Les Misérables is a sung-through musical by Boubil and Schonberg based on the epic Victor Hugo novel of the same name. After receiving notoriously poor reviews from the critics when it premiered at the Barbican in 1985 Les Miserables went on to become the most successful musical the world has ever seen. The RSC’s production directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird is the longest running musical in the world, although it has moved locations twice first to the Palace Theatre and then to the Queens theatre where it continues to play to this day.
Set in early 19th century France the musical tells the story of John Valjean a peasant sentenced to 19 years enslavement for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sisters starving child. After breaking his parole and trying to turn his life around he is relentlessly pursued by policeman Javert. Along the way he meets various characters, adopts a daughter ‘Cosette’ and becomes caught up in the students revolution.
In 2012 Les Misérables the musical was made into a successful film starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Samantha Barks, Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen.
Claude-Michel Schonberg
Original French: Alain Boubil English translation: Herbert Kretzmer
Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boubil
Victor Hugo's novel Les Miserables
Cameron Mackintosh
Trevor Nunn and John Caird
Les Misérables original London production
The Barbican Theatre - Opened 8 Oct 1985, closed 1 Jan 1970
Cast: Colm Wilkinson, Roger Allam, Patti LuPone, Frances Ruffelle, Alun Armstrong, Susan Jane Tanner, Michael Ball Rebecca Caine and David Burt.
Les Misérables Original Broadway Production
The Broadway Theatre - Opened 12 Mar 1987, closed 18 May 2003
Cast: Colm Wilkinson, David Bryant Judy Kuhn Michael Maguire Frances Ruffelle Jennifer Butt Leo Burmester Randy Graff and Terrence Mann.
Les Misérables First Broadway revival
Broadhurst Theatre - Opened 9 Nov 2006, closed 6 Jan 2008
Cast: Alexander Gemignani, Norm Lewis, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Celia Keenan-Bolger Aaron Lazar Adam Jacobs, Ali Ewoldt, Gary Beach Jenny Galloway
Les Misérables Second Broadway Revival
Imperial Theatre - Opened 1 Mar 2014, closed 1 Jan 1970
Cast: Ramin Karimloo, Will Swenson, Caissie Levy, and Nikki M. James , Andy Mientus, Samantha Hill, Kyle Scatliffe, Cliff Saunders and Keala Settle.
What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box
Twitter Synopsis:
An ex-convict is pursued relentlessly by a policeman. They and other characters become caught up in the Paris student revolts of 1832.
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Act 1
Prologue
In France 1815 prisoners are forced to work in a chain gang “Work Song”. After 19 years enslavement for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sisters starving child Jean Valjean aka prisoner 24601 is released on parole by policeman Javert. Valjean must display a yellow ticket-of leave which identifies him as an ex-convict and condemns him to be shunned by society “On Parole”. The only person to treat him kindly is the Bishop of Digne and Valjean embittered by his years of misery repays him by stealing the silver. Valjean who is subsequently caught by the police and brought back to the Bishop is astonished when the Bishop covers for him and gifts him the rest of the silver. “Valjean Arrested, Valjean Forgiven” Inspired by this act of kindness Valjean decides to turn his life around “Valjean’s Soliloquy”/”What Have I Done?” Hoping to free himself from his criminal past he tears up his yellow ticket therefore breaking his parole.
The musical then jumps forward eight years to 1823 Valjean has adopted a new name Monsieur Madeleine and has become the proprietor of a factory and mayor of Montreuil-Sur-Mer. Fantine a single mother working in Valjean’s factory is discovered to have an illegitimate child Cosette, who lives with an innkeeper and unknown to Valjean the other factory workers call for her dismissal “At the End of the Day”. Fantine reflects on her broken dreams “I Dreamed a Dream”.
Desperate for money to support her daughter Fantine sells her locket and her hair before being forced into prostitution “Lovely Ladies”. She gets into a fight with a customer and is to be arrested by Javert who is now an inspector in the area when Val Jean wracked with gulit for his involvement in her plight rescues her and takes her to a hospital. “Fantine’s Arrest”
Shortly after Valjean rescues a man pinned by a runaway cart “The Runaway Cart”. Javert who has not recognised him up until this point is reminded of the incredible strength of prisoner 24601 and becomes suspicious. However it turns out that another man has been arrested as Valjean. Unwilling to see an innocent man go to prison for him Valjean confesses his true identity to the court “Who Am I?—The Trial”.
Valjean promises Fantine on her death bed that he will look after her daughter Cosette “Come to Me”/”Fantine’s Death”. Javert arrives to arrest Valjean but he manages to escape “The Confrontation”.
In Montfermeil Cosette has been in the care of exploitative innkeepers the Thénardiers who treat her like a slave while indulging their own daughter Éponine. Cosette dreams of a better life “Castle on a Cloud”. The Thénardiers rip off their customers “Master of the House”. Valjean makes a deal with the Thénardiers and adopts Cosette “The Bargain” and they leave together for Paris “The Waltz of Treachery”.
The action then skips forward again nine years to 1832. Paris is in a state of unrest because of the impending death of the last man in Government who cares for the poor, General Lamarque. Among the crowds are student revolutionaries Marius Pontmercy and Enjolras, a street gang lead by Thenarider and his wife, their daughter Éponine who is all grown up and hopeessly in love with an oblivious Marius and streetwise young urchin Gavroche “Look Down”.
The Thénardiers gang attempt to rob Valjean and Cosette but are rescued by Javert who again fails to recognise Valjean even though he has pursued him all these years. Cosette bumps into Marius, and the pair fall in love at first sight “The Robbery”. Tipped off by Thénardier Javert realises too late who Valjean is and makes a vow to capture him “Stars”. Meanwhile, Marius persuades Éponine to help him find Cosette “Éponine’s Errand”.
At a café Enjolras rallies a group of idealistic students to prepare for revolution while a love sick Marius thinks about Cosette “The ABC Café—Red and Black”. When Gavroche brings the news of General Lamarque’s death the students see the opportunity to incite the people to revolt “Do You Hear the People Sing?”.
Cosette is overwhelmed with feelings for Marius and wishes to know why Valjean keeps secrets about both their pasts “Rue Plumet—In My Life”. A heartbroken Éponine leads Marius to where Cosette lives and they confess their love to each other while she watches on “A Heart Full of Love”. Éponine thwarts a plan by her father Thénardier and his gang to rob Valjean’s house by screaming a warning “The Attack on Rue Plumet”. Valjean believes the intruders to be sent by Javert and resolves to leave the country. On the eve of the 1832 Paris uprising the characters anticipate what the dawn will bring “One Day More”.
Act 2
The students build a barricade. Javert who has disguised himself as a rebel in an attempt to spy upon the rebels, volunteers to “spy” on the government troops. Marius discovers that Éponine has disguised herself as a boy in order to join the rebels and sends her away to deliver a letter to Cosette. “Building the Barricade—Upon These Stones”. Valjean intercepts the letter and learns about Marius and Cosette’s romance. Éponine walks the streets of Paris alone imagining that Marius is with her, she resolves that her love will never be reciprocated “On My Own”.
The French army demands the surrender of the students “At the Barricade—Upon These Stones”. Javert tells the students the government won’t attack that night “Javert’s Arrival” but is exposed as a spy by Gavroche “Little People”.
Éponine is shot by soldiers as she crosses the barricade trying to find Marius and dies in his arms “A Little Fall of Rain”.
Valjean arrives at the barricade in search of Marius “Night of Anguish”. The rebels initially suspicious of Valjean are won over by him when he saves Enjolras. In return he asks if he can be the one to execute Javert which they grant. When they are alone together Valjean frees Javert who swears he will never give up his pursuit of Valjean “The First Attack”.
The students settle in for the night and reminisce “Drink with Me”. After they’re asleep Valjean prays to God to protect Marius “Bring Him Home”.
As dawn approaches, Enjolras realises that the people of Paris have failed to join them in revolution and they are on their own but resolves to fight anyway “Dawn of Anguish”. Gavroche is killed “The Second Attack/Death of Gavroche”. The rebels refuse to surrender and are all killed apart from Valjean who escapes to the sewers carrying an unconscious Marius “The Final Battle”.
Valjean collapses from the exhaustion of carrying Marius and Thénardier who has been looting bodies “Dog Eats Dog” steals a ring from Marius before fleeing when Valjean regains consciousness. Valjean carries Marius out of the sewers to find Javert waiting for him. Valjean pleads with Javert to let him take the boy to a doctor and Javert reluctantly agrees. Valjeans act of mercy has shattered Javert’s view of the world and he commits suicide by throwing himself into the Seine “Soliloquy – Javert’s Suicide”.
In the aftermath of the failed revolution, women mourn the deaths of the students “Turning” and a wounded Marius despairs at the loss of his friends “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables”.
Unaware of who rescued him Marius recovers in Cosettes care. Valjean give the pair his blessing “Every Day” and confesses to Marius everything about his criminal past but makes him promise never to tell Cosette and insists on going away “Valjean’s Confession”. Later at Marius and Cosette’s wedding “Wedding Chorale” their reception is gate crashed by the Thénardiers who attempt to blackmail Marius informing him that Cosette’s father is a murderer and that Thénardier saw him carrying a corpse in the sewers after the barricades fell producing Marius’s own stolen ring as proof. Marius finally realises that it was Valjean who rescued him from the barricade. After punching Thénardier in the face he and Cosette go to find Valjean. The Thénardiers remain defiant “Beggars at the Feast”.
Marius and Cosette find Valjean dying in a convent Marius thanks him for saving his life and Cosette finally learns the truth about her past. “Epilogue – Valjean’s Death” The spirit of Fantine appears to him and tells him that he has been forgiven and she and Éponine guide him to heaven. They are joined by all those who perished at the barricade “Finale”.
Act 1
- Prologue: Work Song Chain Gang……………………………………………. Javert and Valjean
- Prologue: On Parole………………………… Valjean, Farmer, Labourer, Innkeeper’s Wife, Innkeeper and Bishop of Digne
- Prologue: Valjean Arrested, Valjean Forgiven…………………………………….Constables and Bishop of Digne
- Prologue: What Have I Done? ……………………………………..Valjean
- At the End of the Day……………………………………… Poor, Foreman, Workers, Factory Girls, Fantine and Valjean
- I Dreamed a Dream…………………………………….Fantine
- Lovely Ladies…………………………………….Sailors, Old Woman, Fantine, Crone, Whores and Pimp
- Fantine’s Arrest ……………………………………Bamatabois, Fantine, Javert and Valjean
- The Runaway Cart …………………………………………Townspeople, Valjean, Fauchelevant and Javert
- Who Am I? /The Trial …………………………………………………Valjean
- Fantine’s Death: Come to Me ………………………………..Fantine and Valjean
- The Confrontation …………………………………………..Javert and Valjean
- Castle on a Cloud…………………………………………….. Young Cosette and Madame Thénardier
- Master of the House ………………………………………….Thénardier, Madame Thénardier and Customers
- The Well Scene……………………………………………….. Valjean and Young Cosette
- The Bargain (Waltz of Treachery) ………………….Thénardier, Valjean, Madame Thénardier and Young Cosette
- Look Down ……………………………………..Gavroche, Beggars, Old Woman, Prostitute, Pimp, Enjolras, and Marius
- The Robbery …………………………………..Thénardier, Madame Thénardier, Marius, Éponine and Valjean
- Javert’s Intervention ………………………………………..Javert and Thénardier
- Stars ……………………………………..Javert
- Éponine’s Errand………………………………………… Éponine and Marius
- Red and Black (The ABC café) ………………………………Enjolras, Marius, Grantaire, Combeferre, Feuilly, Courfeyrac, Joly, Gavroche and Students
- Do You Hear the People Sing?…………………………………… Enjolras, Combeferre, Courfeyrac, Feuilly Students and Townspeople
- Rue Plumet – In My Life ………………………………………. Cosette, Valjean, Marius and Éponine
- A Heart Full of Love …………………………………………….Marius, Cosette and Éponine
- The Attack on the Rue Plumet ……………………………….. Thénardier, Thieves (Montparnasse, Brujon, Babet, Claquesous), Éponine, Marius, Valjean and Cosette
- One Day More ……………………………………..Valjean, Marius, Cosette, Éponine, Enjolras, Javert, Thénardier, Madame Thénardier and Company
Act 2
- At the Barricade (Upon These Stones) …………………………………….. Enjolras, Javert, Marius, Éponine and Valjean
- On My Own ……………………………………….. Éponine
- Building the Barricade (Upon These Stones) …………………………………………..Enjolras, Students and Army Officer
Javert’s Arrival …………………………………………………….Javert and Enjolras - Little People …………………………………………..Gavroche, Students, Enjolras and Javert
- A Little Fall of Rain ………………………………….. Éponine and Marius
- Night of Anguish ………………………………Enjolras, Valjean, and Students
- The First Attack ……………………………………… Enjolras, Grantaire, Students, Valjean and Javert
- Drink with Me …………………………………..Grantaire and Marius
- Bring Him Home …………………………………………….. Valjean
- Dawn of Anguish ………………………………………..Enjolras and Students
- The Second Attack (Death of Gavroche) ……………………………….. Enjolras, Marius, Valjean, Grantaire, Gavroche and Students
- The Final Battle …………………………………………………Army Officer, Grantaire, Enjolras and Students
- Dog Eats Dog (The Sewers) …………………………………….. Thénardier
- Soliloquy (Javert’s Suicide) ……………………………………..Valjean and Javert
- Turning ……………………………………..Women of Paris
- Empty Chairs at Empty Tables ……………………………….Marius
- Every Day / A Heart Full of Love (Reprise) ……………………………Cosette, Marius and Valjean
- Valjean’s Confession ………………………………………Valjean and Marius
- Wedding Chorale ………………………..Guests, Thénardier, Marius and Madame Thénardier
- Beggars at the Feast ………………………………..Thénardier and Madame Thénardier
- Epilogue: Valjean’s Death …………………………Valjean, Fantine, Cosette, Marius and Éponine
- Finale: Do You Hear the People Sing (Reprise) ……………………………………………Full Company
1985 Olivier Awards: Best Actress in a musical (Patti LuPone)
1987 Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Michael Maguire), Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical (Frances Ruffelle), Best Direction of a Musical Trevor Nunn and John Caird, Best Scenic Design John Napier Best Lighting Design David Hersey.
UK: Josef Weinberger
USA: Musical Theatre International