Archive for Musicals.Net Musicals.Net |
| Quique |
Original Japanese Production FootageTried posting this in an old Les Mis video thread but it wouldn't submit. Then I saw it was posted 4 times! Strange thing is, when I went to delete the multiple posts, the thread was nowhere to be seen. Weird.Anyway, found this gem last night: Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U75u8v-rXZU It's a documentary on the making of the original Japanese production of Les Miserables, which opened at Tokyo's Imperial Theatre in 1987. It focuses on one particular cast member; the young girl who plays Cosette. The doc shows priceless rehearsal footage featuring John Caird and extremely brief but rare shots of lighting and sound designers David Hersey and Andrew Bruce, respectively, working on the Japanese version. Yes, the majority of it is in Japanese but I am still enjoying it immensely. It is always very emotional for me to watch footage of when the show was in top form with its original creative team and it featured the full score and that wonderful, atmospheric set/lighting and imaginative staging. *Sigh* So, so perfect. Anyhoo, there are 7 parts all of which can be accessed by visiting the uploader's channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/shuron2go#p/a There's also a really neat vid that shows footage of the London (Palace Theatre) and Broadway (Broadway Theatre) production marquees at the time. It was absolutely thrilling watching the people going in for a performance back in the day. The same vid features a meeting between Japan's original Cosette and her London counterpart at the time, Rebecca Caine. There are more vids, I'm sure, as I haven't clicked on every one on the uploader's (who is either a cast member--the Cosette?--or a Japanese fan) page. *Rushes back to watch* |
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| Quique |
Damn you, M.net. LOL. What gives? Buggy lately, eh?
Anyhoo!!! Oh how I love my Japanese friends. *Cuddles Japan* They take their Les Mis seriously. Probably the most serious troupe out there in all aspects of performance. Their idea of revamping a show is by replacing the casts often, thus keeping performances fresh. They even seem surprised by the Western tradition of continuous, open-ended runs with the many cast members remaining for years and crew sometimes staying for the entire run. Thanks to the auto translate feature on Chrome, I am learning so much about their production and seriously considering flying there next year to see the show when it reopens. You can check out their official Toho Les Mis tour site here. The translation of the sites by Chrome is really crappy but I think (well, at least I *hope*) they aren't selling out and cutting what has worked so well in their country for 20 years. I worried this might be the last year they do the original. But just take a look at the small credits printed on the top-left of the page I linked above. I wish I were Japaneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese. <33333333333333 |
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| Gargamel |
I discover that video, and have to say I LOOOVE it! Many thanks!
Japanese always do things seriously. I am not surprised their Miserables production is done with a perfect sense of perfection... I love hows they prononce! L� mis�rabulu, Djav�ru, Cosetto... 
And the music used in the background is... priceless! 
I am now seriously considering seeing Les Mis�rables next time I go to Tokyo!!! 
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| Quique |
The DX-7, no doubt! XD I love the ending when they all begin to cry. Awww, so sweet. =) |