Post by rcolemanuk on Feb 14, 2008 19:35:28 GMT 1
Here is my 'Brief' Synopsis of the show.
Act One
1815: Digne
Jean Valjean, a prisoner for nineteen years for stealing a loaf of bread is released on parole and given his 'yellow' paper of leave. He tries to re-integrate with society but everywhere he goes he is turned away because of this paper. A Bishop eventually takes him in but in the middle of the night he steals some silverware and flees. He is caught and taken back to the Bishop who covers for Valjean and says he gave him the sliver as a present. Guilty of what he has done, Valjean decides that he will never steal again. He decides to break his parole and go on the run.
1823: Montreuil-Sur-Mer
Eight years later Valjean has changed his name to Monsieur Madeleine and has become a factory owner and a mayor. The workers are describing life being poor when Fantine, a worker, comes in with a letter. The other workers find out that she has an illegitimate daughter who is staying with a couple who she pays money to. The other workers find out and demand her to be sacked. She is dismissed and leaves. Fantine walks the streets and talks about how she dreamed life would be so much different to how it is. Needing money for her sick child and no job, she has no choice but to sell her possessions. She sells her Locket and her hair to people before eventually selling herself. All her pride and dignity gone she refuses to go with a potential customer and gets into a fight with him before Javert, the local policeman arrives. The 'customer' tells a story on Fantine about how he was just walking past when she attacked him. Javert is about to take her to prison when Jean Valjean, the Mayor intervenes. He demands that she be taken to hospital.
A runaway cart then races down the street and traps a man. Valjean, rescues the man by lifting the heavy cart which makes Javert realise that he only knows of one other man who could do this. The Mayor tells Javert to continue and Javert says that the only one who was strong enough to do this was Jean Valjean, the prisoner who escaped parole. However he could not be Valjean because he had just been caught and was sure to be returned to jail. Jean Valjean, unable to let another man be blamed for his action confesses in court that he is prisoner, 24601. Valjean goes to Fantine who is dying in hospital and vows to look after her daughter Cosette. Fantine passes away and Javert arrives to take him away but he escapes and goes for Cosette.
1823: Montfermeil
Cosette lives with the Thenardiers, who run an inn. They force her to work treating her badly whilst treating their other daughter completely the opposite. Cosette sings her dreams of her castle in the clouds before Madame Thenardier arrives and orders her out into the night to get some water from a well in the woods. Monsieur Thenardier arrives and the inn fills and a good evening is had inside the inn. Valjean finds Cosette in the woods and goes with her to the inn. There he deals with the Thenardiers for Cosette and takes her to Paris.
1832: Paris
Nine years later Gavroche a young boy invites us into Paris where the city is uneasy because General Lamarque, the governments last man who has any concerns for the poor is near death. The students are planning a rebellion and talking about the barricades. Thenardier runs a street gang and they set upon Valjean and Cosette. They are rescued by the arrival of Javert who does not realise who they are until they have escaped and are long gone! Javert is about to arrest Thenardier but with the absence of a victim lets them go. Javert now alone talks of catching Valjean again and how he will never give up. Marius one of the townsfolk notices Cosette and falls in love with her. Eponine, the Thenardiers daughter, is secretly in love with Marius when he asks her to help him find out where Cosette lives. She reluctantly agrees.
In a cafe, the students are discussing and preparing for the rebellion which they are sure will happen on General Lamarque's death when Gavroche brings news of the generals passing. The students go into the streets to get support for the rebellion. Marius is still distracted by thoughts of Cosette. Cosette has fallen in love with Marius and Valjean realises that she is changing. He refuses to inform her of her childhood. Eponine has found Cosette and reluctantly takes Marius to her. Eponine goes off alone where she spots Thenardier and his gang about to commit a robbery on Valjean's house. She stops this and screams out causing the gang to flee and Valjean to come running. Cosette says it was her that screamed and Valjean comes to the conclusion that Javert has caught up with him and tells her to pack as they are leaving tomorrow. Cosette and Marius sadly say their goodbyes and part. As Valjean prepares to leave, Eponine is sad that Marius doesn't notice her, the Thenardiers sing about the profit to be made from the chaos of the forthcoming rebellion, Javert talks of how tomorrow is judgement day and how he will join them, and the students gather in the street marching and flying the Flag of freedom!
Act Two
Returning to where we left off, the students start to build the barricade in the street, Javert agrees to go and get information about the army's attack. Eponine still in love with Marius is on the barricade when he discovers her. He sends her away to give a letter to Cosette. As she arrives with the letter, Valjean stops her and demands to see the letter and promises she will get it tomorrow. He sends her away and reads the letter. Eponine walks the streets she sings of being on her own and her love for him.
The Barricades are built and the army warns them not to fight and to give up or die but they refuse. Javert returns with 'news'. He tells them of the army's plan but is caught out by Gavroche who informs the students who Javert really is. The students take Javert to the cafe and tie him up while they decide what to do with him. Eponine returns over the top of the barricade and tells Marius that she delivered the letter when he realises that she is covered with blood and has been shot. She dies in his arms and is the first to fall on the barricade. As her body is carried off Valjean arrives over the barricade looking for Marius. The army attack and Valjean helps fend them off in the first attack. The students tell them they will thank him when the battle is won. Valjean asks of no thanks but he asks them to let him deal with Javert. Given the chance to kill Javert and end the chasing, Valjean lets Javert go free telling him where to find him should he survive the barricades. The students drink and try to get some rest. As they sleep Valjean prays for Marius for god to let him live.
The dawn of the next day and the students realise that the people have not joined forces with them as they hoped. They let the women and fathers of children go and sing of times gone by The fighting continues and they realise they don't have enough ammo. Gavroche (the child) runs out to collect ammo from the dead in front of the barricades. He collects some and throws it up before being shot and killed. The army attack for the last time giving one last warning before advancing. The students are all killed except for Marius who is dragged into the sewers by Valjean. Javert follows.
In the sewers Thenardier is collecting items from the dead when Valjean comes in with an unconscious Marius on his shoulders. He puts Marius down and leaves and Thenardier acquires Marius' ring. Valjean returns and meets Javert. He persuades Javert to let him take Marius to safety and Javert begins to doubt his world of law and, unable to come to terms with the mercy and unselfishness of the prisoner Valjean, commits suicide.
The women come to terms with the failed rebellion the death of the students. Marius sings about how his friends are all dead and how they all sang about tomorrow but it never came. He recovers in the care of Cosette unaware that it was Valjean who rescued him from the barricades. Valjean confesses to Marius of his past and his time in jail. He tells Marius that he must go away, and he should not tell Cosette of his past. Marius tries to get him to stay but Valjean insists.
Marius and Cosette's wedding day where the celebrations are underway when the Thenardiers arrive. They try to blackmail Marius by saying Cosette's father is a murderer and produce Marius' ring as proof. Marius recognises the ring and realises that it is Valjean that rescued him that day. Marius hits Thenardier before he and Cosette go to Valjean.
Fantine's ghost appears to accept Valjean as Marius and Cosette arrive. Valjean finally tells Cosette of her past and how her mother gave her life for her and passed her onto him to look after. Cosette tells him not to die but the old man passes away and joins Fantine, Eponine, the students and Javert and claims his place in heaven.
Act One
1815: Digne
Jean Valjean, a prisoner for nineteen years for stealing a loaf of bread is released on parole and given his 'yellow' paper of leave. He tries to re-integrate with society but everywhere he goes he is turned away because of this paper. A Bishop eventually takes him in but in the middle of the night he steals some silverware and flees. He is caught and taken back to the Bishop who covers for Valjean and says he gave him the sliver as a present. Guilty of what he has done, Valjean decides that he will never steal again. He decides to break his parole and go on the run.
1823: Montreuil-Sur-Mer
Eight years later Valjean has changed his name to Monsieur Madeleine and has become a factory owner and a mayor. The workers are describing life being poor when Fantine, a worker, comes in with a letter. The other workers find out that she has an illegitimate daughter who is staying with a couple who she pays money to. The other workers find out and demand her to be sacked. She is dismissed and leaves. Fantine walks the streets and talks about how she dreamed life would be so much different to how it is. Needing money for her sick child and no job, she has no choice but to sell her possessions. She sells her Locket and her hair to people before eventually selling herself. All her pride and dignity gone she refuses to go with a potential customer and gets into a fight with him before Javert, the local policeman arrives. The 'customer' tells a story on Fantine about how he was just walking past when she attacked him. Javert is about to take her to prison when Jean Valjean, the Mayor intervenes. He demands that she be taken to hospital.
A runaway cart then races down the street and traps a man. Valjean, rescues the man by lifting the heavy cart which makes Javert realise that he only knows of one other man who could do this. The Mayor tells Javert to continue and Javert says that the only one who was strong enough to do this was Jean Valjean, the prisoner who escaped parole. However he could not be Valjean because he had just been caught and was sure to be returned to jail. Jean Valjean, unable to let another man be blamed for his action confesses in court that he is prisoner, 24601. Valjean goes to Fantine who is dying in hospital and vows to look after her daughter Cosette. Fantine passes away and Javert arrives to take him away but he escapes and goes for Cosette.
1823: Montfermeil
Cosette lives with the Thenardiers, who run an inn. They force her to work treating her badly whilst treating their other daughter completely the opposite. Cosette sings her dreams of her castle in the clouds before Madame Thenardier arrives and orders her out into the night to get some water from a well in the woods. Monsieur Thenardier arrives and the inn fills and a good evening is had inside the inn. Valjean finds Cosette in the woods and goes with her to the inn. There he deals with the Thenardiers for Cosette and takes her to Paris.
1832: Paris
Nine years later Gavroche a young boy invites us into Paris where the city is uneasy because General Lamarque, the governments last man who has any concerns for the poor is near death. The students are planning a rebellion and talking about the barricades. Thenardier runs a street gang and they set upon Valjean and Cosette. They are rescued by the arrival of Javert who does not realise who they are until they have escaped and are long gone! Javert is about to arrest Thenardier but with the absence of a victim lets them go. Javert now alone talks of catching Valjean again and how he will never give up. Marius one of the townsfolk notices Cosette and falls in love with her. Eponine, the Thenardiers daughter, is secretly in love with Marius when he asks her to help him find out where Cosette lives. She reluctantly agrees.
In a cafe, the students are discussing and preparing for the rebellion which they are sure will happen on General Lamarque's death when Gavroche brings news of the generals passing. The students go into the streets to get support for the rebellion. Marius is still distracted by thoughts of Cosette. Cosette has fallen in love with Marius and Valjean realises that she is changing. He refuses to inform her of her childhood. Eponine has found Cosette and reluctantly takes Marius to her. Eponine goes off alone where she spots Thenardier and his gang about to commit a robbery on Valjean's house. She stops this and screams out causing the gang to flee and Valjean to come running. Cosette says it was her that screamed and Valjean comes to the conclusion that Javert has caught up with him and tells her to pack as they are leaving tomorrow. Cosette and Marius sadly say their goodbyes and part. As Valjean prepares to leave, Eponine is sad that Marius doesn't notice her, the Thenardiers sing about the profit to be made from the chaos of the forthcoming rebellion, Javert talks of how tomorrow is judgement day and how he will join them, and the students gather in the street marching and flying the Flag of freedom!
Act Two
Returning to where we left off, the students start to build the barricade in the street, Javert agrees to go and get information about the army's attack. Eponine still in love with Marius is on the barricade when he discovers her. He sends her away to give a letter to Cosette. As she arrives with the letter, Valjean stops her and demands to see the letter and promises she will get it tomorrow. He sends her away and reads the letter. Eponine walks the streets she sings of being on her own and her love for him.
The Barricades are built and the army warns them not to fight and to give up or die but they refuse. Javert returns with 'news'. He tells them of the army's plan but is caught out by Gavroche who informs the students who Javert really is. The students take Javert to the cafe and tie him up while they decide what to do with him. Eponine returns over the top of the barricade and tells Marius that she delivered the letter when he realises that she is covered with blood and has been shot. She dies in his arms and is the first to fall on the barricade. As her body is carried off Valjean arrives over the barricade looking for Marius. The army attack and Valjean helps fend them off in the first attack. The students tell them they will thank him when the battle is won. Valjean asks of no thanks but he asks them to let him deal with Javert. Given the chance to kill Javert and end the chasing, Valjean lets Javert go free telling him where to find him should he survive the barricades. The students drink and try to get some rest. As they sleep Valjean prays for Marius for god to let him live.
The dawn of the next day and the students realise that the people have not joined forces with them as they hoped. They let the women and fathers of children go and sing of times gone by The fighting continues and they realise they don't have enough ammo. Gavroche (the child) runs out to collect ammo from the dead in front of the barricades. He collects some and throws it up before being shot and killed. The army attack for the last time giving one last warning before advancing. The students are all killed except for Marius who is dragged into the sewers by Valjean. Javert follows.
In the sewers Thenardier is collecting items from the dead when Valjean comes in with an unconscious Marius on his shoulders. He puts Marius down and leaves and Thenardier acquires Marius' ring. Valjean returns and meets Javert. He persuades Javert to let him take Marius to safety and Javert begins to doubt his world of law and, unable to come to terms with the mercy and unselfishness of the prisoner Valjean, commits suicide.
The women come to terms with the failed rebellion the death of the students. Marius sings about how his friends are all dead and how they all sang about tomorrow but it never came. He recovers in the care of Cosette unaware that it was Valjean who rescued him from the barricades. Valjean confesses to Marius of his past and his time in jail. He tells Marius that he must go away, and he should not tell Cosette of his past. Marius tries to get him to stay but Valjean insists.
Marius and Cosette's wedding day where the celebrations are underway when the Thenardiers arrive. They try to blackmail Marius by saying Cosette's father is a murderer and produce Marius' ring as proof. Marius recognises the ring and realises that it is Valjean that rescued him that day. Marius hits Thenardier before he and Cosette go to Valjean.
Fantine's ghost appears to accept Valjean as Marius and Cosette arrive. Valjean finally tells Cosette of her past and how her mother gave her life for her and passed her onto him to look after. Cosette tells him not to die but the old man passes away and joins Fantine, Eponine, the students and Javert and claims his place in heaven.