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Mar. 24th, 2013 09:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
skygiantsSo last night genarti and I stayed up until ridiculous o'clock watching the Les Mis 25th Anniversary Concert, which neither of us had ever seen before, and oh my god, YOU GUYS. It was SO GOOD! I mean we knew it would be good, but nobody warned us it would be THAT GOOD.
Alfie Boe blew us away, especially early on -- he really got Valjean's anger, especially. There was this fantastic moment when the Bishop is telling him he has to become an honest man, and Valjean is just shaking his head -- no, he didn't say yes to that, he didn't ask for that! AND IT'S GREAT.
The Bishop kept unfortunately reminding me of a Republican politician, but oh well.
As good as Alfie Boe was, though . . . dang, Norm Lewis' Javert. Dang. Just -- WOW.
I -- I don't usually find Javert attractive, like, I mean, he's a fascinating character but he's Javert! Until Norm Lewis. UNTIL NORM LEWIS. I -- I'm just saying.
Lea Salonga was unsurprisingly gorgeous Fantine. I had a moment where I thought maybe that cameo on her neck actually had the Les Mis tiny-Cosette logo on it, which would have been the most amazing, nerdiest thing. (Also, the only explanation for her to be wearing that cameo and a locket.) It turned out not to be, but it still was in my heart.
They got this GIANT ACTOR to be the foreman and he spent all his time strolling around the stage with his hand jauntily on his belt, looming over everyone and heartily enjoying his ten seconds of fame, so well done there.
I kind of feel like the Lovely Ladies singers were just kind of let loose in the costumes bin backstage to fight over corsets and hats, which is why Pirate Hat Lady got to be the one in charge -- like, you win the pirate hat in the backstage battle, you've earned it.
They were all very cheerful and colorful and clearly having a great deal of fun, which, I mean, is not exactly thematically appropriate given the givens, but, hey, being in the 25th Anniversary Concert is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I'm glad they were enjoying it!
CONFRONTATION. The way this is done on the recording is cunningly designed to obscure the fact that Fantine is just kind of standing awkwardly at the middle mike between Valjean and Javert for most of the song.
However, this is justified by the gorgeous bit of staging when Fantine is walking offstage and Tiny Cosette is coming on, and they pause just slightly and turn their heads to look at each other as they go by --
I mean WHO NEEDED THAT HEART ANYWAY, right?
Thenardier was sort of weirdly elfin and jolly? I don't think I disliked it exactly, but it was a bit jarring.
Gen spotted that Madame Thenardier was the same as in the 10th Anniversary Concert -- I guess once you start playing Madame that's one of those things that you can just kind of keep on doing as long as you want.
Gavroche was a little bit older than you usually see, which I actually liked -- you generally get kids who are eight or nine in the role, and this kid was thirteen or so, and had this brassy voice and very streetwise, Artful Dodger-ish air that I think is kind of more book-compliant.
However, the most book-reminiscent actor by far -- BY FAR! -- was Nick Jonas as Marius.
LOOK AT THIS LITTLE PONCEY PONTMERCY. This is completely and totally the face of a kid who has just delivered a lecture on Napoleon that NO ONE HAS APPRECIATED and is on the verge of storming out in a huff, AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
A boy who is, verily, on the verge of making out with Valjean's handkerchief. A BOY WHO HAS CAREFULLY CURLED HIS HAIR EVERY DAY AND THEN GONE INTO A FIT OF SULKS BECAUSE COSETTE DIDN'T NOTICE, while Valjean is like "who this ponce with the perfectly curled hair? I DON'T LIKE HIM."
Like, I don't this is in any way intentional? But that makes it NO LESS PERFECT. Every time he started singing, Gen and I would go into a fit of giggles, gasp "HIS PONTMERCY FACE!" and then relapse.
More Norm Lewis appreciation, with a gorgeous "Stars!"
Here are some students! From left: Bossuet (bald!), Combeferre (too busy thinking about philosophy to have shaven?), Feuilly (srsfaced!), Courfeyrac (hi Killian!), and Enjolras (a bit dreamier than you usually see Enjolrases, which I was more okay with than Gen was.)
PONTMERCY FAAAAAAAAACE! And then he makes up his mind to join the revolution and just kind of runs over to the center mike and shoves Enjolras out of the way.
Meanwhile, you know who is kind of really good-looking in student drag with his cravat untied?
I'M SORRY, I'M JUST SAYING.
Book!Marius again! Eponine is so happy to be there on the barricades, and Marius is just so ANNOYED. "GOD, EPONINE. WHY ARE YOU HERE."
Look at the splendiferous waistcoats on all these students! Courfeyrac (hi again Killian!), Jehan (with appropriately poetic curly hair), Feuilly again, Combeferre again, Grantaire (more on him shortly), Enjolras, Gavroche, Pontmercy Pontmerciing in the background, Joly and Bossuet.
Marius wears this look of kind of grossed-out confusion throughout Eponine's entire death scene. Again: SO BOOK ACCURATE.
Enjolras and Grantaire, who definitely have a way more mutual affection in this rendition than you sometimes see. Look at that face Enjolras is giving him!
And then, you know, there's this, and then they wander backstage together for . . . purposes, I guess, before coming back for the dramatic death scene.
It's kind of hard to capture it in screencaps, but given the limitations of the concert setting the way they did the barricades was really cool -- tons of cool tricks with banks of lights.
One final Pontmercy shot! Mostly just for the look of judgment that Enjolras is giving him before exiting behind the Door of Death -- they have all the students come in and stand behind Marius as he sings "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables," and then when he hits "oh my friends, my friends, don't ask me what your sacrifice was for," they all wander off, wondering how he missed the point so badly. Probably because he never attended the meetings.
And then we hit the end, and we thought that was it . . . BUT NO. WE HAD MORE DELIGHTS IN STORE FOR US. Including all the current casts and original cast coming on and having a hug party, and Colm Wilkinson and three other Valjeans, rocking out a "Bring Him Home" BARBERSHOP QUARTET.
IT WAS AMAZING. *___*
And here is Gen's write-up! Which is way more actually thoughtful, and way less distracted by Marius' RIDICULOUS PONTMERCY FACES.
genarti and I stayed up until ridiculous o'clock watching the Les Mis 25th Anniversary Concert, which neither of us had ever seen before, and oh my god, YOU GUYS. It was SO GOOD! I mean we knew it would be good, but nobody warned us it would be THAT GOOD.
Alfie Boe blew us away, especially early on -- he really got Valjean's anger, especially. There was this fantastic moment when the Bishop is telling him he has to become an honest man, and Valjean is just shaking his head -- no, he didn't say yes to that, he didn't ask for that! AND IT'S GREAT.
The Bishop kept unfortunately reminding me of a Republican politician, but oh well.
As good as Alfie Boe was, though . . . dang, Norm Lewis' Javert. Dang. Just -- WOW.
I -- I don't usually find Javert attractive, like, I mean, he's a fascinating character but he's Javert! Until Norm Lewis. UNTIL NORM LEWIS. I -- I'm just saying.
Lea Salonga was unsurprisingly gorgeous Fantine. I had a moment where I thought maybe that cameo on her neck actually had the Les Mis tiny-Cosette logo on it, which would have been the most amazing, nerdiest thing. (Also, the only explanation for her to be wearing that cameo and a locket.) It turned out not to be, but it still was in my heart.
They got this GIANT ACTOR to be the foreman and he spent all his time strolling around the stage with his hand jauntily on his belt, looming over everyone and heartily enjoying his ten seconds of fame, so well done there.
I kind of feel like the Lovely Ladies singers were just kind of let loose in the costumes bin backstage to fight over corsets and hats, which is why Pirate Hat Lady got to be the one in charge -- like, you win the pirate hat in the backstage battle, you've earned it.
They were all very cheerful and colorful and clearly having a great deal of fun, which, I mean, is not exactly thematically appropriate given the givens, but, hey, being in the 25th Anniversary Concert is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I'm glad they were enjoying it!
CONFRONTATION. The way this is done on the recording is cunningly designed to obscure the fact that Fantine is just kind of standing awkwardly at the middle mike between Valjean and Javert for most of the song.
However, this is justified by the gorgeous bit of staging when Fantine is walking offstage and Tiny Cosette is coming on, and they pause just slightly and turn their heads to look at each other as they go by --
I mean WHO NEEDED THAT HEART ANYWAY, right?
Thenardier was sort of weirdly elfin and jolly? I don't think I disliked it exactly, but it was a bit jarring.
Gen spotted that Madame Thenardier was the same as in the 10th Anniversary Concert -- I guess once you start playing Madame that's one of those things that you can just kind of keep on doing as long as you want.
Gavroche was a little bit older than you usually see, which I actually liked -- you generally get kids who are eight or nine in the role, and this kid was thirteen or so, and had this brassy voice and very streetwise, Artful Dodger-ish air that I think is kind of more book-compliant.
However, the most book-reminiscent actor by far -- BY FAR! -- was Nick Jonas as Marius.
LOOK AT THIS LITTLE PONCEY PONTMERCY. This is completely and totally the face of a kid who has just delivered a lecture on Napoleon that NO ONE HAS APPRECIATED and is on the verge of storming out in a huff, AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
A boy who is, verily, on the verge of making out with Valjean's handkerchief. A BOY WHO HAS CAREFULLY CURLED HIS HAIR EVERY DAY AND THEN GONE INTO A FIT OF SULKS BECAUSE COSETTE DIDN'T NOTICE, while Valjean is like "who this ponce with the perfectly curled hair? I DON'T LIKE HIM."
Like, I don't this is in any way intentional? But that makes it NO LESS PERFECT. Every time he started singing, Gen and I would go into a fit of giggles, gasp "HIS PONTMERCY FACE!" and then relapse.
More Norm Lewis appreciation, with a gorgeous "Stars!"
Here are some students! From left: Bossuet (bald!), Combeferre (too busy thinking about philosophy to have shaven?), Feuilly (srsfaced!), Courfeyrac (hi Killian!), and Enjolras (a bit dreamier than you usually see Enjolrases, which I was more okay with than Gen was.)
PONTMERCY FAAAAAAAAACE! And then he makes up his mind to join the revolution and just kind of runs over to the center mike and shoves Enjolras out of the way.
Meanwhile, you know who is kind of really good-looking in student drag with his cravat untied?
I'M SORRY, I'M JUST SAYING.
Book!Marius again! Eponine is so happy to be there on the barricades, and Marius is just so ANNOYED. "GOD, EPONINE. WHY ARE YOU HERE."
Look at the splendiferous waistcoats on all these students! Courfeyrac (hi again Killian!), Jehan (with appropriately poetic curly hair), Feuilly again, Combeferre again, Grantaire (more on him shortly), Enjolras, Gavroche, Pontmercy Pontmerciing in the background, Joly and Bossuet.
Marius wears this look of kind of grossed-out confusion throughout Eponine's entire death scene. Again: SO BOOK ACCURATE.
Enjolras and Grantaire, who definitely have a way more mutual affection in this rendition than you sometimes see. Look at that face Enjolras is giving him!
And then, you know, there's this, and then they wander backstage together for . . . purposes, I guess, before coming back for the dramatic death scene.
It's kind of hard to capture it in screencaps, but given the limitations of the concert setting the way they did the barricades was really cool -- tons of cool tricks with banks of lights.
One final Pontmercy shot! Mostly just for the look of judgment that Enjolras is giving him before exiting behind the Door of Death -- they have all the students come in and stand behind Marius as he sings "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables," and then when he hits "oh my friends, my friends, don't ask me what your sacrifice was for," they all wander off, wondering how he missed the point so badly. Probably because he never attended the meetings.
And then we hit the end, and we thought that was it . . . BUT NO. WE HAD MORE DELIGHTS IN STORE FOR US. Including all the current casts and original cast coming on and having a hug party, and Colm Wilkinson and three other Valjeans, rocking out a "Bring Him Home" BARBERSHOP QUARTET.
IT WAS AMAZING. *___*
And here is Gen's write-up! Which is way more actually thoughtful, and way less distracted by Marius' RIDICULOUS PONTMERCY FACES.
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Date: 2013-03-25 03:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-25 03:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-25 03:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-25 04:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-25 04:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-25 04:07 am (UTC)TOO MANY LES MIS FEELINGS, too little . . . common sense . . .
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Date: 2013-03-25 04:10 am (UTC)NEED.
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Date: 2013-03-25 04:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-25 10:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-25 02:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-25 04:27 am (UTC)I really wish they'd film a proper version of the stage show, though.
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Date: 2013-03-25 04:35 am (UTC)I was really expecting to hate Nick Jonas! And then, I mean, he completely failed to hit all the right emotional beats, but in EXACTLY THE WAY that book!Marius ALWAYS fails to hit the right emotional beats, because he is an oblivious human being. I maintain it was an accidentally brilliant performance.
I would love a real filmed version of the stage show, that would be SO AMAZING. I was expecting this to be a lot more kind of stiff and static like the 10th Anniversary, though, so I was really pleased with as much staging as we did get.
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Date: 2013-03-25 04:44 am (UTC)I like the TAC cast a whole lot more, even with the staging. I think the only 'in concert' style staging I've seen that worked reasonably well for me was Chess, though, and iiirc they didn't use stationary mics? Or if they did, it didn't annoy me as much.
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Date: 2013-03-25 04:49 am (UTC)But staring at his face also works. >.>
I don't think I've actually seen any other "in concert" recordings! So TAC was sort of my formative side-eyeing of that. But I also haven't seen TAC in about ten years, since the first time I went through Les Mis obsession, to be fair.
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Date: 2013-03-25 05:04 am (UTC)Argh, sorry, I'm being negative all over your squee post. I'm glad you enjoyed it so much!
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Date: 2013-03-25 05:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-25 04:40 am (UTC)I love how self aware this version is. There's always this little undercurrent that acknowledges that this really is the epitome of Big 80s Musical Spectacles and that people love it because of All Of The Feels (story feels and personal feels). The serious moments are all taken very seriously and done well, but they're willing to really play up the humorous parts and wink at the audience where the whole thing isn't grimdarkbleak for hours.
In short, this is my definitive Les Mis.
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Date: 2013-03-25 04:45 am (UTC)And hah, yeah -- I deeply enjoy that, and the fact that (like in the movie) everyone just seems so into it, and so happy to be there! Like, it's awesome to feel like everyone onstage is having as many FEELS about the fact that this is ZOMG THE 25th ANNIVERSARY OF LES MIS THE MUSICAL as we the viewers are.
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Date: 2013-03-25 06:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-25 05:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-25 12:59 pm (UTC)And because there is really only one gigantic fandom in the world, did I mention the part where Joe Armstrong's dad originated Threnardier?
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Date: 2013-03-25 05:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-25 05:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-25 05:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-25 02:43 pm (UTC)Sadly, I have not yet read the book (it is in the plans for the near future!).
The first time I watched this (in bits and pieces on YouTube before Universal OPPRESSED them), I kept looking sideways at Marius going "Is that a Jonas brother?" It is! It IS a Jonas brother! And he does very well, with his continuous expression of confused concern. I especially think he killed it on "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" (though it still holds no candle anywhere near EDDIE REDMAYNE HOW DO YOU FACE?).
THE VALJEAN QUARTET. YES. YES YES YES. The original cast of the 1985 production singing "One Day More" and being joined by the other casts! THIS IS AMAZING.
Norm Lewis and "Javert's Suicide"! RUSSEL CROWE PAY ATTENTION THIS IS HOW YOU PLAY JAVERT.
I am not even trying to keep things in order anymore I am only flailing around in love for this entire production.
MADAME THENARDIER. LOVE HER.
In conclusion: jsdkgfsdklghfkjghdf!!!!
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Date: 2013-03-25 05:28 pm (UTC)Haha, I totally knew it was a Jonas brother, and maybe it's just because I'd adjusted my expectations accordingly, but it was the MOST DELIGHTFUL THING. I mean he is way, way less endearing than adorkable Eddie Redmayne, who is hands-down the most likeable Marius I've ever encountered. And I'm okay with that! I'm not a pit of seething hatred, I like liking Marius. But sometimes it's fun just . . . to laugh at Marius . . .
FLAILING WITH LOVE FOR THIS ENTIRE PRODUCTION IS AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE :D
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Date: 2013-03-25 11:41 pm (UTC)Democratically elected rule, of course.
I think I will probably appreciate Nick Jonas' performance more once I've read the book and experience this book!Marius first hand. (I just carry a general opinion of "ridiculous" when it comes to Marius and Marius/Cosette, though. They're like Romeo and Juliet levels of ridiculous, only without the dying part, not for Marius' lack of trying, but still.)
*FLAILFLAILFLAILFOREVER*
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Date: 2013-03-26 04:15 am (UTC)Hah, yeah, Marius and Cosette are both such RIDICULOUS BABIES always -- slightly different varieties of RIDICULOUS BABIES in the book and in the film, but still! NONETHELESS.
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Date: 2013-03-26 08:59 pm (UTC)I also think of Javert as a little ridiculous, admittedly. It's like... Javert. Stop. Take a look at your life, man. Having a goal and having focus are good things, but there's also such a thing as, you know, priorities. And perspective.
Damn it all, I just realized I still do not have any Les Mis icons. So here is one of my (now deceased) kitty, who could have given Javert a run for his money when it comes to NOT HAPPY faces.
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Date: 2013-03-25 03:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-25 05:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-26 02:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-26 04:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-26 03:02 am (UTC)I hope you're happy. ^_-
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Date: 2013-03-26 04:13 am (UTC)(I mean, don't one hundred percent take my word for it, obviously there are different opinions represented in this post . . . but I really liked it, anyway! AND WOULD CONSIDER IT WORTH THE INVESTMENT.)
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Date: 2013-03-26 12:04 pm (UTC)Honestly, it'd be hard for it NOT to be, since the 25th is something like $11 right now. *g*