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Vanessa20	Les Mis pet peeves Quique asked for it I'll start with the obvious ones that I think everyone shares: Applause after any of the deaths (particularly Gavroche's), with the sole exception of Javert�s Suicide if the actor is especially spectacular. Hammy Thenardiers; sappy ing�nue Eponines; blah Cosettes; boring anyone. The cuts. The revival orchestrations. Stupid fanfics that portray the characters in ways that contradict their purpose and/or Hugo�s message.
lesmisloony	Two S's in Cosette, the misconception that Th�nardier runs the Patron-Minette.
Quique	The new "aww, we're all chums," happy, smiley walk toward the audience during the 2nd verse of the finale. I can't tell you how disgusted I was to see they've implemented this in London and the recent Dutch production. I was hoping it would remain in the Broadway revival and die out once it closed. Guess not. Might as well have Enjolras do a tap dance during DYHTPS.
flying_pigs	Thankfully they've taken the "happy chummy" Finale part out of London! A pet peeve? That people think it's set during the French Revolution! No! Oh and another, that people think it's all in French! People who think Marius should have been with Eponine.
Yakko	People saying that it was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber! I swear that someone asked me and I completely LOST it on him!
Quique	flying_pigs wrote: Thankfully they've taken the "happy chummy" Finale part out of London! Good! Just one of the countless minor things I hated about the revival. More pet peeves... -When Enjolras does NOT yell "until the earth is FREE!" at the final battle, but sings or speak-sings it instead.
Oli-Ol	When people pronounce Enjolras incorrectly When people think they know an awful lot about the show and then proceed to tell you all about it... and most of what they say is wrong.
Eppie-Sue	- Applause after Gavroche's "that inspector thinks he's something" remarks. Yes, he's a kid. That doesn't mean you have to clap. Especially seeing as nobody's applauding after way more amazing stuff, e.g. "Who Am I?", "Do you hear the people sing?" or, I don't know, "Every Day"... - Grantaire blaming Enjolras after Gavroche's death. wtf. - Applaude for IDAD before the song is over, e.g. right after "Now life has killed the dream I dreamed", with a total disregard to the fact that the songs ends with the last notes of the music and not with the end of lyrics. I heard that on a recent London recording and facepalmed. Just because of that stupid Boyle. - Speaking of which: The Susan Boyle hype. And all the ads in London that literally say "You can dream the dream". The poster looks all Christmas-ish now! and I agree on what Quique said about the "we're all chums" stuff. Bah. Glad I never had to see that on stage. Quote: Might as well have Enjolras do a tap dance during DYHTPS. but that would be awesome. come on. On the cart! please, please just once! xD
flying_pigs	Ahhh yes, applause after Gavroche's remarks always annoys me! And when it does happens, most Eponine's don't wait for the applause to stop so the start of Eponine's Errand is drowned out!
Ulkis	Quote: I heard that on a recent London recording and facepalmed. Just because of that stupid Boyle. I wish so much I could ban applause during musicals, except for the end of the acts.
Quique	While I adore the current orchestration for "Stars," I sort of wish they would've kept most of the original London version intact. At least up until the end, and retained the current more dramatic ending. The original is just so much prettier (though I'm glad they removed those tacky drums that can be heard on one of the OLC preview audios. Ick).
Pannic	How is the London version different?
Fantine	Why should you not applaud during musicals? If the song/actor is terrific then I think that it's a good way to show your appreciation. I actually think it's a pet peeve not to applaud when it is in order.
Quique	Pannic wrote: How is the London version different? The one sung by Roger Allam on the Original London Cast Recording is completely different from the one we're used to. Don't tell me you've never noticed a difference. As for the clapping, I only mind if it's after Gavroche's death. It just seems like an odd place to clap. I don't mind when it's done after IDAD or any of the other solos.
le_moofin	Quique wrote: Pannic wrote: How is the London version different? The one sung by Roger Allam on the Original London Cast Recording is completely different from the one we're used to. Don't tell me you've never noticed a difference. As for the clapping, I only mind if it's after Gavroche's death. It just seems like an odd place to clap. I don't mind when it's done after IDAD or any of the other solos. I always want to cry when Gavroche dies, not clap. My friends and I would actually giggle backstage when people would applaud... it's like saying, "Yay the kid died! Great job!" Applause is well and good, but if it ruins the emotional atmostphere, then it annoys me. Awed silence is just as gratifying.
Mademoiselle Lanoire	Fantine wrote: Why should you not applaud during musicals? If the song/actor is terrific then I think that it's a good way to show your appreciation. I actually think it's a pet peeve not to applaud when it is in order. Personally, I think it interrupts the flow of things.
eponine5	Fantine wrote: Why should you not applaud during musicals? If the song/actor is terrific then I think that it's a good way to show your appreciation. I actually think it's a pet peeve not to applaud when it is in order. Oh god! I was recently watching a show at the Edinburgh fringe festival with a grand total of 6 other people in the audience No-one was brave enough to start the applause so we just had song after song that ended in silence... the sad thing was, the performances were all brilliant! Anyway, I can't stand it when the Gavroche dies in 'three easy steps': 1) freeze 2) arms go limp 3) falls down in a comfortable position This can also lead to people laughing during and afer the death which annoys me almost as much.
aworthyboyishe	eponine5 wrote: Anyway, I can't stand it when the Gavroche dies in 'three easy steps': 1) freeze 2) arms go limp 3) falls down in a comfortable position This can also lead to people laughing during and afer the death which annoys me almost as much. Quite frankly, if you're gonna die like that, you deserve laughter. My biggest issue is when they cast Fantine because she's a great singer, but they assume that she won't have to act much. Um....no. She has her whole dramatic death scene to be My Little Crazy. Annnnnnnnnnnd, Frances Ruffelle. Her voice. It kills me. Gah. So.......much.......vibrata.
aheartfulloflove	The slightly disturbing fangirls and when people are so blinded by one performer they refuse to acknowledge strengths that another may have, no matter how good they are. Of course, opinions of performers are a personal thing. I also generally don't like "Drink With Me" or "Turning..." can't think of a reason why they just don't get me like the other songs do.
LoobyLou	aheartfulloflove wrote: The slightly disturbing fangirls and when people are so blinded by one performer they refuse to acknowledge strengths that another may have, no matter how good they are. Of course, opinions of performers are a personal thing. I didn't know whether it was just things to do with the show that were in this thread but seeing as it's been mentioned I thought I'd add this. I've been nosying around this forum for a while now but have never got round to posting anything. It's not necessarily always fan"girls" though is it? There are a lot of people around who seem to go to extremes. I feel as though Les Mis is a show that tends to attract a lot of people like this. I was at the stage door of one recent performance of the show in London to hear one of the cast members walking into the stage door saying "I see the chinchillas are back again" and by looking around I could see exactly who they meant; it certainly had me and my friend laughing! I'd never want to have a reputation when the cast seemed to be getting fed up with seeing the same old faces. I've only ever returned to a stage door fairly frequently because the cast members have told me to make sure I pop by when in London and I am still in touch with these ones. As for things in the show which really annoy me, an over-dramatic Gavroche death makes me roll my eyes sometimes and, I know this is really picky, but when Valjean is pinned onto the table in the earlier scenes after getting into a brawl and he just kicks his legs in the air this annoys me. the ones who do this never seem to really struggle in any other way. Also something that made me laugh but didn't necessarily annoy me was the Valjean from the last London cast, I can't remember his name but an American bloke before Shannon took over, who used to really place emphasis on two words in "My GOD CoSETTE, I heard a cry in the dark". It was very funny.
Quique	This is a really silly/super nit-picky one, but I dislike "The Broadway National Tour." It's 3rd national tour. Or "Marius" company. I understand they wanted to assure audiences that they were getting THE show, in all its Broadway glory, on the road. And, yes, the tour's offices and management were indeed located in New York so calling it that wasn't inaccurate or wrong. But then I overhear audience members on more than several occasions either claim they've "seen the original Broadway cast when the last tour came to town," or how "the production is headed for Broadway after they close here," because hey, it's THE BROADWAY NATIONAL TOUR. XD
Catherine	LoobyLou wrote: aheartfulloflove wrote: The slightly disturbing fangirls and when people are so blinded by one performer they refuse to acknowledge strengths that another may have, no matter how good they are. Of course, opinions of performers are a personal thing. I didn't know whether it was just things to do with the show that were in this thread but seeing as it's been mentioned I thought I'd add this. I've been nosying around this forum for a while now but have never got round to posting anything. It's not necessarily always fan"girls" though is it? There are a lot of people around who seem to go to extremes. I feel as though Les Mis is a show that tends to attract a lot of people like this. I was at the stage door of one recent performance of the show in London to hear one of the cast members walking into the stage door saying "I see the chinchillas are back again" and by looking around I could see exactly who they meant; it certainly had me and my friend laughing! I'd never want to have a reputation when the cast seemed to be getting fed up with seeing the same old faces. I've only ever returned to a stage door fairly frequently because the cast members have told me to make sure I pop by when in London and I am still in touch with these ones. As for things in the show which really annoy me, an over-dramatic Gavroche death makes me roll my eyes sometimes and, I know this is really picky, but when Valjean is pinned onto the table in the earlier scenes after getting into a brawl and he just kicks his legs in the air this annoys me. the ones who do this never seem to really struggle in any other way. Also something that made me laugh but didn't necessarily annoy me was the Valjean from the last London cast, I can't remember his name but an American bloke before Shannon took over, who used to really place emphasis on two words in "My GOD CoSETTE, I heard a cry in the dark". It was very funny. Drew Sarich. Oh come on, everyone expected me to say it.
MlleTholomy�s	If they cast Drew as Eponine, I'd definitely fly over to London. But then again, I probably would for Gavin James as well.
aheartfulloflove	Another pet peeve is a small Enjolras. It probably sounds trivial but I don't think it looks right if everyone is looking down at the actor playing Enjolras.
Quique	Anyone playing Eponine who does not do the belty "pretending" in OMO. Enjolrati who choose the lower-key version of "they will come when we CALL!!" The use of falsetto in "who am I? 2-4-6-O-1!"
Orestes Fasting	Bad Fantine wigs. Was nutrition in the 1820s so awful that the poor girl only had enough hair to make eight thin sausage curls, or is your costume budget just shit? "My name is Marry-us Pontmercy!" I know it's standard. It still bugs me. Would it have been so hard to use the long 'a' of 'father'? Conductors who rush. With Les Mis, too slow can be excused as ponderous and Hugo-esque, too fast just makes me think you're looking at your watch to make sure the orchestra won't have to be paid overtime. This is very inconvenient and mood-breaking if you're rushing, say, the Elegaic Oboe Solo of Dead Frenchboys.
Vanessa20	Quique wrote: The use of falsetto in "who am I? 2-4-6-O-1!" Ditto. Did Gary Morris sing it that way when you saw him live too, or just on the CSR? Orestes Fasting wrote: "My name is Marry-us Pontmercy!" I know it's standard. It still bugs me. Would it have been so hard to use the long 'a' of 'father'? Ditto, though the wrong way is so standard that it feels weird to me if someone sings it differently. "Cuh-sette" also bugs me, though thankfully that's less common. How did these standard and semi-standard mispronunciations get started anyway? Some of them don't even sound like natural English mispronunciations. Another one: Inexplicable deaths. I.e. Fantines who don't seem sick at all until "Come to Me" and Eponines who don't seem wounded or in pain at all during ALFOR.
Jekkienumber24601	Enjolras' that don't sound as good as Anthony Warlow. David Thaxton being the only one to satisfy that need.
Orestes Fasting	Jekkienumber24601 wrote: Enjolras' that don't sound as good as Anthony Warlow. David Thaxton being the only one to satisfy that need. Yeah, yeah, I know London hasn't had a decent Enjolras in a while, but for god's sake. It might not be terribly easy to find decent recordings of Matt Cammelle or Ben Davis or David Bardsley in the role, but Aaron Lazar? All the international studio recordings? Martin Berger, Kenji Sakamoto, Robert J�cha, Alexander Diepold, Michel Sardou? Thaxton is good but he is not the alpha and the omega.
Ricey	Orestes Fasting wrote: Conductors who rush. With Les Mis, too slow can be excused as ponderous and Hugo-esque, too fast just makes me think you're looking at your watch to make sure the orchestra won't have to be paid overtime. This is very inconvenient and mood-breaking if you're rushing, say, the Elegaic Oboe Solo of Dead Frenchboys. I hate it when conductors rush too. When I was at a london performance a few months ago it had been fine throughout the performance but when it was coming towards the end of the second half the conductor was making the orcestra go far too fast and the performer had to rush the song just to keep up. It ruined what was supposed to be a rather sad moment.
Eponines_Hat	Eppie-Sue wrote: . Just because of that stupid Boyle. - Speaking of which: The Susan Boyle hype. And all the ads in London that literally say "You can dream the dream". The poster looks all Christmas-ish now! YES!!! Terrible Grantaire interpretations drive me NUTS! There is NO POINT having that character in there if you are just going for comic value. AGH!! Also (on a tangent)... the jerk who tried to steal my program on Monday night annoyed me A LOT! Shell out the 5 quid yourself, you cheap person![/i][/u]
Ulkis	Quote: "My name is Marry-us Pontmercy!" I know it's standard. It still bugs me. Would it have been so hard to use the long 'a' of 'father'? I dunno. Mah-ri-us would already be different enough from the normal pronunciation, might as well go all the way. Now what sounded super unnatural to me was the "Marry-oos" of the 1952 film My pet peeve is when people call Cosette Colette. It's one thing if you haven't seen the show in a while, but I was with someone where we JUST saw the show, and she said Colette. Man, they only say it 492 times during the show. Quote: Why should you not applaud during musicals? If the song/actor is terrific then I think that it's a good way to show your appreciation. I actually think it's a pet peeve not to applaud when it is in order. What Mademoiselle Lanoire said, cause it interrupts the flow, plus at times there's no time to applaud between songs, and when people do it, I can't hear what's going on, or sometimes if applause goes on too long it holds up the show. Don't get me wrong, I think performers are awesome, but in certain shows applause breaks out every 10 minutes.
Jekkienumber24601	Orestes Fasting wrote: Jekkienumber24601 wrote: Enjolras' that don't sound as good as Anthony Warlow. David Thaxton being the only one to satisfy that need. Yeah, yeah, I know London hasn't had a decent Enjolras in a while, but for god's sake. It might not be terribly easy to find decent recordings of Matt Cammelle or Ben Davis or David Bardsley in the role, but Aaron Lazar? All the international studio recordings? Martin Berger, Kenji Sakamoto, Robert J�cha, Alexander Diepold, Michel Sardou? Thaxton is good but he is not the alpha and the omega. Lazar's decent. John Owen Jones was good. I must say though most of the London ones sound very prissy and boyish. David was the first London one in a while to really make an impression.
lesmisloony	Quote: Lazar's decent. *sits back and awaits the verbal beatings* (What were you basing that on, out of curiosity?)
MlleTholomy�s	Ulkis wrote: My pet peeve is when people call Cosette Colette. It's one thing if you haven't seen the show in a while, but I was with someone where we JUST saw the show, and she said Colette. Man, they only say it 492 times during the show. Seems like some had a Thenardier moment there. Poor Cosette.
Ulla Dance Again!	- The awkward staging of the runaway cart. - Inaudible verses during Lovely Ladies. It's in the revival, mostly. One of the whores is singing about bleeding but most times you can barely make out what she's saying (save for "will this bleeding ever stop?")
Quique	Vanessa20 wrote: Quique wrote: The use of falsetto in "who am I? 2-4-6-O-1!" Ditto. Did Gary Morris sing it that way when you saw him live too, or just on the CSR? He blasted that note. Not at all like on the CSR. I recently got a hold of a Broadway audio with him as Valjean and he doesn't sound nearly as good as I remember in that either. No wonder so many people dislike his Valjean--his recordings are all subpar. Though most everyone who has seen him live agree he was great. I still can't believe I never did catch Lazar as Enjolras. I was crushed when I found out he wasn't going to do the Hollywood Bowl concert after all. Grr.
Ulla Dance Again!	I never saw Lazar as Enjolras but I do feel pretty lucky to've seen him in Chamberlain. (Mark Jacoby was in the production too). Truthfully, he was one of the few people I remember from the show, despite having a smaller part. Even then I knew he was destined for greater roles - he just had that quality about him.
Jekkienumber24601	lesmisloony wrote: Quote: Lazar's decent. *sits back and awaits the verbal beatings* (What were you basing that on, out of curiosity?) The video I saw of him he did the non high note version of "They will come when we call!" I mean I realize some people get tired and need to take breaks, but still....lame
Eppie-Sue	... okay, I'm pretty sure if there is anyone with a pretty established reputation as a Thaxton fangirl, then it's me, but 1) this is the wrong discussion for this thread, seeing as we have a "Favourite Enjolras" thread right here... and 2) there are several Enjolras performers out there that have played the part over the decades, several excellent ones, too. And I personally think that going: "[pet peeve:] Enjolras' that don't sound as good as Anthony Warlow." is just... no argument at all. It might be the fact that I don't like Warlow's Enjolras, but he's not the alpha and the omega that everyone should be measured by. I like Martin Berger's Enjolras a lot more, for example. ETA: Another pet peeve - people laughing as Fantine drinks that... absinthe... strong alcoholic beverage right before she goes off with the first "customer" (after "show him what you've got!")... It's such a terrible moment and you just want to scream: "Shut up people, what on earth is funny about this?"
Vanessa20	Eppie-Sue wrote: ETA: Another pet peeve - people laughing as Fantine drinks that... absinthe... strong alcoholic beverage right before she goes off with the first "customer" (after "show him what you've got!")... It's such a terrible moment and you just want to scream: "Shut up people, what on earth is funny about this?" Well, it could be the Fantine's fault if they laugh. I remember how during Joan Almedilla's second stint with the 3rd National Tour (at least in the performance I saw, which was also my first time seeing the show) she gagged dramatically after drinking the stuff. Whether she meant to or not, it felt like she was playing the moment for a laugh. Does Rebecca Seale do that? Pet peeve: Fantines who do that.
Muscialperformer92	when doesn't yell out : I got up in the night-Took the silver-Took my FLIGHT! or at least som loud kind of singing... I saw it in london 2 days ago- and the understudy (Jonathan Williams) was on. He was really amazing! but at the FLIGHT note he did this weird falsetto thing.. didn't sound so nice
Orestes Fasting	Jekkienumber24601 wrote: lesmisloony wrote: Quote: Lazar's decent. *sits back and awaits the verbal beatings* (What were you basing that on, out of curiosity?) The video I saw of him he did the non high note version of "They will come when we call!" I mean I realize some people get tired and need to take breaks, but still....lame Substitute "back injuries" for "tired" and "vocal-cord-killing corticosteroids" for "breaks" and you have a slightly more accurate picture. The fact that he was on at all in December was impressive, the fact that he still kicked ass was amazing, and FWIW he nailed the high notes every time I saw him.
Ulla Dance Again!	Jekkie, if memory serves me correctly you were in Les Mis, weren't you? Shouldn't you know how demanding of a show it is - physically and vocally? Criticizing someone merely because you saw a video of them is a little weak, if you ask me. Like I said previously, I've never seen Lazar as Enjolras and I'm not going to pretend like I have based on the fact my only exposure to him as Enjolras was only on audio and video. But having seen him perform elsewhere before, I know that he is a talented individual. That being said, I don't think it's fair to fully judge him unless you've seen him live onstage.
Canadian Drama Geek	My major pet peeve is recordings that are not at least half-way to complete... For instance, I just got the Quebec recording. Ten tracks... My other pet peeve is people who think that the thing is set in the French Revolution... Isn't the date 1815 projected onto the stage in the first five minutes of the blasted show?? Haven't these people taken high school European History? Graah.
Mademoiselle Lanoire	Canadian Drama Geek wrote: My major pet peeve is recordings that are not at least half-way to complete... For instance, I just got the Quebec recording. Ten tracks... My other pet peeve is people who think that the thing is set in the French Revolution... Isn't the date 1815 projected onto the stage in the first five minutes of the blasted show?? Haven't these people taken high school European History? Graah. You never know. I remember someone asking whether "Fiddler on the Roof" is set during WWII, as if the repeated references to the Tsar and (in the movie) the total absence of automobiles wouldn't give anyone a clue...
Canadian Drama Geek	I guess people associate certain issues with certain times.
Mistress	Ricey wrote: Orestes Fasting wrote: Conductors who rush. With Les Mis, too slow can be excused as ponderous and Hugo-esque, too fast just makes me think you're looking at your watch to make sure the orchestra won't have to be paid overtime. This is very inconvenient and mood-breaking if you're rushing, say, the Elegaic Oboe Solo of Dead Frenchboys. I hate it when conductors rush too. When I was at a london performance a few months ago it had been fine throughout the performance but when it was coming towards the end of the second half the conductor was making the orcestra go far too fast and the performer had to rush the song just to keep up. It ruined what was supposed to be a rather sad moment. I know I'm bringing back the dead here, but I felt this clip had to be posted with the topic while it was still fairly recent: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GHTI4DV_gY Makes me wonder if there was a football game on that night that the conductor wanted to catch...
Eppie-Sue	You know, the pace in London really takes some time getting used to. When I first saw it in June, I was shocked, but as of now, I'm simply irritated by how fast "What have I done?"/"Javert's Suicide" and "ECAET" are done... because it's bugged me so much on Saturday that I have to mention it again: the sobbing woman after Gavroche's Death. AAAAAAAH. I swear, the students did their best to not look annoyed xD
Madeleine	Eppie-Sue wrote: because it's bugged me so much on Saturday that I have to mention it again: the sobbing woman after Gavroche's Death. AAAAAAAH. I swear, the students did their best to not look annoyed xD Yeah, that has to go. It's awful. I can't help but sigh and roll my eyes every time it happens. I get where they're (don't know who came up with it) coming from with it...but just it doesn't work and ruins the moment. Imagine if one of the students started sobbing after 'General Lamarque is dead!' That would be even worse!
MlleTholomy�s	Madeleine wrote: Eppie-Sue wrote: because it's bugged me so much on Saturday that I have to mention it again: the sobbing woman after Gavroche's Death. AAAAAAAH. I swear, the students did their best to not look annoyed xD Yeah, that has to go. It's awful. I can't help but sigh and roll my eyes every time it happens. I get where they're (don't know who came up with it) coming from with it...but just it doesn't work and ruins the moment. Imagine if one of the students started sobbing after 'General Lamarque is dead!' That would be even worse! That'd probably be Jehan. But in reality, his geraniums probably died, and was not in fact, sobbing over Lamarque.
Eppie-Sue	this will be OT, sorry: Madeleine wrote: Imagine if one of the students started sobbing after 'General Lamarque is dead!' That would be even worse! That would be absolutely amazing at cast change matinee. Oh my, yes! But xDD haha, Ethan Beer, the Gavroche I have seen the most now, I think, he does this funny face after "LISTEN EVERYBODY!"... he looks at DT... and I could already hear him go: "[LISTEN EVERYBODY!!! --silence---] ... I have forgotten my lines." That's exactly the way his face looks at that moment! Imagine if that happened. It never would, but just imagine the Gavrocheactor doesn't say anything after "Listen everybody", and is just standing there, staring, colour draining from his face... they would have to cover it up somehow! xD Martin Neely could go: "Oh! Hey you guys, you know what it says in the newspaper? GENERAL LAMARQUE IS DEAD! Was he the guy with the funny moustache?" Or, can't you see Mark being all: "OH WAIT! We forgot to tell you something, Enjolras, by the way: General Lamarque died. Like, a few... minutes ago!" I would pay to see DT trying to keep a straight face through "Lamarque is dead" after that.
Madeleine	Eppie-Sue wrote: this will be OT, sorry: Madeleine wrote: Imagine if one of the students started sobbing after 'General Lamarque is dead!' That would be even worse! That would be absolutely amazing at cast change matinee. Oh my, yes! It would be good then, yes. And MlleTholomyes is right, it would have to be Jehan. Maybe somebody should mention the idea to Joe Evans at some point before cast change. Eppie-Sue wrote: Martin Neely could go: "Oh! Hey you guys, you know what it says in the newspaper? GENERAL LAMARQUE IS DEAD! Was he the guy with the funny moustache?" Or, can't you see Mark being all: "OH WAIT! We forgot to tell you something, Enjolras, by the way: General Lamarque died. Like, a few... minutes ago!" I would pay to see DT trying to keep a straight face through "Lamarque is dead" after that. Now that I would like to see. Especially if it was spoken, which would make it even more random and out of place.
Eppie-Sue	Madeleine wrote: Eppie-Sue wrote: this will be OT, sorry: Madeleine wrote: Imagine if one of the students started sobbing after 'General Lamarque is dead!' That would be even worse! That would be absolutely amazing at cast change matinee. Oh my, yes! It would be good then, yes. And MlleTholomyes is right, it would have to be Jehan. Maybe somebody should mention the idea to Joe Evans at some point before cast change. It would be enough if they went: "HUH!" like at The Bishop's "That is right!" this June. I would die, it would spoil the mood and I would not want to be DT and having to do "Lamarque is dead" afterwards, but oh, it would be utterly fantastic xDDD I admire Gavin for staying serious after the GASP last cast change matinee, by the way. /off-topic. ETA: I have to say this - people who go: "The cast of the year blahblah was so much better/things were better when it was at The Palace, Les Mis has become mediocre now." I've heard this about the 90s and about the 05/06 cast, which, I know, has been quite legendary, but it just annoys me to no end. There are plenty of people who have not had the opportunity to see those casts or the way the show was in the early 90s, and we still fell in love with it. And so do dozens of people very day. And it's not mediocre. Plus, the hair is prettier now.
aworthyboyishe	Eppie-Sue wrote: Plus, the hair is prettier now. -nods solemnly-
luckythirteen	It annoys me when people say they can't pronounce les Miserables in a French accent and goes on to refer to the musical as "that play with the French name". If it's really that hard, why not just say les miz? This can apply to all musicals but this one in particular; when the actors' voices are absolutely pitch perfect technically. The problem with this is that sometimes there's no emotion attached and no matter how blown away I am with their voices, I can't help but think... robot. In other words, flaws are good especially with the Fantine character.
lesmisloony	In that vein, I don't like it when people pronounce it as "luh" Mis. No. The "Miz" spelling also tends to vex me, but I know both are supposedly acceptable or whatever. The z is just too cutesy.
Orestes Fasting	luckythirteen wrote: It annoys me when people say they can't pronounce les Miserables in a French accent and goes on to refer to the musical as "that play with the French name". If it's really that hard, why not just say les miz? Because French is pronounced completely differently from English, the stress patterns are different, it's even produced in a different part of the mouth, and if you say 'Les Mis�rables' in proper French, smack in the middle of an English sentence, people will look at you and go 'Gesundheit!' It works both ways. I Frenchify English words all the time when I'm speaking French (like my name and the name of my school) because it would be so utterly incongruous to pronounce them correctly. Not that there's any excuse for 'that play with a French name,' but I speak both languages and almost invariably refer to it as 'Les Mis' if I'm speaking English.
Jekkienumber24601	Another pet peeve! when Enjolras' don't take a moment of silence after "General Lamarque is dead!"
Eppie-Sue	Oh, another pet peeve: Enjolras not even being mentioned in the actually quite detailed summary in both the brochure and the program. WTF is up with that? It's not enough that nobody catches the quick "Enjolras!" at the beginning of the caf� scene, no, they had to cut the name from the text as well! No wonder nobody knows his name. He's like Voldemort. "He-who-must-not-be-named." This led to me adding a handwritten: "Oh btw, Enjolras is in the musical, too. He's the one with the pretty vest. He sparkles." under the program's summary. And then I unthinkingly lent the program to the people next to me, so they'd know a bit about the plot... yes, I got weird looks...
flying_pigs	^YES! That has ALWAYS bugged me!
Pannic	Quique wrote: Pannic wrote: How is the London version different? The one sung by Roger Allam on the Original London Cast Recording is completely different from the one we're used to. Don't tell me you've never noticed a difference. I've never heard it.
laurz	Whilst watching One Day More with my friend just after it got to Eponine�s lines... Friend: Ughh, Marius is such a prick, I can totally relate to this Eponine girl *starts talking about this guy she likes who doesn't really like her and won�t text her back...* Me:
Quique	Pannic wrote: Quique wrote: Pannic wrote: How is the London version different? The one sung by Roger Allam on the Original London Cast Recording is completely different from the one we're used to. Don't tell me you've never noticed a difference. I've never heard it. Oh, sorry. I thought you had. :S Here. Have a listen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrBQJ3kBl-A The difference can mainly be heard in the intro and at the end. Everything in between is similar to what we have now, only played at a much slower tempo. Come to think of it, while the OLC version is prettier, the revision's orchestration serves Javert's cause better. They exude a strong sense of conviction, resolve, and regality, while the OLC ones are more reflective, sinister.
hideisgod	There's something in the 10th Anniversary Concert that really bothers me. At the end when all the Valjeans are singing in their languages, Colm Wilkinson sings one line and starts the next one and so does the next guy, but then he stops like halfway through and the British guy keeps singing. Is that how it's supposed to be? I dunno, it just doesn't really make sense.
lesmisloony	I know exactly what you mean. I always assumed he was trying to... fade out, or something. They do it on the Phantom of the Opera CD all the time. It never really works...
eponine5	^ I just assumed he was never meant to sing there and made a very unsubtle mistake.

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