Archive for Musicals.Net Musicals.Net |
| twofoursixohone24601 |
Curtain Call Order and Character AdviceMy school is possibly going to put on the SE this spring, and I'm incredibly excited, but I have a few questions, Does anyone know the order in the Curtain Call? And also, Does anyone have any audition tips for Cosette?I know.. that's very vague and over-asked and annoying, I'm just getting anxious.. |
||||
| The Very Angry Woman |
From what I remember, this is the curtain call on the US tour:
Female ensemble, Young Cosette, Young Eponine (on matinees) Robbers Students Enjolras, Gavroche Th�nardiers Marius, Cosette Fantine, Eponine Javert Valjean At the moment I'm slightly fuzzy on the middle three, but that should be it, more or less. |
||||
| Vicam |
I just saw the tour production about a month ago and the order was the same as what TVAW said.
I actually have a question to add, why are the young Cosette's and Eponine's missing from the evening show curtain calls? Is it just because they're young and the part they play is over early so they go home? That's what I always assumed but I figured I'd ask. I've never seen a matinee so I've never seen them bow. |
||||
| The Very Angry Woman |
Yes, it's so they can go home and go to bed. The only time they stay is if it's someone's last show, first show, or is otherwise a "special" night. |
||||
| twofoursixohone24601 |
Eponine is after Cosette?
Who would you all consider to be the female lead? |
||||
| The Very Angry Woman |
Yes, but she bows with Fantine, which takes some of the sting off. |
||||
| twofoursixohone24601 |
I can't decide wether I want to go for Cosette or Eponine.. I had always thought of myself as a high soprano, I can hit a D above the staff strongly. But, the director of the show had me sing mezzo soprano for a chorus concert a week or so back. I'd absolutely love either part, I'm just unsure of which to go for. Could anyone give a bit of a comparison between the two? It'd be greatly appreciated
**edited..** |
||||
| SanityIsLost |
Eponine has a lower more belty voice and Cosettes is a higher soprano voice. | ||||
| Orestes Fasting |
If you got assigned Soprano II or Alto in a chorus performance, it has nothing to do with how high your voice is--it's all about how well you can learn and hold harmonies, and which register you blend best in. If you feel confident with a soprano role, try out for Cosette. | ||||
| Lesmiserables24601 |
HmmmmWell not being a girl, or a soprano for that matter I can't really comment on audition tips vocally. The director of my SE production was in the UK tour cast, as well as in London as Marius for some time and along with the package schools recieve directors are given a set of guidelines to 'test' auditionees vocally. The Cosette sang'In my Life' as her audition piece but was also asked to sing many of Cosette's as well as Eponine's incidental parts. It may help to know the show intimately before the audition - not only to know the music but know the intention of the characters as well as the piece.I've said this is other audition topics but If you are in need of it, I have many, many audition information sheet, guidelines and packages I can send to you if you just PM me. Good luck 
|
||||
| Sairin |
I'm 99% sure that's exactly what it is in London. |
||||
| mizzie |
Just a random question: on the tour, do they get a new set of kids for each city? I'm talking about Gavroche, Young Cosette and Young Eponine. | ||||
| The Very Angry Woman |
They used to when they would stay several months at a time back in the late '80s, but they haven't done that for years. It's logistically impossible when they're staying for one or two weeks at a time, and it takes two weeks to rehearse any new cast member.
I should hope so. What other kids are there? |
||||
| Quique |
Leads...I've always thought of Fantine as the female lead.Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm almost certain that the roles of Valjean, Javert, and Fantine are the only ones cast as "leads." Every other role is supporting and part of the ensemble for long stretches of time during the show. |
||||
| The Very Angry Woman |
Re: Leads...
Yep; even though Fantine doubles as a barricade boy, they are the only three on a principal contract. Everyone else is "featured ensemble," and that's what I go by. |
||||
| Fantine |
I'd just like to tell you that there will be most likely a ton of girls auditioning for Eponine. Not that that should stop you or anything, just so you know.. | ||||
| javertsw |
To be fair, the actress playing Eponine does a lot more in the show. We could argue about who is a bigger character- but the actress playing Eponine has more to do in the show undoubtedly. Fantine is definately the female lead, in my opinion. Is Thenardier not considered a lead? I always though that the leads are Valjean, Javert and Thenardier. |
||||
| The Very Angry Woman |
Not contracturally. Everyone but Fantine, Valjean, and Javert is on a featured ensemble contract, because they all double in crowd scenes before going on to play their main roles. |
||||
| Frank_Rind |
As a character, Eponine does really get the most to do, mainly because her parts are the most 'spread out' of the female leads and she appears in the Barricade sequence and none of the other female characters do (other than ensemble, of course). I've always felt as though Cosette is the most challenging role to play, however, because with less to do she has to work harder to gain the trust and sympathy of the audience, as well as to develop a three-dimensional character.
As I said to my friend when she was cast as Cosette and not Eponine..."You could have really sold Eponine to the audience...but she doesn't need to be sold any more than the musical already does, in terms of directing sympathy towards her. As Cosette you will have to work harder and if you succeed it will be a more rewarding experience." Or something like that. I always thought the upside to playing Fantine, however, is that although she dies within the first hour of the show, she is the central player in a story entirely focussed around her. When Eponine appears, she is merely a supporting player in the much larger story that is 'Paris, 1832'. Madame Thenardier can also win the audience over when done well. Anyways...looking at Eponine and Cosette in comparison, they both have their positive and negative aspects. Eponine is the larger role, and probably gets more 'dramatic' moments, for whatever they are worth. Cosette, however, is vastly underrated, and it takes someone truly talented to pull her off. My director (same production as Lesmiserables24601...he was in the UK tour and on the West End), said to me on the issue, "There's a million girls in the industry who can do Eponine...Cosette is the hardest female role to cast." So I guess it depends what you aspire to...the glory and limelight that Eponine seems to be consistently awarded, or the challenge of tackling a role that I believe has a lot of hidden depth. |
||||
| SwizzleKiss878 |
I completely agree; decide what you truly want and go for it! As far as audition tips for Cosette go, I'd say a big one is to get a voice teacher if you don't already have one. It'll really help in learning the audition (and hopefully the show) music--not only for her high notes (if you have to sing them for your audition) but for the rest of the music as well. If nothing else, just to have someone to bounce character ideas off of while you're rehearsing for the audition! Also, know your music cold so you can be completely in character for your audition, whether you're singing "In My Life" or "A Little Fall of Rain" (those were the Cosette and Eponine original audition pieces for our production). Just go for it! We just finished the production at my school and I must say that it was one of the best experiences I've ever had, not only because I got the role I wanted (Cosette), but Les Mis is truly an amazing show--get ready for a heck of a ride! Feel free to PM me if you want to talk any further. |
||||
| Frank_Rind |
May I also say that if you have a choice for what song from the show you'd like to audition with, for Cosette I would suggest 'A Heart Full of Love' instead of 'In My Life'. It is possible to sing at least the last verse of 'Heart Full of Love' without Marius, and while some may balk at having to do the final note in an audition, let me tell you its no more difficult than 'In My Life' is. A lot of aspiring Cosettes in our production were caught out singing 'In My Life', as they struggled with the transition from the lower notes to the higher and especially the constant Fs in "Does he know I'm alive".
The girl who ended up getting Cosette sang "A Heart Full of Love" (she went in with the final verse prepared, but the director asked her to sing the whole thing). She also sang "On My Own" for Eponine, which is a little generic, but really, what else is there in terms of showing that one has both the vocal and emotional range to play the part, and a part of "Fantine's Arrest" for Fantine ("M'sieur don't mock me now I pray" to "He'd let me die instead"), which I thought was a good idea as it shows range ("send" is a high E flat) and emotions also. The director was happy with her choices and they had a hard time choosing which role to cast her in, so she obviously did something right. Those are jsut some possibilities.
|
||||
| Annaliese |
Even though I consider Fantine as a more central role (and she is obviously contracted as a lead) doesn't Eponine have more stage time? I am just asking out of curiosity. It may just seem like she does because her part is more spread out. | ||||
| javertsw |
I agree about pulling Cosette off.
It's easy to play Cosette without looking bad, or embarrassing yourself. It's very hard to play Cosette and be remembered. (I'm talking about in acting terms). To play Cosette really well you have to be a very good actress. But if you aren't a good actress, you could probaly play her and get away with it... but you wouldn't stand out. |
||||
| Mr_X |
Here's the order we did our casting call:
Half Ensemble Half Ensemble Factory Workers & Foreman Whores & Pimps Students (the 7 main ones with names) Young Cosette Gavroche Enjolras Eponine and Fantine Marius and Cosette Javert Valjean |
||||
| flying_pigs |
What about the Th�nardiers? |
||||
| Mr_X |
I knew I forgot something. I believe they were after Enjolras and before Eponine/Fantine. | ||||
| alice*74 |
I agree with everything that's been said about the comparison between the two characters - Cosette can often come across as wooden, even in good productions. I remember clearly seeing it in London for the first time and wondering why on earth Marius would choose her over Eponine!
In vocal terms, Cosette has a more classical style - she needs to come across as very pure and sincere, hence no belting or overdramatising the voice. Eponine, on the other hand, has what might be seen as more typical musical theatre singing - however still not belted but sensitive and strong. Although on paper Eponine's songs look easier because of the narrower range, and are probably better known, they are actually really difficult to sing well with good interpretation. All three of the female roles mentioned are fantastic roles that most people would kill to play - also don't understimate Madame Thenardier if you're a good actress; she has some cracking, show-stealing moments! |
||||
| I_was_enjolras |
our school just did it this spring and i was enjolras...here is how we did it....
The Beggars Chorus The Regular Chorus The 'Turning' Girls The ABC Cafe Gang The Thenardiers Eponine and Gavroche Enjolras and Javert Marius and Cosette Valjean and Fantine A little different but it was well received by the audience... |
||||
| EponineMNFF |
That is such a different order. O.o Javert's part is definitely bigger than Cosette's.
I guess it doesn't really matter though. I like Fantine with Valjean. ^^ |
||||
| music is my life!!! |
when i saw it in london i don't remember when cosette had her bow but eponine and fantine bowed together towards the end of the curtain call. to be honest i think eponine is the part that the younger cameo should play and madame t is the most famous comic actress. i think cosette is understated as she is in the most songs out of the 3 "leads" | ||||
| flying_pigs |
Cosette bows with Marius in London and most places before the Th�nardiers.
Are you saying Cosette is in more songs than Eponine? I'm pretty sure Eponine is in more songs than Cosette. |
||||
| music is my life!!! |
she's in the story for longer than eponine | ||||
| flying_pigs |
She's in the story but she has a lot less stage time, which is probably why Eponine bows after Cosette. |
||||
| EponineMNFF |
Yeah, Eponine is definitely in more songs. Cosette sort of disappears in act two until Every Day... That's a long time to be sitting backstage. o.o | ||||
| broadwayxdoll |
oh jeeeeze. this is getting me nervous. just reading all of this. im auditioning for the school edition in october and im terrified | ||||
| moongoddess82 |
I'm confused about the definitions of the contracts... I watched an interview with Lea and she said, as Fantine, she spends many scenes in Act II completely in the ensemble, until the finale... so in that case, you can't say that because most of the characters spend their time in the ensemble, they are given featured ensemble contracts. They must use some other criteria for defining it, because that can't be it. Are you guys sure she's given a principal contract? That just sounds strange to me. Fantine is not that big of a part and while the events are somewhat revolving around her, they mostly revolve around Valjean. | ||||
| Moci |
I believe that in the original Broadway production, at least, Valjean, Javert and Fantine were given principal contracts because they appear as their character the first time they are on stage. Everyone else is featured, because they appear in the ensemble, before assuming their main character. In 1996, Cameron Mackintosh said that, "In America, all but three of the company are considered chorus", whereas the London production, doesn't give out separate contracts to principals and chorus, because British Actors Equity doesn't require them to. |
||||
| moongoddess82 |
thanks for the explanation!! that makes sense...
|