: Les Miserables; the student version

Posted: 2/13/05 at 2:32pm

We did it at our school last year, and I stage managed it. I've never seen the actual show, but from the recordings that I have, I don't think there's a huge difference between the two. I thought that a lot of the song titles were changed. But that was really only one of the big differences.

#24

re: Les Miserables; the student version

Posted: 2/13/05 at 2:55pm

yeah, Master of the House is now the Inkeeper's Song...

#25

re: Les Miserables; the student version

Posted: 2/13/05 at 2:56pm

I'm hoping on doing this show this summer. Luckily, you've put many of my apprehensions at bay.