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Les Miserables
(School Edition)
(Performed Entirely By Students)
A musical by ALAIN BOUBLIL and CLAUDE-MICHEL SCHÖNBERG
Based on the novel by VICTOR HUGO
Music by CLAUDE-MICHEL SCHÖNBERG
Lyrics by HERBERT KRETZMER
Original French text by ALAIN BOUBLIL and JEAN-MARC NATEL
Additional Material by JAMES FENTON
Orchestrations by JOHN CAMERON
Original London production directed and adapted by
TREVOR NUNN and JOHN CAIRD
Original London production by
CAMERON MACKINTOSH and THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY
School Edition specially adapted and licensed by
JOSEF WEINBERGER LIMITED
on behalf of MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL
and CAMERON MACKINTOSH (OVERSEAS) LIMITED
10 - 13 February 2010
7.30 p.m. each evening and 2.30 p.m. Saturday Matinee
Hind Leys Theatre
Forest St, Shepshed, Leics., LE12 9DB |
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| CAST |
| CREDITS |
| SYNOPSIS |
| MUSIC |
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CAST
| (in order of appearance) |
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| Chain Gang/Convicts |
Andy, Christian, Joe & Matt |
| Jean Valjean |
Richard |
| Javert |
Craig |
| Constables |
Adam & James |
| Farmer |
Ben |
| Labourers |
Andy, Christian & Joe |
| Bishop Of Digne |
Chris |
| Sister |
Becky Ba |
| Servant |
Alex H |
| Onlookers |
Claire & Sarah H |
| The Poor |
Alex O, Beckie, Becky Br, Becky O',
Ellie, George, Georgia,
Katie, Lois, Michaela,
Rowan, Sam & Shaena |
| Woman |
Rebecca |
| Solo Workers |
Amy & Sarah F |
| Factory Girls |
Alex H, Claire, Lottie, Sarah H
& Victoria |
| Other Workers |
Abbie, April, Becky Ba & Olivia |
| Fantine |
Bethan |
| Foreman |
Andy |
| Sailors |
Chris & Joe |
| Solo Whores |
Becky, Ellie & Georgia |
| Other Prostitutes |
Claire, Lottie, Sarah F,
Sarah H & Victoria |
| Old Woman |
Michaela |
| Pimp |
Andy |
| Bamatabois |
Christian |
| Bystanders/Onlookers |
Alex O, Beckie, Becky O, Claire, Michaela, Sarah F & Sarah H |
| Fauchelevant |
Joe |
| Judge |
George |
| Mistaken Valljean & Family |
Chris, Ellie & Sam |
| Nuns |
Alex H & Becky Ba |
| Young Cosette |
Becky Br |
| Madame Thenardier |
Rebecca |
| Young Eponine |
Shaena |
| Thenardier |
James |
| Beggars |
Abbie, April, Alex H, Alex O,
Beckie, Becky Ba, Becky O, Bethan,
Claire, Ellie, Katie, Lottie,Michaela, Olivia, Sarah F,
Sarah H & Victoria. |
| Gavroche |
George |
| Enjolras |
Adam |
| Marius |
Ben |
| Grantaire |
Christian |
| Feuilly |
Chris |
| Courfeyrac |
Joe |
| Lesgles |
Matt |
| Urchin |
Shaena |
| Thenardier's Gang: |
|
Montparnasse
|
Georgia |
Babet
|
Amy |
Brujon
|
Andy |
Claquesous
|
Sam |
| Eponine |
Lois |
| Cosette |
Rowan |
| Joly |
Andy |
| Army Officer |
Matt |
| Solo Mourning Women |
Becky Ba, Claire, Georgia,
& Sarah H |
| Other Woman |
Alex H, Amy, Becky Br, Ellie,Lottie, Michaela, Sarah F,
Shaena & Victoria |
| Major D'Omo |
Georgia |
| Wedding Guests/Dancers |
Abbie, Adam, April, Chris,
Christian, Joe, Katie & Olivia |
CREDITS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
| Producer & Director |
Adrian Dobson |
| Musical Director |
Hazel Needham |
| Choreographer |
Wendy Spencer |
| Assistant Director |
Ryan Barnes |
| Costume Director |
Sue Penver |
| Technical Director |
James White |
| Lighting/Sound/Technical Crew |
Darren Spencer, Jonathan Painting & Simon Penver. |
| Stage Manager |
Lynsey Bloomfield |
| Stage Crew/Set Construction |
Adam Green, Alan Jamieson, Ashley Moulton, Chris Wilson,
Gareth Wynne, Howard Rogerson, James Daw, Jarrod Makin,
Laura Orton,
Lee Brookes, Len Dobson, Mark Perry,
Nick Head & Paul Whitmore |
| Set Design |
Adrian Dobson |
| Set Acknowledgements |
Asley Moulton, ESNA Players, Hawthorn Theatrical,
Hind Leys College, Loughborough Amateur Operatic Society,
Shepshed Youth Dance & ACT One |
| Props |
Laura Penver |
| Front Of House Manager |
Julia Painting |
| Box Office |
Jane Evans & Julia Daniels |
| Make Up |
Louise Burton, Michelle Spencer, Nicola Thompson
& Wendy Spencer |
| Poster, Programme & Photography |
Nigel Painting |
| Publicity |
Louise Burton & Michelle Spencer |
| Fundraising |
Sue Penver & Jane Evans |
| Chaperones |
Maxine O'Flynn, Rachel Gaffney & Rachel Hodgkinson |
| Video |
Wallis Videos |
| Additional Thanks |
Hind Leys College Principal, Caretakers, Theatre & Community Staff, in particular, Steve Dootson & Louise Hunt; Christchurch Methodist Church; Roberts & Lyons Fencing;
Shepshed High School; Shepshed Scouts; Gordon Kilpin
Jonathan Penton; Shepshed Town Council; Our Patrons;
Our Front of House Volunteers; and anyone else who has assisted or supported us in any way for this production |
SYNOPSIS
Act One
PROLOGUE: TOULON, 1815
Jean Valjean, released on parole after 19 years on the chain gang, finds that the yellow ticket of leave he must, by law, display, condemns him to be an outcast. Only the saintly Bishop Of Digne treats him kindly but Valjean, embittered by years of hardship, repays him by stealing some silver. Valjean is caught and brought back by police, but is astonished when the Bishop lies to them to save him, also giving him 2 precious candlesticks. As a result, Valjean decides to start his life anew.
1823: MONTREUIL-SUR-MER
Eight years have passed and Valjean, having broken his parole and changed his name to Monsieur Madeleine, has risen to become both a factory owner, and mayor. One of his workers, Fantine, has a secret illegitimate child. When the other women discover this, they demand her dismissal. The foreman, whose advances she has rejected, throws her out. She reflects on how different the world seemed when she first fell in love, before life killed her dreams.
Fantine wanders to the red light district, where she finds her self 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, Bamatabois, to purchase her services, he is so enraged that he lies to 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 realises that she and her daughter are innocent victims, he demands that Javert release her.
The Mayor then rescues a man pinned down by a runaway cart. Javert is then reminded of the abnormal strength of convict 24601 Jean Valjean, a parole-breaker, whom he has been tracking for years, but who he says has just been recaptured. Valjean, not wanting to see an innocent man go to prison in his place, reveals to the court he is prisoner 24601.
Valjean visits the dying Fantine in hospital and promises to find and look after her daughter Cosette. Javert arrives to arrest him, but Valjean escapes.
THE INN AT MONTFERMEIL
Cosette has been lodged for 5 years with the Thenardiers who run an inn, horribly abusing the little girl whom they use as a skivvy whilst indulging their own daughter, Eponine. Valjean finds Cosette fetching water in the dark. He pays the Thenardiers to let him take Cosette away and takes her to Paris. But Javert is still on his tail…
PARIS, TEN YEARS LATER
There is great unrest in the city because of the likely demise of the popular leader, General Lamarque, the only man left in the government who shows any feeling for the poor. An urchin, Gavroche, is in his element, mixing with the city beggars. Among the street-gangs is one led by the Thenardiers, who set upon Valjean and Cosette. They are rescued by Javert, who again fails to recognise Valjean until after he has escaped into the background. The Thenardiers’ daughter, Eponine, is secretly in love with dashing student, Marius, reluctantly agrees to help him find Cosette, with whom he has fallen in love.
At a political meeting in a small caf é, a group of idealistic students prepare for the revolution they are sure will erupt on the death of General Lamarque. Gavroche then brings the news of the General’s death and the students, led by Enjolras, stream out into the streets to whip up popular support. Only Marius is distracted by thoughts of the mysterious Cosette.
Cosette, has also fallen in love with Marius. Valjean realises that his “daughter” is changing very quickly but refuses to tell her anything of her past. In spite of her own feelings for Marius, Eponine sadly brings him to Cosette, and then prevents an attempt by her father’s gang to rob Valjean’s house. Valjean, convinced it was Javert who was lurking outside the house tells Cosette they must prepare to leave the country. Meanwhile, on the eve of the revolution, the students and Javert see the situation from their different viewpoints; Cosette and Marius part in despair of ever meeting again; Eponine mourns the loss of Marius; and Valjean looks forward to the security of exile – The Thenardiers on the other hand dream of rich pickings from the chaos to come!
Act Two
The students prepare to build the barricade, assessing the strength of their adversaries and hoping that the people will support them. Eponine appears; Marius 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 letter to Cosette, but this is intercepted at the Rue Plumet by Jean Valjean. Valjean reads the letter, learning of Marius's feelings for Cosette, and in which 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 because she loves Marius "only on my own." Nevertheless she decides to rejoin him at the barricade.
Back at the barricade, the students defy an army officer’s warning that they must give up or die. Javert pretends to be on the students' side and tries to encourage them to surrender, but is exposed by Gavroche as a police spy and the students tie Javert up, planning to shoot him as a traitor after the battle. Eponine returns, much to Marius' dismay, and is shot and killed – significantly the first to die on the rebel side. Before she dies, she manages to tell Marius that she has delivered the letter to Valjean. He promptly arrives at the barricade in search of Marius, and says he has come to aid the students. They say that another man who offered to join them has proven to be a traitor and point to Javert. Valjean is given a gun and as the battle begins, he shoots and kills a sniper. Having proven his fidelity to the students' cause, Enjolras agrees to turn Javert over to Valjean to “dispense with”, but Valjean allows him to escape, covering this up with a feigned shooting.
Before Javert escapes, he says Valjean is being foolish; as long as they are both alive, he will continue to pursue Valjean. Valjean says he doesn't blame Javert for trying to do what he believes is his duty.
The students rest and reflect on their friendship and days gone by, and in the quiet of the night, Valjean prays to God to save Marius from the onslaught which is to come. The next day, with ammunition running low, Gavroche tries to run out to collect more ammunition, and is shot; this stirs the students even more, but in a ferocious final battle, they are all killed, including their leader, Enjolras. Only Marius and Valjean survive. Valjean carries the wounded Marius into the Paris sewers to escape, before Javert can find him. In the sewers, Thenardier is up to his old tricks again and robbing the corpses including a ring from Marius whilst he and Valjean are barely conscious, but Thenardier recognises him and runs away.
As he leaves the sewer with Marius, Valjean encounters Javert again, who has been searching for him. Valjean pleads for time to deliver Marius to hospital. Javert decides to let him go and, his unbending principles of justice having been shattered by Valjean’s own mercy, he kills himself, by jumping into the swollen waters of the river Seine.
The women of Paris mourn the dead students, saying that nothing has changed as the result of their deaths. Marius sings a song of mourning for his dead companions. He begs their forgiveness for the fact that he survived. As he recovers, Marius tells Cosette that he still doesn't know who saved him at the barricade and they plan to marry. Valjean confesses the truth of his past to Marius and insists that after the young couple are married, he must go away rather than taint the sanctity and safety of their union.
On the wedding day, the uninvited Thenardiers blag their way in, and try to blackmail Marius – Thenardier claims that Cosette's “father” is a murderer and as proof produces the ring he stole from the corpse in the sewers. It is of course Marius’s ring, and he realises that it was Valjean who rescued him that night. He strikes Thenardier, throwing money at him, and he and Cosette leave to go to Valjean. The Thenardiers celebrate that in spite of everything, they have survived.
Valjean is alone in a room, dying, and having visions of Fantine. Marius and Cosette burst into his room, and Marius reveals to Cosette that he now knows her father saved his life. Valjean tells her the truth about her mother. His vision of Fantine is joined by a vision of Eponine. As he dies, Valjean and his visions remind Cosette of the everlasting power of love telling her that "to love another person is to see the face of God."
The entire company sings of "the music of a people who are climbing to the light. For the wretched of the earth, there is a flame that never dies. Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise." |
MUSICAL NUMBERS
| ACT ONE |
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| Prologue |
The Chain Gang, Valjean, Javert, Farmer, Labourer,
Bishop Of Digne & Constables |
| At The End Of The Day |
Foreman Fantine, Valjean & Ensemble |
| I Dreamed A Dream |
Fantine |
| The Docks ("Lovely Ladies") |
Sailors, Prostitutes, Old Woman, Fantine, Pimp, Bamatabois, Javert & Valjean |
| The Cart Crash (including "Who Am I?") |
Valjean, Fauchevelant, Javert & Bystanders |
| Fantine's Death |
Fantine, Valjean & Javert |
| Little Cosette ("Castle On A Cloud") |
Young Cosette & Madame Thenardier |
| The Innkeeper's Song ("Master Of The House") |
Thenardier, Madame Thenardier & Ensemble |
| The Bargain |
Thenardier, Madame Thenardier & Valjean |
| The Beggars |
Gavroche, Enjolras, Marius, Urchin & Ensemble |
| The Robbery |
Thenardier, Madame Thenardier, Marius, Eponine, Valjean, Javert & Ensemble |
| Stars |
Javert |
| The ABC Cafe |
Feuilly, Courfeyrac, Enjolras, Joly, Grantaire, Lesgles, Marius & Gavroche |
The People's Song
("Do You Hear The People Sing") |
Enjolras, Courfeyrac, Joly, Feuilly, Grantaire, Lesgles & Marius |
| Rue Plumet (including "In My Life") |
Cosette, Valjean, Marius & Eponine |
| A Heart Full Of Love |
Marius, Cosette & Eponine |
| The Attack On Rue Plumet |
Montparnasse, Babet, Brujon, Claquesous, Thenardier, Eponine, Marius, Valjean & Cosette |
| One Day More |
Valjean, Marius, Cosette, Eponine, Enjolras, Javert, Thenardier, Mme Thenardier & Ensemble |
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| ACT TWO |
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| The Barricade (including "On My Own") |
Enjolras, Javert, Marius, Eponine, Valjean, Army Officer
& Students |
Javert At The Barricade
(including "Little People" & "A Little Fall Of Rain") |
Joly, Javert, Gavroche, Grantaire, Courfeyrac, Feuilly, Legles, Enjolras, Marius, Eponine & Valjean |
| The First Attack |
Joly, Enjolras, Feuilly, Lesgles, Courfeyrac, Grantaire, Valjean, Marius & Javert |
| The Night (including "Drink With Me" & "Bring Him Home") |
Feuilly, Joly, Grantaire, Marius, Lesgles, Valjean, Enjolras, Courfeyrac & Ensemble |
| The Second Attack |
Enjolras, Feuilly, Marius, Enjolras, Valjean, Gavroche, Lesgles, Courfeyrac & Joly |
| The Final Battle |
Army Officer, Enjolras, Joly, Feuilly, Grantaire, Marius,
Valjean & Courfeyrac |
| The Sewers |
Thenardier |
| Javert's Suicide/Turning |
Valjean, Javert & Mourning Women |
| The Cafe Song ("Empty Chairs At Empty Tables") |
Marius |
| Marius & Cosette (including " A Heart Full Of Love (Reprise)") |
Marius, Cosette & Valjean |
| The Wedding |
Major D'Omo, Thenardier, Madame Thenardier & Marius |
| Epilogue (including "Bring Him Home (Reprise)") |
Valjean, Fantine, Marius, Cosette, Eponine & Ensemble |
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