les miserable review

Jasmine Jung
I watched musical Les Miserable on October 7th in The Bushnell located in Hartford. Since I watched the movie before and loved the songs and plot in the movie, I was so excited and expected much about the musical version of the Les Miserable. As I expected, musical Les Miserable was awesome, and it was even more impressive and stunning than the movie since I could actually hear the character's’ voice with the orchestra playing and see all the characters’ movements and acts. Les Miserable was an amazing musical which reminded me of what real miserable it is and surprised me about actors’ amazing singing skills and professional acts.

The plot is set in the post-Napoleonic era just after the French Revolution, Les Miserables is the story of Jean Valjean, a convict, who has just been released from prison after suffering f19 years for stealing some of bread. After he escapes from the prison, he has been influenced by bishop to begin a new life; therefore, Jean makes a new name and moves to a new location where he becomes a respected citizen and successful businessman in manufacturing. However, he is haunted by the police officer Javert, who believes that no criminal can truly reform and live a new life. During the time period after the French Revolution, the most of citizens have been suffered from starvation and poverty, and it has been really hard to find the job that pay them well. In Jean Valjean’s factory, there is a woman called Fantine, who is an impoverished but beautiful and young woman and she has a daughter called Cosette, who leaves her in the care of the Thenardiers in order to work and earn the money. After Fantine has discovered that she has a daughter, she loses her job and forced to work as a prostitute to somehow get money and send it to her poor daughter. Before Fantine dies, Valjean promises her that he will take care of her daughter Cosette; however, while he is promising to Fantine, Javert identifies Valjean that he is 24601 so that Valjean is getting imprison again. But soon later, he escapes from the prison and rescues Cosette from the wicked and cruel Thenardiers. Then the plot goes to few years later; Cosette turns to be a young woman and there is a new character called Marius who is a wealthy young man who abandons his grandfather and leads the revolutionary, and also fall in love with Cosette as well. They both fall in love with each other through staring at each other in the street, but Marius is unable to find Cosette again and falls into despair. Later, The Thenardiers attempt to kidnap Valjean to extort money, but Marius intervenes and saves him. While Marius saving Valjean, Eponine who is the oldest Thenardier daughter has fallen in love with him. However, Marius is only into Cosette, and Marius eventually starts a relationship with Cosette after he leaves letters in her garden. But since Valjean decides that he and Cosette must leave Paris and move to England because of the social upheaval, their romance cut short. In despair, Marius joins the revolutionary movement and uprising against the government. While the citizens are readying to participate the uprising movement, Javert has attempted to infiltrate their ranks as a spy, but he has been discovered by the citizens and lashed to a pole. Also during the battle between refugees and government, Eponine dies while protecting Marius on the barricade. Valjean discovers Marius’s love toward Cosette later, so he joins the group at the barricade. In the barricade, Valjean volunteers to execute Javert, but then lets him to escape from here and help him to get out the situation. Then he returns and pretends that he kills Javert through shooting a gun. He seizes injured Marius and tries to return to help him; however, he meets Javert while exiting the barricade. But surprisingly, Javert shows mercy and allows him to bring the wounded Marius to safety rather than arresting him. Then on the bridge, Javert commits suicide due to disgusted and horrified at his lapse of duty, and disappointment to himself after Valjean saves him. Later, Marius recovers from his injuries and marries with Cosette with the blessing of Valjean. After the marriage, Valjean confesses his criminal past that he was imprisoned for 19 years because of stealing bread, and he was 24601 to Marius, who is horrified that the man is a criminal. Cosette and Marius’ marriage is hopeful, but Valjean’s life loses its meaning without Cosette and his health becoming fade. However, Valjean’s heroism is made clear to Marius when Thenardier tells him that it was Valjean who saved him on the night in the barricade. At the ending part of the plot, Marius and Cosette arrive in time to comfort Valjean on his deathbed and hope him to die in peace with the satisfaction of a life well.

In the play, light and sound effect were the significant roles that emphasize the characters’ performances. Through pointed light toward the character’s face, I could completely recognize which character was talking alone and was able to distinguish between the main character and other characters. Also, the light in the stage reveals and changes the environment of the story. For example, the light was really dark and reveals sadness during the scene Javert commits suicide on the bridge, while the light was really bright and colorful that shows joyful and delightful when all French citizens were having party and dancing in the Thenardier’s hotel. The light always takes a significant role to change the mood and construct the environment. Other than light, background sound effect is another important thing to provide the dramatic scene. During the Les Miserable, the sound was particularly important during the battle scene between French refugees and government. If there was not any sound effect, the characters' movements would seem ridiculous and the fighting scene would not be dramatic at all.

My favorite character during the play and plot was Jean Valjean. I liked his dramatic change when he became was a successful businessman later after he was 24601; he showed his transition so well through using elegant tone, costumes, and body language compare to when he was imprisoned and a poor man who only needed money. Also, I liked his personality during the plot too; his life was completely changed after the bishop came and helped him from the poverty situation. After that moment, he started to help other poor people. The most impressive part of him was that he took care of Cosette during whole life she grows up. I could easily see his kindness and mercifulness compare to another character Thenardier.

I loved the musical so much, and everything was perfect: the sings, lights, stage equipment, background sound effects, and their acts. Also I could feel the French citizens' suffers from poverty and starvation so clearly; so I even felt that I should be really lucky and happy that I do not have to worry about the poverty and satisfying with my life now. If I get another opportunity to watch play or Broadway show, I really want to watch other play like Les Miserable which contains complicated plot with a variety of sings.

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