Les Miserables

A story reveal the true life in 19 century

Director: Laurence Connor, James Powell
Author: Hugo
Name of the Play: Les Miserables
Date we watched: 10.7 2017
Location: a famous theater in Hartford.
The main actors: Nick Cartell, Josh Davis, Melissa Mitchell, Joshua Grosso.

In the story it talks about the life of Jean Valjean, the story begins with the scene that all the slaves in the Toulon Jail are working and they use songs to present their emotion, they think the life in the jail is tough, It's very hard to live in jail. "look down, look down, we will always be a slave. Look down look down, we are standing on the graves. This sentence show the hard life of slaves. And after that Jean Valjean has a conversation with Javert. Javert think Jean Valjean is dangerous so Javert gives Jean Valjean a Yellow Ticket-of-leave. And because of his bad renown, lots of people hate him. But the god father said we have food and bed you can rest here, but Jean Valjean stolen all the silvers from the church. Police get him back, but god father said:" these thing is my friend', I already give to him. After this event Jean Valjean thinks maybe he become a thief, he affect by the god father, he confession in front of the Jesus, he said he want to become virtuous. And after that he broke the ticket. So  few years later he become the president of Montreuil, and Jean Valjean also change the name to Madland.  And he also have a factory in Montreuil, he provides jobs for poor. And there is a women named Fantne, she has a daughter, because of her beauty, all the factory members hates her. So the leader of the group fired Fantine. And after Fantine lose her job, she sold her hair and teeth in order to let her daughter gain enough nutrients. But a pimp sold she to the brothel. And Fantine thinks the life is tough, the man who let Fantine pregnant destroyed her life. She hates that man. She harmed a costumer so that customer tell the police---Javert, but Jean Valjean recognized her and bring Fantine back to a place and rest, Javert always think Madland is Jean Valjean, but the head quarter said NO. 24601 be cached so Javert go to get punishment from Jean Valjean, but Jean Valjean didn't give any punishment. Jean Valjean sit in front of Jesus and ask who am I. Jean Valjean thinks he should admit he is No.2460. And Javert wants go to capture the Jean Valjean, but Jean Valjean jumped into the water. And Fantine died. Jean Valjean go to find Mr and Ms. Thénardier and spend 1500 to let Cosette free, At the same time, In France there is a War---Revolutionary War begins. King's Army have battle with the citizen. During the War lots of people died, and Marius married Cosette in the end. And Jean Valjean died before he died he told his life to Marius.

I think Hugo wants to use the story to present his idea, He thinks the society at that time is not fair. The society is dark, because Fantine is beautiful, and others hate her, the people at that time is ridiculous. Lower class and nobles have different rights, Nobles have privilege. During the War king will Protect nobles but the king never care about other citizens. And the war brings death to the innocent people. And I think Hugo also wants to present If a person help others he will become virtuous.

I think the important people in that scene always be high lighted. Because The director wants the audience better identify which is the main character in this scene. And in the play Jean Valjean always be high lighted. He was the most important person in the play. And during the War the light of background turned red, In my opinion red means blood. And everyone in the play sing when they are speaking. And the main characters also use songs to present their emotions at that time. Just like the beginning. All the slaves in the jail are signing. They want to present they are mad and they don't want this kinds of life. And when Jean Valjean confessing it also has the background music to shows his determination. For the costume, The costume was changed, at first Jean Valjean wears dirty shirts and after he established the factory he wears beautiful clothes. And nobles usually wear the clothes that have high quality, but poor always wear the dirty clothes.

The person I like best is Jean Valjean because the actor has to have the change of the emotion and characteristic of Jean Valjean. And Jean Valjean have obvious change, after he stole the silvers, he become virtuous. He save the person that harmed by the carriage, and he also save Fantine from the accident. And he promised he will look after Cosette. He is a brave person he saves Marius, Fantine and he fight with Javert. At first he was not a bad person, he stole the bread because his sister's sone was starve, after 19 years he becomes a thief after he meet god father he realize in this world there are some kind people. So he also become kind. I like the change of Jean Valjean.

I think this play is good, I learned how to combine the music with the play, and I also know the emotion change when actors are raising the volumes. The light they use the songs they use is very attractive, and the theme also let me know the conditions of that time period.