Comments | estellacat: 25th Anniversary Les misérables

estellacat

25th Anniversary Les misérables

Jul 15, 2012 00:57

So one of the things I decided to do to celebrate the 14 juillet (joyeux 14 juillet, d'ailleurs) was to see 25th anniversary production of "Les misérables" (the musical, obviously). And first, I really need to get this out of the way: it really is impossible to go back to the English version once you know the French versions. This obviously wasn't ( Read more... )

Comments 5

ephaistion85 July 15 2012, 11:22:30 UTC

I honestly admit that I like the French concept album the most, as it is the versione more close to the book (I can't get out of my mind the fact that in the English version the barricade's only purpose seems to "fight poverty" and no mention of a Republic at all). And I can't stand Enjolras' red vest: is he a lion tamer of just coming out from main-stream emo video?
It does not seem to me that Graintaire and Gavroche are particularly close in the original production, but then it has been a while since I have seen it. But I'm curious to see the new version now.

estellacat July 15 2012, 18:40:07 UTC

Me too, though there are at least a few places where the revised French version is better - for example, little Cosette sings about the doll she wants like in the book instead of waiting for a prince... That's why I think the ideal version would include some things from both, though mostly from the original ( ... )

ephaistion85 July 15 2012, 19:56:17 UTC

Unfortunately, my knowledge of the French revised version is limited to some youtube videos ( ... )

trf_chan July 17 2012, 20:14:30 UTC

You know, I've also thought that the Les misérables musical would be kind of confusing for anyone who's not read the book or doesn't know much about French history, but the two times I saw it this past year, it was with people who'd never seen it before. Both times, I asked afterward if they understood everything that happened, and they said yes. Maybe they were just very observant and/or felt like the general gist of things (which was perhaps all they needed to enjoy it on a first viewing) was clearly communicable? My mom - one of the people I saw it with - did later ask me, though, why exactly "the whole barricade thing" happened, so yeah, that doesn't really come through very well at all. -_-

I noticed and was a bit annoyed by the republican motifs in the 1823 scenes as well. And I was SO PLEASED that Enjolras wasn't wearing the circus vest in his first scenes. SO PLEASED. And then all my joy was crushed when he put it on for the barricade. When you think about it, an item of clothing that's so loud doesn't even seem like a ( ... )

estellacat July 18 2012, 08:43:10 UTC

Yeah, I think the story they set up is not necessarily impossible to follow, it's just that you lose a lot if that's all you know about it. Especially as regards the insurrection...

I know, I had such high hopes when I saw him without it and then they just had to bring it out again, didn't they? musical!Enjolras apparently cares more about making ridiculous fashion statements than logic, strategy, or safety. >.>

They really do in this new version. Or at least the particular actors I saw did... It was a bit odd, but harmless enough, I guess.

It's a pity a lot of the changes they made had to remove it so far from the book, when they originally had lyrics that were often taken directly from it or at the very least represented its spirit better.