WRITING STYLE 3 DRAFT 2

Do You Think it is a good idea for film’s to be made into a Musical Production?

A tricky question which I ill go in depth to try to answer and perhaps argue.

Personally a Film being made into a Musical Production for me brings Life, Colour and Emotions to an live audience, therefore you are able to feel more personally involved in the storyline, also if you have seen the Film before, seeing what other’s have interpreted sometimes in a different angle can be very interesting, exciting and exhilarating . For Example taking Beauty and the Beast Broadway Production(April 29^th 1997), a review states,” Seen by over 25 million people, Beauty and the Beast is one of the biggest Musicals of all time. Nominated foe nine Tony Award’s including Best Musical, this eye popping musical has been wowing audiences worldwide with record breaking run’s in New York, L.A., Toronto, Sydney, Tokyo and London’s west end where it enjoyed a two and a half year run.”1 ( http://www.thisistheatre.com/regional/beauty-and-the-beast.html) So this just proves in itself that a Film infact, can be turnt into a musical successfully.

However as an audience, majority of people state the fact the Film was better than the Production. This can clearly be seen in a review written by Peter Brown on the 9^th of May, “ Fame now has incredible competition and in it’s present form fall’s rather short of what most people expect from a musical these day’s. The script is weak dated and trife, and there is a kind of tired feeling about it that seems to demand retirement to a greener more pleasant land.” 2 . He then continues, “ At very least it should be given a facelift with an injection of some gritty reality and modernism.”3 ( www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/reviews/fame07.htm) This is a prime example of a Film turned musical being unsuccessful.

This pattern in the musical theatre industry suggest that success in doing this has paid off and created a new fresh type of theatre which we now call Modern Day Theatre

With this new type of theatre the west end has drawn in more audiences than ever especially with the new arrivals of Dirty Dancing (October 23 2006), Oliver (January 2009) and Hairspray (October 11^th 2007) which were all Flim’s successfully been made into a Musical Production.

So if your asking me the question “ Do You Think It Is A Good Idea That Film’s Be Made Into A Musical Production?”.

I personally believe that it is a good idea, especially because the audience has seen the film can now relate and connect to a live performance of there much loved favorite’s enhancing their viewing experience to another level.

Bibliography:

1) http://www.thisistheatre.com/regional/beauty-and-the-beast.html) 1

2) www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/reviews/fame07.htm) 2,3

WRITING STYLE 2 DRAFT 2

Les Miserables

On arriving at the theatre, the excitement is already whiling up in me to the point that I feel the anticipation of what’s to come. I am caught ear wigging to the conversation of what people around me are talking about. One couple mention that they have seen Les Mis, five times, and are still as excited as the first time. We are shown to our seats, and it’s comfortable and there is enough leg room.

The orchestra are tuning there instrument and suddenly the lights dims and the atmosphere changes. The curtain goes up and the whole place is deafeningly quite. My heart slows and I hold my breath. The orchestra open with a rapturous overture of the chain gang with Valjean and a back drop of the year set in 1815, Toulon. ‘’LOOK DOWN, LOOK DOWN’’ the prisoner sing as Javert looks over the prisoners. After 19 years of imprisonment for stealing a loaf of bread Jean Valjean is released. He is bitter and feels despair and becomes a desperate man. He meets Bishop Digne who treats him with kindness, because of that he has a chance to turn his life around. With hard work he eventually becomes a factory owner and Mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer. Javert, a policeman, is after him because he has broken his parole. One of his workers, Fantine, is about to die and Valjean promises to take care of her daughter, Cosette. Valjean pays much more to the Thenardies then he needs to for cosette who have been staying with them. They are not very nice people. Nine years on we see Cosette as a young woman. Falling in love with a young student revolutionary called Marius. After a long day of battle Marius is wounded and falls unconscious and is rescued by Valjean and before he dies he is able to see Marius and Cosette wed.

The revolving stage and barricades were designed by John Napier and gives a perpetual sense of movement to the scene. The props of the barricades fits together like a glove, moving like a bolder and suddenly it has depth. The most dramatic scene is the battle itself, where the students are shot, their dead blooded bodies are draped over, and hanging off the barricades, with the French flag flying on top.

The lighting was designed by David Hersey. He cleverly illuminates the dramatic scene and creates the intensity that is required. Again the barricade scene stands to mind. The scene is cut into several sequence to create the different time zone, like the student in the café, cosette and Marius in the garden and the street scene where the students are revolting.

The costumes draws you back in time and hence the world of make believe is created. From the poor workers, the soldiers and the colourful dresses all creates a world of realism. Colour, light and action makes for a wonderful production of a beautiful tale.

‘’Les Miserables, reminds us that we are each part of the same human family, and that what ever our outward differences may be, our longings for individual liberty and peace are the same.’’ I truly believe in that.

WRITING STYLE 1 DRAFT 2

LES MISERABLES.

A Cameron Mackintosh production of an epic proportion in the musical world with lyrics by Herbert Krazmer and music by Cloude-Michel Schoenberg has been seen by more then 55 millon people worldwide, in 40 countries with translation in21 languages. This has been one of the most spectacular adaptive masterpiece which continues to thrill audiences, day out with a list of scores having artist wanting to perform the version, such as Neil Diamond, Aretha Franklin, David Essex, Michael Crawford, most recently Susan Boyle an amateur singer stole the show with a jaw dropping performance of ‘’ I dreamed a dream’’ for Britain’s got Talent of television programme. Even though the show has been going for 25 years Susan’s performance has highlighted and revived the production. There are so many unforgettable songs that this musical will never die.

This musical based on a classic novel by Victor Hugo is about an ex-convict Jean Valjean who tries to start a new life on release from prison is pursued by policeman Javert who is determined to recapture him regardless of what changes he does since being free. The story follows Valjean over a decade of political revolutionary France being befriended by Bishop Digne who gives him his first break and the opportunity to turn his life around.

Les Miserables will sweep its audience through a tale of passion, sorrow and humour, will have you clutching your tissues with laughter and tears. The cast are powerful singers and there acting ability surpasses the norm. Once seen you will find it hard to forget them, and the songs are spellbinding. The theatre is fairly small which gives the audience the feeling of becoming part of the production as are the set which interlink like a jigsaw giving the barricade the authenticity and moving seen, and also the rotating middle stage which switches the scene easily . All in all this is a very moving and provocative production.

This 8 times Tony award musical will thrill you to the core. An experience that you will find hard to forget. Tickets for this production are available for matinee and evening performances, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, and are priced on several level depending on seating tier, but is competitively priced.

Les Miserables an international award winning musical has been going for a record 25 years and is still going strong today. This production will pull at your heart string. The music will get your toes tapping and blood pumping with ever beat of the overture. As I see it, this production is such that once seen you will find it gripping and moving and want to see over and over again.

“This great musical is a masterpiece of storytelling”

(Sunday Times, June 2000)

“A glorious return”

(John Simon, Bloomberg News)

“The production still feels amazingly fresh & full blooded”

(Charles Spencer, Daily Telegraph, 2004)

“One of the best musicals of all time, the cast was superb”

(Jeffery Lyons, WNBC-TV)

“Remarkably gripping & full of wonder”

(Beneditc Nightingale, The Times, April 2004)

WRITING STYLE 3

Do You Think It Is A Good Idea For Novel’s or Films To Be Made Into musical Production?

I suppose that a Novel being made into a Musical Production is not a bad idea if the issue’s being portrayed have a certain message/ point to get across to the audience, however it can also be argued that doing such a thing and providing a musical is just a money making scheme.

I think that Les Miserables is a very good example of how a musical can succeed because not only is the message clear with the play ( French Revoultion, redemption and change) but it has it’s entertainment factors such as Sadness and Humour ( sadness- Fatine dying, humour- the Land lords and the comedy they illustrate) that has been brought to life from the novel. Les Mis is the first musical that became a musical transformed into a film, it usual happens that when a novel or film has been brought out it is then that a musical production will be thought of, however Les Mis has done it the other way round, it is a novel in it’s own right written by the famous Victor Hugo, which later became a musical and lastly a film.

Some people argue that when turning a film or novel well especially a novel into a musical, you are taking away the value of the story within the novel, either but editing bits out or changing some of the actual storyline. With a Novel you can really use your imagination to picture the scene’s or character’s, but when you have a big production such as Les Mis right in front of your eye’s then you do not have to use you imagination anymore. This is why parent’s think that this generation and generation’s to come ar not using their brain’s enough, in a way it is like we are being to lazy because we have everything laid out for us so that we do not have to use our minds.

This is where I think that how some people think is this is just a money –making scheme, because all the money the production team spend to create the set or props, or all the time and money gone into advertising and the prices for tickets and programmes, well let’s just say it all add’s up and cost’s a lot too. This is saying to me well, do not use your brain and stick to the good old fashion way of just reading but come spend your money on tickets and programmes and food for the night to relax, not use your brain and just open you eyes and watch what is in front of you.

WRITING STYLE 2

Les Miserables

On arriving at the theatre, the excitement is already whiling up in me to the point that I feel the anticipation of what’s to come. We entre with the crowd huddled together all making comments about what to expect .Over head the theme from the musical is being piped through to set the mood. I am caught ear wigging to the conversation of what people around me are talking about. They seem to be as excited as me. One couple mention that they have seen Les Mis, five times, and it still has the same effect as if they had seeing it for the first time.

As for me, I am excited but there is a tinge of sadness as this story was told to me by my late granddad who loved the story by Victor Hugo. My mum had always intended to take him to see the musical but unfortunately he never got the chance to go as his health deteriorated, and he past away before he could go.

We are shown to our seats, and it’s comfortable and there is enough leg room. The orchestra are tuning there instrument and suddenly the lights dims and the atmosphere changes. The curtain goes up and the whole place is deafeningly quite. My heart slows and I hold my breath. The orchestra open with a rapturous overture of the chain gang with Valjean and a back drop of the year set in 1815, Toulon. ‘’LOOK DOWN, LOOK DOWN’’ the prisoner sing as Javert the prison officer lets Valjean on parole, but reminds him not to forget that he is’’ prison 24601’’ and he has to carry a yellow ticket of leave which is a stigma what warns others that he has been in prison and his song of feeling the wind in his face and having to stand there and have Javert tell him that he is less then human breaks your heart the music slows down to Valjean stating how the law has robbed him of 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread. Tears weal up and I turn to see the audience are the same state as me. The stage, like magic, suddenly has a cast of 15 on a rotating part, and the scene is set for the field work where Valjean works and is not paid like the others, and is sacked. You feel the injustice. As he sing ‘’ you feel like dirt beneath their feet’’. Despondent he meets Bishop Digne who treats him with kindness by offering him food and a place to rest. He waits for them all to fall asleep and flees with the silver but is arrested and brought back to the bishop, who promptly vouches for him but tells him to remember to use this silver to become an honest man as he has brought his soul for God. The music and the words, makes you think about the injustice of life in those days, and how betrayed and embittered Valjean feels.

Valjean breaks his parole and goes on the run to Montreuil-sur-Mer. He has worked and now owns a factory and became Mayor. Outside a factory, the poor workers sing, ‘’at the end of the day’’, a crescendo of voices expressing their distain of working for nothing. A factory girl provokes a fight with Fantine who has just been, found to have an illiterate daughter. She is given the sack and recalls what life was like. Her powerful voice of ‘’I dreamed a dream,’’ runs shivers down my spine. In desperation Fantine sells her hair and locket and becomes a prostitute to be able to send money for her daughter. She becomes ill and ends up in front of Javert the police officer because she refused to allow a man to porn on her’’ like a piece of meat.’’ Valjean comes to her rescue and takes her to hospital. Suddenly a runaway cart crashes down the street. The Mayor rescues a man pinned under the cart. This triggers memory for Javert who suspect Valjean, but is then reminded that they have caught him. Not being able to live with injustice, in the court, Valjean reveals his true name and past record. ‘’ who am I,’’ a song of power that he knows who he is and ends in Am Jean Valjean. He tells them they know where to find him and he goes to see Fantine. The dying Fantine dreams of Cosette. At this point I don’t believe there was a dry eye in the theatre. Valjean makes a promise that he would look after cosette, as a dying Fantine ask that he ‘’ take my child I give her to your keeping.’’ Valjean fells Jevert and fells to rescue Cosette. The inn at montfermeil we see Cosette Ragged and forlorn. Little Cosette sings ‘’Castle on a cloud’’ The only way she can escape the hardship she faces. The sadness is suddenly turned to comedy as madam Thenardier who is harsh in a comic sort of way send poor Cosette to fetch water. The next scene is more humorous with the Thenardier [a crooked couple] sing ‘’ master of the house,’’ The whole place raw with laughter. Valjean buys off the Thenardiers. Valjean and Cosette leave for Paris. The mood changes and we are transported to 10years forward. Enjolras and Marius [student] are dismayed by the poverty around them. Javert, ‘’those who fall must pay the price’’ is still on Valjean trail.

The café of the revolutionary students- the ABC friends, you feel there passion for justice. It is at this point that we learn that Marius has meet and fallen for Cosette. The revolutionary is well under way and this meeting gets the audience wanting to march with them, ‘’Red & Black ‘’ the chores of student march forward and backwards [on the spot]’’ Do you hear the people sing .‘’ By this point the music makes you want to get out of you seat and stand with them. The garden of Val jean’s house we see cosette who is in love with Marius and Eponine who secretly loves Marius. [A heart full of love ] bring a tender side to an uncertain future. The Thenardier and their street gang set upon Valjean and Cosette. They are rescued by Javert who does not recognise them until it is too late. Convinced it was Javert who has been watching them, Valjean tells Cosette that they must leave the country. ‘’ One day more.’’ The whole company sings and it’s inspirational and deeply moving. The cast are given a standing ovation as the curtain comes down for act 1.

Act 2. The students build a barricade in the streets. The show is amazing with the mechanics of rotating floor and how everything fits together to look realistic. Eponine walks the street of Paris, Feeling alone ‘’On my own’’ my skin tingles. The word’s of the song is so beautiful. She then decides to join Marius at the barricades, the revolutionary students prepare for battle, it is then that Javert is exposed as a spy by Gavroche sing, ‘’Little people.’’ Eponine is shot trying to get to Marius and she dies in his arms. This is truly moving. Valjean arrives at the barricades in search of Marius. He asks to be given the task of killing Javert but lets him go. During the night , Valjean prays to God to Save Marius, ’’Bring him home’’ as he can see what a hopeless case this is as ammunition are running low and we see the rebels’ having one last drink ‘’Drink with me.’’ as they know they are going to their death at dawn. We feel their struggle and the hopelessness of it as you see the body’s spooled on the barricades. Valjean escapes down the sewers with Marius who is unconscious. He is pursued by Javert. Valjean begs him to let him take Marius to hospital. Javert relents but his principles of justice having been shattered by Valjean kill him by throwing himself into the river. Marius sing ‘’Empty chairs at empty tables. The tears run freely as I look around, you see the sadness on everyone’s faces. Unable to face Cosette, Valjean decides he must disappear. After the sadness we welcome a little light comedy performed by the Thenardier at the wedding of Cosette and Marius, who are trying to blackmail Marius by saying that Cosette’s father is a murderer. As proof they show him a ring which they took from a corpse during the night the barricades fell. It is then that Marius realises that it was Valjean who rescued him. Marius and Cosette go to Valjean. It is then that Valjean tells her about her history ‘’I will explain, I will write my last confession. Read it well, at last when I am sleeping. It’s a story of those who always loved you. Your mother gave her life for you and gave you to my keeping’’. Then we see the ghosted of Fantine talking to Valjean, ‘’Come with me where chains will never bind you, for your grief at last at last behind you.’’ Then he dies. His spirit is joined by Eponine, and all who died on the barricade. The standing ovation is not enough to express the wonderment of what had just taken place. Every song was a showstopper. I was mesmerised by the gritty performances. All I know is that my granddad would have loved this.