I just saw Les Mis live in French!! So here are some notes because I like talking ( a lot of these are about Grantaire )
- THE SETS. THE LIGHTING. AND THE BACKDROPS. Were so fucking good. The set was actually just two structures ( + a table and chairs & a giant wall kept in the ceiling for the Café Musain ) but they were so good at conveying a drastic change in setting just by lighting things differently and moving the set pieces around. For example, when the back wall of one of the set pieces was lowered onto the ground, the entirety of Thénardier’s inn was hidden inside, including tables and chairs nailed onto it. During stars, there was one spotlight shining on Javert, and in front of him and behind him there were projections of stars. So he was completely surrounded by stars. It was beautiful. I literally cannot describe how amazing it was to see in person.
- There was a guy on a penny-farthing during the scene where Marius meets Cosette. It was very funny.
- During Grantaire’s “I am agog, I am aghast” speech in Red and Black, someone tried to take his bottle from him, to which he responded “Ah-bup-bup-bup-bup!!” And then on “oooperaaaaaaaaa” he went up the octave.
- The production didn’t really focus very much on the relationship between Enj and R, but I think Grantaire’s actor was doing his best to portray it as much as he could. Anytime Grantaire looked at Enjolras, he was absolutely besotted.
- The Confrontation consisted of Javert chasing Valjean around the hospital room with a gun, scaring nurses and patients in the process.
- They made Grantaire a big brother/father figure to Gavroche again. And then they had Gavroche die in his arms. And then Grantaire very loudly wept over his body.
^ Right after Gavroche died in his arms, Grantaire looked very profoundly into Enjolras’ eyes. It was too complex to put into words, but it looked almost accusatory? And frustrated? It felt like Grantaire’s entire line in Drink With Me summarized in one single look.
- Javert, upon seeing Gavroche’s body, stayed and looked down at him sadly for a few seconds before covering him back up with a blanket.
- Call me crazy but I think Grantaire’s sister might’ve been in this production?? There was a woman he hung around a lot during the barricade scenes, and they hugged eachother a few times but it seemed more familial than romantic. And she had a line in “Turning”
- Marius DIDN’T right hook Thénardier in this production and that hurts ME
- During A Little Fall of Rain, Grantaire went over to a group of people ( including Gavroche and his potential sister ) and seemed to try and comfort them
- Mme. Thénardier was funny as hell. I’d say she was even funnier than Mr. Thénardier.
- Javert’s Suicide was actually insane. At “I am reaching, but I fall. And the stars are black and cold” a SECRET PLATFORM THAT I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW WAS THERE Slowly lifted him up. Then he leaned backwards as though to fall, but just then the stagelights cut out. And his falling body was projected onto the front screen with LIGHT!!! It was SICK
- The orchestra sounded HUGE but there were only like?? 12 people??
- Grantaire just looked so excited and happy about everything. He even carried a flag during One Day More.
- Enjolras was a bit more friendly in this production I find. He was never hostile to Grantaire ( albeit maybe slightly annoyed ) and he often ruffled Gavroche’s hair or picked him up on his shoulders.
- The composition of Valjean’s death was beautiful. From left to right, it went: A nurse, Marius ( Who was standing sombrely to comfort Cosette ), Cosette ( who is desperately shaking Valjean to get him to come back to her ), Valjean ( who, to the audience, still seems perfectly alive because he’s staring at Fantine ) Fantine ( who is holding her hand out to Valjean for him to take ), and Eponine.
- The past motions and memories of the barricade boys could be seen as shadows on the wall during Empty Chairs at Empty Tables
- During Red and Black, anytime Enjolras would glare at Grantaire he would IMMEDIATELY sit down and put his hands up like “my bad….. okay….. my bad…..”. EXCEPT during Marius’s “I feel my soul on fireeee” yearning moment. At that point, Enjolras stormed over to Marius, but Grantaire jumped in his way and very triumphantly said “ROOOOOUGEEEE!!” to stop him.
- Prior to his Mayor Madeleine arc, Valjean’s singing was mixed with constant and very panicked heaving/panting.
- Marius crawled over Cosette’s fence before A Heart Full of Love and then fell flat on his ass. What a dork.
- The cast walked down through the aisles during Finale. Unfortunately, I was on the balcony.
All in all, I was weeping by the time I got out. I’m not joking. My foot went numb from hyperventilating.
romaincrisis
dededos
blakekathryn
germansingergirl
turnnoffyourmind
andulkaphoto
