Archive for Musicals.Net Musicals.Net |
| aaand SCENE |
Am I Eponine material? (youtube video)Hey all you fellow Les Mis crazies out there. Well, here's the story. This is pretty much my favorite show in the world (along with Disney productions and such). I admire the beauty of it's music, it's powerful messages of courage and love, but most of all one of the characters in the story: 'Ponine. I've spent years studying and admiring her spunk, passion and scrappiness, and to get a chance to play her someday somewhere would be a dream come true.
I'm thinking about auditioning for a production of Les Mis being put on this summer and I am wondering if I've even have a shot at it. So, in the spirit of practice practice practice, (and of course a little boredem) I've decided to record myself singing it and asking a bunch of people who's opinion I can value over those who don't know the show. It's far from good enough >.< but on the whole I'd love to know what you guys think. Any comments would be greatly appreciated  sorry it's so dark.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xt1gNZD5ksU |
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| Electricity24601 |
I just watched your video.
I think you have a lovely voice and a really nice vibrato, especially in the beginning of the song. You obviously have some polishing to do (a few flat notes to fix and a little less shouty on the ending bit) but that can easily be done in time for the audition. I think you have the right Eponine "sound" and look. I think that most people here will agree that what can really make a great Eponine is great acting- the shallow, whining, look-at-me act gets old fast. I liked how angry you got in the end- from what I can tell from your recording of this song, I think your interpretation of Eponine would be a pleasure to watch. (As in you wouldn't fall into the trap of relying on the old stereotypes) Definately go for the audition, and tell us how it goes! You have a good shot at getting Eponine, in my opinion. Even if you don't end up with Ponine, I'm sure you'll have a great time in as another part or in the chorus. |
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| mastachen |
You definitely have a shot to be Eponine, but like the person above me says, the acting is what gives Eponine her depth. She has been abused, physically and possibly sexually, all her life, nothing has ever been good for her, she's living on the streets, and the one man she loves doesn't love her back. The fact that she hasn't committed suicide by Look Down is an achievement in itself. If you can portray all the emotions that would be within Eponine as mentioned above, then you'd be awesome.
As for the singing, I fell in love by "pavement shines like silver." |
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| aaand SCENE |
Thank you both so much for your tips and encouragement. I know it's a little shouty  ...until recently I've been terrified of doing the belty thing and I find that when I lose myself completely in the emotion I forget about how frightening the big notes are. I need quite a bit of work I know. But I feel like a belter's voice is in me somewhere and I just have to gain the confidence.
And definitely, even being in the chorus of this show would be an amazing experience. You get to be in SO many numbers. She is my hero in so many ways. Her imperishable gumption and zestful spirit through her cold, dark life inspire me. Her courage is a true testament to the vigor of the human spirit. |
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| The Pirate King |
Hmm... |
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| lesmisloony |
^^Agreed. | ||
| Fantine |
You have a really lovely voice. I would cut down a bit on 'Blind' because at that point you should still be working on building to the belty bit. I won't comment about the shouting since that has already been said and done with. | ||
| Tj@themusicals |
Stunning, voice and temprement.
A pleasure to watch xx |
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| aaand SCENE |
Haha what's the hmmmm-ing for?
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| Tj@themusicals |
Ignore them, they are clearly more interested in picking apart your character analysis then listening to your voice and watching you perform (which is the purpose of the thread)
xx |
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| Fantine |
We are always quite jumpy when it comes to Eponine. Especially when someone regards her as an guardian angel. | ||
| aaand SCENE |
Ohh I see. Well don't worry, I'm not here to bother anybody or try and press judgement. Just interested in people's opinions.
Thanks!! |
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| Fantine |
I know 
It's just that there is another side to Eponine besides the musical. In the book she is a far more darker character who has been (probably both sexually and physically) abused, robs people, looks ugly (rotten teeth, corpse-like look) and who tries to lead Marius to his death only to realise that she'd rather die first. That's why we are always a bit itchy when people see Eponine as their all time favorite heroine. |
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| lesmisloony |
And if she was only asking about being on a recording, this argument would make sense. No one wants an Eppie Sue, even if it *is* a regional production. Edited to add that I, too, enjoyed the clip, but I second everything the others have said and didn't think I should just keep repeating them. Also loved the delivery of "the pavement shines like silver," agreed about the yelling, etc. Just worried about your interpretation of the character herself. |
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| Tj@themusicals |
I wasn't making an argument
xx |
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| Orestes Fasting |
Well, more than that, the musical presents Eponine as pretty and spunky and knowing what she wants, whereas in the book she was frail, desperate, confused, and guided by a questionable morality that mostly revolved around Marius. That, more than her "dark" side, is the difference between book!Eponine and musical!Eponine. Reading the book won't necessarily change your interpretation of Eponine, because applying her book characterization to the musical would be difficult, but it would help you give some depth to her. | ||
| aaand SCENE |
Haha, okay. I got it. I was just expressing my reasons for being drawn to at least the musical version of the character (after all I have never gotten past the beginning part of the book so you're right, I'm certainly not one to argue about it and all that jazz).
Glad you like the singing, though. I'll try and tone down the "yelling/shouting" but there were certain areas where it just felt appropriate (and other areas where I may possibly have been raising it because I was afraid I wouild crack out of a note,  ).
Thanks again, <3Camille |
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| Fantine |
Long story short: you should definitely audition. | ||
| aaand SCENE |
Thank you. I think I will.
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| Quique |
Cool. Very nice voice. =) | ||
| curlyhairedsoprano91 |
Your voice is really pretty. That's all I have to say. | ||
| BroadwayBaby0202 |
Very nice! The only thing wrong was that the word "blind" was a bit flat. The ending was a little shouty but otherwise, really good! You do have an "Eponine-ish" voice. | ||
| aaand SCENE |
Thanks!! Yeah there were some definite screw-ups. I'm even unhappy with the "be" in "beside me"..kinda crapped out. |
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| Gwen |
I think the shoutiness makes you go a bit bit...I think flat on some of your notes, but nice job.
Where did you get your music from? I'd like to do this song.
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| Kragey |
Everybody's already said it, so I'll just reiterate: watch the shouting, careful on the flats, and save the belting for the end. Lovely voice. <3 | ||
| Robinflamingo |
The thing that I noticed was the hard R's. Try to soften them a bit, especially when you have to hold them out.
You are a beautiful girl and have a lovely voice. Just sing to the pitch, and not under it, which is a pop singer mistake.
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| aaand SCENE |
Thanks so much. I am totally struggling to get to/afraid of some of the notes that I'm sure I'm going flat on. Can you specify the shouty parts? Or is it the whole thing? | ||
| Fantine |
The only one I really noticed was the 'BLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIND' part. 
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| kozafluitmusique |
Ohmygosh ... you're much better than someone I know at Tisch that played Eponine in a school edition of Les Mis (i only saw her in one video!) you seemed much more in character than her. | ||
| aaand SCENE |
Thank you!! XD | ||
| Trevor reincarnate |
First off... holy crap... I love your voice. A lot.
But... Look at Fantine. The role is meatier and better suited for your voice. Can you record yourself doing I Dreamed A Dream just to humor me? Another question. Why did you do the video at that angle? Not bad, just wondering. And lastly, what group are you auditioning with? Adults or kids? I saw your Little Mermaid video just now and I saw you live near LA? Are you auditioning for Moonlight's Les Mis? If so, see you there! Haha. |
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| mastachen |
Stalker. | ||
| Trevor reincarnate |
I know. That sounds so stalkerish, huh? I thought that too. I swear it's not like that. I just wanted to see your other videos! | ||
| aaand SCENE |
Haha wow thanks. Fantine is a great role too. I could try I dreamed a dream but I don't think I'm very good at it. I've been working on 'Ponine for a while.
That's not the show I'm auditioning for but maybe I will! Haha, where is it? |
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| aaand SCENE |
Oh also, the reason I'm standing to the side was because I did a couple takes toward the camera and just got so film concious and nervous that I kept screwing up!! So I tried to look away and forget about it and see the person I'm talking about instead. Plus I wanted the white background and my wall was only so big. | ||
| mastachen |
If I'm not mistaken, Moonlight is in San Diego county.
Are you auditioning for a high school production then or a regional production? Because if there's a regional production going on in LA, I would like to check it out too. |
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| Trevor reincarnate |
Moonlight is in Vista.
I believe it's the only regional production going on in California for the time being... but I could be wrong. Haha! But yeah. Please do I Dreamed A Dream. I think you could do very well at that song. I love that song. So much. |
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| javertim |
I would honestly say that you sing the song better than 3/4 of the Eponines I've seen onstage. I don't so much mind shouting during this song because -- for me at least -- it does something to better illustrate the youthful quality of the character. Children tend to shout more when they sing big notes. Also, I think it conveys the desperation of the character when a little bit of shouting is thrown in ... Then again, my favorite Eponine (whom I never saw) is Marnie Nicolella, and she tends to shout a bit.
Regardless, GREAT job! |
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| aaand SCENE |
Thank you so much!! I try to stay away from being whiney. I've seen Les Mis 3 times and until I saw Celia they were all whiners. And to the person who asked, the production I know about is nothing big, just an outreach program in the summer of high school and college students at a community college. |
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| aaand SCENE |
Sorry- just having some discussions with people about what to do for the summer.
I will probably audition for the outreach production but would love to find a community theatre/some other place that may be putting up this show. Have the Vista auditions already gone by? I live by the Los Angeles airport and am having trouble finding something to audition for this summer and I just know I have to get the ball rolling. My other options consist of working for a horse camp, applying to starbucks, taking dance, and or applying at Disneyland. Does anyone know of any other Les Mis auditions? Sorry for being so lame, I appreciate anyone's advice. Sometimes a show just has a special place in your heart and you gotta find a way to do it!! =] |
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| Trevor reincarnate |
www.moonlightstage.com | ||
| aaand SCENE |
Wow, I am very impressed with that company.
On the forums it mentions asking if you will need housing? So this is a full on summerstock deal, hm? I am only 18, do you suppose that I am too young/live too far to be looking into doing this? auditions are soon, my my. but what a wonderful experience that could be. |