curlyhairedsoprano91
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bamatabois?forgive me if this is a stupid question, but it's something I've never understood about the musical.
when bamatabois propositions fantine, why does she say no? she's a prostitute, she's probably done it with more vile creatures than he. I know the audience comes away with "ooh, that guy's such a perv!" but when he says, "it's not for the whore to say yes sir or no sir, etc." he's exactly right. There was no indication that he wasn't going to pay her for the sex, or that he was going to do anything horrible to her. It makes much more sense in the book. What gives?
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The Very Angry Woman
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From what I heard from someone who was on tour for a few years, Bamatabois is supposed to reminder her of Tholomyes. which freaks her out.
Yeah, I know, that doesn't make sense either, but that's what he told me...
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jackrussell
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In the context of the musical, she's new at the game and so she panics when she is approached by this unpleasant individual, who treats her like something he owns, not as a person.
Although she clearly has to lower her expectations if she's expecting men who use prostitutes to be considerate and caring, it's a natural reaction.
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music is my life!!!
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he's a creep!!! I think she's pretty freaked out by him, esp as she's only really a "newbie" 
I know i'd be scared if i was Fantine, esp as she's just abot fitting in, although not, because it's for a good cause (or so she thinks!)
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High-baritonne
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In the productions I've seen of Les Mis here in Norway, both versions had the other whores hinting that Bamatabois is a bad man, and that he will threat her bad. Do I recall it wrong if I say they did the same in the 2004 London production?
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Colle
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The idea that Bamatabois reminds Fantine of Felix does make sense. In the book, Bamatabois is compared to Felix.
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Ulkis
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From the official site:
| Quote: | | Utterly degraded by her new trade, she gets into a fight with a prospective customer |
Basically, she snaps.
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Vanessa20
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I think I agree with everyone else. She's new to the job, he's a creep, and she's probably never done it with someone as bad as he is before.
I've never noticed if it's standard for the other whores to be disturbed by him or not, but it is standard in the CamMack production for him to grab her on "The usual price..." and jab her in the crotch with his stick.
One thing I've always felt strongly about is that he really seem creepy from the outset, so she doesn't seem to just refuse him at the drop of a hat. I really liked the Broadway revival staging, where she was perfectly ready to go with him until he did the crotch-jab. She wouldn't say no unless he really gave her a good reason.
(Kind of on the same subject, I remember when the cuts were first made to the show, someone on some site or other complained about "It's the same with a tart..." being cut. They said that without it, the effect changes from "Bamatabois is a horrible person" to "Fantine can't handle a little roughness." But I don't think I agree. Since when does a man have the right to hit a woman even once, even if she is a prostitute; since when does abuse only become a bad thing if it's long and drawn out? What do you think?)
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Orestes Fasting
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Re: bamatabois? | curlyhairedsoprano91 wrote: | | but when he says, "it's not for the whore to say yes sir or no sir, etc." he's exactly right. |
No he's not. Management reserves the right to eject jerkass customers from the premises, no matter whether management is selling sex or silly-looking 1820s bonnets.
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Yakko
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I do have to say that playing that role was awesome!
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lesmisloony
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Soprano, your icon just sent me into some kind of fit.
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curlyhairedsoprano91
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| lesmisloony wrote: | | Soprano, your icon just sent me into some kind of fit. |
My avatar? Why? Because everything, as it turns out, is ragtime? Or because I'm so *predictable*? 
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SmallTownIngenue
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My director played like it was because he had a reputation for hitting prostitutes, being abusive, etc. He instructed Bamatabois to be very rough with me when he saw me. I had no idea about the Tholomyes thing, but that does make a lot of sense!
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What Is This Feeling?
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Bamatabois is a poor, victimized, wreched misogynist. Poor thing. Anyhow, himself and Fantine were obviosly having a pretty bad already. Bamatabois just wanted to blow off some steam. Who knows? Maybe his higher executive cut his billing. He feels powerless in his system, even though being decently wealthy. His wife might not be the most ideal woman either. Maybe he isn't married.... hmm. Anyhow, he can take out anything he wants on Fantine. Because she is lower than him.
We already know why Fantine snapped. If either of them paired with another person, things might've been different. But, they crossed paths... and s**t happend.
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Mistress
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| High-baritonne wrote: | | In the productions I've seen of Les Mis here in Norway, both versions had the other whores hinting that Bamatabois is a bad man, and that he will threat her bad. Do I recall it wrong if I say they did the same in the 2004 London production? |
I remember seeing that in the Bomlo clips I saw on Youtube...the other ladies seemed to warning Fantine against him because he was a beater or had other not-very-nice habits with hookers.
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SmallTownIngenue
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| Mistress wrote: | | High-baritonne wrote: | | In the productions I've seen of Les Mis here in Norway, both versions had the other whores hinting that Bamatabois is a bad man, and that he will threat her bad. Do I recall it wrong if I say they did the same in the 2004 London production? |
I remember seeing that in the Bomlo clips I saw on Youtube...the other ladies seemed to warning Fantine against him because he was a beater or had other not-very-nice habits with hookers. |
That's how we played it in my production as well.
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