Sutton Foster, Frances Ruffelle, or Lea Salonga; Who is THE Eponine?- Page 4

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 12:11pm

Nice avatar way_to_spend_the_day.

I've only seen Lea Salonga in the recordings of the 10th Anniversary Concert and in Hey Mr. Producer. I've seen Sutton Foster in Tucson, San Diego, and Los Angeles tours. I've never seen Frances Rufelle.

In analysis, both Lea and Sutton portrayed the characters differently. Lea was directed by Richard Jay Alexander and Richard's approach to the charatcer was a tomboyish, betrayed, and angry Eponine. Sutton's was different, but close to Richard's style. Although Lea's was closest to the book, both worked for me. There were different nuances on the delivery of the song. Sutton's "On My Own" was amazing. There were times when I prefered Sutton's, but Lea's version I find to be more emotional and sweeter (per HMP). Staging wise, Sutton's a little too tall for Eponine unless they cast a 6'+ Marius. If Cam Mac were to restage the play with both of their names on the selection table, I would prefer to see Lea since I missed her Broadway performance. So, it's Lea Salonga for me.

Updated On: 2/20/06 at 12:11 PM

[PalaceRent06]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 12:47pm

lea or sutton...way_to_spend_the_day is amazing!

[lovinlife]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 1:43pm

Well said!!

[Jon]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 1:46pm

I heard Megan Lawrence sing ON MY OWN on the Today Show once and I really enjoyed her version.

[artist_in_waiting]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 1:50pm

I thought this thread was long dead. What caused its resurrection? Has it got to do with Les Miz' return to Broadway? Hmmm

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 1:51pm

LEA SALONGA HANDS DOWN
she is beyond amazing in my eyes..

sutton is very good also....but Frances Ruffelle is almost unbareable to listen to while she sings in "In My Life"

[lovinlife]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 1:53pm

I really did not care for Megan Lawrence. If they're going to cast people who were previously in it, I'd again say Lea (impossible due to pregnancy); but I truly think they should give some of the hot newcomers a chance to bat at that role.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 1:54pm

Frances Ruffelle

[avyrocks]

Posted: 6/5/07 at 1:40pm

SUTTON FOSTER = <3. =D

[ulkis]

Posted: 6/5/07 at 1:48pm

Frances Ruffelle, but I like all the Eponines I've heard/seen. I think I'm gonna have to find another sample of Salonga's On My Own though, because while I liked her singing in the 10th anniversary concert, her over-enunciation in it bothers me.

[blueroses]

Posted: 6/5/07 at 1:51pm

Ruffelle.

[Dirty_Rotten_Guy]

Posted: 6/5/07 at 1:59pm

Lea Salonga.

but i wish we could add Celia Keenan-Bolger into the running
She'd beat Salonga for me.

[raphael06]

Posted: 6/5/07 at 2:18pm

Salonga's version vocally is great but Sutton's is not only great, but her entire peformance is superior in my opinion.

Never seen Ruffelle but she sounds good.

[TheOperaGuy]

Posted: 12/22/20 at 3:02am

Of Course the best is the one who performed in the 10th anniversary of Les Miserables. No questions🤣🤣🤣🤣

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/22/20 at 9:07am

2020 has really made people dig up some very old threads here.

[MadonnaMusical]

Posted: 12/23/20 at 11:56pm

Lea Salonga for sure.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 12/26/20 at 11:26am

Eponine is a great role for a person who has an excellent voice and can make you feel pain for her plight.  I have seen many good Eponines, but none has come close to Ruffelle in making me want to take her in my arms and protect her.  The sadness in her voice is almost 'Paifian'.  She went for your gut.

Salonga has a gorgeous voice and can certainly make you want to protect her too, but I just didn't feel the same degree of grief for her as I felt for Ruffelle.

Not a big role when you get right down to it, but a big, great performance.  I have always been disappointed that she did not do more on this side of the pond.

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 12/28/20 at 4:21pm

The only version of "On My Own" I like is Kaho Shimada's version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF6HaXfsYlM

I find Lea Salogna's version too breezy and fast. It's also a bit theatrical in that it loses the character. Francis Ruffelle, I get why she was so lauded. She went away from that sort of singing to bring out Eponine's vulnerabilities, but I don't really like the sound of her voice or the whiney undertone to it.

[MikeInTheDistrict]

Posted: 12/28/20 at 4:31pm

I really loved Celia Keenan-Bolger's performance in the 2006 revival. Her performance has a world-weary maturity that was a refreshing change of pace from previous (or subsequent) interpretations. Of all the Eponines I've seen, her has stuck with me the most:

[TheRealEponine]

Posted: 10/28/22 at 3:45pm

Of all the Eponines I have heard, Melissa is absolutely my favorite. Her voice is full of emotion. I feel like I'm hearing Eponine. STUNNING.

 

Updated On: 10/28/22 at 03:45 PM

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 10/29/22 at 12:04pm

I am not usually a fan of contributing to reviving 15+ year old threads, but I do think Linzi Hateley needs to be thrown into the mix...

http://youtu.be/udHUVfln-PI

[Jarethan]

Posted: 10/29/22 at 12:45pm

I did not see Sutton Foster in the role...I did not even know that she had played Eponine.  Re the other choices, and every other Eponine I have seen, there is no contest.  For me, Frances Ruffelle's performance was in a league of its own.  Every other Eponone I have seen, and I have seen about 10 - 12, has paled in comparison to Ruffelle,  She was so effective as Eponine that to me she stole the show, and there are a lot of great roles and performances over the course of many years.  Definition of stole: whenever she was on-stage, you looked at no one else, when she was not on stage, you were thinking about her.

Her voice was perfect for the role.  Eponine was a tragic character, and Ruffelle's acting and wailful voice reflected that tragedy.  It was an iconic supporting performance for me.