Les Miz Question - Re: Little People

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 12/22/12 at 1:26pm

So I'll admit I'm not too familiar with Les Miz. I know. Yesterday I listened to the original London cast recording for the first time. I was surprised to find that Gavroche had a song, and it sounded nothing like the rest of the score. But looking at all the other recordings Spotify has to offer, I see that the song isn't present on any of them. So I assume it was cut from all subsequent productions - can anyone shed some light on this, please?

[Phan#24601]

Posted: 12/22/12 at 1:42pm

Gavroche's song, "Little People" comes from the song "La Faute a Voltaire" from the Original French Concept album. It was sort of unrelated to the rest of the story, so they cut most of it, but you can still hear a bit of it at the barricade.
10th Anniversary Concert

[My Oh My]

Posted: 12/22/12 at 2:55pm

I'm glad it was cut. I remember listening to my OLC double LP when it was still fairly recently new, and even then thinking "Little People" stopped the show cold in an awkwardly seriously place to...sing about how great it is to be short?

For anyone wondering, the version intended to be the final version of the musical didn't happen until the show's American premiere. Claude-Michel and Alain at the time made it known that they were in the process of refining the production in its entirety for Broadway. The changes were as numerous and notable as the differences heard between the OLC and OBC albums. The physical production underwent only minor tightening, with the biggest change being that striking sewer illusion of light and smoke. Before, it had been the stage filled with smoke and a single row of lights over head beaming down:

"The Sewers: Dog Eats Dog," London, Palace Theatre, 1986:

https://youtu.be/fS_s1U36WAE?t=49s

For Broadway, they did this.

London, Palace Theatre, 1999:

https://youtu.be/f_7WlvhT6fg?t=4m25s

Just thought I'd say a word on one of my favorite scenic changes in the show. None of which relied on tacky CGI cartoons.

Anyway, yeah, Broadway, 1987 was to be the final version.

The "Little People" Broadway revision chucked the previous, longer number and incorporated a verse of it into Gavroche's revealing of the spy Javert. It would remain like this for many, many years:

"Little People," London, Queens Theatre, 2008:

https://youtu.be/KZWdz7lHRYY?t=43s

Updated On: 12/22/12 at 02:55 PM

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 12/23/12 at 12:18pm

Not sure if the song worked or didn't in the show, but the "reprise" strangely seems to come out of nowhere, as any extremely brief reprise where the original song hasn't been heard would.

Updated On: 12/23/12 at 12:18 PM

[homeimp]

Posted: 12/24/12 at 8:20pm

When I saw the show in London the full version of Little People was still there. When they opened the show in NYC, they looked to shorten it. Little People was one of the musical moments that was truncated. Subsequently it disappeared from the British production as well. I actually love the song in its entirety. It is the only light-hearted moment in the show, with the exception of Master Of The House. Also it adds variety to the score. It gives a bit of a show-stopping moment to Gavroche, who is more of a major character in the novel. Victor Hugo would approve of him getting his moment in the sun. If I'm not mistaken, in the novel Gavroche is Eponine's half-brother, but I stand to be corrected on that. Anyway, I would like the full song to be in the show for all those reasons. Others may prefer to get home 2 minutes sooner.

[My Oh My]

Posted: 12/25/12 at 3:47am

I loves me some Les Mis, but in a 3 hour musical, most people--even those of us who go nutty over this musical--might not feel up to lightheartedness about being a midget midway through the 2nd act.

It is a terrific number but doesn't bring much to the table, even if it is a cute number.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 12/25/12 at 2:29pm

"If I'm not mistaken, in the novel Gavroche is Eponine's half-brother, but I stand to be corrected on that"

He's her full brother, actually.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 12/25/12 at 4:03pm

I find it too cute by half, honestly (I admit, even on stage I dislike much of Gavroche's stuff--and I admit there isn't much of it). At least in the French original the lyrics were more clever--and not, as poined out, just about how little people can do big things *yawn*

[My Oh My]

Posted: 12/25/12 at 11:59pm

I don't mind it only because I've seen it interpreted by some young actors in a way that makes it come across more sarcastic and mocking toward Javert and does away with the cutesy thing designed to make audiences go "awwwwwwwwww!"

You can't get any more cloying than that, and playing it like that was popular and pretty much set in stone during the late 80s and early 90s and it's why most who saw the show early on usually can't stand Gavroche, lol.

Updated On: 12/26/12 at 11:59 PM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 2:46am

I guess the song was already largely cut by the time my twin sister and I saw the Canadian tour when we were 10 or 11 ('91?) but, as much as we loved everything else about the show, I know we both were annoyed with Gavroche and found his death scene kinda laughable and annoying (not that we *did* laugh mind you, but...)

[My Oh My]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 2:55am

^ You have a twin sister too??? I didn't know!

Well, MY twin sister saw the film today. Without prompting her or hinting at anything, I asked for her opinion. I trust her more than anyone and she knows me and used to be a Les Mis nutcase herself, but has moved on. *shakes fist*

But she loved the film and when speaking about Gavroche, the first thing she said was that he was very good...and wasn't cutesy or annoying. I just gave her this big, toothy grin, lol.

She used to accompany me to all the early Les Mis performances and we got our dose of THAT type Gavroche, too. So glad he isn't like that in the film.

Updated On: 12/26/12 at 02:55 AM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 3:02am

Ha, cool to see another twin on here...

Yeah, I admit I tend to dislike children on stage more often than not--and did even more so as a pre-teen/teen (I guess I have more tolerance for it--to some degree--now that I'm further away from that age myself). I'm meant to be seeing the movie with my sis tomorrow, so we'll see...