Madeleine MacMillan (Fontaine)Mme. Panaccione

Elementary French 1

Les MisérablesVictor Hugo began writing it in 1836It was published in 1862It is the story of Jean Valjean, a convict on

the run and the people he meets along the way

•In 1980 Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg created the first musical version of Les Misérables•It was more of a French opera then a musical

Some of the songes now well know in les mis were not part of the otiginal version“Stars” Javert’s Soliloquy“Carousel” Sung by the women after the

BarricadesThe women’s song ‘Carousel’ was only

written after rehearsals started out of sheer consideration of the women in the cast

In the French music, the prostitues song ‘Lovely Ladies’ had no erotic connotations whatsoeverWas originally called ‘La Nuit’

‘Lovely Ladies’

'Stars’

•Some of the songs, such as, ‘On My Own’ which is sung by Éponine, were originally sung by other characters•‘On My Own’ (originally ‘La Misère’) was sung by Fantine•Adapting ‘On My Own’ from the original French was the one that gave writers the most trouble.•The melody is repeated several times throughout the musical

‘Bring Him Home’ is the most moving song in the musical

It was written as a much needed lyrical movement after the barricade

While it is the most moving, it was also the most difficult piece of music to put lyrics to

‘Bring Him Home’ is a prayer of Valjean’s life

‘Bring Him Home’

•As many of the cast as possible was chosen from the ranks of the Royal Shakespeare Company

Roger Allam as Javert

Alun Armstrong and Sue Jane Tanner as the Thénardiers

•Several internationally know stars came to london on their own to audition for the lead role of Jean Valjean

• Topol, the Israeli star of Fiddler on the Roof• Max Von Saydow

•They all had outstanding acting abilities they just weren’t quit right for the part vocally

Colm Wilkinson was eventually cast as Jean Valjean

He was the last person to be cast before rehearsals started

Considerable musical rewriting when they cast Wilkinson because originally the part of Valjean was written for a deep baritone

Wilkinson was a Tenor

The very last person cast for Les Misérables was Patti LuPone as Fantine

• She was cast two weeks into rehearsals

There where Major problems on how to make the scenery fit on the stage and how to change it

•Opening Night was October 8th, 1985 at the Barbican•Some of the musical changes were made within hours of the Première•The initial reviews of Les Mis were “non-selling reviews”•The negative reviews outnumbered to good•However even with the reviews the Barbican show was sold out

•Over 60 million people in 42 countries have seen Les Misérables•It has been preformed in 21 different languages•Les Misérables is the worlds longest running musical

A movie version of the musical is coming out on December 25th, 2012Jean Valjean-Hugh JackmanFantine- Anne HathawayJavert- Russel CroweCosette- Amanda SeyfriedMarius-Eddie RedmayneMadame Thénardier-Helena Bonham CarterÉponine-Samantha BarksThénardier-Sacha Baron Cohen

The Complete Book of Les Misérables by Edward Behr

http://www.lesmiserablesfilm.com/http://www.lesmis.com/