My Les Mis Obsession is Coming Back- Page 4
My Les Mis Obsession is Coming Back
#75re: My Les Mis Obsession is Coming Back
Posted: 6/21/05 at 12:38pmThat 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!
#76re: My Les Mis Obsession is Coming Back
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.
#77re: My Les Mis Obsession is Coming Back
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?? 
#78re: My Les Mis Obsession is Coming Back
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.
#79re: My Les Mis Obsession is Coming Back
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.
#80re: My Les Mis Obsession is Coming Back
Posted: 6/21/05 at 1:01pmBut that still doesn't explain her jarring inclusion on the CSR.
#81re: My Les Mis Obsession is Coming Back
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
#83re: My Les Mis Obsession is Coming Back
Posted: 6/21/05 at 4:11pm
Bump, huh? Let's see...
Got a favorite Javert? :)
#84re: My Les Mis Obsession is Coming Back
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."
#85re: My Les Mis Obsession is Coming Back
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).
#86re: My Les Mis Obsession is Coming Back
Posted: 6/21/05 at 4:28pmIn 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.
#87re: My Les Mis Obsession is Coming Back
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
#88re: My Les Mis Obsession is Coming Back
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
#89re: My Les Mis Obsession is Coming Back
Posted: 6/21/05 at 4:57pmI agree...though I think I missed Jayne....
#90re: My Les Mis Obsession is Coming Back
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.
#91re: My Les Mis Obsession is Coming Back
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/12/04
#92re: My Les Mis Obsession is Coming Back
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
#93re: My Les Mis Obsession is Coming Back
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!
#94re: My Les Mis Obsession is Coming Back
Posted: 6/21/05 at 7:01pmMy favorite Eponine, live OR recorded, is Sutton Foster! She was absolutely fantastic! Second fav would be Stephanie Martin from the Paris recording.
#95re: My Les Mis Obsession is Coming Back
Posted: 6/21/05 at 7:02pmmy favorite Marius remains, for ever more, Michael Ball, he is friggin awesome.
#96re: My Les Mis Obsession is Coming Back
Posted: 6/21/05 at 7:04pmDid you see Michael Ball, Jimmy?
#97re: My Les Mis Obsession is Coming Back
Posted: 6/21/05 at 7:08pmDid anyone else realize that the Spamalot type CLOSELY RESEMBLES the Les Mis font?
#98re: My Les Mis Obsession is Coming Back
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"
#99re: My Les Mis Obsession is Coming Back
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.
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