817 replies to this topic

[Greeneyes]

[quote name='bickypeg' timestamp='1329811623' post='210663']
.What now stood out for me though now that everyone else was so good was Eponine.I disliked her voice and style of singing before-I loathed it now.She seemed totally out of her depth.Such a great role-what a shame.However it does prove that you don't need TV celebs to get people in;it was a full house and a very appreciative audience.A wonderful evening.
[/quote


I agree with this - it's a shame because Eponine is key character who can steal the show or at least heavily strenghten the middle. and the last two, Nancy Sulivan and Samantha Barks, have been very good.  However she tears corner off an otherwise excellent cast.  Her On My Own makes me cringe at times - especially 'preeeetennnnnding', and there's no feeling of much link in the way of friendship between her and Marius.

[tommo2k]

bickypeg, on 21 February 2012 - 08:07 AM, said:

.What now stood out for me though now that everyone else was so good was Eponine.I disliked her voice and style of singing before-I loathed it now.She seemed totally out of her depth.Such a great role-what a shame.However it does prove that you don't need TV celebs to get people in;it was a full house and a very appreciative audience.A wonderful evening.
[/quote


I agree with this - it's a shame because Eponine is key character who can steal the show or at least heavily strenghten the middle. and the last two, Nancy Sulivan and Samantha Barks, have been very good.  However she tears corner off an otherwise excellent cast.  Her On My Own makes me cringe at times - especially 'preeeetennnnnding', and there's no feeling of much link in the way of friendship between her and Marius.

To be fair, at least she can hit the notes unlike Nancy Sullivan who really struggled. Nancy was a better actress though.

[djp]

tommo2k, on 21 February 2012 - 10:01 PM, said:

To be fair, at least she can hit the notes unlike Nancy Sullivan who really struggled. Nancy was a better actress though.

Its partly the old problem where people on youtube criticise Frances Rufelle because they think she doesn't sing it as neatly or powerfully as Lea (not to mention the other Lea too) - forgetting whose creation Eponine as a musical character, or singer, is, and not asking how well Lea fits the character or her background. I thought Nancy's got the closest I have seen to singing it like a multifaceted, likeable, Eponine Thenardier, with potential , would under those circumstances , and she got the strongest emotional responses I have seen after .I think thats because she hits the emotions in the lyrics and took risks there - I have heard her sing a slightly more conventional , powerful, version beautifully in cabaret, but the stage version I think works even better on stage. I liked Sam Barks too, and she does a very powerful, safer, less risky, version really well, I thought. Just not sure that her vocal strength fits the way her, more battered down, Eponine could/would sing it though, and would have liked more of her Oliver accent in her Eponine to match her parents..

I even get where Alexia Eponine is coming from - she reminds me of one of the more streetwise Meats (like the superb Rachel John). I just don't know what Meat is doing in chez Thenardier in19th century Paris- although she's going for the streetwise effect. If I allow for that, I still have the problem that she's playing Eponine as more withdrawn than Sam did, so the strong vocal fits the rest of the character less. As she's so withdrawn, I didn't notice her as much as Nancy or Sam, or identify with her anything like as much, and she's certainly not as tragic as Nancy or as deserving of her place looking down on Marius at the end. She can indeed hit the notes though and many people seem to like that.

[Luna]

Has anyone seen any of the current Valjean alternates and what is your  opinion on them? Do they have a set day (Monday/Thursday) when they are  regularly on?

[theatre_kirsty]

ive seen  christopher jacobsen  and he was brilliant at Valjean. He has all these acting mannerisms and things which are really good and he has a beautiful voice. would recommend seeing him if you can. I think he performs on thursdays. chris key performs mondays

[Luna]

theatre_kirsty, on 22 February 2012 - 11:19 PM, said:

ive seen  christopher jacobsen  and he was brilliant at Valjean. He has all these acting mannerisms and things which are really good and he has a beautiful voice. would recommend seeing him if you can. I think he performs on thursdays. chris key performs mondays

Thanks for the reply.

I'm tempted to go next month on my birthday which is a Thursday as I've read Scott Garnham will be ok as Enjolras, but I only went a couple of weeks ago but it wouldn't be so bad if it was a Valjean I probably won't see again (I'll try to justify my obsession any way I can!) And tonight I just read Adam Linstead will be on as Thernadier so I think I may have to go now!

[immortal longings]

Chris Jacobsen has recently tweeted saying that when David Shannon joins the cast David will be performing 7 shows a week and that Chris will be Valjean at Monday performances.

[sam22]

I haven't been to see Les Mis for a few years now, I really must get back again.

Was suprised about Sam Barks being cast as Eponine in the film, I think she is good but not fantastic from the bits I have seen - never took to her as much as the others on IDA, but remember ALW loved her from the start

[greeny11]

According to Broadway World, Tam Mutu will be Javert and Danielle Hope will be Eponine alongside Geronimo Rauch as Valjean from June.

[musicalmadness]

greeny11, on 09 March 2012 - 12:38 AM, said:

<br />According to Broadway World, Tam Mutu will be Javert and Danielle Hope will be Eponine alongside Geronimo Rauch as Valjean from June.<br />

&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;<br /><br />Hm...I really, REALLY don't want to be *that* person especially because it's not even been announced yet, but Danielle never had the strongest belt when it came to the end of SOTR. She has a very sweet voice but I don't know whether she could sustain Eponine 8 shows a week (she only did 7 in WoO, didn't she?). Anyway, I shall reserve every piece of judgement and I will definitely go and see her - if it is true of course. Eponine and Dorothy are about as different as you can get so maybe she will get to shine in a 'proper' Musical, rather than the stage adaptation of a film with a few extra songs. I shall miss Alexia's Eponine, though, I personally liked her interpretation.<br /><br />As for Tam, I've never heard him sing live before (only listened a couple of times on YouTube) but heard only brilliant things from theatre-goers when he was on as Phantom in LND so I've not doubt he'd be great. Also a shame to see Hadley go (if this is also definitely true) as I thought he was one of the best Javert's the West End has had for a very long time.