Les Misérables (theatre): Difference between revisions

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Cameron Mackintosh is now producing a long-awaited film version. Directed by ''[[The King's Speech]]'' veteran Tom Hooper, the film will star [[Hugh Jackman]] as Valjean and [[Russell Crowe]] as Javert. Opening day is slated for 14 December 2012.

=== This musical provides examples of: ===

* [[Adaptation Distillation]]: As far as attempts at adaptations of the [[~~Door Stopper~~]] of a book go, this one is probably still one of the most loyal, even if it does cut out a few characters.

* [[Adaptation Distillation]]: As far as attempts at adaptations of the [[Doorstopper]] of a book go, this one is probably still one of the most loyal, even if it does cut out a few characters.

* [[The Alcoholic]]: Grantaire. And some productions more than others emphasize Fantine becoming addicted to drink.

* [[All Musicals Are Adaptations]]

* [[All Star Cast]]: The ''entire point'' of the 10th Anniversary Concert, which didn't have a principal cast member among them that wasn't a Broadway and/or West End luminary, including Colm Wilkinson, Philip Quast, Michael Ball, Lea Salonga, Ruthie Henshall, Michael Maguire, and Judy Kuhn.

* [[All-Star Cast]]: The ''entire point'' of the 10th Anniversary Concert, which didn't have a principal cast member among them that wasn't a Broadway and/or West End luminary, including Colm Wilkinson, Philip Quast, Michael Ball, Lea Salonga, Ruthie Henshall, Michael Maguire, and Judy Kuhn.

** The upcoming film is using the same strategy, with [[Hugh Jackman]] (Valjean), [[Russell Crowe]] (Javert), [[Anne Hathaway]] (Fantine), [[Sacha Baron Cohen]] (Thénardier), [[Helena Bonham Carter]] (Mme. Thénardier), Eddie Redmayne (Marius), [[Amanda Seyfried]] (Cosette), [[Samantha Barks]] (Éponine), and Aaron Tveit (Enjolras) confirmed cast members. In addition, Colm Wilkinson will [[And the Fandom Rejoiced|have a cameo as the Bishop of Digne]].

* [[Anyone Can Die]]: Proven true, namely with the case of {{spoiler|Gavroche}}.

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* [[It Was a Gift]]: Valjean's candlesticks from the Bishop of Digne. He keeps them until the end of his life.

* [[Karma Houdini]]: The only reprisal Monsieur Thénardier suffers for all his villainy is a punch in the face from Marius, right before "Beggars at the Feast". His wife gets off scot-free.

* [[Killed Mid Sentence]]:

* [[Killed Mid-Sentence]]:

** Mid-song, in the case of {{spoiler|Gavroche}}.

** {{spoiler|Éponine}} also dies mid-song.

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* [[La Résistance]]: Les Amis de l'ABC.

* [[Last Stand]]: Les Amis at the barricade.

* [[Load Bearing Hero]]: Valjean, when he lifts a toppled wagon off its fallen driver. This costs him dearly, for Javert witnesses the rescue and is immediately reminded of a certain muscular fugitive.

* [[Load-Bearing Hero]]: Valjean, when he lifts a toppled wagon off its fallen driver. This costs him dearly, for Javert witnesses the rescue and is immediately reminded of a certain muscular fugitive.

* [[Lonely Rich Kid]]: Cosette spent a good size of her life alone. The song "In My Life" illustrates that Marius is a wake up call to the fact that there's a whole world outside of her garden.

* [[Love At First Sight]]: Cosette and Marius. Depending on the chemistry of the actors involved, this can range from genuinely sweet and believable to absolutely ridiculous. Michael Ball and Rebecca Caine, of the 1985 original London cast, were notable for their chemistry onstage, but some other productions haven't been so lucky...

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* [[Official Couple]]: Marius and Cosette.

* [[Pair the Spares]]: Many fanfic writers seem to think that Éponine and Enjolras should be paired, on the basis that they are both single.

* [[Paper Thin Disguise]]: Javert when he tries to {{spoiler|spy on the Amis of the ABC.}} That is, until he is {{spoiler|exposed by Gaveroche.}}

* [[Paper-Thin Disguise]]: Javert when he tries to {{spoiler|spy on the Amis of the ABC.}} That is, until he is {{spoiler|exposed by Gaveroche.}}

* [[Plucky Comic Relief]]: The Thénardiers, in a stark contrast to the novel.

* [[Rain Aura]]: The musical has a song that involves this.

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* [[The Revolution Will Not Be Vilified]]: The Friends of the ABC are portrayed as heroic defenders of the common man.

* [[Shown Their Work]]: [[Compressed Adaptation|A lot got cut out]], but especially listening to the Complete Symphonic Recording, telling details from the original text sneak in: for example, M. Thénardier making his first fortune by robbing the dead after the battle of Waterloo, the fact that Valjean's [[Criminal Doppelganger]] is mentally deficient, etc.

* [[Shut UP Hannibal]]: Valjean in response to Javert before he sets him free from Les Amis. Also combines with a [[World of Cardboard Speech]] "You are wrong, and always have been wrong. I'm a man, no worse than any man. You are free, and there are no conditions, no bargains or petitions. There's nothing that I blame you for. You've done your duty, [[Knight Templar|nothing more.]]"

* [[Shut UP, Hannibal]]: Valjean in response to Javert before he sets him free from Les Amis. Also combines with a [[World of Cardboard Speech]] "You are wrong, and always have been wrong. I'm a man, no worse than any man. You are free, and there are no conditions, no bargains or petitions. There's nothing that I blame you for. You've done your duty, [[Knight Templar|nothing more.]]"

* [[Voice Types|The Soprano]]: Cosette, so SO much.

* Song Types:

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** [[Grief Song]]: "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" and "I Dreamed a Dream."

*** After "A Little Fall of Rain," Éponine gets a brief tribute from the Friends of the ABC.

** [[I Am Song]]: "Who Am I?" is the very obvious example; also, "I Dreamed a Dream" and "Master of the House."

** [["I Am" Song]]: "Who Am I?" is the very obvious example; also, "I Dreamed a Dream" and "Master of the House."

** [[I Am Becoming Song]]: [[Heel Face Turn|"What Have I Done"]], and Cosette's "In My Life." Also, Fantine's part of "Lovely Ladies" is her {{spoiler|becoming a prostitute.}}

** [[I Want Song]]: "On My Own", "In My Life", "Stars", and "Castle On a Cloud".

** [["I Want" Song]]: "On My Own", "In My Life", "Stars", and "Castle On a Cloud".

** [[Massive Multiplayer Ensemble Number]]: "One Day More"

** [[The Eleven O Clock Number]]: "Wedding Chorale"

** [[The Song Before the Storm]]: "One Day More" and "Bring Him Home."

** [[Villain Song]]: "Master of the House," which doubles as the single catchiest song in the show. The same character has a straight villain song in "Dog Eat Dog." "Stars" is an [[Anti Villain]] song.

** [[Villain Song]]: "Master of the House," which doubles as the single catchiest song in the show. The same character has a straight villain song in "Dog Eat Dog." "Stars" is an [[Anti-Villain]] song.

** [[The Villain Sucks Song]]: "Master of the House", oddly; Thénardier's part (the main part) is a straight [[Villain Song]], but when his wife starts singing it turns into this (though she is also a villain).

** [["The Villain Sucks" Song]]: "Master of the House", oddly; Thénardier's part (the main part) is a straight [[Villain Song]], but when his wife starts singing it turns into this (though she is also a villain).

** "Beggars at the Feast" is also a straight [[Villain Song]].

* [[Sour Supporter]]: Grantaire.