Topic: Les Mis?rables

Mataya

Date: 2011-10-18 02:17 EST
Cast

Jean Valjean - Max Yako Inspector Javert - Armand Persching The Bishop of Digne - Ted Pevey Fantine - Mataya De Luca Fauchelevent - Nelson Milsap Young Cosette - Eloise Carmichael Madame Th"nardier - Brigid Kelly Young "ponine - Juno De Luca Th"nardier - Erik Maske Gavroche - George Faberges Enjolras - Eurus Vulturnus Marius Pontmercy - Ben Gates "ponine - Catherine Windsor Cosette - Zephyr Favonius Brujon - Clinton Schultheis Babet - Kurt Rossignol Claquesous - Clayton Rennick Montparnasse - Jesse Lisle Combeferre - Jamie Railsback Courfeyrac - Eric Fleischman Joly - Darren Bloss Grantaire - Christian Feld Jean Prouvaire - Cody Hilt Lesgles - Marcus Banks

Mataya

Date: 2011-10-18 02:18 EST
Act I

Sung-through, Les Mis"rables opens in Bagne prison in Toulon, France, in 1815, where the prisoners work at hard labour. After 19 years of imprisonment (five for stealing bread for his starving sister and her family, and the rest for trying to escape), Jean Valjean " "prisoner 24601" " is released on parole by the policeman Javert. By law, Valjean must display a yellow ticket-of-leave, which condemns him as an outcast. He then meets the Bishop of Digne, who offers him food and shelter. Valjean steals silver from the bishop and the police catch him shortly afterwards. The bishop, however, lies to save Valjean and helps him begin a new life. Humbled by the bishop's mercy and kindness, Valjean decides to follow the bishop's advice and breaks his parole.

Eight years later, Valjean, having assumed a new identity as Monsieur Madeleine, is a wealthy factory owner and mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer. One of his workers, Fantine, has a fight when the other workers discover she is sending money to her secret illegitimate child. The girl is living with an innkeeper and his wife. The Mayor breaks up the conflict, but asks his factory foreman to resolve it. The other women demand Fantine's dismissal, and because she had previously rejected his advances, the foreman agrees and throws Fantine out.

Fantine sings about her broken dreams and about the father of her daughter who abandoned her. Desperate for money, she sells her locket and her hair, before becoming a prostitute. When she fights back against an abusive customer, Javert, now stationed in Montreuil-sur-Mer, arrests her. "Madeleine" soon arrives, and realising his part in the ruination of Fantine, orders Javert to let her go and takes her to a hospital.

Soon after, the Mayor rescues Fauchelevant, who is pinned by a runaway cart, reminding Javert of Jean Valjean (who was abnormally strong), whom he has sought for years for breaking parole. However, Javert assures the mayor that Valjean has been arrested recently and will be in court later in the day. Unwilling to see an innocent man go to prison in his place, Valjean confesses his identity to the court"that he is the prisoner 24601'revealing the convict's brand on his chest as proof.

Before returning to prison, Valjean visits the dying Fantine and promises to find and look after her daughter Cosette.When Javert arrives to arrest him, Valjean asks three more days to fetch Cosette, but Javert refuses to believe his honest intentions. Valjean eventually knocks Javert out and escapes.

The next scene occurs in an inn at Montfermeil run by the Th"nardiers, where Cosette has been living. The Th"nardiers have been abusing the little girl, while indulging their own daughter, "ponine. Cosette dreams of a better life before Madame Th"nardier sends her to fetch water in the dark. As the inn fills for the evening, the Th"nardiers cheat their customers in various ways. Valjean finds Cosette fetching water and pays the Th"nardiers 1,500 Francs to let him take her away.

Nine years later, Paris is in upheaval because General Lamarque, the only man in the government who shows mercy to the poor, is ill and may soon die. The young street urchin Gavroche mingles with the prostitutes and beggars on the street, while students Marius Pontmercy and Enjolras discuss the general's imminent demise.

A street gang led by the Th"nardiers prepares to ambush Valjean, whom Th"nardier recognizes as the man who took Cosette. "ponine sees Marius, whom she secretly loves, and warns him to stay away, but Marius accidentally bumps into Cosette and immediately falls in love. Javert thwarts the Th"nardiers' attempt to rob Valjean and Cosette, not recognising Valjean until after he escapes. Javert gazes at the night sky, comparing his hunt of Valjean and justice to the order of the stars. Meanwhile, Marius, although he does not know Cosette's name, persuades a reluctant "ponine to help him find her.

The scene shifts to a political meeting in a small caf" where Enjolras leads a group of idealistic students to prepare for a revolution that they believe will materialise after General Lamarque's death. Marius arrives late and when Gavroche brings the news of the General's death, the students march into the streets.

Cosette is infatuated with Marius, and although Valjean realises that she has grown up, he refuses to tell her about his past or her mother. In spite of her own feelings, "ponine leads Marius to Cosette, and then prevents her father's gang from robbing Valjean's house. Valjean, convinced that Javert was lurking outside his house, tells Cosette that they must prepare to flee the country.

On the eve of the 1832 Paris Uprising, Valjean prepares to go into exile; Cosette and Marius part in despair; "ponine mourns the loss of Marius; Enjolras encourages all of Paris to join the revolution; Marius decides to join the other students as they prepare for the upcoming conflict; Javert briefs the soldiers under his command while he reveals his plans to spy on the students; and the Th?nardiers look forward to robbing the corpses of those who will be killed during the coming battle.

Mataya

Date: 2011-10-18 02:19 EST
Act II

As the students begin a barricade, Javert, disguised as one of the rebels, volunteers to "spy" on the government troops. Marius notices that "ponine has disguised herself as a boy and has joined the revolutionaries. He sends her with a letter to Cosette, which will also carry "ponine to safety. Valjean intercepts the letter, promising "ponine he will tell Cosette about the letter. After "ponine leaves, Valjean reads the letter, learning about Marius and Cosette's relationship. While walking the streets of Paris, "ponine laments how her love for Marius will never be reciprocated and decides that despite what he had said to her, she'll rejoin Marius at the barricade.

At the Barricade, the students defy an army warning them to surrender or die. Javert returns and tells the students that the government will attack, but Gavroche exposes him as a spy. "ponine is shot as she returns to the barricades and dies in Marius's arms. Valjean arrives at the barricades in search of Marius as the first battle erupts, and he saves Enjolras by shooting a sniper. As a reward, he asks to be the one to kill Javert, but instead he releases him and even gives him his address. The students settle down for a night, while Valjean prays to God to save Marius from the onslaught.

As dawn approaches, Enjolras realises that the people have abandoned them. He sends away women and fathers of children, but resolves to fight on. With ammunition running low during the second attack, Gavroche scurries in front of the barricade to collect more cartridges. As he runs back behind the barricade, he is shot three times and dies. Enjolras and the students realise that they will likely die. The army gives a final warning for surrender, but the rebels refuse, and as they continue to fight, all are killed except Valjean and Marius.

Carrying a wounded Marius on his back, Valjean escapes through the sewers. Meanwhile, Th"nardier is also in the sewers, stealing valuables from bodies, laughing that he is performing a "service to the town". Th"nardier takes a ring off Marius's hand as Valjean is resting, and then escapes when he sees Valjean getting up. When Valjean reaches the sewer's exit, he runs into Javert, who has been waiting for him. Valjean begs Javert to give him one more hour to bring Marius to a doctor, and Javert reluctantly agrees. After Valjean leaves, Javert finds that because Valjean saved his life, he can't bring himself to turn him in. Torn between his own morality and his duty to the law, Javert commits suicide by throwing himself into the Seine.

Back on the streets, several women mourn the deaths of the young students. Marius also mourns for his friends. As he wonders who saved him from the barricades, Cosette comforts him, declaring that she will never go away and they reaffirm their love. Valjean then confesses to Marius that he is an escaped convict and tells him that he must go away because his presence endangers Cosette. Valjean makes Marius promise never to tell Cosette, and Marius makes only a half-hearted attempt to hold him back.

Marius and Cosette marry. The Th"nardiers crash the reception in disguise as "The Baron and Baroness du Th"nard". They tell Marius that Valjean is a murderer, saying that they saw him carrying a corpse in the sewers after the barricades fell. When Th"nardier shows him the ring that he took from the corpse, Marius realises that he was the "corpse" and that Valjean saved his life. Marius punches Th"nardier, the newlyweds leave, and the Th"nardiers enjoy the party and celebrate their survival.

Meanwhile, Valjean prepares for his death, having nothing left for which to live. Just as the ghost of Fantine arrives to take him to heaven, Cosette and Marius rush in, in time to bid farewell and for Marius to thank him for saving his life. Valjean gives Cosette his confession to read, and the souls of Fantine and "ponine guide him to Paradise, where everyone who died at the barricades ask once more: "Do You Hear the People Sing?".

((As always, anyone is welcome to add their experience of this run at the Shanachie to this thread, but whatever you do, just have fun!))

Mataya

Date: 2011-10-22 10:05 EST
The tender darkness fell over the stage as applause echoed through the theater, the set changing with a barely discernible bump of the revolve. 'Taya allowed herself one last twitch of the bedsheets before lying still on her side, only opening her eyes to Fantine's world as the lights came up for the one scene that always brought her close to tears. The music coiled around her, emphatic and gentle, welcoming the audience to a dying woman's bedside as she dreamed of her daughter, so very far away.

"Cosette, it's turned so cold Cosette, it's past your bedtime You've played the day away And soon it will be night ..."

A hopeful smile lit up her face as she pushed herself to sit, so in the moment that her shaking was not feigned, though her voice stayed strong to let the touching melody carry Fantine's hopes far out to the ears of those listening. Of every song she knew from this musical, this was the one that struck the deepest chord with Mataya, even more so now that she had her own little urchin to care for. "Come to me, Cosette, the light is fading Don't you see the evening star appearing" Come to me, and rest against my shoulder How fast the minutes fly away and every minute colder ..."

She couldn't help thinking of Juno as she sang, wondering all over again just what it was that had delivered the quiet little girl to the care of the Shanachie in the first. Wondering what it was that she either could not, or would not, remember. It was hard to make friends with Juno, who was so quiet around everyone but Max. For years, all 'Taya had wanted was to be a mommy, and now she had the opportunity, the dream seemed further away than ever. "Hurry near, another day is dying Don't you hear, the winter wind is crying" There's a darkness which comes without a warning But I will sing you lullabies and wake you in the morning ..."

The familiarly gruff cadence of Max's voice entered her consciousness as his Valjean moved into the light, drawing the rapt attention of their audience as he knelt beside her bed, capturing her outstretched hand in his. She never ceased to be amazed at Max's ability to wholly inhabit a character. In that moment, it wasn't her fiance kneeling beside her; it was Jean Valjean, the man who had failed to save her from the injustices of his own workforce.

"Oh, Fantine, our time is running out But Fantine, I swear this on my life ..."

Rolling onto her back, 'Taya's Fantine gripped the hand of her savior in a white-knuckled grasp, holding him to a promise not yet spoken with the last desperate strength of a soul about to fly its mortal shell. "Look, M'sieur, where all the children play ..." His hand, so large and capable, cupped her cheek as he smiled with sorrowful understanding, following the lyrical line to its inevitable conclusion. "Be at peace, be at peace evermore ..."

"My Cosette ..."

Our Juno ...

"Shall live in my protection ..."

"Take her now ..."

"Your child will want for nothing ..."

A sob touched her voice as Fantine fell back against the pillows, her body twisted with pain and heartbreak at this untimely goodbye. "Good M'sieur, you come from God in Heaven ..."

Max's Valjean rose to sit at her side on the bed, smoothing the shorn ends of her hair from her face, visibly shaken by his failure to protect a woman forgotten and betrayed by the world much as he had been. His promise was given, then and there, and Mataya knew that it touched Max as deeply as it touched her. "And none shall ever harm Cosette as long as I am living."

For them, Cosette was Juno; they were Valjean and his hopes for the child he took under his protection, the little girl he grew to love as his own; Fantine, the mother and father that must have been given no choice but to give up their Juno to the unfeeling world.

Settled back against the pillows, Mataya's Fantine groped for her Valjean's hand, close to death but willing to greet it with a brave heart, knowing her daughter would be safe. "Take my hand, the night grows ever colder ..."

"Then I will keep you warm ..." His arm wrapped about her, presenting to the audience an image of what might have been, had Valjean found her sooner.

"Take my child, I give her to your keeping ..." Her cheek touched his shoulder, taking the offered protection, the comfort in her last moments on their earth, feeling just a little of what he had promised for the child she was leaving behind.

His hand stroked against her hair once more as he gently lowered her back to the bed, drawing the blankets over her almost still form. "Take shelter from the storm ..."

With the last surge of her strength, Fantine reached out to catch pathetically at Valjean's hand, pleading with eyes and voice for just a few more moments. "For God's sake, please stay till I am sleeping ..."

From the corner of her eye, 'Taya saw a familiar small face watching from the wings as Max dropped to his knees beside her, holding her hand against his cheek. Juno's eyes were wide, filled with tears, caught up in the powerful emotion of the scene as she watched the pair who had taken her in do what they did best.

The beatific smile that touched Mataya's face had nothing to do with the scene, and everything to do with the little girl transfixed in the darkness of the wings, as the last moments of Fantine's life bled away into silence.

"And tell Cosette I love her And I'll see her when I wake ..."

Soon, one day very soon, Juno would know how loved she was, even if it killed 'Taya to prove it.

Ebon Ilnaren

Date: 2011-10-22 22:04 EST
Ebon had always enjoyed the theatrical offerings of Earth since he was first introduced to them, years before, by his comrades in the Band. Yet few productions had ever imprinted themselves upon his soul so thorougly as Les Mis"rables had done. So it was that he met the announcement of the Shanachie's production with elation, and quickly bought tickets as soon as they were available.

——-

Stepping out of the carriage in a finely-cut suit, he crossed around and helped Phen down, admiring his lovely wife as she dazzled in an elegant dress. Arm in arm, they made their way inside and took their seats, silently conversing through their marriage-bond until the lights dimmed and the show began.

"Look down, look down Don't look 'em in the eye Look down, look down, You're here until you die"

Having lived as a slave, Ebon felt those words echo in his heart....and, too, he felt Valjean's defiance and joy at release turn to bitterness as the people he encountered turned upon him, a former convict, until his encounter with the Bishop led him to a new path.

"One word from him and I'd be back Beneath the lash, upon the rack Instead he offers me my freedom I feel my shame inside me like a knife He told me that I have a soul, How does he know" What spirit comes to move my life" Is there another way to go?"

With a sigh, Ebon thought back to his own....saviour" Mentor. Teacher. Friend. Doran—for whom he'd named his son—may not have been a holy man, but he was a wise man. It was funny that he had never made the comparison before, given how often he'd seen Les Miz, but the Bishop's words to Valjean, raising him out of darkness, had all but mirrored what Doran had said to Ebon himself. He was more than a shameful beast, fit only to serve and to writhe beneath the lash; he had a soul, and it was his right, his duty, to live as an honest and free man.

Love, you're thinking too much, came the sending from Phen. Relax and enjoy the show.

Taking his wife's advice, Ebon leaned back in his seat and relaxed as memories receded, replaced by the story unfolding on the stage: innocent young Cosette, the scheming Th"nardiers, Javert's dogged persistence, the idealism of the students and the romantic triangle between Cosette and Marius and the unrequited love of Eponine. It set his mind at ease...

...and then came the night at the barricades.

"Drink with me to days gone by Can it be you fear to die" Will the world remember you When you fall" Could it be your death Means nothing at all" Is your life just one more lie?"

Grantaire's words echoed in Ebon's mind. He had asked similar questions of himself, time and again. Had he done any real good, in his life" Would he be remembered, would his own death have meaning"

Yes, came the answer from beside him. There was no admonition, though, this time. How could you ever doubt it"

I love you.

That got a look from Phen, and a warm smile before she turned back to the performance. I know, and I love you too.

The show continued, the barricades were overtaken. Escaping into the sewers with Marius, Valjean confronted first Th"nardier below and then Javert, for the last time, up above. Time passed, and the scene shifted to Marius alone, lamenting the friends he had lost.

"There's a grief that can't be spoken There's a pain goes on and on Empty chairs at empty tables Now my friends are dead and gone"

Ebon made a note to send a letter of praise for Ben Gates as Marius, for the man put his heart into every word and every note. The song rang in his ears and in his soul, bringing to the fore the faces of friends and comrades now lost even as the ghosts of Marius' fellow students appears onstage. One hand reached over to take Phen's and hold it, both giving and receiving a reassuring warmth as the song reached its crescendo.

"Oh my friends, my friends, don't ask me What your sacrifice was for Empty chairs at empty tables Where my friends will sing no more."

Silence hung in the air for a moment that, to Ebon, seemed to last for an eternity before the scene shifted to a wedding, the marriage of Cosette to Marius and the final revalations as they rushed to Valjean's deathbed. As the finale rose and the curtains fell, Ebon and Phen took to their feat with applause, sparking a standing ovation for the marvelous performance while the cast took their bows.

Leaving the Shanachie, once more arm in arm with Phen, Ebon found himself again recalling those he had known and lost....but this time he held the final image of the show in his mind, the ghosts of the barricade reminding all that there is something greater towards which to strive....

"Will you join in our crusade" Who will be strong and stand with me" Somewhere beyond the barricade Is there a world you long to see" Do you hear the people sing" Say, do you hear the distant drums? It is the future that they bring When tomorrow comes... Tomorrow comes!"