Hey there, everybody! Glad to be back here. I actually love writing about musicals and I missed the feeling when I'm away here. I know that sounds melodramatic, but still! But I love writing about anything so naturally, I'm going to love blogs.
I wrote from my post last time that I'm going to tackle all about Les Miserables or Les Mis for short, one of the musicals that my mother loved. She was actually the one who told me to go watch it. I actually loved it and it is the home of my favorite musical song ever, which is On My Own. The first time I heard that song it was like BOOM. I can relate to the song, which is all about unrequited love. And aside from On My Own, the songs were also freaking awesome.
The musical is written by Claude-Michel Schonberg and the lyrics were provided by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel. They wrote the original lyrics which was in French but it was later turned to English by Herbert Kretzmer. Let's pause for a moment and thank these guys on their amazing contribution to the musical history. Thanks, guys!
Herbet Kretzmer, Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil
I'm not going to tackle the whole summary of the musical because it's dreadfully long. I'm going to use my next post for the summary so let's just focus on the Les Mis cast that's worth mentioning.
So the first time I watched the musical was the 2012 film adaptation. (I always watch the movie first. I don't know why.) It was amazing and it drove me to tears. The cast was really good and if they ever changed one person there, it would be a total wreck. The cast was the perfect choice. Hugh Jackman played the role of Jean Valjean (the main one), Anne Hathaway as Fantine, Russell Crowe as Javert, Eddie Redmayne as Marius, Samantha Barks as Eponine, Amanda Seyfried as Cosette, Aaron Tveit as Enjolras and Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter as the Thenardiers.
2012 film adaptation cast
Hugh Jackman was unexpectedly good. I didn't expect that from him. He was amazing. He could sing really well and we all know he's a good actor. I later learned that he has been involved with some Broadway plays and musicals and some Australian theater. Can you believe he's been Gaston from The Beauty and the Beast? Anne Hathaway was also mind-blowing. Her rendition of I Dreamed a Dream drove me to tears. That one line "I dreamed my life would be so different from this hell I'm living!" was enough for me to see that she's one of the best Fantines out there. Don't you know that her mother was also a Fantine? The original Fantine in the US Tours back in 1988 or 1989 I think. Russell Crowe, on the other hand, was not as good as the two of them. Sure, he could act. But when he sings... I'm sorry, but he couldn't really sing. His Stars was amazing, though and his suicide. Eddie Redmayne who played the role of Marius was unknown to me before. And when I saw him in Les Mis, he was super good. He could sing very well and he really portrayed a lovesick school boy as it should be. You should watch out for his movie where he played Stephen Hawking. Samantha Barks (Eponine) wasn't a stranger to Les Mis. She played the role of Eponine before the movie in the West End and in the 25th anniversary. This was her first major film and it will be good for her. Taylor Swift also auditioned for this role, but she was unable to get the part. I love Taylor Swift, but this role wasn't just for her. Amanda Seyfried's actually a good singer. I love her vibratos and her acting. But there's just something off about her... Still, she's good! Aaron Tveit who played the role of the Enjolras, the school boy who's in charge with the revolution, is drop-dead gorgeous. I fell in love with him the first time I saw him. Haha, it's really true. His acting was amazing, his singing made me melt, and his looks... gah. I kind of wish he played the role of Marius just so I could see him sing A Heart Full of Love, but Enjolras is good too. He's a Broadway guy, so what do you expect? Last but not the least are the Thenardiers: Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter. My goodness, they were so funny in the Master of the House! The Dictator + Bellatrix Lestrange = EPICNESS.
The next cast I'm going to mention is the 10th anniversary one. Colm Wilkinson played the role of Jean Valjean, Ruthie Henshall as Fantine, Philip Quast as Javert, Michael Ball as Marius, Lea Salonga as Eponine, Judy Kuhn as Cosette, Michael Maguire as Enjolras and Alun Armstrong and Jenny Galloway as the Thenardiers.
1oth anniversary cast album
Colm Wilkinson is the epitome of Jean Valjean. He created the role in the West End and Broadway. His the Valjean that everyone looked up to. If you want to play the role of Valjean in the future, I recommend you watch this or buy the original cast recording. I actually have the original recording, though it's the Broadway one. It's in a tape! Ruthie Henshall is my second-favorite Fantine. I love her. She's a a very good singer and actress. Philip Quast is also great, but certainly not my favorite Javert. His chemistry with Colm was good. Michael Ball was also the original Marius and to see him reprise his role in the 10th anniversary is amazing. You should see the documentary that they made with the original cast with the original lyrics. Lea Salonga was a sight to behold! One word that I'm going to give her: BEAUTIFUL. The way she portrayed Eponine was beautiful. I know it might be cliche when I say this, but it's true! Judy Kuhn who played the role of Cosette in the original Broadway cast was also amazing. I know some people compare Eponine and Cosette, and honestly, I'm one of those people. But this time, I have to go with Lea Salonga. Michael Maguire was also a good Enjolras. My favorite, actually. Though he quite looked old for the part... But still! Alun Armstrong is not my favorite Thenardier, even though he was the original one. Jenny Galloway is my favorite Thenardier, however. She's really funny and scary at some points. I feel bad for young Cosette.
And now let's move on to my favorite cast (it may sound cliche, but they really are my favorite!) the 25th anniversary cast. Alfie Boe played the leading role, Jean Valjean, Lea Salonga as Fantine, Norm Lewis as Javert, Nick Jonas Marius, Samantha Barks as Eponine, Katie Hall as Cosette, Ramin Karimloo as Enjolras, and Matt Lucas and Jenny Galloway as the Thenardiers.
The 25th anniversary cast poster
Alfie Boe was a good Valjean. But sometimes I think he's a little bit stiff and too serious. I know Valjean's character is not a happy-go-lucky one. But it wouldn't hurt if he act a little light, right? Lea Salonga, on the other hand, was a very good Fantine. She's amazing as Eponine in the 10th anniversary but she's better in the 25th. She's more mature now. She's my favorite Fantine. Norm Lewis is also my favorite Javert. He's a good actor and a good singer. I love the way he portrays Javert. And his rendition of Stars! One word: EARGASM. Nick Jonas is my least favorite actor in the whole production. He's a good actor, sure, but his singing... It wasn't just made for a Marius actor. Maybe it would be better if he's going to play one of the minor roles, like Feuilly. Samantha Barks, as I mentioned earlier, was the Eponine in the 2012 film. I liked her better here in the 25th. Maybe because the film made her held back the way she sings, focusing on her acting. But in the 25th... God, she owned On My Own! Katie Hall is my favorite Cosette. She's super nice, and she's super good. She made Cosette like a Disney princess. I love the way she sings and acts. I couldn't compare her to Samantha because I couldn't choose between the two of them. Ramin Karimloo was also a good Enjolras. I really liked him. I'd rather have him as my Enjolras as my Phantom or Marius. Matt Lucas was an okay Thenardier. It's just sometimes I don't like the way he sings or acts. It's as if he's trying too hard to make the people laugh. Jenny Galloway, who also performed Mme. Thenardier in the 10th anniversary, was better in the 25th. Sure, she was awesome in the 10th, but she rocked the 25th.
And now we have arrived at the hottest topic! The original London and Broadway cast. I'm going to talk about the original London cast first, because they were the first one who opened. So, Colm Wilkinson originated the role of Jean Valjean, Patti LuPone as Fantine, Roger Allam as Javert, Michael Ball as Marius, Frances Ruffelle as Eponine, Rebecca Caine as Cosette, David Burt as Enjolras and Alun Armstrong and Susan Jane Tanner as the Thenardiers.
Original London Cast album cover
I've already written about Colm Wilkinson's singing and acting so I'll just skip him. Patti LuPone, who originated one of the most beloved character Fantine, was a (I'm sorry to say this) disappointment to me. I usually like Patti with her acting and singing. She's a true Broadway diva but Les Mis is not for her. Whenever she sings it's in a monotone and it's really draggy to hear. (Remember, this is my opinion and you should respect that. Patti has a lot of fans and I don't want them badgering me because of my comment.) But I actually like her in other musicals such as Sweeney Todd and Gypsy. I don't know a lot about Roger Allam except from the Original London Cast album and that he performed in the 25th at the end. His voice is really great, but I don't know about his acting. Michael Ball performed Marius in the 10th so I won't say anything about him anymore. Frances Ruffelle was the original Eponine. I like her acting and she won a Tony award because of her portrayal of Eponine. But sometimes I don't like the way she sings. I know she's trying to act as Eponine in the book, and her voice is a little bit whinny. But overall, I actually really like her. Ahhh, Rebecca Caine. My favorite Christine Daae from Phantom of the Opera. Her voice is amazing. It's really soft and the way she sang A Heart Full of Love with Michael Ball sent chills up my spine. She's such an underrated Cosette. I kind of wished that she portrayed Cosette in the 10th anniversary, instead of Judy Kuhn. I also don't know anything about David Burt who played the role of Enjolras. I liked his singing since I heard him in the album, but like Roger Allam, I didn't know about his acting. I also mentioned Alun Armstrong from the 10th anniversary so I won't say anything about him. Susan Jane Tanner is a funny Mme. Thenardier, and she's a wonderful singer.
And now the original Broadway cast. Colm Wilkinson continued his run as Valjean in Broadway, Randy Graff as Fantine, Terrence Mann as Javert, David Bryant as Marius, Frances Ruffelle as Eponine, Judy Kuhn as Cosette, Michael Maguire as Enjolras and Leo Burmester and Jennifer Butt as the Thenardiers.
Original Broadway Cast album cover
Now, I'm proud with this cast because I have a tape of them. Randy Graff as Fantine was okay, and she's a lot better than Patti. The only thing I don't like about her is that she shouts her lines which is kind of annoying. But her acting is great. Terrence Mann was also an amazing Javert! I like him, his acting and singing is spot on. Don't you know that he also originated the role of Beast in the Beauty and the Beast? You should watch it. I love him with Susan Egan. David Bryant, who played the role of Marius, was also great. I actually like him better than Michael Ball, but he looked a little old for the role of Marius. Frances Ruffelle, like Colm, continued her Eponine in Broadway. Judy Kuhn, who performed Cosette in the 10th anniversary, originated Cosette in Broadway. She's amazing, as always. I prefer her to be Cosette rather than Fantine. Michael Maguire was better in the 10th anniversary, rather than his Broadway run. But he's still awesome. I'm sorry to say that I don't know anything about the original Thenardiers in Broadway. I know I heard them in the album, and they sounded nice. But that's the only thing I know about them...
So now I've mentioned all the popular cast of Les Mis. In my next blog, I'm going to write about the songs of Les Mis. It's going to be long since there are, like, fifty or more songs. I'm also going to write the summary of the musical.
Guess that's all. I'll see you in my next blog. It might come out a little late, since I still have school. Till the next blog!
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