Les Miserables

Subject: Les Miserables
From: *Laura*
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 04:26 PM

Does anyone know how the schools version of Les Mis (for under 19s) differs to the full-length version?
I'm doing it in Feb but I'm hoping it's not altered too drastically - none of the songs are cut or anything are they?

Any help greatly appreciated - have 'googled' this but didn't get anything very solid.

xLx

Subject: RE: Les Miserables
From: MMario
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 04:27 PM

probably mostly vocabulary.

Subject: RE: Les Miserables
From: *Laura*
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 04:34 PM

yes I though maybe some of the long fight scenes - but I'm really only guessing.

Subject: RE: Les Miserables
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 05:06 PM

Our local community threater did it. No actors over the age of 19 were allowed in the cast, and there were a number of other restrictions - apparently to ensure that it didn't compete with the road show that's still touring. Still, it seemed reasonably intact, and it was enjoyable to watch.
I haven't seen the full stage show - just the "in concert" DVD and the local production. I thought it was good - but maybe I don't know what I was watching.
I had a chance to see "Le Mis" on Broadway, but everybody else in my group had seen it, so we saw "Miss Saigon."
Damn.
-Joe ffer-

Subject: RE: Les Miserables
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 05:49 AM

You mean the musical ? Victor Hugo must be spinning in his grave.

eric

Subject: RE: Les Miserables
From: GUEST,Janey
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 01:13 PM

Don't know where you are but Mossley Amateur Dramatics (Next Generation) are putting on this show from 6th December this year. Bought tickets yesterday; it's nearly sold out. Mossley is ten miles east of Manchester and their shows are always top entertainment. I could report back when I've seen it...

Subject: RE: Les Miserables
From: *Laura*
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 02:15 PM

Yes please - that'd be great!

Subject: RE: Les Miserables
From: Cllr
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 04:29 AM

The musical is great I laughed and laughed people told me it was supposed to be sad, but all I saw was loads of peasents being shot serves 'em right Mwaa haaawaa haaa!! Cllr
(in very right wing tongue in cheek mode)
*these brackets were brought to you by explain english humour to the merkins society*

Subject: RE: Les Miserables
From: wilbyhillbilly
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 06:31 AM

I saw it in London several years ago and it was absolutely brilliant.

Everyone (including me) had their hankies out by the end of the show, there wasn't a dry eye in the house.

I have a CD of the songs from the show, and some of them are really good, my favourite being "Bring Him Home", this to me is a REAL tearjerker.

whb

Subject: RE: Les Miserables
From: *Laura*
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 01:14 PM

Good good - I am relived now.
Some people think I'm crazy though - I've got the chance to go to St Petersburg for a week in April - and I'm not going becasue it's the week before the show! But the way I see it - I can organise to go to Russia myself at some point - I might never get the chance to be in this show again.
Please back me up if you agree!

xLx

Subject: RE: Les Miserables
From: Chris Green
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 01:23 PM

Has anyone heard the parody of Les Mis from the album 'Forbidden Broadway'? It's a hoot!

Subject: RE: Les Miserables
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 07:08 PM

Laura, anytime you get a chance to sing that music for anyone it's more important than anything else. Take it to the bank. But carboload. It's a big energydrain, that much for that long.    Tw

Subject: RE: Les Miserables
From: Chris Green
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 06:41 AM

*Laura* - sorry if that last post of mine seemed a bit insensitive. We crossposted. You should definitely do the show - Russia has been there for thousands of years and will will be there for a while yet. An opportunity to perform in Les Mis doesn't come around every day!

Subject: RE: Les Miserables
From: Jeanie
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 08:53 AM

Laura, here's some more of the backing-up that you asked for:

No doubt about it, *DO THE SHOW* !!!

People (friends, relatives, whoever) may well be saying you're crazy to miss the St. Petersburg trip. They've maybe never had the thrill of putting together and performing a show on stage, so they can't possibly understand. Russia can wait. Follow what your heart tells you. "To thine own self be true" !

Whereabouts are you performing it ? How many in the cast ? Do you know what part(s) you have yet ? I know exactly which part I would give my eye teeth for: Madame Thenardier (wife of the "Master of the House"). Not exactly a "glam" role, but then, I reckon, the "non-glam" parts are often the most interesting to work on.

Oh, and I'll second Bouzouki's recommendation of "Forbidden Broadway". Get hold of it if you can ;)

Keep us posted how it's all going, won't you ?

- jeanie

Subject: RE: Les Miserables
From: GUEST,Blackcatter
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 09:06 AM

Les Mis certainly beats the hell out of anything Webber has done. THE HACK! (don't tell my girlfriend. She loves Cats...) Sheesh.

Subject: RE: Les Miserables
From: Cllr
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 09:33 AM

Bloke who produced it (and a few others) went to my school, after he left the am dram soc folded and I was one of the founder members of the new group I spoke to him at the old boys dinner but he still hasn't said if he will do the new musical what I wrote. Cllr.

Subject: RE: Les Miserables
From: GUEST,Blackcatter
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 11:11 AM

What's yours about?

Subject: RE: Les Miserables
From: Cllr
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 11:23 AM

west london version of "rent" crossed with a football theme
which is used as analogy of politics in the ninteen eighties.
Cllr ( I havn't finished/polished it yet so I havn't actually showed it to Cameron just yet) 8-P

Subject: RE: Les Miserables
From: Jeanie
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 01:31 PM

What was he like when he was at school ? I imagine your English/Drama teachers must be very proud of their old boy ! There are a lot of people around our way who are very proud of the current Marius in Les Mis, Gary Tushaw, who looks set for a long and successful career: He was astonishingly good in local Shakespeare productions as a schoolboy a few years back, and in the National Youth Music Theatre, then went straight from school into RADA, straight from RADA into the West End in "Romeo & Juliet, The Musical" and from there straight into leading role in Les Mis. Just goes to show that it *can* happen !

- jeanie

Subject: RE: Les Miserables
From: *Laura*
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 05:36 PM

Thankyou people! It's so nice to have some support!
Jeanie - we haven't auditioned yet - I really REALLY want Fantine. But I'm not sure, as yet, how many people will be doing it as another youth company has just started up in Yeovil too, so we may lose some of our members.

Cheers m'dears

xLx

Subject: RE: Les Miserables
From: Cllr
Date: 19 Nov 04 - 07:15 PM

Cameron left the school years before i got there and shortly after I left he built the school a theatre *mutter Mutter* the school now offers various scholorships for the performance arts. *mutterdarkley* which I think is great wonderful. When I met him he proved to be a splendid interesting individual, and I lok forward to meeting him again, Cllr

Subject: RE: Les Miserables
From: GUEST,janey
Date: 08 Dec 04 - 02:59 PM

Laura,
we went to les miz last night at mossley. It was absolutely BRILLIANT!
It was better than any professional performance we have seen recently...the cast were so committed and full of youthful exuberance, really professional, really talented, soo so good.
i felt really proud just watching them and at the end they got a standing ovation! it was a spirited performance and seemed pretty true to the "proper" version i saw a few years ago. they are sold out all week or i would go EVERY night. i imagine the last night and party would be fantastic.
i agree you HAVE to do this...it is a great show.
let us know how you get on. i am very jealous.
good luck!
jane

Subject: RE: Les Miserables
From: *Laura*
Date: 08 Dec 04 - 04:50 PM

cheers
*appreciative and happy grin*
it's getting closer to audition time! I'm having singing lessons.
Fingers crossed!

And yes - no matter what I get it will be amazing and so will the partaaaay. :-)

will let you know! cheers

xLx

Subject: RE: Les Miserables
From: Col K
Date: 08 Dec 04 - 06:57 PM

Go for it, Les Mis is the best show and to be in it must be great. I hope you enjoy doing it.
Russia can wait.

Subject: RE: Les Miserables
From: Dave Masterson
Date: 09 Dec 04 - 08:17 AM

Who is this Les Miserables bloke anyway?
(sorry - that one must have been cracked before!)

Subject: RE: Les Miserables
From: JJ
Date: 10 Dec 04 - 04:45 PM

We haven't got a job
We're Les Miserables!
Not a sou and so we rob
We're Les Miserables!

Subject: RE: Les Miserables
From: *Laura*
Date: 14 Dec 05 - 06:37 PM

I just saw it in London! We and two friends who were in it at home went today up to London and saw it and it was so amazingly brilliantly fantastic and just stunning and amazing and stunning in every way!!
Gavroche stole the show - that kid was great.
and 'God On High' - phew. multiple shivers all up and down my back and all my hairs standing on end and just...
oh my God it was incredible.
I'm so glad it lives up to (and surpasses) it's hype.

xLx

Subject: RE: Les Miserables
From: Jeanie
Date: 15 Dec 05 - 01:55 PM

It's just the best, isn't it ? As well as the singing, I love the way it is staged (for example, the way they use those iron gates, and especially the way he falls into the water - so simply but cleverly done).

- jeanie

Subject: RE: Les Miserables
From: Devilmaster
Date: 15 Dec 05 - 05:18 PM

Always a great show.

For me, the most amazing moment in the play is when the barricades is swung around after the final battle, during the quiet acoustic number, then the music cresendos(?) into the shot of a lone Enjolras, dead over the red flag of rebellion....