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Lazarus (Adam G)

I Hate Gavroche.

There, I said it.
Cloudy This Morning

ZOMG!!

I hate Gavroche too!

Now I feel like less of a child-hating asshole. Yay.
olly

Why, what's your reasons? I hate when people say this - it gets on my nerves. When people say they hate something and don't say why annoys me. For instance, in my English class there's someone who just says "I disagree", without giving an explanaton.

I respect your comment, but give me reasons. I think it depends hugely on the kid playing Gavroche. For example Adam Searles on the Complete Symponic I think is brilliant; his voice is tuneful, and strong. His accent really evokes his poverty, and his expressions on the 10th Anniversary helped exemplify this.

The two Gavroches I've seen: this present London cast, and the 2005/2006 cast I thought were fairly strong (nothing compared to Adam). I think Gavroche is a cute character, which stirs emotion in me: that a kid like that:

a) Is tied up with such awful povery
b) Has so much courage and popularity
c) Dies such an awful death.

His little screams like "Long live us! LONG LIVE US!" and then him running around the barricade with his arm up I think is really cute. Actually, I spoke to the Gavroche after the 21st Anniversary last Saturday and congratulated him.
Lazarus (Adam G)

GAVROCHE HATERS UNITE!!!



HUZZAH!!
olly

Lazarus (Adam G) wrote:
GAVROCHE HATERS UNITE!!!



HUZZAH!!


Haha. You come across as ignorant, unintelligent and stubborn. Please try.
Mademoiselle Lanoire

Adam Searles is on the TAC. Ross McCall is on the CSR.

I semi-agree with Adam; I think most of them are irritating with the exceptions of the ones on the OFC and CSR.

I especially hate Ian Tucker on the OLC.
Lazarus (Adam G)

To answer your question...

Garvoche is an annoying character with annoying songs. Most child actors are terrible; every Garvoche I've ever seen or heard has always sucked. I don't think that the kid on the CSR was any better than any Garvoche I've ever heard; his 'death' was painful to listen to, and I found myself cheering near the end.

Sorry, Olly, I'm not trying to start a flame war/debate; I respect your opinion. I'm in the minority of Garvoche haters. Wink
Lazarus (Adam G)

Lazarus (Adam G) wrote:
GAVROCHE HATERS UNITE!!!



HUZZAH!!


Sorry, I was adding this while you posted your comment. This amazing photo was made in response to Cloudy's comment.
Cloudy This Morning

Gavroche, to me, comes off as very, very annoying.

First of all, I hate little children.

In the musical, I find his voice and songs unsavory. But, being a book fan, my hatred for him started there.

I found his character far too cocky, loud, and well...egotistical. Like a younger, much more annoying Montparnasse.

Of course, just my opinion, and you're certainly entitled to your own. I just happen to hate Gavroche.

A lot.
olly

Cloudy This Morning wrote:

I found his character far too cocky, loud, and well...egotistical. Like a younger, much more annoying Montparnasse.


Could you not argue that he is destined to have a personality like this: look at his lifestyle. Poor, fend-for-yourself type lifestyle. One has to be a strong, egotistical person if you wanted to survive in those conditions.

Look at Eponine; Gavroche explains her hardened 'outside', and the stage directions show Eponine to elbowing someone in the stomach - it was the way of life.

I can see why some people may not like the songs, becasue not all songs are liked by everyone. But his character is pretty much typecast given his background.

No worries Lazarus - didn't see the time on your post Very Happy
LesMisForever

Hello

In the book i find him loveable. Less so in the musical. I am indifferent to him. His death scene is moving though.
Cloudy This Morning

olly wrote:

Look at Eponine; Gavroche explains her hardened 'outside', and the stage directions show Eponine to elbowing someone in the stomach - it was the way of life.


Meh...don't care for Eponine either. I suppose I just like more reserved, sensible characters, such as Cosette and Javert. And I have fondness for Marius.

Gavroche just never appealed to me, even in the slightest.
olly

Cloudy This Morning wrote:
olly wrote:

Look at Eponine; Gavroche explains her hardened 'outside', and the stage directions show Eponine to elbowing someone in the stomach - it was the way of life.


Meh...don't care for Eponine either. I suppose I just like more reserved, sensible characters, such as Cosette and Javert. And I have fondness for Marius.

Gavroche just never appealed to me, even in the slightest.


I was explaining the reasoning behind his character. Not disputing your dislike for the character.
olly

Mademoiselle Lanoire wrote:
I especially hate Ian Tucker on the OLC.


Really? I liked Ian on the Original London Cast.
Quique

Um...you mean you hate the actors whom play Gavroche because of the way he's portrayed. Is that right? Idea
Cloudy This Morning

Quique wrote:
Um...you mean you hate the actors whom play Gavroche because of the way he's portrayed. Is that right? Idea


.....you talkin' to me or Lazzy? Because I hate the essence that is Gavroche, that is to say, his book character. I was mentally relieved at his death in the book long before I came across the musical. (which, sadly, was not until recently)
Quique

I was asking Lazarus. =)
Cloudy This Morning

Oh. Kay! Razz
Quique

Btw...you MUST sing "On My Own" in Spanish!!! Very Happy
Cloudy This Morning

Quique wrote:
Btw...you MUST sing "On My Own" in Spanish!!! Very Happy


.....

*dies in humilation*

Saw that did you? Crap. I don't have a good Eponine voice! If you don't believe me, go here and listen to some of the less serious music clips I put up...

http://cloudytm.livejournal.com/

Because NOTHING is less serious than Eponine's Errand in squaredance form.
Quique

No, really. I liked your rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream." Very lovely voice and you pronounced the Spanish words perfectly! Smile
Cloudy This Morning

Quique wrote:
No, really. I liked your rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream." Very lovely voice and you pronounced the Spanish words perfectly! Smile


Ohh... I got much too nervous about it so I took it down! I think I'll redo it and put it up at a later time. I think I could have done it much better than I did. Not to mention I looked like crap.


I put "I Still Believe" up, though... 0_<
Aimee

I don't hate Gavroche but until Saturday this week I'd say I agreed that, though only kids [so I give leeway there] I have never been especially impressed by any Gavroches I have seen. I repeat until Saturday. The boy who played the role at the matinee was BRILLIANT!! H was dead in tune, fully character and his death scene was fantastic.

I now know it can be done. Very Happy
Lazarus (Adam G)

It's more the actor, not the character.

Very few child actors can pull off Garvoche. Most of them have shrill voices, kind of like someone scratching a chalk board. I really liked the kid from the Concept Album. He didn't over do the death sequence, his voice was less grating, and he was more likeable than any English Garvoche I've seen/heard.

Garvoche is like my little cousin: arrogant, irritating, with a grating voice. He's like the kind of kid you'd want to kick.

Eponine is more of a sympthetic character in the musical, and much more likeable than Garvoche. In the book I hate the pair of them, though. Laughing
Cloudy This Morning

Lazarus (Adam G) wrote:
Eponine is more of a sympthetic character in the musical, and much more likeable than Garvoche.


Oh dear.

Lazzy-baby, I'm simply going to have to disagree with you there. Musical!Eponine is... d'oh!
javertsw

I think the way to make Gavroche likable and an interesting character is to cast someone about 13 or 14 or even 15 as opposed to a 10 year old. I don't know how old he is, but the one on the OFC sounds brilliant, and his voice sounds older than English Gavroche's. Much better!
I have never been a fan of child actors, usually irritating. The ones in Les Mis are usually better than the likes of the Mary Poppins kids, or ones from Annie though. It could be worse.
Orestes Fasting

I don't mind the Gavroches on the recordings (or Adam Searles on the TAC), but all the ones I saw on stage were terribly, terribly stiff. They never moved aside from what the standard blocking directed them to do. It was just "run to the front of the stage, stand there like a log and sing your part, keep your hands at your sides except when you're doing the required hand gestures." It was kind of painful to watch.
Jekkienumber24601

Our tech team obviously hated Gavorche because it took them 45 minutes to figure out he only gets shot 4 times instead of 15.
Orestes Fasting

Jekkienumber24601 wrote:
Our tech team obviously hated Gavorche because it took them 45 minutes to figure out he only gets shot 4 times instead of 15.


I don't know why that made me burst out laughing, but it did. Shoot the bugger! Shoot 'im again! No wait, he's not quite dead yet, time for the anachronistic machine guns!
Jekkienumber24601

It literally was:

"And little people know, when little people fight, we make look easy pickings but we got some-" BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! "Bite?"


"No! just one shot! try it from the top"

"And little people know, when little people fight, we make look easy pickings but we got some-" BANG! "Bite....So never kick a-" BANG BANG BANG BANG!

"Stop! Shooting! Hold on!"
Lazarus (Adam G)

Why not use REAL bullets?
Milleh

But don't forget how brave theses kids are to come on and do this especially on a west end show performing infront of hundreds of people...yes some maybe rubbish but very brave.
Quique

Grrr...you Gavrcohe haters need to die, lol.
EponinesRain

I'm not partial to Gavroche and I definitely don't see what's so great about Adam Searless, but the Gavroche from last year's West End cast (Sonny Martin?) was so great that I just had to gush and marvel at his talent. He just had so much spunk and cockiness coupled with the perfect "slum accent" (cockney?? errr...). He also leapt and ambled about the stage with such agility that it made me side with his character. A true actor at such a young age! Is he still performing there now?
Jekkienumber24601

never liked him, but never had a problem with him.
Eponine Thenardier

I happen to love Gavvie, but that's just my opinion. Static characters can either be adorable or annoying and I guess it's split down the middle. But, like almost everyone else in Les Miz, he dies xP So I guess an opinion isn't worth much
gavroche_rox_my_sox

javertsw wrote:
I think the way to make Gavroche likable and an interesting character is to cast someone about 13 or 14 or even 15 as opposed to a 10 year old. I don't know how old he is, but the one on the OFC sounds brilliant, and his voice sounds older than English Gavroche's. Much better!


I think so too, not that I've heard many actors playing Gavroche. The one on the OFC is Fabrice B�nard. GO FABRICE!!
Lazarus (Adam G)

gavroche_rox_my_sox wrote:
javertsw wrote:
I think the way to make Gavroche likable and an interesting character is to cast someone about 13 or 14 or even 15 as opposed to a 10 year old. I don't know how old he is, but the one on the OFC sounds brilliant, and his voice sounds older than English Gavroche's. Much better!


I think so too, not that I've heard many actors playing Gavroche. The one on the OFC is Fabrice B�nard. GO FABRICE!!


Agreed, B�nard is the best Garvoche.
Gwen

I hate you all!
-I'm kidding here. Laughing

I'm only saying that because I've only seen it once onstage, so I can't compare any actors. But personally, I find Gavroche really funny, especially his first little solo in Look Down. Little People- not so keen on the lyrics, but I still like his character. (Oh dear...it appears most of you are glaring at me.) Ahhh!!!
*runs like a maniac*
Lazarus (Adam G)

Don't run...

It makes it SO much easier to KILL the Garvoche-lovers.
Sister Simplice

I love Gavroche. I think he's adorable and so tragic. I see him as a sort of mascot for LM.

I've seen some absolutely fantastic little Gavroche actors, and some unbearably awful ones.

I can appreciate how an awful actor might put you off a character, especially if it's your first time seeing the show. One time when I saw LM in London, the Fantine was played by an understudy that was, IMHO, so bad it ruined the whole experience for me. If you were coming from that sort of angle, I could understand you more, but it seems like you're just trying to get people riled up.

Criticizing a character or actor you dislike is fine. Just be constructive and mature about it. Otherwise I find it really hard to respect your opinion.
Lazarus (Adam G)

Sister Simplice wrote:
I love Gavroche. I think he's adorable and so tragic. I see him as a sort of mascot for LM.

I've seen some absolutely fantastic little Gavroche actors, and some unbearably awful ones.

I can appreciate how an awful actor might put you off a character, especially if it's your first time seeing the show. One time when I saw LM in London, the Fantine was played by an understudy that was, IMHO, so bad it ruined the whole experience for me. If you were coming from that sort of angle, I could understand you more, but it seems like you're just trying to get people riled up.

Criticizing a character or actor you dislike is fine. Just be constructive and mature about it. Otherwise I find it really hard to respect your opinion.


Obviously I was kidding about the "KILL the Garvoche-lovers"... I'm not THAT evil. Wink
Eponine Poe

Strangely...I detest little kids but I love Gavroche. I was so disappointed when I saw LM in March and they cut out 'Little People'...I just think his character is very cute, quirky, and lovable; I also think that they retained his character traits from the novel better than they did with other charactes. *cough-Eponine-cough*

When I saw the show last time, the thing that I remember most was when he died; the entire audience sort of gasped in horror, like; "No! But he's just a kid!". It was quite touching.
The Very Angry Woman

Eponine Poe wrote:
Strangely...I detest little kids but I love Gavroche. I was so disappointed when I saw LM in March and they cut out 'Little People'


Wait, what? You expected to hear a song that was cut 21 years ago?
Mademoiselle Lanoire

The full version was cut. The partial version was still in. Rolling Eyes
IluvMuffin

!!!!!!

Marius can suck my bum

(except for Michael Ball)



FOR EVER GAVROCHE!
Cloudy This Morning

Re: !!!!!!

IluvMuffin wrote:
Marius can suck my bum

(except for Michael Ball)


Pity. I always found Marius (book!Marius, rather) to be an interesting, lovable character, with much more background, depth, and abilities than Gavroche. Ah well. Can't win everyone over, can you? Very Happy *snugs Marius*
Trevor

Thanks for the cuddle Cloudy.

Oh wait... did you mean Marius or people who played Marius? Laughing
Cloudy This Morning

trevorsanderson wrote:
Thanks for the cuddle Cloudy.

Oh wait... did you mean Marius or people who played Marius? Laughing


Oh, you know I could only have ever meant you! Wink C'mere you! *snugs Trevor*
Lazarus (Adam G)

Re: !!!!!!

Cloudy This Morning wrote:
IluvMuffin wrote:
Marius can suck my bum

(except for Michael Ball)


Pity. I always found Marius (book!Marius, rather) to be an interesting, lovable character, with much more background, depth, and abilities than Gavroche. Ah well. Can't win everyone over, can you? Very Happy *snugs Marius*


BINGO! Marius is much more intresting than Garvoche or Eponine (score one for Eponine slashers). In the musical, he's just a very one-sided pretty boy.
Cloudy This Morning

Re: !!!!!!

Lazarus (Adam G) wrote:
In the musical, he's just a very one-sided pretty boy.



Ugh, Musical!Marius makes me want to rip my hair out. Whatever happened to the mopey, Cosette-stalking (literally), Eponine-hating, I-couldn't-possibly-give-less-of-a-goddamn-about-those-Amis-wankers-God-I-hate-them-except-for-Courfeyrac, tempermental Baron that Valjean hated?

Oh book!Marius.... How I love you.
La Carmagnole

If the musical was to include all the plots of the novel, it would be weeks long.

That's why I prefer the novel.
olly

Surely one enjoys the book for different reasons for enjoying the musical. For the book, you enjoy the literary billiance of the style and story, and the musical mainly for the music and the score?
Cloudy This Morning

olly wrote:
Surely one enjoys the book for different reasons for enjoying the musical. For the book, you enjoy the literary billiance of the style and story, and the musical mainly for the music and the score?


It is totally, totally true that I would hate the musical with a burning passion if the songs weren't so damn catchy. Razz
La Carmagnole

olly wrote:
Surely one enjoys the book for different reasons for enjoying the musical. For the book, you enjoy the literary billiance of the style and story, and the musical mainly for the music and the score?


Well, I like the musical also because it's not another love story. I used to like love stories quite much but now I have enough of them. Not to mention that anything that involves revolution or uprising always attracts my attention, no matter how the revolution is portrayed there. Yes, I know I'm a weirdo.
Eponine93

I hate Gavroche but for reasons different than you might think. I was in the ensemble of a youth production of Fiddler, Jr. in April along with an extremely energetic and hyperactive boy named Jacob Levine. In the course of the show, this young man misbehaved and simply drove the cast and the director crazy with his wild antics. On one occasion, he attempted to strange half the cast, including myself.

Where is Jacob Levine now? He's one of the three boys rotating the part of Gavroche on Broadway.

And that is why I hate Gavroche.
Lazarus (Adam G)

Child actors suck.

And now, for my confession: I hate Garvoche because our Garvoche from the local production of Les Miserables was crushed in between the barricade stage when it formed together... It was horrible....


...

Nah, I jest, but that'd be funny.
Quique

Hating a character from any show just because a child actor whom portrayed him was a brat = silly.
Eponine93

Its true. Besides I liked the character of Gavroche on the London CD, because of the original "Little People" song. Its a great song and it shouldn't have been cut.
Lazarus (Adam G)

Quique wrote:
Hating a character from any show just because a child actor whom portrayed him was a brat = silly.


Obviously, I was joking.

But child-actors DO suck.

I hate the character, and I hate his songs.
EponineMNFF

Wow! I've never actually seen anybody admit to hating Gavroche.

Personally, I love Gavroche, but I can understand why people would hate him. I think the West End Gavroches are really great... but whenever I see an American production I just want to yell at the little boy for being so awful.

And I think I might be the only person ever who thinks that the CSR Gavroche's death isn't overplayed. I mean -- if I were ten and I got shot, I would be freaking out a lot more than he did. Gavroche is brave, but still... *shrugs* I usually think most people underplay the death a little bit, too. Maybe "Ten Little Bullets" will be a better song to die to.
Lara

Hmmm....I liked Gavroche. I mean...in the book he was really cool. That might also be because I'm his age...but whatever. I also like Gavroche in the musical. Well, time to quote people...

Eponine93 wrote:
I hate Gavroche but for reasons different than you might think. I was in the ensemble of a youth production of Fiddler, Jr. in April along with an extremely energetic and hyperactive boy named Jacob Levine. In the course of the show, this young man misbehaved and simply drove the cast and the director crazy with his wild antics. On one occasion, he attempted to strange half the cast, including myself.

Where is Jacob Levine now? He's one of the three boys rotating the part of Gavroche on Broadway.

And that is why I hate Gavroche.


Oh dear...

I like book!Gavroche much better. (In the musical, he's just kind of...comic relief....but I think he's still awesome.)
Lazarus (Adam G)

Lara wrote:
Eponine93 wrote:
I hate Gavroche but for reasons different than you might think. I was in the ensemble of a youth production of Fiddler, Jr. in April along with an extremely energetic and hyperactive boy named Jacob Levine. In the course of the show, this young man misbehaved and simply drove the cast and the director crazy with his wild antics. On one occasion, he attempted to strange half the cast, including myself.

Where is Jacob Levine now? He's one of the three boys rotating the part of Gavroche on Broadway.

And that is why I hate Gavroche.


Oh dear...

I like book!Gavroche much better. (In the musical, he's just kind of...comic relief....but I think he's still awesome.)


Unfunny comic relief?
Orestes Fasting

EponineMNFF wrote:
Wow! I've never actually seen anybody admit to hating Gavroche.

Personally, I love Gavroche, but I can understand why people would hate him. I think the West End Gavroches are really great... but whenever I see an American production I just want to yell at the little boy for being so awful.


The boys in the revival are still annoying, but less stiff than the ones on the national tour. Somebody actually got them to act, bless them.
The Very Angry Woman

Orestes Fasting wrote:
The boys in the revival are still annoying, but less stiff than the ones on the national tour. Somebody actually got them to act, bless them.


Too bad you never saw Dutch Whitlock.

(What's funny is, for a while in the early 2000s, the best cast members on Broadway WERE the kids...)
Lazarus (Adam G)

The Very Angry Woman wrote:

(What's funny is, for a while in the early 2000s, the best cast members on Broadway WERE the kids...)


That's just SAD.
Salome

I dont mind Gavroche..its that Whiny bitch,Eponine that I want to punch out.
LesMisForever

Hey! Salome, you are here Smile

You have to punch someone, don't you? Razz
Well, not all Eponines are whinny.
Salome

the character is whiny. she is given the 2 worst songs in the show..all about her "undying love" foor marius..SHUT UP ALREADY BITCH..go find a nice street singer or a barkeep and settle down. he doesntl ove you get over it!

LOL
Lazarus (Adam G)

That's all we need: a bitch slapping fight between Eponine and Cossette.

"YOU TOOK MA MAN, BIATCH!

"YEAH, I TOOK HIM TO TOWN!"

"ARRRG!"

Les Miz Gone Wild...
LesMisForever

Salome wrote:
the character is whiny. she is given the 2 worst songs in the show..all about her "undying love" foor marius..SHUT UP ALREADY BITCH..go find a nice street singer or a barkeep and settle down. he doesntl ove you get over it!

LOL



*Relectuantly disagree, and protect stomach* Very Happy

You are harsh Salome!. I am not fan of "A little fall of rain" either. It is kind of cheesy, but i like "On my Own". The music is wonderful. One of the best, and the lyrics are not too bad either. Granted, it is a "set piece" situation, but it is a real situation neverthless. Hey! Enrique where is your essay about that song? Smile
One thing i agree with you on it though, Marius is not worth it.

You might like "L'Air De La Misere" from the French Concept much more. The same beautiful music, but with lyrics that are much closer to the spirit of the novel, and sung by "Fantine"
eponine5

I think that in "On My Own" she is not just singing about her unrequited love for Marius, but also about poverty and "la misere" in general. She just says this through the song and the fact that she could never be with Marius -partly because of this. Of course, I do agree that without the book, it wouldn't be all that obvious.
kittengoespop

I think the song is about her coming to terms with the fact that Marius doesn't love her and never will. Also, it really accentuates her own insanity, and it shows her coming to terms with that. I mean, come on, the girl's been living a delusion for the past... who knows how many years of her life.

Basically, "On My Own" is a bit of self-examination for a crazy girl.
The Very Angry Woman

Lazarus (Adam G) wrote:
The Very Angry Woman wrote:

(What's funny is, for a while in the early 2000s, the best cast members on Broadway WERE the kids...)


That's just SAD.


Yeah, a couple of my friends who were big followers of the tour moved to New York around that time, and said the drop in quality was amazing. Although apparently the Broadway kids at the time really WERE quite good, and even when not compraed to their adult co-stars.
Salome

LesMisForever wrote:
Salome wrote:
the character is whiny. she is given the 2 worst songs in the show..all about her "undying love" foor marius..SHUT UP ALREADY BITCH..go find a nice street singer or a barkeep and settle down. he doesntl ove you get over it!

LOL



*Relectuantly disagree, and protect stomach* Very Happy

You are harsh Salome!. I am not fan of "A little fall of rain" either. It is kind of cheesy, but i like "On my Own". The music is wonderful. One of the best, and the lyrics are not too bad either. Granted, it is a "set piece" situation, but it is a real situation neverthless. Hey! Enrique where is your essay about that song? Smile
One thing i agree with you on it though, Marius is not worth it.

You might like "L'Air De La Misere" from the French Concept much more. The same beautiful music, but with lyrics that are much closer to the spirit of the novel, and sung by "Fantine"


I owned the french recording before i owned the English translatiuons. I still think On My Own is a whiny trite song.

It would have cuts some time off the show if they cut Eponine out completely like many of the film versions do.
LesMisForever

Fair enough Salome, you don't like the song Smile

I certainly wouldn't cut Eponine altogether, because she is an important character i think. But, maybe downsizing her role.
Salome

She isnt really that important a character. and especially in the musical. half of the reason eponine exists in the book the whole thenardier family through line.. they never even develop her relationship with brother gavroche in the show.
The Very Angry Woman

LesMisForever wrote:
I certainly wouldn't cut Eponine altogether, because she is an important character i think. But, maybe downsizing her role.


Not really. She's rather incidental in the books. B & S are the ones who turned her into a teen idol.
LesMisForever

I disagree with you ladies.

Ok, TVAW, i agree with you that the musical elevated her very much, but she is not a negligible character in the novel.

She fulfils few important roles for the advancement of the plot, not least Marius ending up at the barricades.
Salome

But read the book..he would have ended up at the barricade anyway.
LesMisForever

Salome wrote:
But read the book..he would have ended up at the barricade anyway.


Salome, i read the book.

If my memory serves me right, he was crying that Cosette is going away, and he will never see her again, then Eponine came along and he ended up at the barricades.
Lazarus (Adam G)

Actually, if we were going to cut Eponine (or "On My Own") we should also cut those useless duets between Cosette and Marius.

One is enough. God, it feels like a Frank Wildhorn musical...
Orestes Fasting

But Marius and Cosette are actually an indispensible part of the story, unlike Eponine whose purpose is basically to deliver Marius' letters and occasionally tap people on the shoulder and tell them to get on with the plot already. The fact that it was Eponine who, in the book, told Marius his friends were waiting for him at the barricade is incidental; it could just as easily have been Courfeyrac bumping into him on the street on the way to the insurrection.

Somehow, you never see the "important minor characters LIKE EPONINE deserve their screen time and are too indispenible to be cut" crowd whining about how Gillenormand was cut entirely, Courfeyrac has practically no lines, the Bishop of Digne is a walk-on role, Gavroche is reduced to comic relief, no mention is made of Marius' father, and the grown Cosette has a tiny part.
Quique

I love all the characters in the musical. There isn't one I think should be cut. I hate the Thenardiers for being such buttholes but I wouldn't cut them.

I've seen Eponines that really add nothing to the role, which is often played annoyingly. I don't care for the character at all when played that way. When played right though (Sutton Foster), I LOVE the character. I think it's foolish to even want the role downsized, cut, or to base one's disdain for the character over silly fangirlies and such. She doesn't annoy me unless played wrong. But then again, that goes for any character in the show.
LesMisForever

Orestes Fasting wrote:
The fact that it was Eponine who, in the book, told Marius his friends were waiting for him at the barricade is incidental; it could just as easily have been Courfeyrac bumping into him on the street on the way to the insurrection.
.


Eponine's action was delibrate, and part of the story. Delivering the letters is not a minor thing either.
Moreover, she is one of the symbols of the novel. Valjean, Javert, Fantine are reflections of people in society. And so is Eponine.
Salome

[quote="Quique"][color=darkblue]I love all the characters in the musical. There isn't one I think should be cut. I hate the Thenardiers for being such buttholes but I wouldn't cut them. quote]

Because the Thenardiers are two of Litratures gratest creations. right up there with Fagin, Edward Rochester,Mrs. Danvers, Daisy and Gatsby and Tom Sawyer.
Orestes Fasting

LesMisForever wrote:
Orestes Fasting wrote:
The fact that it was Eponine who, in the book, told Marius his friends were waiting for him at the barricade is incidental; it could just as easily have been Courfeyrac bumping into him on the street on the way to the insurrection.
.


Eponine's action was delibrate, and part of the story. Delivering the letters is not a minor thing either.
Moreover, she is one of the symbols of the novel. Valjean, Javert, Fantine are reflections of people in society. And so is Eponine.


I'm not arguing that Eponine's not a part of the story, just that she's expendable. Cutting her out doesn't make the story as a whole suffer any more than cutting Gillenormand, eliminating Cosette's long courtship with Marius, or reducing the students to a faceless mass of assorted revolutionaries.
EponinesRain

Orestes Fasting wrote:
LesMisForever wrote:
Eponine's action was delibrate, and part of the story. Delivering the letters is not a minor thing either. Moreover, she is one of the symbols of the novel. Valjean, Javert, Fantine are reflections of people in society. And so is Eponine.


I'm not arguing that Eponine's not a part of the story, just that she's expendable. Cutting her out doesn't make the story as a whole suffer any more than cutting Gillenormand, eliminating Cosette's long courtship with Marius, or reducing the students to a faceless mass of assorted revolutionaries.


This is more of an addendum to LesMisForever's argument, sort of. I hope nobody dismisses my post just b/c I'm an explict fan of Eponine's. If there's anything wrong, blame my convoluted writing! Heh!

Eponine's one of the characters who has lived at both ends of the social spectrum. Valjean, Cosette, and the Thenardiers of course illustrate the same idea; but Eponine emphasizes this point by being a direct comparison of Cosette. Her drastic social decay perfectly mirrors Cosette�s sudden social rise. It�s this dichotomy that can only be invested in someone who has the same age, gender, love interest as Cosette. Why else would B/S position Cosette and Eponine to stare at e/o through the gate in "Attack on Rue Plumet"?

The Thenardiers show the same descent in society; but they swindle from the start. Eponine is distinct from Thenardier�s gang b/c she unwillingly cheats, steals, and has a good heart. There�s the oppressed and corrupted, but also the oppressed and naive (helpless?). Is she annoying and whiney? Yes. Crazy? Best part about her. Could the narrative advance without Eponine? Absolutely. But, like LMF, I think she�s a great way to show the varying horizons and faces of the social hierarchy.
Quique

We have Cosette and Marius' love story amidst all of these other stories. And even within that story, we have Eponine's story. I ask myself, is Eponine's story relevant? Do people experience these sorts of emotions in real, everyday life? Are there situations such as these? Yes.

We have one side; Cosette basically living a rags to riches story and finding the ultimate love of her life. Then we have the other side; Eponine going from a pampered brat to thieving alley scum, and losing out on the affections of the one she has fallen for.

What I like about her story is that, like Valjean's, she goes through a very hard life of misery, poverty, abuse, and neglect, yet still ends up being a hero of sorts. You'd expect someone in her position to turn bitter and do all she can to prevent Marius' love for Cosette from flourishing, but instead, she accepts reality and actually helps Marius. Because, in the end, all that really matters to her is that HE is happy.

Her character shows us that individual choices do make a difference for the better. She could've caused so much trouble, but instead, chose to be there for him. Personally, I love her story. I love it even more when played right. Her character isn't expendable to me.

Like Valjean, Eponine triumphs despite all the suffering, and that's the kind of story that makes Les Mis�rables, as a whole, the moving piece that it is to me. Most of us lack the courage to follow the footsteps of many of Hugo's characters. When they all march forward during the finale and ask if we'd like to join their crusade, it's a challenge. An invitation not so much to do exactly as what those characters have done but an invitation to do something to touch someone else's life in a positive way. Eponine swallowed her pain and accepted reality like a trooper. She decided to play a painful but pivotal role in the growing love of Marius and Cosette, instead of being selfish and ruining it. If anything, she shows how not to be a needy, whiney brat. But a woman with enough wits to know what can and what cannot be and to accept her role in such a difficult situation.
EponinesRain

Well said, Quique

Lazarus (Adam G) wrote:
That's all we need: a bitch slapping fight between Eponine and Cossette.
"YOU TOOK MA MAN, BIATCH!
"YEAH, I TOOK HIM TO TOWN!"
"ARRRG!"


It's funny you should say that. I swear I came about this by coincidence! It's so uncanny. I also just want to say again that I DO NOT think that Eponine should end up with Marius. I prefer that she dies, and this whole Cosette vs. Eponine is just silly. Still, these are pretty funny:




There's also Valjean vs. Javert! hahah
http://jossisahottie.com/ktddotnet/media/gallery/20060713-valjeanvjavert.jpg
Quique

^ Omg, that's hilarious!!! Laughing
Salome

where's the site for these? I love them!
Hans

Lazarus (Adam G) wrote:
Actually, if we were going to cut Eponine (or "On My Own") we should also cut those useless duets between Cosette and Marius.

One is enough. God, it feels like a Frank Wildhorn musical...


That is so true!
Mademoiselle Lanoire

Salome wrote:
where's the site for these? I love them!


http://takase.syuriken.jp/ArmJoe.htm
eponine5

I agree that Eponine isn't exactly the most important character, but many characters in other musicals are just as unimportant to the plot. Very few stories have all the characters' plots as neatly matched together as Les Miserables.
The character of Eponine is there to show the readers/audience something different from all the other characters. She didn't steal or help her father with his dirty work completely unwillingly. She was hungry and needed food, of course she would steal. Hunger and a need to help his family was what caused Valjean to steal in the first place. Eponine was put in one of the worst possible situations, but the important thing about her is that she learned how to distinguish between right and wrong. She showed this when she stopped her father and Patron-Minette from robbing Valjean and Cosette, and when she helped Marius. That ability to know what is the wrong thing to do is what let her die happily, with Marius beside her. In the book, if she had not eventually saved Marius, then she would probably have died alone in the gutter.
Eponine isn't really as annoying and whiney as she's often made out to be (that job's saved for her fangirls Wink ). She showed extra strength when she realised that it was wrong to leave Cosette and Valjean to be attacked, however spiteful she felt towards them. The difference between her and Valjean is that while Valjean was taught to forgive by the Bishop, Eponine had to teach herself. But then unlike Valjean, Eponine wasn't able to drag herself out of her bad situation in time.

Just my opinion. Says the girl with the Eponine username and avatar
Salome

every Eponine i have seen has been whiny and Annoting..that includes the drewadful Frances Ruffle, ans the miscast Lea Salonga. (whom i like in other shows).
Lazarus (Adam G)

Salome wrote:
every Eponine i have seen has been whiny and Annoting..that includes the drewadful Frances Ruffle, ans the miscast Lea Salonga. (whom i like in other shows).


What about Sutton Foster?

I usually hate Eponine, but she was excellent...
Colle

I have been lucky to see some pretty good Eponines on stage(Rona Figueroa, Ma-Anne Dionisio, Melissa Lyons). Even the one I thought was the weakest singer and actress, Melissa Lyons, had her good points IMO. She wasn't whiny, and she did make a pretty good effort to be tough when she needed to be.
EponinesRain

Salome wrote:
every Eponine i have seen has been whiny and Annoting..that includes the drewadful Frances Ruffle, ans the miscast Lea Salonga. (whom i like in other shows).


Then blame the actresses, not her character. Her character in the book and the musical may not be the best, I understand that; but at least she brings some kind of fascination and complexity. Would you agree? I mean, I really find it nonsensical to force my own views, but I really don't think she's as one dimensional as everybody is making her out to be.

Yes, some actresses were very whiney and 'blah". Diana Kari..?Kaarin..--don't care enough to spell her name...comes to mind. Heh! I agree that Sutton Foster did a very good job playing her, though! Sutton has the Midas touch for every role, anyway.
Quique

Yeah, I wonder why people blame the character? People such as Sutton have demonstrated that the character can be far from annoying and actually have lots to give an audience.

If it's actresses or interpretations we're talking about, then I'd have to agree that MANY play the role wrong or annoyingly. There are some that play her OK but don't add anything really special to the role. There are only a handful of actresses I can think of that, in my mind, have done the role justice.
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