Les Miserables discussion
Les Mis: A musical
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What is your favorite cast?
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Ingrid
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Mar 29, 2011 08:57PM
There are many of them. Original Broadway, Original London, Complete Symphonic, Highlights of the Complete Symphonic... Or do you just like a plain old high school version of it?
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just proves how great it is, that i havent even seen it properly and i still love it!!! lol
Yeah. I haven't seen any of it except the TAC, but I've listened to a lot of the other recordings of it.
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im interested to know.... :)
Umm. It is a mixture of a bunch of casts. It has Jean Valjean from The Original Broadway AND the Original London. It has Cosette from the Original Broadway. Marius from London, Enjrolas from Broadway. Javert from Australia. It is just a mixture, and I think that it is one of the best casts out there! It is also called the Dream Cast, by some.
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how does Gavroche of TAC compare to others?
Personally, I think Adam Searle is the best Gavroche this side of the moon. I really like the TAC, but that just might be because it was the first cast I listened to. I might like the Complete Symphonic Recording more because it has ALL of the songs and all of the notes. EVERYTHING. Which is why I love it. And it has the same Javert as TAC <3
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hes so cute, and talented in the way he acts.... :)
The one from my high school. Sadly, not on Youtube, denying the world an excellent group of actors
Michael Ball is the best marius there is out there.
So true!Every time I hear him sing Empty Chairs and Empty Tables I almost fall apart.
And he isn't stiff in interviews I have seen he's in. He always has a smile or a laugh to make it more cheery than boring and dull.
I know he's so laid back and he's a big teddy bear kind of guy. I just wish I could meet him someday. He makes people comfortable.
Michael Ball- empty chairs... still haven't yet though
*just watched it* um,um,um...... (can't find words)
Amazing? Heartbreaking?
Anna C. wrote: "Amazing? Heartbreaking?"No... those don't fit
It's amazing!! But breaks my heart is not Empty chairs...instead it's Gethsemane with Michael singing it, it's so heartbreaking..you can even see him crying.
I love it. Empty Chairs makes me melt. Especially when it gets to the part: "Phantom faces on the window. Phantom shadows on the floor."
Way-chan (Aspiring Author) wrote: "I love it. Empty Chairs makes me melt. Especially when it gets to the part: "Phantom faces on the window. Phantom shadows on the floor.""
YES
No, I think she is just agreeing with me on the touchingness and amazingness of those lines and the way he sings them.
Way-chan (Aspiring Author) wrote: "No, I think she is just agreeing with me on the touchingness and amazingness of those lines and the way he sings them."Not the right word, no. Agreement, yes
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a local university put on a production and they were really really good. i was not expecting them to be so good, but they were. it was amazing! im sooooo happy i saw it!!!!!!!!!!
Ok so I just saw the musical a few weeks ago on TV for the first time and it was the 25th anniversary. I absolutly loved it and I thought the entire cast was amazing. I loved Ramin Karimloo in it haha. I had a question though. I saw Nick Jonas on it and I thought he did a pretty good job as Marius but people kept saying he was terrible compaired to all the others who played Marius in other produtions. I haven't seen or heard and other version besides the 25th anniversary so was Nick Jonas really that bad? I'm not a big fan of him but I thought he did a decent job. I mean what do you think about him being in it? I also didn't like that they stood in front of microphones the entire time but other than that loved it and the music!
As far as Marius goes, I think Nick did a pretty decent job. He wasn't as good as Michael Ball (nobody is because he IS Marius.)Considering what he was going up against, he did a very good job. I think people really blow it out of proportion when they talk about how "bad" he was. He did a good job.
Thanks! I'll have to look up Michael Ball now! I actually just bought the 2010 cast album on my iPod and I really like this cast as well. To bad they didn't make an album for the 25th anniversary though.
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A Thespian myself, and this has been my favorite musical play, that I cherish like no other, for a quarter of a century. I love this story more than anything in the world. Seen it live, listened to it only-God-knows how many times (sound track) love the 10th anniversary concert (the Dream Cast), love Michael Ball's powerful rich voice, but I'll tell you, for sheer believability of the characters, and for overall quality and beauty and majesty, this 25th Anniversary Performance blew me out of the water. Every last one of the cast members put their hearts and souls into their performances, and it really shows. Nick is quite appealing and endearing as Marius, and he portrays Marius as this character actually IS, a young, innocent naive kid who doesn't know the deadly seriousness of what he has gotten himself into until the horrifying and numbing death of Eponine his friend while he strokes her hair, helpless to save her. When her spirit departs, and the camera pans to a profile shot of him, the look of shock and devastation on his face speaks volumes. I really liked that fellow in this and loved his interpretation of the character. I loathe the nasty personal attacks that some (obviously NON-theatre people) are aiming at him, they are below the belt. While he definitely needs to develop that pleasant but not very powerful voice of his so as to be much better to belt-out these numbers, I was shocked to realize that this "boy band" member is damned-good as an actor and has tremendous potential. The audience, that huge audience, loved him and screamed cheers for him when he took his bows, his fellow cast-members loved him. The hate-the-kid-Fest is coming, probably, from people who likely cannot act their way out of a paper bag, as we used to say in rehearsals. Moving on, Alfie Boe is so wonderful as Jean Valjean that he had me choking-up constantly during the performance. Cosette was gorgeous and charming, Eponine, Samantha Barks, a character I love IMMENSELY for her giant heart and ABJECT loyalty to the "good" people (not her vile, murderous parents), is played with beauty and grace and a voice that could break windows. ENJOLRAS, Ramin Karimloo, knocked my socks off. The 1995 guy was powerful and convincing. Ramin kept all those qualities, but also made Enjolras lovable and endearing as well. And give me some awards to give to NORM LEWIS as Inspector Javert. THIS man is absolutely gifted. He made me want to jump through the screen and kick Javert's behind from hell to breakfast. The Ensemble, they all, and the chorus and orchestra, took my breath away. The final battle at the barricades, with that mind-numbing lighting choreography (instead of the troops actually fighting onstage with guns) was, to me, much more powerful and chilling than watching the battle played out with weapons and shooting. It seemed absolutely terrifying,-- my god, who thought up a Light-ballet to depict a horrific battle? THAT was a stroke of GENIUS. They reprised it somewhat for the death of Javert, as he throws his hand into the air crying, There is no way to go ONNN!! and he disappears into that lighting blast. WOW. I absolutely cherish and adore Les Mis, always will, I literally believe that the story is inspired by God Almighty, and this 25th Anniversary production will always be the one I hold dearest to my own heart. Kudos to all involved: producer, director, production staff, orchestra, singers, costumers, light designers, choreographers and authors and lyricist. This was a performance of monumental proportions and filled to overflowing with heart, love, and incredible talent and devotion. I cannot praise it highly enough, nor recommend it highly enough. I am giving copies of the dvd to many of my friends, who have never seen Les Miserables, as my Christmas gift to them this year. I want to spread the love, the goodness, the redemption, the mercy and the generosity of spirit, to everyone I know.
Mod
Considering what he was going up against, he did a very good job. I ..."
YES, he DID, and I have more to say about that in my own post below. I loved Nick's performance, just needs to develop his voice to better handle these near-operatic numbers.
Yeah, I love the 25th anniversary butI never really liked any of the Marius's. I think Robert Madge who played Gavroche was amazing!
Thanks, Donald, for that post. It certainly shows your love for the show! And you are so right in saying that Nick has potential. He could become a great broadway actor someday. Personally, I think that the tenth anniversary cast is my favorite, except I'd like to substitute Samantha Barks for Lea Salonga. Samantha is pretty much the best Eponine I've ever seen. I'm so excited that she'll be playing the part in the movie.
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Personally, I thi..."
You're right. He's already damned good for his age (Nick), he just needs more training and to free that natural voice. I think he has a pretty voice, but he needs to be able to BELT those tunes. As for Eponine, I don't know, I think both Lea and Samantha had their own particular sweet charm when they, respectively, played this role. I absolutely ADORED Lea as Eponine in 1995's concert performance, she had the cutest and sweetest face and was so vulnerable in the role. And then Samantha comes along for the 2010 25th anniversary and equally knocked my socks off. And for Fantine, I still cherish Ruthie Henshall's wonderful 1995 performance, with those long blonde locks framing her gentle sweet face. When she sings I dreamed a dream her delivery (Ruthie's) of "But he was GONE when autumn came..!!" still is, I think, unsurpassed, though Lea did a tremendous and beautiful job in the role as well. But I adore Ruthie. thanks so much !!
Oh my gosh I love both Samantha And Lea but I think that Sammy is the best Eponine and Lea is the best Fantine! But i'm not a big fan of nick jonas, but i like the way he sings empty chairs and empty tables!
Way wrote: "Personally, I think Adam Searle is the best Gavroche this side of the moon. I really like the TAC, but that just might be because it was the first cast I listened to. I might like the Complete Symp..."No way! Robert Madge is the best Gavroche ever!!!!!!!!!
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As for Nick, I'd never seen or heard (and still haven't), any of his "boy-band" music. That, to me, is about as interesting as an old shoe. Of course, never having heard any of it, I might find that I like a few of the songs. But I'm not into that.
His performance in Les Mis' really startled me. I too am an old Thespian (well, not old, but 52), and I appreciate good work by a performer, and he did some really beautiful and poignant stuff in this. I was surprised. Very Pleasantly. His plaintive cry at the end of Drink With Me drew the tears out of me big-time. That was a beautiful delivery. He made some really nice acting choices in other parts of the show, too.
When he first meets Cosette and he has his eyes fly wide open in stunned amazement, coupled with that shy little exclaim, "I didn't see you there...forgive me?", that was a choice, and I burst out laughing. Every 17 year old in the WORLD has had this reaction when struck with Cupid's Arrow. That was cute, it was FUNNY, and it was a deliberate choice he made as an actor, even staring at her, wide-eyed, like a nitwit as he walks away backwards. Loved it. Even funnier, and that was "an actor's choice," too, was when Eponine takes him to meet Cosette during "In My Life,": while Eponine is singing her stanza, he turns and starts staring at Cosette again, and assumes on his face the look of a thunderstruck little NERD, like a DEER caught in the headlights. He actually makes his face assume a DOPEY look. Like a Fool. LOL. It was charming and endearing. I loved it, it gave a little comic relief right in the middle of a very touching song. And we all have had that "blubbering nitwit" reaction to our "first love" and can well-relate to that Dopey Look and making a fool out of ourselves in front of him or her, just when we want to impress him or her the most. This kid made a lot of good choices in the role, but I enjoy these the most. He made Marius look vulnerable and charming and innocent, and I really enjoyed that, because as Hugo describes Marius in the novel, this is exactly how Marius is supposed to be. Hugo even describes Marius as such a good person that he is "seraphic," to use Hugo's own term.
I've only seen the high school my mom worked at's performence and the new movie. I love Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Anna(Cossete), and Samantha(Eponine)!
I loved Anne Hathaway in the new movie, along with Samantha Barks and Eddie Redmayne. But my favorite cast was the original 1985 London cast, especially Colm Wilkinson!!!
Like all of them! They all have good casting choices (but a few of them made a few mistakes.)I'm going to be in a production this summer with my state's official music theatre! :D i love this musical!
Jean Valjean: Colm Wilkinson forever.Fantine: Patti LuPone, Ruthie Henshall, Lea Salonga, Anne Hathaway (perfect for the big screen)
Javert: Roger Allam, Phillip Quast
Marius: Michael Ball, Michael Ball, Michael Ball! Eddie Redmayne was really good in the movie too. (Nick Jonas was totally crap - both voice-wise and portrayal of a strong revolutionary apart from a lovesick boy.)
Eponine: Frances Ruffelle, Lea Salonga, Samanatha Barks
Overall, the Original London Cast and the 10th Anniversary Cast were the best in my view!
Re: Patti Lupone, you have to watch her back story of playing Fantine here. It's hilarious: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYTN87...
Re: Michael Ball & Lea Salonga, the TAC of A Little Fall of Rain is just the most tear-jerking performance of all-time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyPy2I...
Re: Michael Ball in Empty Chairs & Empty Tables - when he goes "Oh my friends, my friends DON'T ASK ME what your sacrifice was for!!!", it sends chills down my spine! Must watch (with tissue at hand): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJnjcX...
Re: Samantha Barks - here's a recording of A Little Fall of Rain on stage. I was so mad that they cut the song in the movie and she didn't get to sing "I'll sleep in your embrace at last!" And they didn't even include it in the movie soundtrack!!! Tissue ready?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyfS55...
Re: Samantha Barks & Eddie Redmayne - this shows how amazing Sam Barks translated her stage work into the big screen. So much more fragile: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIuqns...
Re: Phillip Quast - the best Javert ever. It was his portrayal that made me rethink my thoughts on Javert: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0kFkX...
Can you tell I'm obsessed with Les Miz?! LOL
My favorite was probably the 25th Anniversary Concert
Ella ((a.k.a Ellie)) wrote: "My favorite was probably the 25th Anniversary Concert"But Nick Jonas. EEKS!
He was so wimpy, he just didn't come across as a revolution leader and someone who would defy his aristocratic family to stand up for the rights of The People.
And his voice... :/
