The Musical

[Daniel]

I entend to be a part of a production of Les Miserables. After a dtudy of this show, (and after wacthing it three or four times...) I was not once dissapointed by a single aspect of the production. This is a very moving story... the emotions that certain parts of the show evoke are amazing! The production of les miserables will be one of the most rewarding experiences in my life!

[GSG]

I agree. The musical was amazing. However, some of the scenes were crude to the point of becoming disturbing. I do not believe that is the way the author wanted his book precieved. If the parts of the play which touched you that is just fine. Those scenes were amazing ,however, I am not sure if that makes up for the others.

[Arania]

Oh my gosh, I have been in love with this show for as long as I can remember. I love theatre, and Les Mis, I think, is my favorite.

GSG, I agree, some of the parts are very disturbing, and because I have not read the novel, I cannot say that it was Hugo´s intention for them to be that way. I suppose, however, that it´s done this way to bring the audience further into the setting. It would be impossible to do that on stage as articulately as in the novel. Especially since there is no flat dialogue.

[ketsia1]

I LOVE Les Miserables. The ending is really sad, especially because Marius had steered Cosette away from Jean Valjean. I think that showed Marius was still a youth, because he did not have full comprehension of what he did when he separated Cosette and Jean Valjean. Jean Valjean lived for Cosette, because she gave him delight, and Marius's intrusion into their lives completely changed that. He even tried to run away from him and keep Marius away from Cosette. For me, that part was a bit confusing. However, Victor Hugo's ability to weave so many complex themes into a novel clearly shows his skill as a writer.

[MusicalMad-x]

I LOVE LES MISERABLES! It is definitly in my top 5 favourite musicals- and i like alot of musicals! Iv been to see it twice and would definitly like to go and see it again! Iv never read the novel... but the show has you laughing, crying and generely you just feel like ur there! Its such a moving peice and the music throughout the show is fantastic, and i dont understand why anybody wouldnt like Les Mis! XxX

[Bramblefox]

I agree. The musical was amazing. However, some of the scenes were crude to the point of becoming disturbing. I do not believe that is the way the author wanted his book precieved. If the parts of the play which touched you that is just fine. Those scenes were amazing ,however, I am not sure if that makes up for the others.

What parts were disturbing to you?

[jinjang]

I just came back from the musical. We all loved it. My thirteen year old boy said he will read the book now, which is worth more than any praise I can give. Since a long story is crammed into a 3 hour musical, it is understandable for the production to skip important parts of the book: Marius, his father and his grandfather, their political differences. Eponine's love for Marius was more emphasized in the musical than the book. Is it to include more audience, spicing it up a bit, than otherwise, I wonder. I am glad, though, they did it, because I felt more for Eponine than Cosette even in the book and maybe that is why the production team chose to deliver this part strongly. The comical figure of the thorough villain Thenardier was a little lost in its reality even though he was my favorite character in the musical. In my opinion, Javert was not well portrayed. It dealt with Gavoriche's death lightly while Eponine's death was dragging on. All in all it chose well what they wanted to deliver from the book. The opening song was memorable and I did not know "Master of the house" was from this musical.

The French Musical "Notre Dame de Paris" in 2000 had more beautiful songs.
I hope I won't offend anyone by concluding the French Musical was better made. The choreography was superb and well-composed songs will touch us longer. Victor Hugo, one of the greatest authors, proves himself again even through Broadway musicals.

[Wilde woman]

Yes, Les Miserables is my all-time favorite musical! I love the big ensemble piece at the end of Act I - One Day More. It's amazing.

[jinjang]

My children are humming the songs day and night and it gets stuck in my head.
My favorite song is "Empty chairs at empty tables." I wonder why Eponine appears at the death scene of Jean.

[BienvenuJDC]

I just saw a High School production of it on Friday night...superb job done by the cast and crew. I have seen the Broadway production about 20 years ago, read the book, seen the movie...I love it all...

[Kemathenga]

Yeah, why does Eponine appear along with Fantine?
To me it is more irritating that somebody does NOT appear: Bishop Myriel. Eponine and Fantine function as a kind of emissaries from heaven, at least that's how I interprete it. They open the view toward the after-life, the real promised land where "the chain will be broken" at last. They both died sacrificial deaths and therefore can be expected to be in heaven and they sort of welcome Jean Valjean, this master of sacrifice who doesn't know it, in that place where he can rest at last from "pain and wrong". And I think the bishop should have been there, too. He is mentioned in the death scene of Valjean in the book. It was him set Valjean on that course to heaven.

[Kemathenga]

We just came back from London where we saw the show on saturday. It was SO great!! We simply have to go there again, you can't catch all the details of a performance from seeing it only once.

The zest with which it is performed after 25 years is amazing.

There will be a 25th anniversary performance in Paris in spring (in English) and at least one german version in June/July in the south of Germany (Leofels).