Full Synopsis
Prologue
A chain gang is working in the scorching sun in Toulon, France, in 1815. Javert enters to tell one of the prisoners, Jean Valjean, that his parole is about to begin. Valjean has been in prison for five years for stealing a loaf of bread, and for 14 more years for attempting to escape. Javert reminds him that he will always be marked as a thief by the yellow ticket of leave that he must carry with him in the future. Valjean explains that he only stole the loaf of bread because his sister's child was near death and his family was starving. Javert warns that he intends to keep his eye on Valjean in the future, waiting for him to break the law again.
Although Valjean will never forgive his jailers or forget the wrong done to him, he plans to start a new life. However, he quickly learns that because he is branded as a thief, he cannot make a living or find a place to stay. He discovers that to a paroled man, the outside world is little more than another kind of jail. In the town of Digne, a saintly Bishop allows Valjean to stay in his house overnight. The bitter Valjean steals some silver from the Bishop and is questioned by constables. Valjean lies and says the Bishop gave him the silver. The Bishop not only backs up his lie, but gives him two silver candlesticks as well, asking that he use the silver to become an honest man. Valjean is overwhelmed by the Bishop's kindness. He realizes the Bishop has given him a chance to reclaim his soul. He decides to tear up his yellow ticket of leave that is his link to his life in prison and begin a new life with a new identity ("Prologue").
Act One
We move ahead to 1823, in the town of Montreiul Sur Mer, at the factory owned by Jean Valjean under his new identity of M. Madeleine. A group of poor workers at the factory express their despair with their barren, impoverished lives. They gossip about the foreman and one of the female workers, Fantine, who has resisted his advances. They grab a letter away from Fantine and learn that she has a child who lives with innkeepers in another town. Valjean, now Mayor of Montreiul Sur Mer as well as the owner of the factory, appears, but allows his foreman to handle the matter. The women insist that Fantine be fired because of her loose morals. Although she explains that she is the sole support of her child because her lover abandoned her, the foreman fires her ("At The End Of The Day"). She reflects on how different the world seemed when she first fell in love; before life killed her dreams ("I Dreamed A Dream").
Fantine wanders to the red light district, where she finds herself among sailors and prostitutes. She sells her necklace and her hair, and then becomes a prostitute to earn money for her daughter. When she refuses to allow a street idler to purchase her services, he is so enraged that he tells Javert, claiming she attacked him. The Mayor, Valjean, comes to Fantine's aid and learns that she is only in her present circumstance because he turned his back on her at his factory. When he realizes that she and her daughter are innocent victims, he demands that Javert release her ("The Docks").
Suddenly, an old man is pinned down by a runaway cart and Valjean saves him by lifting the cart. Javert says that he has seen that kind of strength only once before, in a prisoner at Toulon. However, he knows that the Mayor cannot be the individual he is describing because Javert has recently re-arrested that man for a minor crime. In fact, he says Jean Valjean's trial is about to take place. The true Valjean realizes that he will not be able to live with himself if he does not confess his identity and spare the falsely accussed man. He appears at the trial and confesses his real identity in front of Javert ("The Cart Crash").
Fantine is taken ill and lies delirious in the hospital. Valjean escapes Javert to come to her bedside, where he promises he will protect her daughter, Cosette. Fantine dies believing that he will keep his promise. As Valjean sits grieving beside her, Javert appears. Valjean begs Javert to allow him to find Cosette and leave her in safety before he is jailed. Javert refuses to trust him, and Valjean threatens him. Javert speaks of his own history, saying he has risen from a past in the gutter and now lives only for the law. Invoking his promise to Fantine, Valjean overcomes Javert and escapes ("Fantine's Death").
Young Cosette is sweeping and scrubbing at the Thenardier's inn. She dreams of a castle on a cloud where she could lead a life filled with love and free of tears. She is interrupted by the evil Mme. Thenardier who scolds her, saying that the money her mother sends doesn't pay for her keep. She praises her own daughter, Eponine, and sends Cosette out to the well in the woods for water. Cosette begs not to be sent into the woods in the dark, but is ordered to go by Mme. Thenardier ("Little Cosette").
Tavern guests arrive and settle down for a night of drinking, exchanging tales of the reprehensible ways in which Thenardier made his money in the past. Thenardier tells them that he lives by the rule that everything has a price. Mme. Thenardier joins him in this self-mocking assessment of their corrupt lifestyle ("The Innkeeper's Song"). Jean Valjean appears with the trembling Cosette. He has found her in the woods and tells the Thenardiers that he has come to take her away. The Thenardiers extract a settlement from him for what they claim are Fantine's debts. Valjean promises Cosette they will find a better life together ("The Bargain").
The scene shifts to the streets of Paris in 1832, where Beggars are crying out for help. Gavroche, a young boy, is among them. A group of students led by Enjolras enters and accuse the nation's leaders of ignoring the poor. Gavroche warns that everyone must now watch out for the Thenardier gang. Thenardier has moved his operations to Paris and is preying on the poor. He has enlisted his daughter, Eponine, now a young woman, into his illicit activities ("The Beggars"). Eponine is in love with Marius, one of Enjolras' student friends. However, Marius does not return her affection. Jean Valjean and Cosette appear, giving money to the poor, but Thenardier's thugs try to rob them. Marius sees Cosette for the first time and falls in love with her. Valjean is recognized by Thenardier, and when Javert arrives to intercede, Valjean flees. Thenardier shares the news of Valjean's identity with Javert. In the absence of a victim, Javert has to let Thenardier go ("The Robbery").
Javert declares his determination to catch the fugitive Valjean. He will never rest until he does, and prays that God help him find him. As Javert leaves, Gavroche returns, claiming he is really the one who runs this town. Meanwhile, Eponine realizes that the girl with Jean Valjean was Cosette. Marius begs her to help him find Cosette again. Although she is filled with jealousy, Eponine agrees ("Stars").
The students are meeting at the ABC Cafe to plan an insurrection. Marius comes in, unable to think about anything but Cosette. Enjolras says they must decide whether or not they are willing to die for their beliefs. Gavroche comes to announce the death of General Lamarque, a popular military leader. Enjolras says Lamarque's death will kindle the flame of revolution ("The ABC Cafe"). The people will be ready to follow the students in their insurrection ("The People's Song").
In her home, Cosette has a sense that love is very close to her now. Jean Valjean worries that she is lonely due to the fugitive life they must lead. Cosette still does not know why they must always be on the run. Valjean leaves and Eponine brings Marius to Cosette ("Rue Plumet"). As he expresses his love for Cosette, Eponine waits outside, realizing she will never have Marius ("A Heart Full Of Love"). Eponine sees her father and his henchmen surrounding the house, intending to rob Valjean. Eponine fears that Marius will think she set him up to be robbed and screams to warn him. Thenardier and his gang run away and Marius realizes that Eponine has saved him. He tells Cosette that his friend has brought them together and also warned them of this danger.Valjean appears and Cosette lies, saying she screamed because she saw shadows on the wall. Valjean thinks it was Javert and says they must run away to Calais, and then cross the sea ("The Attack On Rue Plumet").
Everyone reflects on the future: Valjean sees himself as being trapped on an endless road, Cosette and Marius feel their new-found love slipping away, and Eponine mourns her unrequited feelings for Marius. Enjolras appears and enlists Marius in the insurrection, and Marius decides to join his friends, since Cosette will now be lost to him forever. Javert predicts that the revolution will be stopped at once by the authorities. Thenardier agrees that the students are destined to lose. The students sing of their glorious day to come. Everyone prepares for a new future ("One Day More").
Act Two
The students build their barricade, assessing the strength of their adversaries and hoping that the people will support them. Javert, disguised a revolutionary, offers to help spy on the enemy. Marius spots Eponine and tries to send her away, fearing for her life. She says his concern shows he does care about her. He asks her to take a message to Cosette. She gives the letter to Jean Valjean at the house on Rue Plumet. Valjean reads the letter and learns of Maurius' feelings for Cosette. In the letter, Marius says goodbye to Cosette in case he dies in battle. Eponine expresses her feelings of loneliness. She has now alienated her father by protecting Marius and has nowhere to turn. She has nothing but her dreams of a love that can never be returned. Back at the barricade, the students are told by the army to give up their guns or die ("The Barricade").
Javert pretends to be on the students' side and encourages them to surrender. However, Gavroche reveals Javert's identity and the students tie Javert up, planning to shoot him as a traitor after the battle. Eponine returns and tells Marius she has delivered the letter to Valjean. He realizes that she has been wounded trying to return to him with this message. Marius holds her tightly as she dies in his arms. Eponine is first on the rebel side to die in battle. Jean Valjean appears and says he has come to aid the students. They say another volunteer turned out to be a traitor, and that if Valjean is the same he will be killed ("Javert At The Barricade").
Valjean is given a gun and as the battle begins, he shoots and kills a sniper. Having proven his loyalty to the students' cause, he asks if he can dispense with the spy Javert himself. Enjolras agrees and turns Javert over to Valjean. Once Javert is in his custody, Valjean releases him. Javert says Valjean is being foolish; as long as they are both alive, he will continue to pursue Valjean. Valjean replies that he doesn't blame Javert for trying to do what he believes is his duty and allows him to escape ("The First Attack").
The students rest and reflect on their friendship and days gone by. Marius says that he doesn't care if he dies; life without Cosette will be meaningless. Realizing the depth of Marius' devotion to Cosette, Valjean prays for his safety in battle. He offers to die instead and begs God to bring him home. Enjolras announces that they are alone, abandoned by their people ("The Night").
The students need the bullets that lie in the street. Marius volunteers to pick them up, but Valjean insists that he will go instead. Little Gavroche is quicker than either of them and scrambles up the barricade. He is instantly killed ("The Second Attack"). The voice on the megaphone again warns the students that since the people of Paris sleep in their beds instead of coming to their aid, they have no chance of winning. The students refuse to surrender, and the army mounts a fierce attack. Only Marius and Valjean survive. Valjean carries the wounded Marius down a manhole into a sewer. Javert returns and searches for Valjean's body. Not finding him among the dead, he concludes that he must have escaped into the sewer ("The Final Battle").
In the sewers beneath Paris, Thenardier appears with a body over his shoulders. He strips the dead of their valuables and dumps the bodies in the mud of the sewers. Valjean and Marius have collapsed in the sewer, and Thenardier starts to rob them. Then he recognizes Valjean and runs away. Javert finds Valjean at the sewer exit ("The Sewers"). Valjean asks Javert to allow him to take Marius to safety. Then he will return and surrender to Javert. This time, Javert agrees to Valjean's request and says he will be waiting.
Javert waits, desperately confused. He says he cannot live in the debt of a thief. He realizes that his own life has no meaning because Valjean has indeed proven that a man can be redeemed and should be forgiven. Doubt destroys Javert, whose world is held together by the force of rigid rules. Valjean has killed him by granting his life. Javert jumps to his death. The women of Paris mourn the dead students, saying that nothing has changed as the result of their deaths ("Javert's Suicide").
Marius sings a song of mourning for his dead companions. He begs their forgiveness that he survived, wondering what it all was for ("The Cafe Song"). At the hospital where he is recovering, Marius tells Cosette that he still doesn't know who saved him at the barricade. They plan to marry and Marius invites Valjean to live with them. Valjean confesses his past to Marius, explaining that Cosette knows nothing about his real identity. He says he must keep running. Marius agrees never to tell Cosette the truth about her adoptive father's past ("Marius & Cosette")
On Cosette's wedding day, the Thenardiers try to sell Marius the truth about Cosette's father in exchange for cash. As a result, Marius learns that Jean Valjean is the man who carried him through the sewers to safety. The Thenardiers celebrate that, in spite of everything, they have survived ("The Wedding").
Valjean is alone in a room, dying. As he is having visions of Fantine, Marius and Cosette burst into his room. Marius tells Cosette that he now knows her father is the one who saved his life, and Valjean tells her the truth about her mother. The spirit of Fantine is joined by the spirit of Eponine. As he dies, Valjean and the spirits remind Cosette of the everlasting power of love. With overwhelming conviction, the entire company returns, again hailing their new future ("Epilogue").
Show History
Inspiration
Les Misérables is a musical based on the novel of the same name by French Poet and playwright Victor Hugo. The 1862 novel is considered by many to be one of the greatest novels of the 19th century.
French songwriter, Alain Boublil, had the inspiration to adapt Hugo's novel into a musical while at a performance of the musical Oliver! in London. When the Artful Dodger appeared on stage, the idea of Gavroche narrating the story of Les Misrables came to mind. He pitched the concept to composer Claude-Michel Schonberg, who then began developing a rough synopsis.
Productions
Les Misrables, a sung-through musical based on the novel of the same name, had its world premiere in September of 1980 at the Palais des Sports in Paris. The production was directed by filmmaker Robert Hossein and ran for over 100 performances.
Following the world premiere run of the original French version, Herbert Kretzmer and James Fenton were given the task of adapting the material into an English. This new version, produced by Cameron Mackintosh and directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird, opened on October 8, 1985 at the Barbican Arts Centre in London. The original cast included such notables as Colm Wilkinson, Michael Ball, and Patti LuPone.
On December 4, 1985, the world premiere production of the English version transferred to the Palace Theatre in London. It eventually moved once more on April 3, 2004, to the Queen's Theatre. It has become the second longest-running musical in the world and the second longest-running show on the West End.
Les Misérables made its journey across the pond in December of 1986. The musical received its U.S. premiere and out-of-town tryout at the Kennedy Center's Opera House in Washington D.C. It then premiered on Broadway on March 12, 1987 at The Broadway Theatre. In October of 1990, the production moved to the Imperial Theatre, where it subsequently played over 6,500 performances. The original production closed on May 18, 2003, and has become the third longest running Broadway musical in history.
Only three years later, a limited revival began on November 9, 2006, at the Broadhurst Theatre. This cast included Norm Lewis, Gary Beach, and Celia-Keenan Bolger. The production closed on January 6, 2008.
Since its premiere in the 1980s, Les Misérables has also received several significant concert performances, international mountings, and national U.S. tours. The original North American tour ran for seventeen years and over 7,000 performances. As of 2012, four different U.S. national tours have been produced.
Critical Reaction
"Les Misérables has become an unmistakable part of our theatregoing consciousness" -Talkin' Broadway
"On the most basic level...the show is a marvel of skillful adaptation. The French authors merit an honorary degree in narrative surgery for their abridgment, which loses nothing crucial in the plot, and for the clarity of the storytelling." -Variety
"One of the reasons for the overwhelming popularity is that the majesty of Hugo's story, adapted here by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg, is matched by the majesty of their score. Its melodies are as grandiose as the story, stirring, tuneful and totally capturing the emotion of the moment." -Associated Press
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Billing
- Music by
- Lyrics by
- Original French text by
- Additional Material by
Based on the novel by Victor Hugo
Requirements
New Orchestrations by CHRISTOPHER JAHNKE, STEPHEN METCALFE and STEPHEN BOOKER
Licensing Guidelines and Provisions
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The show must be referred to as Les Misérables School Edition at all times in your print and verbal publicity, as well as in your programmes. It must be made clear at all times that this is not Les Misérables (the full show) and is being performed by amateurs.
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The audio or video recording of any part of the dialogue, lyrics or music from this musical show, whether analogue or digital (including all forms of electronic retrieval systems, e.g. computer disk, hard drive, synthesiser, sequencer, MP3, etc.) is only allowed with the signed Video Licensing Agreement, which is available for a separate charge of £100 plus VAT (for one archive copy) or £200 plus VAT (for the archive master and up to 100 copies). It is your responsibility to ensure that neither yourself nor any member of your staff or third party breaches this clause in any way.
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The entire cast must be 18 years of age or under on the date of your last performance.
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The entire cast must all be full-time Secondary, Middle or Junior School students.
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No member of the cast may be paid a salary, a percentage of ticket sales, a flat fee or any similar compensation.
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A profile list of your full cast (name, age and school as at your rehearsal period) must be forwarded to MTI Europe (shows@mtishows.co.uk) no later than four weeks prior to starting your production run.
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No member of the cast may be a member of an actors’ union such as Equity. This must be a completely amateur cast.
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The licence is restricted to a maximum of 10 performances over a period of no more than three consecutive calendar weeks.
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You may not tour this production. Each Performance Agreement is issued for a specific venue.
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All advertising and programmes must state that Les Misérables School Edition is being performed entirely by students.
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All advertising must utilise the official Les Misérables School Edition logo. No alterations to the logo are permitted.
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Press releases must state that this is a special edition of Les Misérables performed entirely by students.
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Author billing credits must read exactly as they appear on this Rider.
Advertising Restrictions
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There is to be no advertising on Television or Radio other than school stations without prior approval of the Licensors.
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There is to be no advertising on the internet under any circumstances, except for on school/theatre group websites. No personal website advertising is allowed.
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If there is a professional production of Les Misérables in your area, or due to visit your area (i.e. within 75 miles of your theatre), you must adhere to the following advertising guidelines:
You must restrict your advertising to the following: a. Local posters and flyers
b. School/theatre group newspaper/newsletter
c. School/theatre group website
d. School/theatre group run radio and television stations -
The show must be referred to as Les Misérables School Edition at all times in your print and verbal publicity as well as in your show programmes. It must be made clear at all times that this is not Les Misérables (the full show).
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Video Warning
If you purchase a separate Video Licence to allow non-commercial video recording of this production, you must print the following in your programme: ANY VIDEO RECORDING MADE OF THIS PERFORMANCE IS AUTHORISED FOR PERSONAL, AT-HOME, NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY. THE SALE OR DISTRIBUTION OF SUCH RECORDING IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED UNDER COPYRIGHT LAW. If you do not purchase a separate Video Licence then you must print the following in your programme: The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.Included Materials
| Item | Quantity Included |
|---|---|
| DIGITAL PRODUCTION SLIDES | 1 |
| DIRECTOR'S SCRIPT | 1 |
| LIBRETTO/VOCAL BOOK | 30 |
| PIANO CONDUCTOR'S SCORE ACT 1 | 1 |
| PIANO CONDUCTOR'S SCORE ACT 2 | 1 |
| PIANO VOCAL SCORE ACT 1 | 1 |
| PIANO VOCAL SCORE ACT 2 | 1 |
| STUDY GUIDE | 1 |
Production Resources
| Resource |
|---|
| CUSTOMIZABLE SHOW POSTER |
| FULL SCORE VOL. 1 OF 4 |
| FULL SCORE VOL. 2 OF 4 |
| FULL SCORE VOL. 3 OF 4 |
| FULL SCORE VOL. 4 OF 4 |
| HOW DOES THE SHOW GO ON-10/CS |
| HOW DOES THE SHOW GO ON? |
| KEYBOARD PATCH SOLUTIONS |
| KEYBOARDTEK |
| LOGO PACK DIGITAL |
| ORCHEXTRA |
| PRODUCTIONPRO-DIGITAL SCRIPT/SCORE |
| REFERENCE RECORDING |
| REHEARSAL ACCOMPANIMENT RECORDING |
| REHEARSCORE APP |
| SCENIC PROJECTIONS |
| SCENIC PROJECTIONS PRO |
| SCENIC PROJECTIONS-ANIMATED |
| SCENIC PROJECTIONS-STILL |
| SOUND EFFECTS RECORDING-DIGITAL |
| STAGE MANAGER SCRIPT |
| STAGE WRITE APPLICATION |
| SUBPLOT CUSTOMIZED SHOW POSTER |
| TRANSPOSITIONS-ON-DEMAND |
| VIDEO LICENSE |
STANDARD ORCHESTRATION
| Instrumentation | Doubling |
|---|---|
| BASS | ACOUSTIC BASS |
| CELLO | |
| HORN | |
| HORN 2 | |
| KEYBOARD 1 | |
| KEYBOARD 2 | |
| PERCUSSION | "GAVROCHE" DRUM , BELL TREE , BIG CYMBAL , BOSPHORUS CYMBAL , BRAKE DRUM , CHINA CYMBAL , COWBELL , CRACKED SPALSH CYMB., CRASH CYMBAL , CRICKET CLICKER , CROTALES , CYMBAL , FIELD DRUM , FINGER CYMBAL , FLOOR TOM , GARBAGE CAN LID , GLOCKENSPIEL , GRAN CASSA , GRITTY CHINA CYMBAL , LARGE SUS. CYMBAL , MARK TREE , OLD COPPER POT , OLD SPLASH CYMBAL , OLD TIN CUP , PICCOLO SNARE DRUM , RACK TOMS , ROTO TOMS , SMALL CHINA CYMBAL , SMALL RATCHET , SMALL SUS. CYMBAL , SNARE DRUM , SUSPENDED CYMBAL , TAM TAM , TAMBOURINE , TEMPLE BLOCKS , TIMPANI , TOM-TOMS , TRIANGLE , TRINE , VERY LG. SUS. CYMBAL, WOOD BLOCK , XYLOPHONE , 6" SPLASH CYMBAL , 8" SPLASH CYMBAL |
| REED 1 | ALTO FLUTE , ALTO RECORDER , FLUTE , PICCOLO |
| REED 2 | ENGLISH HORN , OBOE |
| REED 3 | Bb CLARINET , BASS CLARINET , Eb CLARINET , TENOR RECORDER |
| TROMBONE | BASS TROMBONE , TENOR TROMBONE , TUBA |
| TRUMPET | FLUGELHORN , PICCOLO TRUMPET , TRUMPET |
| VIOLA | |
| VIOLIN |