That was the first musical I saw! Bad choice for a 5 year old! I slept through most of it! What a shame!!!! But I can't wait until it comes to D.C. again!!! The music is sooooo awsome!
you say i'm weird! look at everyone you're sitting with! and hey, those guys over there just threw napkins up in the air like they were on something! it's contajous! you can't help it!
"You're right about the Enjolras on the Paris recording -- he's not the best. Actually, the Cosette is dreadful too. Sounds like she's falling asleep."
And interestingly enough, she later became Alain Boublil's second wife.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
I had a friend in Japan at the time in the mid '90s when Shimada returned, and she wrote to me, "You might as well call her Aunt Eponine, she's so old!"
Minako Honda, who shared the role with Shimada, was also, well, quite mature for the part too. My friend said they had two Aunt Eponines.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
Recorded, my favorite is Patrick Rocca -- a bit of a heavy vibrato, but his tone is so passionate, and you can actually hear him acting the role as he sings it. A trait that's frighteningly rare on CR's.
Live, I think my favorite was Gregg Edelman. His intensity was something that I'd never seen in a Javert. He played it in such a way that he was aware that his obesession with Valjean was destructive, and you could see him internally questioning his motives as he went along. Of course, being Javert, he couldn't let go of his black-and-white sense of justice. It was the most three-dimensional portrayal of the character I've ever seen.
I also really enjoyed Michael McCarthy (final B'Way) and Chuck Wagner (nat'l tour).
In response to an old post by Thenardier - I really don't like the OLC either. I think the music sounds weird and the older lyrics are really bad at times (like when Marius tells Cosette he doesn't know her name, then is like "Cosette, Cosette!" before he asks her name). I also just don't like Roger Allam *is shot*. I also like Frances Ruffelle a lot better in the OBC, I find her more passionate.
That I've seen, Jayne Patterson (final B'way) by far! Wonderful, rich voice...just belty enough to convey the passion but not so shrill and powerful that you forget the poor woman is weak and dying. :) To be honest, she's the only Fantine I've seen live that ever left any sort of impression on me...which is pretty strange. It's a tough roll to pull off, I think.
Recorded, Louise Pitre, for the same reasons as Jayne Patterson. I love Ruthie on the TAC (she's a fav of mine anyway). I also love Patti on the OLC -- not because she's ideal in-character, but just because I love Patti.
For the longest time, my favorite was Peter Lockyer, but he played the role for so many years, and his quality degraded over time. Then I saw Kevin Kern in the final B'way performance, and WOW! Not only did he sing and act it well, but he actually looked like Marius to me! You know how you have these ideal visuals in your head of what each character looks like? Sometimes it's an actor you've seen live, other times you've sort of made it up. Well, I saw Kevin and thought to myself, "THAT'S how Marius looks!"
Recorded, I admit that I still like Michael Ball a lot, and I really enjoy Jerome Pradon too, although he gets a bit whiny sometimes.
Just because my feelings about him are SO strong, I thought I'd through in my LEAST favorite Marius too, Tim Howar (nat'l tour). I saw him 3 times, and I've never seen a more stiff, right-on-the-beat, passionless performance in my life. And even when he actually did full-on sing something, it turns out I wasn't even a fan of his voice -- regardless of his awkward phrasing.
OOOOOH I love this! My favorite Marius would be a tie between Peter Lockyer and Steven Brian Patterson (sorry if I'm spelling it wrong) but recorded is Jerome Pradon. He's soo smooth and sexy sounding. Fantine would be: live Joanna Ampil or Carmen Cusak (sp?) and recorded the Duisberg actress tied with Gemma from the Madrid cast. Favorite Javert: live would be Steven Bishop and recorded would be the Javert from the Original Paris Concept. Fav live Ponine is Gemma Wardle and Ma-anne Dionisio while recorded is Sanni Louis. phew!
No but I have the tenth aniversary DVD and he plays marius. My friend Mary and her sister saw him though. lucky. I would recomend getting the dvd its awesome. I think they call it the "dream cast"
