Critical Review, Les Miserable
Les Miserables is an epic musical saga of Jean Valjean and his long journey to salvation. He is released on parole after 19 years on the chain gang, for stealing a loaf of bread. Valjean, unknowingly bargains for his soul with a saintly bishop and spends the rest of his life trying to do good in order to repay him. The Inspector, Javert, continues to relentlessly pursue Valjean even though he is trying to start anew. He has become the mayor of Montreuil and the manager of a factory. Meanwhile, one of his workers, Fantine, is the mother of an illegitimate daughter, Cosette. Cosette is living with the Thenardiers, an innkeeper, his wife, and their own daughter, Eponine. Fantine is fired from the factory after word of her daughter gets out and a series of other incidents. She becomes a prostitute and asks Valjean, while on her deathbed, to care for Cosette. Valjean adopts Cosette and they move to Paris where Cosette meets and falls in love with Marius, a student, with whom Eponine is also in love. The students barricade the streets of Paris and the rebellion begins. As the insurrection continues, Javert has been captured in the students' camp as a spy, Eponine is killed, and Valjean h
One thing I do not care for in musicals is when I have a hard time understanding what the characters are saying because they are so caught up in making their singing impressive that being articulate becomes secondary. In other words, I felt like this was the performance, a special night, the night when everyone puts forth 110% just this one time. as joined the students and drags an injured Marius into the sewers to save him. It is simply amazing to watch, and almost distracts you from the action. " Catherine Brunell, who plays Eponine, is absolutely marvelous, one of the best voices I have ever heard and as far as the singing and music goes, her character was one of the best in the play. One will immediately fall into the atmosphere of the play because the characters are instantly accessible and the sets are just right; they create an environment without overwhelming you. Madame Thenardier's loud make-up and huge cleavage was always a wonderful change of pace as well as Thenardier's character, which at times made me want to hate him. There were times when I heard audience members gasp in surprise, and weep bitterly as they watched someone die. Meanwhile the crew is in the back loading the next encounter onto the wheel and stripping the last one off. I've never been in a play where people were this emotionally involved, but it makes an excellent argument for the real experience that is 'attending the theater'. I particularly appreciated Eponine's "On My Own. Cosette (Sandra Turley) did not impress me as much as I would have liked. It goes back and forth, and it is very engaging without detracting from the quality of the music. His powerful performance made him believable in every aspect. From the rebellious students who recognize that the system is not working to the obsessed Javert, who sees Jean Valjean's bid for freedom and a normal life a personal attack.
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Acceptance Essays
