The Dirty Details
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Based off of the 1892 Victor Hugo novel of the same name
Takes place during the French Revolutionary War
French concept album in 1980 with music composed by Claude-Michel Schonberg,
libretto by Alain Boubil, and lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer
First stage adaptation was in 1980, not incredibly successful
1982 was translated into English
1985 Premiered in London
– Bad reviews
– Public loved it
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Broadway production opened in 1987 and closed in 2003
– 6,680 performances
– 3rd longest running Broadway musical in history
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British performances have topped 10,000 shows in early 2010
British musicals were popular in the 1980s
– Cats, Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, etc.
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Sung through
Characters
• Jean Valjean-released from 19 years of prison, creates new
identity, becomes mayor, adopts Cosette
• Javert-trying to capture Valjean
• Fantine-unemployed woman, becomes prostitute in order
to support her daughter
• Cosette-Fantine’s daughter, forced to work for the
Thenardiers. Grows up to fall in love with Marius
• Eponine-Thenarder’s daughter, mean to Cosette
• Thenardiers-run a small inn, theifs
• Marius-student revolutionary, friends with Eponine, in love
with Cosette
• Friends of the ABC-Student revolutionaries
The Story
• Jean Valjean is released on parole by Javert after
19 years in prison
• Bishop helps him start a new life, breaking parole
• Eight years later
– Monsieur Madeleine
– Factory owner
– Mayor of Montreuil-sur Mer
• Fantine is caught sending money to help
illegitimate child, Madeleine asks foreman to
resolve it, fires her
The Story
• Fantine sells hair, locket, and becomes a
prostitute for money for her daughter Cosette
• Fantine arrested by Javert, Madeleine gets her
out
• Javert tells Madeleine that they have arrested
Jean Valjean
– Madeleine confesses his identity and his arrested
– Tries to find Cosette before, knocks Javert out
The Story
• Next we see the Thenardier’s, who run an inn
– Own Cosette and abuse her
– Indulge their own daughter Eponine
– Cheat their customers
• Valjean finds Cosette and pays the
Thendardier’s to take her away
The Story
• 9 Years later-Paris is in chaos
• Thenardier’s street gang try to ambush
Valjean and Cosette
– Javert rescues them, then realizes identity
• Marius, a student, bumps into Cosette,
immediately falls in love
– Persuades reluctant friend Eponine to help him
find her
– Epnonine is in love with Marius
The Story
• Eponine leads Marius to Cosette
• Then she prevents father’s gang from robbing them
• Valjean thinks it’s Javert and tells Cosette they must
country
• Eve of Paris Uprising
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Valjean goes into hiding
Cosette and Marius mourn
Eponine mourns over losing Marius
Marius joins other students for uprising
Javert spies on students
Thenardier’s plan to steal money from the corpses from
the battles
The Story-2nd Act
• Students at the barricade
– Javert disguised as rebel
– Eponine dressed as boy
• Marius gives letter to Eponine to deliver to
Cosette, Valjean intercepts
• Eponine returns to Marius at barricade
• Javert is revealed as imposter
• In a conflict at the barricade, Eponine is shot
and dies in Marius’ arms
The Story
• Valjean is asked to kill Javert but releases him and
forgives him
• Valjean prays for Marius’ safety
• A battle ensues between the students and the
government and all students/rebels die except for
Valjean and Marius
• Valjean and Marius escape to the sewers where
the Thenardier’s try to steal from Marius
• Valjean runs into Javert, begs for one more hour
• Javert agrees and then commits suicide
The Story
• What will happen to Cosette and Marius?
• Will the Thenardier’s schemes interrupt
Cosette, Marius, and Valjean’s lives again?
• Will Valjean have to serve time for his crimes?
• How will the characters handle the death of so
many of their friends?
Results
• 2006 Revival, only 3 years after it closed
• 10th anniversary concert
– Sir Cameron Mackintosh hand selected cast
– “Do you Hear the People Sing” in various
languages
• Numerous national and international touring
productions
• Nominated for 12 Tonys, won 8 including Best
Musical
Songs
• I Dreamed a Dream
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt-IBJpEMzA
• Castle on a Cloud
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u9QNYjYvYQ
• Master of the House
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFPsEwV38Q0
• On My Own
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuS1cCnG8xc
• A Little Fall of Rain
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ptdGPt9wt4