#les mis chatelet

[dis-astre]

the fact that they changed the lyrics de sous les étoiles (stars) and got rid of:

"je ne faiblirait pas/tant qu'il ne sera pas/à genoux devant moi" (I won't weaken until he's on his knees before me)

for

"je le poursuivrais/tant qu'il ne sera pas/repris et condamné" (i will chase him until he's taken and condemn)

is CRIMINAL.

[maeslastbraincell]

Enjolras memes because I think it's funny (+ the original image so if you make some I beg to tag me it's hilarious)

[e-derailed]

I love them so much 😭

[eleancrvances]

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the master shared the full thing on bilibili, i just wanted this here :') love the adjusted lyrics tbh

[dannypuro]

how was the show yesterday! Did you see anything from the cheap seat?

Les Misérables at Le Théâtre du Châtelet was great! And yeah, I could see pretty much the whole stage (when I was leaning up against the railing) so I was happy with it! I'd only seen the musical once and it was over ten years ago, so I really loved getting to see this version. A couple of things I really enjoyed, in no particular order:

-Fantine was played by a replacement cast member that day, Myriana Hatchi. I haven't seen the show with the regular Fantine, Claire Pérot, but I absolutely loved Myriana's performance. She was the real highlight of the show for me. I believe she normally plays one of the nuns, but her interpretation of Fantine was so emotional and well performed. Her Fantine was heartbreakingly believable. At times I take issue with some Fantine's performances in the musical, but she brought so much spirit and personality to the role. I hope she gets the chance to play the role more often. No diss at all to Claire Pérot--again, I haven't seen her in the role, and I'm sure she is amazing as well! But I was pleasantly surprised to see Myriana's interpretation.

-More nuns: when Valjean is in the hospital hiding from Javert in act I, one of the nuns takes Javert's rifle and hides it in a patient's bed, while she's still lying in it. A funny little staging decision that I loved. Very Sister Simplice-y.

-Assorted amis: Grantaire (played by Ryan Malcolm) was a refreshingly suave, stylish, yet undeniably Grantaire-y Grantaire. I loved him in the part. Fashionable Grantaire representation. Enjolras (Stanley Kassa) was also a brilliantly convincing Enjolras--inspiring, beautiful, makes you want to sacrifice your life for a just cause .

-On a related note, Grantaire, Enjolras, and Gavroche: Enjolras picks Gavroche up on his shoulders, carries him, and then passes him off to Grantaire, who carries him on his shoulders. Gavroche has two gay dads.

-THEN, when Gavroche is shot, Grantaire mourns for him so emotionally. Everyone knows to let Grantaire hold his body, and he won't let anyone else touch him. Enjolras takes his hat. He lies next to his corpse for much of the latter half of the barricade, which I thought was a great call-back to the brick (where Grantaire is asleep for much of it) and yet much more sympathetic to his character.

-Among les amis was a waiter from the Musain, who (from what I could interpret) begins the work as a waiter who is friendly with les amis, and then becomes engaged in the cause. I thought it was a lovely decision to show the engagement of the people. We see him and his wife/lover (?) throughout, who is also there at the barricades, and when Enjolras sends the women and children home, the wife is the one to convince him to stay. I was thoroughly charmed. Don't know who played either of them, would love to find out.

-At Cosette and Marius's wedding, the actors who play the wedding guests are the same ones who play les amis, including the parts of Enjolras and Grantaire. Obviously the characters themselves do not attend (being dead) but the fact that they are so recognizable made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It's like what should have been, if everything hadn't gone wrong. We see the waiter and his wife dancing together as well.

-Javert (Sébastien Duchange) played his role very, very well. I like a Javert that's got a bit of mean dog in him, and this Javert was very believable as a frightening, dangerous figure, who also delivered on the more reflective moments, like in "Sous les étoiles."

Anyways, that is only a short list, but those are the the things that stood out to me the most, and that I can think of off the top of my head. Very strong performances all around, and great staging! If anyone has any other questions, I'd be happy to answer them! (Or if anyone has seen it and wants to scream about it a bit with me lmao)

[l832]

went to go see the new revisited version of les mis in paris. as a little 1830s historical fashion nerd, i found the costuming impressive and felt that it tethered the play to the historical time and setting (more than i often see in the stage adaptation). i loved how the stage visuals drew inspiration from victor hugo’s paintings and contemporary representations of early 19c france (peep gavarni moment in the concept art). really glad i got the chance to go see it.

[bunvert]

i really wish there was an official record of all the new french translations because the record/cd doesn’t have them at all and some of the translations were raw as fuck and i wish i had record of them!!!!

[courfeyracs-umbrella]

Random (likely incoherent) collection of thoughts I had during/after LM au Châtelet the other day. I just had to put them somewhere!! All just my opinions obv!

General

-the Châtelet theatre was a beautiful building

- Apparently the designing was linked to Dante's inferno (esp. Doré) - would love to know more about this

- I'm going to have to compare the lyrics more to see all the changes

- costumes 💜 were amazing. I want one of those coats

- overall I had a great view just a little obstructed - this mainly comes into play when I get very specific about 1 minor character bc he happened to be directly in front of me quite often

- the cast seemed to be having so much fun!! Especially at the end/bows

- I'm not a massive theatre goer so maybe this is done other places too but first time I'd encountered the lyrics 'subtitled'. I thought it was cool, good for accessibility - making accessibility features general and not an afterthought helps everyone

- some of this maybe applies to other versions of the musical, was just what I remarked upon :)

Act I

- Loved the boat being a moving set piece and being physically pulled in to dock. Lots of the staging was fun! Also the inn folding up into a little box

- Dates & places at each change - I so think the play can be confusing if it's your first time with the story

- One of the Bishop's lines is changed to something like 'It's [Valjean] you should believe'. much to think about.

- Sideways would've hated the passport bit not being in time haha

- Loved Javert, Valjean, & Fantine (though I did think Valjean looked quite young to me!). All the cast were wonderful :)

- glassworks furnace! Nice adaptation of the factory, lots of little details (idk how they actually make glass beads)

- other woman straight up tries to strangle Fantine

- someone in the audience laughed during one of the SA parts. Maybe it was discomfort but :/

- When Fantine is arrested the other sex workers (& 1 working man?) try to protect her. Thought it was a nice touch given the themes of complicity that were emphasised. There was definitely a line on it somewhere (i.e. complicity in what happens in society if we have power to change it)

- some of the lyric changes I noticed seemed more explicitly political (? - the French lyrics are in general anyway) or directly speaking to the audience - which does get neglected - remember when people got angry there was a protest…during the protest musical ? - especially liked the paupers in the aisles during Bonjour Paris, directly speaking to the audience - bringing back the radical politics to LM which the musical especially (unfortunately) has contributed to diluting. But that's a whole big discussion of its own

- That said some of the lyric changes felt unnecessary - and made it less lyrical/flowy?

- loved the new staging. It felt so novel. Also using the entire stage & having more people around, e.g. Champmathieu being dragged past Valjean during Comment Faire/Le Procès or there being other patients with Fantine in the hospital. I can understand why some people might not like that in some of the solos but I thought it helped emphasis it's not just a story about individuals but society. The inclusion of a 'wider world' – that the characters affect by their (in)actions (complicity again)

- Appreciated the changes to the opening lines of Tu Viens Chéri - I just didn't like the OG French sailors' lines

- idk if I can say Fantine's Arrest is underrated? But I just really like it as a piece

- Javert threatening the nuns (& JVJ) with a carbine was a choice that was made

- Little Cosette was so sweet! Also baby Eponine showing off her doll to customers 😢

- Little laughter for Mme T's entrance compared to London. I appreciated it. Can't say why, maybe more knowledge of the source material? I think the Thenardiers can be comic characters but not the child abuse (!)

- Why was Montparnasse at Montfermeil?? Isn't he like 20 in Paris? At least they didn't give him a relationship with Eponine after that. Personally didn't find the Montparnasse stuff funny, thought it was a bit over the top

- Snow!! Would have preferred more little Cosette and Valjean to the Thenardiers there but oh well - like when they have a little dance together

- So many open flames!! I'm sure they knew what they were doing but was terrifying to watch people's sleeves just hanging next to massive flames

- Lots of canes in Bonjour Paris. Obviously fashion of the time i just thought was interesting. I feel Bamatobois & maybe Valjean are often the only ones who get them

- Cosette's looking at Valjean like WTF? during Bonjour Paris when he's interacting with Javert – I find the actresses always do the most they can with what they're given to try & increase Cosette's character

- stars lyric changes :/

- for some reason the 'those who falter or those who fall must pay the price' line hit me hard this time. It's so sad and it feels like it's not an uncommon worldview even now. Was also thinking about it when seeing Javert in the finale

- French lyrics remain better, I am a French lyrics enjoyer. Especially the song Poupée dans la Vitrine and the finale reprise

- In Bonjour Paris, Thenardier refers to himself as a mouchard (spy) to Javert. This bit isn't on the 91 recording so don't know if it's new but thought it was interesting - something something police working with criminals if useful to them – of course Javert rejects this but it is a discussion in the book

- background plot of the Musain waiter joining the revolution is cool but also felt a bit like cutting out the few women this story has

- Cosette's waistcoat + rolled up sleeves combo was a good look

- I loved Valjean spotlighted and looking lost in the centre of the stage during Le Grand Jour as everything else (Paris) happens around him.

- Prouvaire's little dried flower bookmark !

- One of the children messed up their lines. The audience gave them a little encouraging interim applause and the actors seemed to be making sure they were ok :( hope they're ok, they did really well and continued even after realising their mistake

Act II

- At the start of Mon Histoire Eponine is amongst others interacting with each other :(

- Not specific to this but I don't like how they did Eponine in the musical, completely defined by Marius

- Grantaire tries to volunteer to get information

- Feuilly gets injured :( and then hugs Grantaire during Souviens-toi :( :(

- MUSICHETTA! - I may be delusional but I'm pretty sure it's her. After they say good-bye Joly has a moment with a guy I've decided is Lesgle - the musicals (in general) hate Lesgle :( let him exist

- Joly (I'm 90% sure I identified him correctly - if I'm wrong idc just let me have this 😭) getting materials when he sees Eponine is injured

- Joly and his pocket watch. Think he even tries to get watch out after he's shot (for pulse, presumably) Does anyone remember that meta about how Joly's mirror is foreshadowing they'll all die? I've always thought it would be diabolical if there was a stanging where his mirror gets taken from his corpse. Anyway Thenardier takes his pocket watch (pain & misery!)

- I have a lot of opinions on Joly for reasons I'm not getting into here lol

- Valjean showing Javert sewers as an escape route lol

- Enjolras & the Amis cheering at Javert's execution, interesting ... On one hand I do find some of the anti-violence depoliticising but on other Enjolras didn't want to kill le Cabuc but it was necessary & Enjolras only agrees to kill Javert after the failed hostage negotiation ... Complex but subject I find really interesting

- Was the sniper bit gone? Or did I miss it - kind of important that valjean doesn't kill but also not necessarily always clear in EN musical either - the 91 recording doesn't seem to have it either

- The white flag (for the women & fathers leaving the barricade) was a nice touch - emphasises it a bit more. I think some ppl miss it (& 2012 fucks it up). Enjolras & co don't want unnecessary death & suffering - but I've often seen this employed as a critique of Enjolras

- Marius using his coat as a little blankie

- Where was grantaire at the end ??? Did I miss him ??

- Valjean moved about a lot during Comme un Homme, some may dislike as its a departure from how it's traditionally done but I quite liked how the actor did it

- Gavroche's dying gasping :(

- Enjolras devastated by Gavroche's death

- Tooth cracking sound as it's pulled out aah

- Valjean vs Thenardier in the sewers on 2 platforms moving away from each other was cool

- The body being dragged off stage with a rope tied to its ankles was funny

- I think they changed some of Tourne's lyrics. Better with lyric changes but still ... Staging great tho (people carrying stretchers & searching for loved ones)

- They had silhouettes during Seul Devant ces Tables Vides - unfortunately I couldn't see full effect

- I had a completely irrational hope they would bring back the original ending from 1980 when Marius is a dick to Valjean. Obviously they did not do this. Cowards /j

- Was thinking about PilferingApples excellent meta on the Thenardiers being removed from the ball in the 2012 film as they took over the wedding

- The maestro/maestra bit was nice, get to acknowledge the orchestra more - which is so deserved! Also the Thenardiers already speak directly to audience so I didn't mind the 4th wall break

- They kept the Jew/f-g line (literally how it was translated on the screen which was uh...) – which is stil better than the 'less offensive' English one which is just pure homophobic - I hate how they changed the EN one (I'm queer btw)

- Fantine gives Valjean the book at end, adding to implication in the musical he is giving Cosette her history

- Javert being in heaven is okay, you can make arguments for & against - but not the Thenardiers - I get it's for the final number but that took me out

Congrats if you made it through this! Pls come talk to me about LM!