can we please talk about some Les Mis-related things?

[lirazel]

* I have been listening to the Dream Cast album nonstop since Sunday. I grew up on this thing, and I know every note of it and it still never fails to give me goosebumps. How can something so flawless exist?

* The anniversary tour is coming here in May, and you know I will be going. SO EXCITED. LIVE THEATER. SONGS I KNOW BY HEART. SOBBING LIKE A BABY. SO READY.

* We all know by now that there's going to be a movie, right? Initially I was very concerned about this, wringing my hands with terror that it would be awfulawfulawful and they would cast a whole bunch of people who can't sing just because they are famous (and I'll admit, I'm still to an extent nervous about that), but apparently Tom Hooper, he of The King's Speech Oscar-winning, may be directing it. I thought this was confirmed, Lexi, but apparently it's just a rumor. Still, this would please me greatly and make me breathe a little easier.

* Shockingly (or, you know, not) I have a few thoughts about the casting of the film. The other night's showing of the Anniversary show confirmed to me that, alas, Colm Wilkinson is probably a little too old to play Valjean--he was fragile and his voice wasn't as a strong as it was. They probably won't go with him, which makes me sadface because he will always be Valjean to me. BUT. There is no way in hell that Philip Quast is too old to play Javert, and I might weep if they don't cast him because. NO ONE in the history of the universe could be as awesome in that role as he is.

OH WAIT DID SOMEONE MENTION SOMETHING ABOUT WANTING TO HEAR HIM SING "STARS"? AND DO I JUST SO HAPPEN TO HAVE A VIDEO EMBEDDED SO THAT YOU CAN DO THAT? I MUST BE CLAIRVOYANT.

*dies of awesome*

THEY MUST CAST HIM. And not cast the guy who played Valjean in the 25th Anniversary show. His "Bring Him Home" was nice, but the rest of his performance was severely lacking in my mind.

* Lea Salonga is too old to play Eponine ALAS AND I WILL WEEP. This breaks my heart because she will always be Eponine to me. They will probably end up casting Lea Michele since she's huge now and has played the role, and I would not be displeased by this. Obviously, she's hugely talented and I want to see her do non-Glee things since we all know how I feel about that show.

* Now most important. The only other person I am absolutely ADAMANT that they must cast is Ramin Karimloo as Enjolras.


WATCH. THIS.

I WILL BE OVER HERE DYING OF OF AN OVERDOSE OF SEXINESS. Seriously, I had no idea who this man was a few days ago, and now I am convinced he is the most attractive man on the planet. BOOM. INSTANT OBSESSION.

Apparently he's in that really bad sequel to Phantom of the Opera, and even though I have zero feelings about Andrew Lloyd Webber, I will always be grateful to him from now on because he guarantees the existence of this:

Watch on YouTube

I'm pretty sure he impregnated with me with his voice. Just sayin'.

I might even dump Enver Gjokaj for him. That is how massive my crush is at this point.

* In closing, feel free to watch the original cast be reunited (PLUS RAMIN AND HIS SEXINESS) and weep like a baby as they sing "One Day More."

Watch on YouTube

Comments

[crazyumbrellas.livejournal.com]

MY FRIEND HAS THE DVD AND WE'RE HAVING A PARTY ON SATURDAY IT WILL BE SWELL AND I AM SAD IT IS NOT COMING ANYWHERE NEAR ME ATM. Or it might, but my friend who works at one of the theater companies is keeping his mouth shut about the upcoming season. =[

AND LEA SALOGNA IS ACTUALLY A PERFECT HUMAN BEING AND SHE IS INCREDIBLE HOW IS HER VOICE EVEN REAL? PERFECT DICTION, PERFECT EVERYTHING.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

I wasn't impressed overall? Not like I still, consistently am by the 10th anniversary show. Lea is flawless, obviously, and I have discovered THE SEXINESS THAT IS RAMIN KARIMLOO, but most everyone else was good but not good enough to give me goosebumps or anything. But that could have just been me/my mood that night?

Sad! Maybe it will come to your area soon?

I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW. LEA SALONGAAAAAAAAAAA. Also, she is twitter BFFs with Darren Criss. HOW CAN THE WORLD BE SO AWESOME?

[crazyumbrellas.livejournal.com]

I have no clue about it tbh but it is mostly an excuse to get together and drink before said friend moves to NYC at the end of this month.

I hope so! AND YES I SAW THAT THE TWEETED EACH OTHER AND I THINK IT IS SO ADORABLE.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

Hey, Les Mis is always enjoyable, I just didn't want you to go into it thinking that it was the second coming of the Dream Cast. I'm sure you will enjoy it, though, and have a very good time with your friend!

THEY ARE SO PRECIOUS I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!

[crazyumbrellas.livejournal.com]

LOL OF COURSE I KNOW THAT. I mean, obviously we would rather see the first Dream Cast because they are perfect but it's still all good. And thank you!

I DON'T KNOW EITHER IDK HOW THEY ARE REAL.

[viorica8957.livejournal.com]

I MISSED THE CONCERT BECAUSE I HAD AN APPOINTMENT. *cries* They've got a much better set than the tenth anniversary did, too.

But! The movie! I am legit excited, even though I know it won't be for a few years. Between this and Newsies finally opening onstage, it's as if all my high school theatre dreams are coming true. (I, uh, may have choreographed some scenes the way I thought the movie-musical should look. *sheepish* That file probably got lost when the old computer crashed. Just as well.) I did get to see it live when I visited New York- it was one of the last Broadway performances. The friend I was seeing it with had an in with the cast/crew, so I got to tour backstage with her and play dead on the barricade with my hat as a French flag. Also, I got Grantaire and Gavroche's autographs. It was awesome.

(Also is it just me, or are they really playing up the Enjolras/Grantaire slashiness in the concert? And is that a Jonas Brother?)

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

*SOB*

Yeah, they really went all out with it--the set was really great!

I, uh, may have choreographed some scenes the way I thought the movie-musical should look.

This is ridiculously endearing.

SO COOL! SO VERY COOL! I saw it in London but have no awesome backstage stories to share. :D

(Oh, come on, when don't they play that up? ;D AND YES. IT IS A JONAI. WE WILL NOT SPEAK OF IT AGAIN.)

[viorica8957.livejournal.com]

Oh, my nerdiness went far deeper than that. I set myself up with a laptop and transcribed all of Newsies onto a Word document, because I thought I could convince the local amateur theatre to put it on/stage it myself. (Needless to say, it didn't happen.) Actually, now that I think of Newsies, it's too bad that David Moscow is far too old for Marius now. Look how well he pines!

Jonai. *sniggers* I never hated them like I do the likes of Bieber- they never trasted Stratford, after all- but no. Just no. Disney pop boys do not have the acting/singing chops to pull off Les Mis!

[redsilverchains.livejournal.com]

Between this and Newsies finally opening onstage
Wait, wait, WHAT? WHAT?

NEWSIES ONSTAGE, OMG. OMG. OMG. I LOVE THE UNIVERSE.

(Seriously. I skipped happily to school in the first grade singing "Carrying the Banner". That film is my childhood. )

[viorica8957.livejournal.com]

This fall in New Jersey! At the Paper Mill Playhouse, wherever that it. I don't care if I have to skip my exams and hitchhike- I am going to see this show. Such a formative influence, omg. (Even if the changes they make might make me cry a bit. A love interest? Really? That's what we have David for.)

[redsilverchains.livejournal.com]

HEE at Menken calling it his baby. It’s everyone’s baby!

New love interest? Did they forget about Sarah (or David ;) )? I was just thinking that it would be cool if they brought back the Sarah storyline Disney got rid of, the one where she dresses as a newsboy.

I also hope too much doesn’t get cut! “King of New York” had better be in it. Racetrack and Spot had better be in it and be delightfully slashy.

[anythingbutgrey.livejournal.com]

LES MIS IS THE BEST MUSICAL. WHAT IS THIS. I WATCH THE REUNION AND I'M LIKE OMG WHAT YOU'RE ALL SO OLD YOU WERE NOT THIS OLD WHEN I WAS SIX.

also eponine chick who are you what is your voice what are you wearing i am so disturbed what happened here

but oh god the original marius is the best marius none shall ever compare to that voice ever.

okay i'm done i am such a stan what is breathing also lea salonga is missing from this post



my actual childhood. the only eponine who shall ever exist. perfect bitch.

omg sorry youtube didn't work so many edits were necessary

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

I KNOW. GREATEST MUSICAL EVER. I really think it might be, and I am a huge musical fan. But the emotion and the epic sweep and yet the intimacy of the characters and the themes and the musical and the themes and the lyrics and OMG I AM DYING OF LOVE.

also eponine chick who are you what is your voice what are you wearing i am so disturbed what happened here

Seriously though. She was...interesting. They should have had Lea singing that part.

but oh god the original marius is the best marius none shall ever compare to that voice ever.

Agreed. What a voice. What. A. Voice. And he knows it, too--he was totally getting into it, and it makes me laugh. Oh, Michael Ball.

LEA IS ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS EPONINE. ALWAYS.

[next_to_normal]

I WATCH THE REUNION AND I'M LIKE OMG WHAT YOU'RE ALL SO OLD YOU WERE NOT THIS OLD WHEN I WAS SIX.

Ahahahahahaha, OMG me too! I just assumed they stayed exactly the way they look on my videotape! What is this, who told them they were allowed to age???

Really, though, Michael Ball was already too old for Marius at the 10th anniversary concert, but I don't even care because MICHAEL BALL.

[blackfrancine.livejournal.com]

EPONINE FOR PRESIDENT. DOWN WITH COSETTE.

Seriously. Eponine is my girl. I didn't even read or watch any of this post, I just read the title and then came down here to yell about my love for Eponine.

On My Own. I had that on a CASSETTE TAPE--a real, live mix TAPE, yo--that I used to listen to before I went to sleep at night. I'm old school.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

Eponine is everybody's girl! Come on! Flawless!

Yell about your love for her always!

I LOVE YOU.

[viorica8957.livejournal.com]

Aww, can't we love both? I agree, she's rather flat in the musical, but her bookself is much more well-characterized. No need to hate on one to raise up the other. :/

[redsilverchains.livejournal.com]

:D Yay, book!Cosette! Musical!Cosette doesn't do much for me, I'm afraid. But I was sososo surprised at how much I loved her in the book. And with how hard I shipped her and book!Marius (who is - still - an adorable, clueless dingbat).

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

I...actually haven't ever been able to make it past the first few pages of the book, actually. I have tried! I just sit there thinking about how much he needs an editor! So I'll take your word for it that she's lovely in the book!

[viorica8957.livejournal.com]

Oh, their book counterparts are MUCH more fleshed out. Cosette is very sheltered- Valjean basically keeps her isolated from everyone else for fear of being found by Javert or the Thernadiers- so she knows virtually nothing about the world, but she's very sweet and gentle- the reason that the Thernadiers do find them is because she's out doing charity work and unwittingly goes into their tenement. Marius has more depth too- the subplot with his father was dropped from the musical, but it drives a lot of his actions- he's rebelling against the (conservative) grandfather who raised him, and trying to emulate his Napoleonic father. And Eponine isn't friends with him- her family lives in the rooms next to his, and she attaches herself to him because he's the only one who's ever been nice to her. And when he sends her off with the letter, she actually lies and says that Cosette's already gone so that he'll stay on the barricades and die, and she goes because she wants to die with him. I love both versions of the characters, but they're radically different, and book!Eponine isn't even close to being a romantic heroine. Hugo meant for her to be an example of what extreme poverty does to people. /book geekery

(Also, the book is full of coded classical references to reinforce the point that Enjolras and Grantaire are in loooooooooove. A Mizzie friend listed them for me once, but I have no idea where to find them now.)

[deird1]

I agree with you that Philip Quast owns that role!


(Weird, though - to me, Philip is the guy who used to be on PlaySchool singing songs for kindergartners.)

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

Every single time I listen to him--and I've listened to him a lot--sing that role, I am blown away. Every time.

(Ha! I knew he was Australian, but I had no idea he was on kids shows! Cute!)

[next_to_normal]

I fully approve of this new Enjolras. He actually sounds a lot like Michael Maguire.

One of the Jonai invading my show, on the other hand? DO NOT WANT.

Best. Musical. EVER!

[sarahlovesa.livejournal.com]

Les Mis - first listened to it on a cassette tape, recorded by my friend. How old am I?! Michael Ball - always my Marius. Now he is middle aged and cuddly and is being subversive on his own show on BCC Radio 2 on Sunday mornings. You have to love him.
'Bring him home' still one of my most listened to songs on my iPod but only the Colm W version which makes me cry EVERY time I listen to it.
Almost every song is awesome and even though I am not good at remembering lyrics, I know the words to a lot of the songs. Best musical ever.
This is a bit of fun I found on YT showing that Les Mis' influence is everywhere!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhXsJjVdj1E

[redsilverchains.livejournal.com]

I had fully-formed thoughts about this post but then you post THIS at the end:

In closing, feel free to watch the original cast be reunited (PLUS RAMIN AND HIS SEXINESS) and weep like a baby as they sing "One Day More."

ASGHAHG;KASKLHGASF. THOUGHTS, WHERE DID YOU GO?

(AND REGARDING RAMIN: I HAD OVARIES, WHERE DID THEY GO?)

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

DOESN'T IT LEAVE YOU SOBBING?

(SEXIEST MAN ALIVE I SWWWWWWWWWWWEAR!)

[gillo]

I saw the original RSC about six weeks after it had transferred to the Cambridge Circus theatre. I saw it again twice more about four years ago, and then directed the schools version with some utterly fabulous young performers (and made half the costumes myself in my "spare" time.) The idea of a film thrills and frightens me in equal measure, because nothing could ever be as good as that first time I saw it or as moving as when "my" kids did it. Gawd but that music brings it all back, razor-sharp.

ETA Alun Armstrong is Thénardier and must do that part, whatever age he is. I HAVE SPOKEN, SO MOTE IT BE,

[zombie_boogie.livejournal.com]

FAVOURITE MUSICAL EVER EVER EVER. I did not know that they were doing a movie version of the musical! POTENTIALLY EXCITING!

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

Potentially being the key word, right? SO TENTATIVELY EXCITED.