My Les Mis Obsession is Coming Back- Page 4

[idinarocksmysocks!510]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 12:38pm

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!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 12:42pm

"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.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 12:45pm

Boublil's wife, huh? Well, I guess that explains it.

Now...who was Kaho Shimada doing to get BOTH original Japanese CR's and the CSR??

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 12:49pm

I think she's just popular.

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.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 12:50pm

yeah, I think she was popular.

But, wasn't Japan the third place where Les Mis opened?

They probably wanted someone from Japana - to appease everyone. Kaho Shimada was probably the most popular.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 1:01pm

But that still doesn't explain her jarring inclusion on the CSR.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 1:11pm

They probably wanted someone from Japan.

I dunno.

Maybe they will do a special for the 20th Anniversary

[Thenardier]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 4:07pm

bump

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 4:11pm

Bump, huh? Let's see...

Got a favorite Javert? :)

[Thenardier]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 4:18pm

Recording or live?

I'd say for English, Philip Quast and Philip Hernandez (favorite I've seen)

I do enjoy Jacques Mercier's "Dites-moi ce qui se passe"

I also like Miguel del Arco and Patrick Rocca (though his "r's" are slightly annoying during "Stars."

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 4:25pm

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).

[littleredridinghood]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 4:28pm

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.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 4:30pm

Heh, re: Michael McCarthy - wasn't a big fan.

But I was sad that was my last day

Yes, Rocca put a tremendous amount of power and feeling in his performance.

To me, nothing beats the opening lines of Mercier's "Noir ou Blanc" (the suicide) - not to mention the better lyrics.


How about favorite Fantine?

Updated On: 6/21/05 at 04:30 PM

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 4:42pm

Favorite Fantine?

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.


Updated On: 6/21/05 at 04:42 PM

[Thenardier]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 4:57pm

I agree...though I think I missed Jayne....

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 5:34pm

Favorite Marius?

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.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 6:50pm

Peter Lockyer....no question IMO.

Maybe I was upset Kern was there and Lockyer left, but I wasn't left overlly impressed with Kern. Though he was good, of course.

Recorded - I don't think I could pick.

[EVIE]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 6:56pm

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!
Updated On: 6/21/05 at 06:56 PM

[Thenardier]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 7:01pm

After first seeing les mis, I saw it again 7 or 8 years later. Then in it's last 2-3 years, I saw it 6 times.

I really wish I never took a break!

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 7:01pm

My favorite Eponine, live OR recorded, is Sutton Foster! She was absolutely fantastic! Second fav would be Stephanie Martin from the Paris recording.

[Jimmyojimmy]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 7:02pm

my favorite Marius remains, for ever more, Michael Ball, he is friggin awesome.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 7:04pm

Did you see Michael Ball, Jimmy?

[Thenardier]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 7:08pm

Did anyone else realize that the Spamalot type CLOSELY RESEMBLES the Les Mis font?

[Jimmyojimmy]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 7:09pm

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"

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 7:12pm

^^ Oh yeah, I know it well! I think it's a bit presumptuous to call it "The Dream Cast," though. I know it wouldn't be MY "dream" cast.