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Superstar83

Unique little touches that you love

Have you ever seen a production where an actor will do something that you haven't seen done before?

For example, I love it when Cosette jumps behind Valjean in Jarvet's Intervention/Another Brawl. Unfortuantly not many Cosette's I've seen do this, but a couple have and it gives Cosette a little more depth IMHO. I also like it when she acts like she's being silly over her feelings for Marius in In My Life...sometimes the actress will do little movements that indicate that she thinks she's being foolish and it's great.

Also, in one production I saw when Marius gets shot at the barricade, Enjolras rushed down to check on him before being forced to go back and resume fighting...I loved that because it highlighted their friendship more but I've not seen this done in EVERY production that I've seen.

I also wish they'd have it as a rule that Gavroche MISSES when he throws the bag of bullets over, because it makes his death even more tragic, but whether he misses or not seems to be purely if the boy playing him manages the throw.

What about you?
Timmy_Wishes he was Quast

I remember seeing on production where Eponine and Marius had this little flirting thing going on the whole way through and it was like "GOD DAMN IT SHE'S THE ONE YOU REALLY WANT" And he was a little more formal with Cossette like she was the "real" woman. This was best in ALFOR when Eponine grabbed Marius' head at the end and i swear they had nearly a full on snog there and then before she died. And then he just touched his lips every so often after. In the wedding he did it when he had sung about Eponine and looked at his hand as if it were coated in her blood...very moving!
Aimee

Jeff Leyton joined Cosette and Marius's hand during reprise of AHFOL. He didn't do it every time and I've not seen it done before or since.
Bex

Ah when i saw it last year, the boy playing G. fell off the barricade and Granteir (sp...cant be bothered to check it) went up to him, and checked he was ok which i thought was very sweet...although i am aware that the actor simply fell and the older, more experienced actor wanted to make sure he hadnt hurt himself.
liza_minelli

In the prod. I was in when Valjean came to collect me (little cosette) during the Thenardier's little song about how i was ill and how valjeans intentions may not be correct, Monsier T had his arm around me and kept patting my head so much my hat started to fall off once or twice so I improvised and started doing all these faces like "Get. Off. The. Hat. Now. Or. You're. Dead!" Also when Valjean started dancing round with me I put the hat on his head and put his hat on my head.

I was a bit obsessed with hats Confused
Timmy_Wishes he was Quast

Liza....i'm not sure I would LOVE that "unique" touch!
Bex

Quote:
Liza....i'm not sure I would LOVE that "unique" touch!


Ditto
Elin

Aimee wrote:
Jeff Leyton joined Cosette and Marius's hand during reprise of AHFOL. He didn't do it every time and I've not seen it done before or since.


It's staged that way in the current Norwegian production and I love it.
liza_minelli

Bex wrote:
Quote:
Liza....i'm not sure I would LOVE that "unique" touch!


Ditto


Yes I suppose i didnt really love it either lol... Im a bit inspecific... Is that a word? lol
The Very Angry Woman

Elin wrote:
Aimee wrote:
Jeff Leyton joined Cosette and Marius's hand during reprise of AHFOL. He didn't do it every time and I've not seen it done before or since.


It's staged that way in the current Norwegian production and I love it.


It's standard on the US tour these days, too. I wouldn't call it "unique."
javertsw

When Gary Tushaw did the spin in AHFOL. Most people hated it, but I loved it!
Aimee

The Very Angry Woman wrote:
Elin wrote:
Aimee wrote:
Jeff Leyton joined Cosette and Marius's hand during reprise of AHFOL. He didn't do it every time and I've not seen it done before or since.


It's staged that way in the current Norwegian production and I love it.


It's standard on the US tour these days, too. I wouldn't call it "unique."
I'm sure many of the things mentioned here are not unique but as I've not been to every performance of the show ever I'll go with what seemed unique to me at the time and I'm sure other people will asnwer this thread with the same thought in mind. Wink I can tell you its not done at the London show which is all I have ever seen.
Either way, I still like it.
Bex

Quote:
I can tell you its not done at the London show which is all I have ever seen.
Either way, I still like it.


hmm..when i saw it in london they did that...hmm..maybe it a new thing...
digitalxdoll

I saw Jeff Leyton do the hand thing in 'Every day', i thought it was a really nice touch, though i didn't enjoy Leyton's Valjean too much.
Aimee

digitalxdoll wrote:
I saw Jeff Leyton do the hand thing in 'Every day', i thought it was a really nice touch, though i didn't enjoy Leyton's Valjean too much.
Shocked

Jeff is the God of Valjeans Laughing
Bex

Quote:
Jeff is the God of Valjeans


i beg to differ! sean kingsley!!!
Fantine

JOJ
Aimee

LOL Laughing

Pistols at dawn???
Fantine

Bring it on Razz
convict24601

I dunno if this is standard, having only seen les mis once when it came to the Canon theatre in Toronto this past fall, but I remember Fabio Polancco (Thenardier) saying "How can we speak of debt, let's not haggle for darling Colette: and and Jennifer Butt (Madam T) corrected him, "Cosette" and Fabio gave a somewhat embarassed expression (I couldn't tell too well...i was sitting at the back of the orchestra) and said "yes..." and continued with the song.

Is that standard or was that a unique little touch? Either way, I really enjoyed that line.

Also, check out http://www.theatre-musical.com/lesmis/may3.html, it says near the middle of the review about a funny scene Nick Wyman did...I thought it was really clever!
flying_pigs

No, I think that happens in every production.
flying_pigs

Fantine wrote:
JOJ


I second that!
The_Wicked

So when we did it, during the scene where Javert and Thenardier are talking and Mr. T is snitching on VJ, when he says "Dear Inspector may I go? And remember when you catch him, it was me who told you so..." Javert looked over at Thenardier quickly and his knees kind of buckled and it really made him look like the little rat he was. That's pretty much the ONLY thing I liked about our Thenardier though.
Aimee

convict24601 wrote:
I dunno if this is standard, having only seen les mis once when it came to the Canon theatre in Toronto this past fall, but I remember Fabio Polancco (Thenardier) saying "How can we speak of debt, let's not haggle for darling Colette: and and Jennifer Butt (Madam T) corrected him, "Cosette" and Fabio gave a somewhat embarassed expression (I couldn't tell too well...i was sitting at the back of the orchestra) and said "yes..." and continued with the song.

Is that standard or was that a unique little touch? Either way, I really enjoyed that line.

Also, check out http://www.theatre-musical.com/lesmis/may3.html, it says near the middle of the review about a funny scene Nick Wyman did...I thought it was really clever!
There are variuos versions of this now, sometimes he corrects himself and also rapidly says 'Cosette' too, other times he might just go 'hmmmmm' [as if to say 'shut up you silly old cow' to Madam T]. Laughing
Timmy_Wishes he was Quast

When i played Thenardier i did this bit on the "Collette" thing when i touch our little cossttes nose and then M.T cough "Cossette" And i repeated the action whilst repeating Cossette in this extar creepy voice!

(N.B in the schools edition piano/conductor score it actually says cossette twice with no mention of collette, even though in the lib it is clearly written!!)

OH and on another note....

SEAN KINGSLEY!!!
convict24601

JOJ and Randall Keith!
Colle

Yes, it is funny when Thenardier forgets Cosette's name. Another way I have seen this done, the first time I saw the 3nt, is Thenardier asking young Cosette what her name was.

I am not sure if this ever was standard, though I have heard that Rona Figueroa wasn't the only Eponine to do this, but I liked when Eponine playfully (and braty) hit Gavroche with her sack when he was introducing her. The other Eponine I have seen live, Ma-Anne Dionisio, didn't do that. I like looking for any brother/sister like interaction between Eponine and Gavroche when I see the show.
convict24601

Colle wrote:
Yes, it is funny when Thenardier forgets Cosette's name. Another way I have seen this done, the first time I saw the 3nt, is Thenardier asking young Cosette what her name was.

I am not sure if this ever was standard, though I have heard that Rona Figueroa wasn't the only Eponine to do this, but I liked when Eponine playfully (and braty) hit Gavroche with her sack when he was introducing her. The other Eponine I have seen live, Ma-Anne Dionisio, didn't do that.


LOL! That wuddve been quite funny (when he asks for Cosette's name)

Melissa Lyons sorta gave Gavroche a nuggie when he introduced her at the performance I saw... kinda like how a big sister would with a much younger brother. It was nice actually.
The Very Angry Woman

Timmy_Wishes he was Quast wrote:
When i played Thenardier i did this bit on the "Collette" thing when i touch our little cossttes nose and then M.T cough "Cossette" And i repeated the action whilst repeating Cossette in this extar creepy voice!

(N.B in the schools edition piano/conductor score it actually says cossette twice with no mention of collette, even though in the lib it is clearly written!!)


Is it spelled wrong in the score, too?
The Very Angry Woman

flying_pigs wrote:
No, I think that happens in every production.


Th�nardier doing something funny regarding her name been standard since the mid '90s, but it became more standardized in 1997 at the time of the Broadway tenth anniversary.
The_Wicked

I wish they established more (or even at all) that Eponine is his big sister. I think it might add to it quite a bit. Giving Thenardier and Gavroche a little more depth.
Bex

Quote:
wish they established more (or even at all) that Eponine is his big sister. I think it might add to it quite a bit. Giving Thenardier and Gavroche a little more depth.


When i saw it last March (am going in again in like 3 days and am so hyped!) Thery suggested that Gavroche and Epoinine had some kind of connection as when Eponine died he pulled himself free of whoever was holding him back, and he ran over to the barricade and hid his face in a ting of hay. OK, i know it sounds realy dumb written down, but it bought along a fresh wave of tears from me!
Colle

The_Wicked wrote:
I wish they established more (or even at all) that Eponine is his big sister. I think it might add to it quite a bit. Giving Thenardier and Gavroche a little more depth.


Yes, there are little things in the musical that show a connection to Eponine and Gavroche. As for Thenardier, at least they shouldn't have cut out Marius' lines, at the wedding, to Thenardier about Eponine(When I look at you I remember Eponine...), as well as Thenardier's reaction(So it goes...). I think Thenardier's response to what Marius says about Eponine is telling.
DarthRevan00m9

In the 10th Anniversary Video the guy who played Thenardier during "Beggers at the Feast" did something I havent noticed on any of the other recordings I've heard of the song. He whispers the line "This one's a queer but what can ya do" as if he was saying it behind the guys back which I thought was really cool.
Fantine

That is definitely done in each show...
DarthRevan00m9

Oh sorry didn't know that.
The Very Angry Woman

DarthRevan00m9 wrote:
Oh sry didn't know that.


Or sorry, even.
DarthRevan00m9

The Very Angry Woman wrote:
DarthRevan00m9 wrote:
Oh sry didn't know that.


Or sorry, even.


Same thing but if it will help to avoid conflict I'll change it *Changes it* There, happy now?
Megan the Phantom Girlie

Quote:
there happy now?


CAPITALIZE, young padawan!

Also, commas are your friend. Use them.
Fantine

Megan, I think that The Very Angry Woman has made the point clear. No need to repeat it.
Superstar83

When I saw LM yesterday, Eponine angrily threw away the money Valjean had given her for delivering the letter just before she started OMO. There were quite a few other things that I'd not seen done before (or maybe I could just see better from the stalls and had only just noticed?) but I can't remember most of them. Very short term memory, I know. Next time I'll make notes.
Kragey

I've seen a barefoot Eponine before. That was neat.
Timmy_Wishes he was Quast

Superstar83 i saw LM yesterday (17th MArch) and also saw lots of little things in this show that definatly weren't in last time!!! The money was one. Javert not having a hat in Stars?!! WHAT!? (either the silly twit forgot it or just doesn't use one!!) But one i espcailly loved was a sound effect. During the epilogue they used an echo on the dead peoples voices...very moving. And in "Turning" there was a little old lady in the cart. She made me giggle. As did Garntire (SP) not actually paying any attention to anything and casually reading the paper as the others "Sang of revolution"...i laughed loads in this show...odd....considering the title. BUT it made it fresh and the sad moments were even more moving!
The Very Angry Woman

Timmy_Wishes he was Quast wrote:
As did Garntire (SP)


Grantaire.
Timmy_Wishes he was Quast

Thanx...it was late...i was tired!
Bex

Shocked I saw Les Mis on the 17th!!!
I couldnt help watching Grantaire all the time! he was fantastic! esp. after 'a little fall of rain' when he went to marius and hugged him! it was so moving! (as was after a little fall of rain went Marius took eponine's hat and put it in his pocket!)
Fantine

Bex wrote:
(as was after a little fall of rain went Marius took eponine's hat and put it in his pocket!)


Hmm yes. I always find it amusing that during the finale Eponine magically transfers the hat.

Edit: Like, "Accio Hat."
briggsgirl

Fantine wrote:

Edit: Like, "Accio Hat."


YES Applause
Timmy_Wishes he was Quast

But she is a ghost....and ghost are ALWAYS whole!! LOL! No hat...would be like no head! YOu hardly ever see a naked a ghost now do you?
Fantine

Uhm...

She dies without her hat... It falls off as she falls, right?
Moci

She can have her hat. I like it in the Finale. However, Fantine should get her hair back.
Fantine

I totally agree!
Timmy_Wishes he was Quast

Yes....yes she should...
digitalxdoll

I heard that one Fantine actually used her wig in the finale, thats what someone told me anyway....i think it was Grania Reiham (sp?). Confused
javertsw

I suppose they want the character to come on as the audience would remember them, and if Fantine has her white dress on, people will remember her with short hair.

I don't think it even matters that much.

If Eponine is a ghost, it doesn't matter if she died with her hat or not, because its not *actually* the hat that she had when she was alive, just like its not the coat, or trousers etc. She's a spirit.
Aimee

I once saw Fantine with her hair back but that was the night of the Windsor Castle performance and they all dashed off at the end of the show ready to start again there.

[It was Joanna btw]
Colle

I have heard that Joanne Ampill did have Fantine's long hair back during the finale on the last night she was with the show.
DarthRevan00m9

javertsw wrote:
I suppose they want the character to come on as the audience would remember them, and if Fantine has her white dress on, people will remember her with short hair.

I don't think it even matters that much.

If Eponine is a ghost, it doesn't matter if she died with her hat or not, because its not *actually* the hat that she had when she was alive, just like its not the coat, or trousers etc. She's a spirit.


So you're saying technically she sould be naked?
Fantine

Colle wrote:
I have heard that Joanne Ampill did have Fantine's long hair back during the finale on the last night she was with the show.


Uhm that was what Aimee pointed out...
Colle

Fantine wrote:
Colle wrote:
I have heard that Joanne Ampill did have Fantine's long hair back during the finale on the last night she was with the show.


Uhm that was what Aimee pointed out...


True, though I think we are talking about two differnt times.
Fantine

Colle wrote:
Fantine wrote:
Colle wrote:
I have heard that Joanne Ampill did have Fantine's long hair back during the finale on the last night she was with the show.


Uhm that was what Aimee pointed out...


True, though I think we are talking about two differnt times.


Ah yes. I'm blonde... it was late Razz
Aimee

I was at that performance too and I don't recall her wearing her wig for her last show.... I'm not saying she didn't but I do think if she did I'd remember it more clearly, if you get me?
javertsw

DarthRevan00m9 wrote:


So you're saying technically she sould be naked?


Uh... no.

I'm saying it doesn't matter what she was wearing when she died because its not her body that reappears, its her spirit so she could come onstage anyway she wanted to as a ghost, and the best way is obviously how the audience will remember her.
Bex

i really dont think eponine would really be eponine without the hat anyway!
DarthRevan00m9

javertsw wrote:
DarthRevan00m9 wrote:


So you're saying technically she sould be naked?


Uh... no.

I'm saying it doesn't matter what she was wearing when she died because its not her body that reappears, its her spirit so she could come onstage anyway she wanted to as a ghost, and the best way is obviously how the audience will remember her.


Sorry I was trying to be sarcastic and funny. I guess I have failed *shame* Sad
javertsw

DarthRevan00m9 wrote:


Sorry I was trying to be sarcastic and funny. I guess I have failed *shame* Sad


I often fail at that too.
It seems funny in my mind, but I have a unique sense of humour.
Colle

Aimee wrote:
I was at that performance too and I don't recall her wearing her wig for her last show.... I'm not saying she didn't but I do think if she did I'd remember it more clearly, if you get me?


Then I might be mistaken. I was not there, and I was thinking of a review that I read. Maybe I was wrong about the date of the show.

Anyway, I do like the idea of Fantine's hair being long again at the finale, it probably should be done more often.
Sairin

I heard she had the long hair at the last matinee, that what you're going for?
Aimee

I actually love the idea of her getting her hair back in heaven. If Eponine can her her hat Fantine should get her hair!!

[Hi Sairin] I was at that one too [I sobbed cos so many people were leaving]. Again my memory fails me as to whether she had it on or not. Sorry. [Though I do think it means she probably didn't as I'd have noticed it but am more than happy to be wrong.]
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