Celebration of Musical Theater: Spooky Mormon Hell Dream

I was trying to decided what I should write about on my site next and I stumbled upon an old review for Book of Mormon. I havnt seen the musical since the original cast was together but I definitely loved it. The musical has this perfect “South Parkian” feel to it. After watching the review I remembered this being my favorite song from the musical so I quickly looked it up and laughed out loud. I just had to share after that! To give the song some context. Basically the main character Elder Price decides to abandon his mormon mission partner Elder Cunningham. He then has a dream similar to those he had as a child of ending up in “Spooky Mormon Hell” . Just like Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s tv show, their musical is equal parts incredibly offensive, extremely funny, and whole heartedly put together. By whole heartedly put together, I mean that you can see that the team goes above and beyond to bring an emotional heart as well as technical intelligence to their products. Spooky Mormon Hell Dream is a perfect example. The songs in the Book of Mormon could have been simple generic songs to carry the comedic points across but instead are some of the best songs in recent musical theater I’ve heard. “Spooky Mormon Hell Dream” goes full rock opera complete with angel choirs that send chills up my spine with their beauty even when they are singing about the uber-ridiculous idea of hell in Elder Price’s head(one where Jesus personally shows up to call him a dick, and the devil plays a “wicked” guitar solo). I challenge you to listen to this song and not laugh out loud.  The  musical  pokes fun at religion without dismissing religion or its merits. While I dont this musical is for everyone, if you  get a chance, definitely watch this musical.

Song of the Day 03/20/11: Carl Anderson [Jesus Christ Superstar] – Heaven on Their Minds

One of my all time favorite bands, Pain of Salvation, started out playing Jesus Christ Superstar performances and list the musical as one of, if not their biggest influences. I only saw the movie about a year ago, but Judas and Jesus both have really awesome 70’s rock voices and the fact that the movie opens up with Heaven on Their Minds is pretty amazing. That little guitar/bass riff at the beginning is my favorite in the entire musical and Carl Andersons vocal power shocks me every time i hear the song. This is all from the 1973 Movie.

Celebration of Musical Theater: Les Miserables

I just watched the new movie version of Les Miserables and it encouraged me to finally jump start this section of my blog. Les Miserables may be my favorite musical of all time although it is really hard to pick just one. I’ve been listening to the musical for over 15 years (Original London Cast) although I’ve also seen the 25th anniversary concert and a live production. Just like my Ode to Videogame Soundtracks section, I will not touch on every song in the musical and will try to focus on ones that have the most personal connection for me. I will pull songs from all casts, seeking most to find the best versions (Although my guess is that I’ll use mostly Original London Cast Versions). I will also discuss much of the plot surrounding the songs since one of the problems with only listening to the music in a musical is that a lot of the plot can be visual or taking place between songs. After laying down the plot I will make comments about my love for the songs and the new film since I really want to talk about that too.I really shouldn’t have to mention this but just in case: SPOILER ALERT!

Prologue: Work Song and Valjean’s Arrest and Forgiveness

The musical is centrally focused on the character of Prisoner 24601 AKA Jean Valjean, a man who steals a loaf of bread and spends 19 years in prison for it. The prologue showcases this story and introduces the main antagonist to Valjean, Javert. Javert is a tough as nails policeman who believes in bringing all criminals to justice and that there is no redemption for them. Valjean is paroled but can’t find work due to the fact that he has to show papers which state he is a criminal. He ends up in the home of a Bishop who shows him grace. He repays the preist by stealing most of his silver and trying to run. The police arrest him and he claims that the silver was given to him. In an act of supreme grace, the Bishop asks for Valjean’s release and claims that he did give him the silver, also giving Valjean silver candlesticks proclaiming that he forgot them. This act of grace is the the watershed moment for Valjean, as the Bishop proclaims, “I have bought your soul for God.”

I love this set of songs because not only does it introduce you to the two main characters and provide the setting for the rest of the show, it also has one of the most loving acts ever portrayed in film/theater/books. The powerful payment by the Bishop sets Valjean free of all his anger and hatred, changing him forever. In the film, I was amazed by the opening set of the “Work Song”. Hundreds of men pulling this giant ship into the harbor! Hugh Jackman was so rugged, my mom didnt realize it was him until he shaved his beard 3 songs later. One thing I thought the movie did an excellent job with was the scale of its sets. The live show is limited to a single space so it often times hard to find out when locations change. The film looks beautiful throughout, but that first ship already had my mouth wide open. I also thought Colm Wilkinson did an excellent job as the Bishop. He played Jean Valjean in the original London and Broadway cast.

What have I Done?

Valjean is my favorite character, especially when played by  Colm Wilkinson! Damn this guy can make me cry. “What have I Done?” deals with Valjean confronting the grace that he received from the Bishop. He decides to leave his name and his record behind so that he can start a new life.

This song still gives me chills every time. Every word is just so powerful. When someone does something so insane that you doubt your entire life. Thats powerful stuff. I also love all the scream singing in the song. If only Daniel Gildenlow could cover this song… My favorite part begins when he says “I am reaching but I fall…” Plus those horns at the end! Wow! I guess this is where I should talk about Hugh Jackman. I loved him and I didnt. I LOVED his look, and his physical acting. Every face he made in the entire film made me want to burst into tears and hug the man. A common theme you’ll see about my views on the film is that I like the visuals more than the sound. His voice was very meek. Where Colm screams and hits gut wrenching high notes, Jackman would settle for quiet mumblings. Now I understand the reasoning for this in the movie and I appreciate the different take but come on, we needed more power for our Jean Valjean! I cant emphasis enough though how amazing Jackson looked for the part. His face laid bare every emotion that is suggested through the words. For that I loved him. You could see the tension in his face as he wrestled with the Bishops grace.

At the End of the Day

At the End of the Day skips ahead 8 years in time. Valjean has taken a new name and is now both mayor and wealthy factory owner. Fantine is one of his workers who gets into a fight with a coworker who has discovered she sends money to a secret illegitimate child. Valjean breaks up the fight, but the forman fires her because she refuses to sleep with him.

“At the End of the Day” has some of my favorite music from the show and also the most moving ensemble cast sections. I have to admit that the first time I cried in the new film was when this song started. The set, the ensemble cast’s makeup, and the power in the actors faces brought me to tears. I also thought all the factory workers in the second half of the song were done extremely well.

I Dreamed A Dream

“I Dreamed a Dream” focuses on Fantine after she is fired from the factory and her feelings of hopelessness as she reflects on her broken dreams.

Definitely one of the most powerful songs in the entire show, “I Dreamed a Dream” is a rain maker. If you don’t feel something when you hear this song, you probably should go see a cardiologist because you may have a serious condition of having no heart. This is a musical theater classic and Patty LuPone kills it! The movie switches the place for this song to after “Lovely Ladies” so that Anne Hathaway looks like a broken mess. That being said, though she couldnt hit the notes that the song demands, I loved her version of the song and it has been growing on me ever since I first heard it in the original trailer for the film (And didnt like it then). If theres one song I will listen to outside of the film, I think it will be this one. If she wins an oscar, you will hear no objections from me.

Lovely Ladies

Fantine needs to find away to support her daughter. She starts by selling a locket, then her hair and finally her body.

Two things about this song. The first is that when I was a little kid, I loved “Lovely Ladies” and would listen to it all the time and sing along. Yup. I had no idea it was about prostitution. The second is that it has some of Fantine’s best lines. Really powerful stuff. In the film, this scene really disturbed me. They definitely went very dark.

Who Am I?

Another stunner from Jean Valjean! Javert thinks that the Mayor is indeed prisoner 24601 that broke his parole after he sees him lift a cart that fell on a worker. However, another man is arrest and put on trial for being Jean Valjean. The real Valjean considers this as a get out of jail free card but his conscience gets the best of him and he admits to being the real Jean Valjean so that an innocent man is not condemned in his place.

This is another musical theater staple. Anyone who has ever heard the musical can recall the “Who am I? 24601!” belt. I was disappointed that Jackman simply mutters the line in the movie version.

The Confrontation

So, I’m skipping ahead a little bit but Fantine gets sick and dies but not before she is rescued from the streets by Valjean who finds out he is responsible for her predicament. He promises that he will take on Fantine’s daughter as his own. Javert shows up and confronts Valjean who asks for 3 days to recover Cosette. Javert refuses and Valjean is forced to knock him out and flee.

I thought the Confrontation was handled very well in the film. I really liked Russell Crowe as Javert (though his singing was obviously lacking) . I was surprised because I didn’t expect to like him. Something about his ability to keep that solemn face and say so much with his eyes. The film also added some tension with Javert’s sword swiping at Valjean. Once again, it lacked the tension that the duet provides with two more powerful singers. Norm Lewis is my fiance’s favorite Javert so I put up that version.

Thenardier Waltz Of Treachery

The Thenardier’s are the wretched husband and wife innkeepers who sneak and scam to get money wherever they can. In the Waltz of Treachery, they try to leech as much money out of Valjean as possible when he comes to reclaim Cosette who is in their care.

I know Master of the House is probably more famous but I like the music of Waltz of Treachery more. Something about its carousel sound and feel real gets to me. Especially cause they are spinning this tale about how much they love Cosette and they cant let her go without enough cash. I liked these scenes a lot in the film. There was a lot of visual gags but I think my favorite touch was the fact that Thenardier keeps calling Cosette, “Colette”. In both the musical and the movie, the Thenardier’s primary purpose is to lighten the mood a bit when everything else is so depressing.

Do You Here the People Sing?

Skipping ahead a lot in time and a little in the musical, “Do You Here the People Sing?” focuses on the other main focus of musical which is the set up for the french revolution. My favorite songs in the musical are the character drama related songs and I’ve always been more drawn towards them than the over arching political plot. That being said, I figured I should include some or else there will be huge plot skips. Now living in Paris, Cosette is grown up and still living with Valjean under a new alias. The plot then shifts to a group of young revolutionaries headed by Enjolras and Marius. I should also point out that Marius has recently seen Cosette in the streets of Paris and falls in love with her. On another important note, Eponine, the daughter of the Thenardiers is also with the revolutionaries and in love with Marius.

While I’m not crazy about the revolutionary songs, you have to admit that they make you want to rise up against the oppressors. I really liked being able to see how all these pieces of the plot fit together in the film. The revolution was definitely an area of the plot that didnt connect as well to everything else in my head and it was great to see the time line of events and the actual locations where those events took place in the show.

One Day More

What can I say about One Day More? It’s the end of the first act. Valjean fears pursuit by Javert and plans to flee Paris with Cosette, Marius prepares for the start of a revolution with Eponine, while Javert reveals a plan to spy on the revolutionaries by joining their ranks while the Thenardiers plan to rob the corpses.

One Day More is your typical end of the first act song with huge ensemble casts singing a mashup of many of the songs from earlier in the musical and blending into one another. It is hugely powerful and probably one of the best songs in both the musical and the new movie. The movie definitely shines on huge ensemble numbers. I was a little upset with the volume that the songs were played at in the theater. This song needs to envelope you from all sides. If I ever watch the movie at home, Ill make sure to blast it.

On My Own

Eponine’s tragic love song. This song actually reminds me a lot of Sally’s Song in the Nightmare Before Christmas. Though the plot differs a little in the new movie version, Eponine sings this song after delivering Marius’ love letter to Valjean upon request from Marius.

Another wonderful song from Les Mis and what a way to open the second act. I love the score on this song. And obviously the song has some amazing belts in it. Lea Salonga is kind of the defacto best Eponine ever but I have to say I’m a huge Samantha Barks fan. Still, her performance in the movie is definitely toned down compared to the version in the 25th anniversary concert(Which I couldnt find on youtube). That didnt stop me from crying. Eponine is such a tragic love story character and I’m usually drawn to those types. My only complaint about Samantha Barks is that she’s too attractive. Its like “Yo Maruis! Why would you even think about Cosette when you got super hot Eponine wanting to be on you??”

A Little Fall of Rain

The revolution has started and the students have formed a barricade. Eponine is shot in the ensuing conflict and sings one last song in the arms of Marius before her death.

This song never really got to me in the Original London Cast version. I think I just didnt like Frances Ruffelle as much as Eponine. However, I completely broke down for this one during the movie. Seeing Eponine shot and lying in the mud in Marius’ arms, I just couldnt contain myself. It was a wonderful moment.

Bring Him Home

Jean Valjean has intercepted the letter from Marius that was meant for Cosette and heads to the barricades to see what he is like. He sings this song as he watches Marius sleep and prays that this wonderful innocent man who could have been his son in another life, be saved from the bloody revolution. It’s a beautiful quiet peace. The version in the movie is definitely not my favorite but I still loved watching Hugh Jackman’s facial expressions.

Javert’s Suicide

Ok. A lot happened in the story that I skipped over. Remember how Javert infiltrated the revolutionaries? Well he got caught and tied up. When Valjean comes to speak with Marius he also saves Enjolras from a sniper and earns the right to do what he sees fit with Javert. Instead of killing him, he lets him go. Then when war breaks out at the barricade, Marius is shot and Valjean takes him in the sewers in order to escape. All the other revolutionaries are killed. As Valjean carries Marius  into through the sewers, he is confronted by Javert. Valjean pleads with Javert to let him bring Marius to a doctor and then he shall return to be taken back to prison. Javert at first forbids it but the grace that Valjean showed him early has shaken him to the core and he lets Valjean go. He then sings this final song about he cannot accept the grace of Valjean and he commits suicide by jumping off a bridge.

I love this song! It was always one of my favorites growing up, even when I didnt know what it was about and I loved it even more once I found out what it was about. At the same time it is extremely depressing. I was pretty moved by it in the movie as well even though I dont like Russell Crowe’s singing. It may be just that my years of feeling pity for the character still crossed the barrier into the film. Once again, it was visually stunning to see exactly how the scenes in the sewers played into this scene on the bridge.

Empty Chairs at Empty Tables

Marius returns to the old hang out of the revolutionaries and sings this powerful song about the loss of all his friends.

I liked this song before but once I heard Eddie Redmayne sing this in the movie, I knew I had rediscovered it. Wow he gave an amazing performance!! It made me love his character a lot more. The movie also helped me place the lyrics of the song a lot better since I was able to see the earlier scenes when all his friends were around the same tables that now were smashed and destroyed for the revolution. It was definitely one of my favorite scenes in the film!

Finale

Before this song, Jean Valjean confesses his life story to Marius making him promise never to tell Cosette. He then runs away fearing that his crimes may catch up to him and ruin Cosette’s life. Marius and Cosette get married and the Thenardiers crash the wedding, telling Marius that Valjean is a murderer because they saw him carrying a corpse through the sewers. This reveals to Marius that it was actually Valjean that saved his life on the night of the revolution and he take Cosette with him to find Valjean at a convent. Valjean is dying, finally letting go now that Cosette is in save hands. Fantine comes to take him away to heaven.

Once again, the movies visuals helped me piece together, some of the things at the end of the musical I had never fully understood. Musicals can have some pretty complicated stories and whatever isnt in the actual music is hard to understand. I have to confess that watching Jean Valjean die, I was once again in a fit of tears. Hugh Jackman’s facial expressions alone should help him win an oscar.

So, that’s my take on Les Miserables. I hope you liked it! Those of you patient enough to actually read through the whole thing, I give you an extra thank you. Please let me know in the comments what you thought of this new topic and whether theres any other musicals you’d be interested in exploring.

Song of the Day 01/14/13: Les Miserables – (Spoiler Alert!)

I finally got to see Les Miserables today! I’m a HUGE fan of the musical. I’ve been listening to it for probably 15 years and I’ve seen a stage production as well. The song I originally wanted to feature was “Javert’s Suicide” and then I was like, OH CRAP! SPOILERS! Then I started thinking about it and was like, but I want to share more than one!!! So, I’ll be starting my new section on film and theater sooner than expected! For now, enjoy Javert’s Suicide while I construct an analysis of both the film and my love for the musical in general!