Les Misérables means many things to many people. The production is a philosophical morality discussion about good, evil, and everything in between. The lush musical gets your heart racing and blood soaring. It's also a time capsule of France at one of the most crucial points of its history.
Les Mis is an inspiration for a new life, a window into new friendships, and even, a mystery of art.
Masterpiece is preparing to present the latest iteration of the classic tale – a gorgeous costume drama starring Dominic West, David Oyelwo, Olivia Colman, Lilly Collins, and Ellie Bamber. As we prepared for the premiere on Sunday, April 14 at 9pm on WGBH 2, we found ourselves getting wrapped up in the tale once again, sharing stories about the first time we read, saw or worked on a version of the story. It made us wonder – who else had stories about Les Mis? And what were they? As soon as we asked, the answers came in fast — from audience members and colleagues — all eager to share their stories of Victor Hugo's iconic tale.
I first learned about the West End production of Les Mis from a friend of my parents when I was a teenager living in the Caribbean. We listened to the tapes (cassette tapes!) over and over. As soon as I was old enough to leave home, I moved to New York – and when I got my first media job, saved my pennies and bought tickets for my siblings and I to see the show we only knew by sound.
- Jennie Lupinacci, Producer, Children’ Programming
Ever since seeing [Les Misérables] on Broadway over 23 years ago, we have returned to NYC two more times to bring our parents and then our daughters to see it… [we’ve seen] 5 live performances thus far, and as of this coming April, when we return to see it again in Boston, it will be 6! …We have also recorded the PBS 25th Anniversary extravaganza which we have watched at least a dozen times… The timeless themes of suffering, friendship, loyalty, redemption and love appeal to almost everyone.
- Patty and Joseph Brewer, Audience Members
I have always been aware of Les Mis because my mom had a lovely three volume leather-bound set of the books, which my dad had given to her as a birthday present before I was born. When I got around to reading the book in college, I was already aware of the basic plot… What I didn’t expect was the chapter on Waterloo. It had a “you are there” quality to it that immediately changed my perception of Waterloo as a grand battle and reminded me of the true cost of war. I can still put myself in the blood soaked fields when I think of it. I’ve seen the play twice on stage and I love how the music enhances the story. It made me see the events from the younger characters’ point of view and gave me new insights to what their lives would have been like. Every time I see a new version, I connect to another piece of the story…
- Anna G. Alvord, Senior Sales Manager, PBS International
So... in 1987, I got a nosebleed seat to see Les Mis on stage in London. I was up so high that I couldn't even follow what was going on, and I actually left early. I just didn't get why everyone loved the show and the soundtrack so much. Then I saw the 2012 film and – OMG! – it was so good. I totally got it!
- Beth Zogby, Senior Development Officer, The Ralph Lowell Society (WGBH)
I love everything about this story – but I most like “the crust of bread" theme, where the authority has no flexibility/no discretion... Stealing is stealing - a crime is a crime. And there is no space or righting a wrong [or] redemption. There are so many other themes in this wonderful story, but this is the one that has meant the most to me.
- Christine Huber, Audience Member
When I was in college, I spent a semester studying French literature at the Sorbonne in Paris. One of the books we tackled was Les Mis… and the Larousse edition of [it] is full of footnotes. Everything is explained [including] the current names of Parisian streets that have been there since the Ancien Régime. One day, walking home from class, I passed a street that caught my eye... Following a hunch, I pulled out my copy of Les Mis from my bag and flipped through it, until I found a footnote explaining that the street I was on… was the very street where Victor Hugo had placed the Café Musain... That night, in my drafty attic room, I looked up a few of the other addresses Hugo named in Les Mis. I visited one a few days after – an apartment where Marius Pontmercy lived for a time with a revolutionary friend. It’s a gay bar now, and I stood across the street for a long moment, just looking.
- Kendall Todd, Digital Associate Producer, WCRB Classical
When my daughter, Clare, was hired for her after-school job at age 16, she chose to spend her very first earned paycheck on a ticket to Les Misérables in NYC before the planned end of its run… [And] because of my work in accessibility at WGBH, I knew... Maria Porto, who works in and around Broadway, teaching American Sign Language to performers and theater staff
(@broadwaysignsNYC on IG) … At the time, Maria had recently started holding morning classes during which she was teaching ASL to all of the young actors in the shows… and she invited Clare and I to meet them, and to learn with/from them.
Sean Reda (Les Misérables’ Gavroche) and his father were our primary guides… After the wonderful show, Sean and his father took us on a backstage tour, and introduced us to the cast – with young and energetic Sean chasing down some of Clare’s favorites... It was definitely a day to remember; that first paycheck earned from working at our local grocery store bought both of us memories for a lifetime!
- Donna A. Danielewski, Ph.D., Senior Director, National Center for Accessible Media at WGBH
Do you have a great story about Les Misérables? If you haven't already, share it with us on Facebook or Twitter! And don't forget to tune in on Sunday, April 14 at 9pm on WGBH 2 for the premiere.
