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| Orestes Fasting |
Little People vs Ten Little BulletsWe had a thread about this way back when, but now that the revival's had a bit of time to sink in, I thought I'd bring it back up.I'm surprised how many people were disappointed by Ten Little Bullets because they thought that it was somehow "downsizing" Gavroche's character. True, he doesn't have as many lines now, but for me it's an issue of quality vs. quantity--the cutesiness of Little People practically reduced Gavroche to a caricature, and reprising it for his death scene was one of the most blatant grabs for pathos in an already melodramatic show. Much better to give him something a little darker and a little more defiant--he's Gavroche forchrissakes, not Oliver. I have to say, though, that while I think Ten Little Bullets is an improvement, the kids they have on Broadway right now are totally wasting it with their delivery. Ugh. Where is Gavroche the arrogant little sh*t, thumbing his nose at the soldiers shooting at him? These kids tumble over the barricade looking like they know they're going to get shot. |
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| EponineMNFF |
I also prefer Ten Little Bullets. I'm glad that the first time I saw it, it was Little People because it made me feel bad for Gavroche, but then when I got further into the fandom, I realized it's not as in character as Ten Little Bullets is.
I do miss Little People (the barricade scene is so depressing sometimes, that it sort of gave the audience a break), but it really isn't that necessary. Plus, a lot of the I-Hate-Gavroche-ers can breathe, because his most annoying songs got taken out. I also agree with you about the Broadway kids' delivery, but it's not like the Gavroches have ever been particulrly strong (in my opinion). |
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| Orestes Fasting |
I've heard that the London ones are better, possibly because they cast them a little older. The Broadway ones seem to be about eight years old and look closer to six onstage; Gavroche in the book was about eleven. I have no idea why the American productions insist on casting their Gavroches so young, since the role can be played by any boy whose voice hasn't broken. |
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| UniquePerspective |
Defintely 10 Little Bullets for the death scene. Much more dramatic then a reprise of a song many people find "cute." Plus it represents the time frame and revolution going on much more. | ||
| Glissando |
Personally I perfer Little People because it shows his resilliance (can't spell for crap) and unwillingness to ever grow up, and how his legacy will live one through other little gamines. | ||
| mastachen |
does anybody know the words to 10 Little Bullets?
couldn't seem to find it on google |
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| Gargamel |
Ten Little Bullets is also better to me for the death scene.
In fact, using Little People's tune for Gavroche's death made sense with the original french lyrics, because it was writen by Hugo itself in the novel. B&S used the lyrics of the song he sings when out of the barricade to make it his main theme. In France, it is the most famous theme from the musical. When the first concept album went out, that song was released as a single and made a huge hit! The image of Gavroche singing "Je suis tomb� par terre" while being shot ("I'm falling on the ground" litterally) is one the the most popular "picture" of les mis�rables in France. BUT... Translating the show in english, they HAD to change the lyrics! As they didn't translate them litteraly (a very good idea!) it didn't make sense as much as in french for that particular song... It wasn't linked to Gavroche being shot anymore! (note that in the original concept album, he sings his song back to the barricade after being deadly shot (not true to the novel). The song's tune is "ten little bullets", then "look down", and only two verses of "little people", when he says "I'm falling on the ground". Very moving, and still quite true to Gavroche!) Now, they (sort of) corrected it in the best way possible to me. Moreover, the lyrics of "little people" in english were not "Gravroche". They were cute, but not in the way Gravroche is. So great! "Little people" is gone at last! 
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| Elin |
Speaking of La chanson de Gavroche/La faute � Voltaire:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWmLJUwWZlU Here's a picture of the single: http://tinyurl.com/3b9yt5 |
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| Soulful |
I prefer Ten little bullets. Its much more intense and it matches the mood of the scene. | ||
| eponine5 |
I prefer Ten Little Bullets. I just think that it fits more with the atmosphere of the show at that moment, whereas Little People...doesn't. It's cute and everything, but it kind of broke the flow of the plot (but not half as much as the original full Little People must have).
As to the London Gavroches compared to Broadway ones, I'm not sure about them being better. The Gavroche I saw in the revival (didn't catch his name) was better than many Gavroches I've seen on the West End. Some of them have been terrible, to the point where many people in the audience laughed when he died (including me, and I like Gavroche... usually I cry). I think it really depends on the actors, and they can't really be generalised. Maybe the height limit on Gavroches has something to do with the age, they have to be under 4 feet, 7 inches. |
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| windbelle |
Frankly, I prefer little people to ten little bullets for its tune. In the novel Gavroche is more of a carefree and dauntless kid, teasing even when he is close to death. Ten little bullets uses the tune from "Look down", which is a little too dark and serious IMO. I actually think the contrast between the teasing and carefree tune and his cruel death makes more drama. But I agree that the song would sound better with the original lyrics, however the English lyrics wouldn't make sense either if translated literally from the original French lyrics. | ||
| Orestes Fasting |
I don't know, I think that this may just be that the Broadway Gavroches just look so grim in this scene. If Ten Little Bullets were played as mocking and lighthearted and defiant, the juxtaposition between the tone and the situation would be perfect. The tune itself doesn't drag anything down--I wouldn't describe Gavroche's verses in Look Down as dark and serious, quite the contrary. (Or maybe I've been listening to "Donnez" on the OFC too much, because Gavroche's parts in that version totally pwn. Much closer to the original sense of the character.) |
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| elphclaudia |
I saw a local production with "Little People" a few years and go and LOVED it.
I saw the revival about 2 months ago with "Ten Little Bullets" and HATED it. Gavroche NEEDS, nay, DESERVES "Little People"! |
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| shakalakababy |
i know i'm one of the few but i actually really really like little people. That being said for Gavroche's death i think ten little bullets is much more appropriate and just sort of conveys the mood better | ||
| Pannic |
I really can't decide. I liked the reprise of Little People because it took a "cute" song and made it tragic, and it kinda made the death scene more tragic. I know I haven't actually seen a production of Les Mis with Ten Little Bullets, I just saw a bootleg of Ten Little Bullets on Youtube, and I kinda like it about the same. So I really don't know which one to vote for. | ||
| Fantine |
I love TLB. It actually makes Gavroche more mature, like he is in the book. Personally I hated Little People. | ||
| Monsieur D'Arque |
I would have to go with Little People again, just for the reprise.
And of course, everyone who saw "South Park: The Musical" would know that this reprise in particular is parodied during the "Les Miserables" section, as Mole is shot and sings a tragic reprise of his song before dying. I still find it brilliant how much of that movie is a tribute to Les Mis. |