HISTORY OF LES MISÉRABLES
The novel by Victor Hugo begins in 1815 with Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo and the reestablishment of the monarchy, and culminates with the rebellion of 1832—a time of crop failures, high prices, and cholera.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF LES MISÉRABLES
Jean Valjean, imprisoned 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread and attempting escape, is released and becomes a factory owner, while being pursued by police officer Javert.
Fantine is poor with an illegitimate daughter, Cosette, whom she leaves in the care of innkeepers, the Thénardiers, to go find work. The Thénardiers treat Cosette cruelly and overcharge Fantine for her care. Her child discovered, Fantine loses her job at Valjean’s factory and is arrested by Javert.
Valjean (calling himself Madeleine) intervenes and brings the deathly ill Fantine to a hospital. Madeleine promises her he will care for Cosette and Fantine dies. Javert tells Madeleine that a man has been accused of being Jean Valjean. Madeleine confesses his true identity and returns to prison. Released again, Valjean rescues Cosette. Living in Paris, Cosette grows up.
Marius falls in love with Cosette from afar, but he cannot find her and despairs. At the Thénardiers’ inn, their daughter, Éponine, falls in love with him. But Marius loves Cosette and leaves love letters for her. Their romance stops when Valjean decides that he and Cosette must leave France.
In despair, Marius joins the rebellion at the barricade. Éponine protects Marius and dies in his arms, handing him a letter from Cosette.
Valjean joins the barricade. He plans to execute the captured Javert, but frees him instead, to Javert’s bewilderment. Valjean seizes the injured Marius and disappears down the sewers. Javert awaits him at the exit, but instead of arresting him, shows mercy and allows him to bring Marius to safety (who does not know his rescuer is Valjean). Horrified at his lapse of duty, Javert commits suicide.
Marius and Cosette marry. Valjean confesses his criminal past to Marius, who keeps Cosette from him. Valjean’s life loses its meaning without Cosette, and his health fades. Marius discovers that it was Valjean who saved him. He and Cosette arrive in time to comfort Valjean on his deathbed as he dies in peace.
STORY OF THE MUSICAL
Lyricist Alain Boublil’s idea to adapt Victor Hugo’s novel into a musical came while attending Oliver! in London: “As soon as the Artful Dodger came onstage, Gavroche (the street boy) came to mind…and I saw it all.” Sharing his idea with composer Claude-Michel Schönberg, Les Misérables was born. Running continuously since 1985, it played its 10,000th performance in London and celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2010.
STORY BEHIND THE SONGS (Not all in order of the show)
Intro – Look Down — The convicts’ work song.
Section I
At The End Of The Day — Describes the plight of the working poor.
Suddenly — Valjean explains how he changed caring for Cosette. Written for the movie.
I Dreamed A Dream — Fantine, fired and thrown into the streets, laments her life.
SOLO: Who Am I? — Valjean wrestles with honesty about his past.
Section II
Master Of The House — Thénardier describes how he and Madame operate their inn.
SOLO: Stars – Javert vows to find Valjean and make him pay the penalty.
Section III
Castle On A Cloud – Young Cosette imagines a castle where she does no work and is cared for.
On My Own — Éponine bemoans life without Marius.
One Day More — Weaves together songs from the first act.
DUET: A Little Fall of Rain — Éponine tells Marius she loves him and dies in his arms. Marius considers her his best friend and is devastated. She thinks it’s raining. Marius knows it’s her blood.
Section IV
Empty Chairs At Empty Tables – Marius mourns the death of his friends, killed at the barricade.
Bring Him Home – Valjean begs God to save Marius for Cosette.
Do You Hear The People Sing? — A stirring anthem, called the People’s Song.
STORY OF STEPHEN SONDHEIM
Stephen Sondheim, born March 22, 1930 in New York City, is a renowned composer and lyricist whose brilliance in matching words and music revolutionized musical theatre.
Sondheim wrote his first musical at age 15, with Oscar Hammerstein II, a family friend, as his mentor.
His first success was as lyricist for Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story in 1957, with Gypsy following in 1959. His first show writing both music and lyrics was A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum in 1962, continuing with Company (1970), Follies (1971), A Little Night Music (1973), Sweeney Todd (1979), Sunday in the Park with George (1984), Into the Woods (1987), and Passion (1994).
In 2008 he received a special Tony Award for lifetime achievement in the theatre and in 2015 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
STORY OF THE SHOWS
Company is a 1970 comedy, whose plot of vignettes revolves around Robert (a bachelor unable to commit to a relationship), the five married couples who are his best friends, and his three girlfriends.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a 1979 thriller, with origins in the Victorian “penny dreadfuls”. Over 80% of it is set to music.
Into the Woods, 1986, intertwines the plots of several fairy tales, exploring the consequences of the characters’ wishes.
Anyone Can Whistle, 1964, is about a corrupt mayoress, an idealistic nurse, a doctor, and others, who fight to save a bankrupt town. Closing after nine performances, it is now a cult favorite.
A Little Night Music, 1973, is taken from an Ingmar Bergman film, Smiles of a Summer Night, that involves the lives of several couples, who switch partners on a summer night.