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| Image Source: The Telegraph |
Les Miserables has changed the way musicals are written and received. The musical first opened in London on October 8, 1985 and quickly became popular, becoming the second longest-running musical in the world and fifth longest-running show in Broadway history. The collaboration between Schonberg and Boublil immediately struck a chord among theater fans and further popularized the Victor Hugo classic.
The musical revolutionized public reception of theatre shows. Before it came out, many musicals tackled lighter topics. Love was an obvious subject, but plays were focused on its more romantic side – the darker aspects only hinted at or briefly touched. Les Miserables, which translates to The Miserable People, blatantly challenged this concept; not only dwelling on topics such as prostitution and death but making these themes the foreground of a story. Despite being set during the 19th century, the core topics were universal. Actors were challenged to tap into their more sensitive sides and were encouraged to display their emotional ranges.
The play was also considerably long. The entire musical would run for more than two hours. This translated to more than 120 minutes of intense emotion. During its first runs in London, initial reviews were conflicting. Many people simply did not know how to react to it.
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| Image Source: Wikimedia |
Eventually the musical’s popularity grew and more people clamored for more musicals on more realistic topics. Theater playwrights were all too willing to accept the challenge. This has led to many beautiful and raw musicals being produced since then.
But there is power still in the original. Les Miserables still remains one of the most popular musicals to date and continues to draw crowds from many countries.
My name is Louis P. Habash, an aspiring actor with a passion for musical theater. From Les Miserables to The Book of Mormon, I live, breathe, and eat musicals. Learn more about my passion by liking my Facebook page.
