Les Miserables
Les Miserables known in English as “The Terrible” is a musical portrayal of
the French Revolution. It is a musical tragedy, which served as a major
powerhouse competitor for Andrew Lloyd Weber musicals in the early eighties and
nineties. When first debuting on Broadway in 1987 it traveled a long hard road
to compete with musicals of the decade. However, in time many well-known
performers were proud to associate themselves with this wonderful work of art.
The musical play begins with its lead character named Jean Valjean. Jean Valjean
was released on parole after 19 years on the chain gang. In this initial scene
the audience can almost immediately feel the tonality of the play with the
constant reference to the number 24601. 24601 were the prison number that became
Jean Valjean’s identity for 19 years. The dark and dreary ambiance set the tone
for the first song of the libretto, “Look Down. The lyrics to look down coincide
with the chain gang, overseen by brutal wanders, working in the hot sun. It is
this series of songs in Act one that take the audience through many turns of
feelings and emotions. These emotional songs are used to portray poor men and
women working in low class factories, women selling their bodies and more
importantly a class of people struggling to scrape by. The most vivid songs used
to identify the various themes of poverty and prostitution are Lovely Ladies, A
Heart Full of Love, and Master of The House. Moreover, it is a song titled Do
You Hear the People Sing? That prepares the audience for the ending of Act one.
Most if not all of Act one uses song, tonality, character, pitch and tone to
depict the various themes of the play while the story is beginning to unravel.
Throughout the second and final act the musical content within the play acts as
a story of it’s own through theme and variation.
Each separate song represents a
feeling and or mood and is enhanced as it is varied throughout the act. Like the
first act, the songs are used to portray poverty, suffering, hardships, and even
death. However, unlike the first act, there is also a theme of love and
happiness. Closure is brought about with a sense of warmth and this is often
heard through the display of the tempo. When the times were tough the tempo
decreased and was often slow and morbid like. When happy times were brought
about, the tempo increased to a song and dance farewell. The final song of the
musical really brings the whole story together. The loose ends are tied and the
audience’s hearts are left captivated and moved. This musical would not be
complete without the dramatization of the performers. It is each individual
performer that brings song into the story. Each of the eight main characters
represents, in a sense, their own theme and motivation towards the story.
Without these characters the notes and chords wouldn’t bring about any music. It
would merely be song without feelings or words. Each of them sings to sing to us
in their own different way and exemplify their role within the story. Together
these two important ideas make this play an excellent musical. My personal
reaction to this musical was surprisingly a good one. When my girlfriend first
told me that we were going to see a Broadway play I wasn’t initially excited.
However, after just about 30 minutes into the opening act I was beginning to
recognize and comprehend musical terms that we had discussed in class. I then
decided to be open minded and take notice of not only musical but also
theatrical happenings of the story. It was amazing to be able to hear the tempo
change, the timbre (tone color), and also identify the theme and variation. It
was often difficult to understand the opera like approach to the play but all
you needed was a good ear and total concentration. I found that I actually
enjoyed Les Miserables and I wouldn’t be too quick to say no to another one.
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