until now. I am working my way through it (slowly... there's a lot going on over here!) and thinking about how much I love the musical.I know that this story has already been made into a movie. But, I want to see a MUSICAL MOVIE. You know, like Chicago, Moulin Rouge, The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, West Side Story and the 742* other musicals that are awesome.
Now, things get a little bit dicey here because we need not only amazing actors, but actors that can sing. And really, really sing. Obviously, it can be done, look at the success of Chicago and Rent in recent years, and nobody knew any of those people could sing! (OK, so Renee Zellweger sang in Empire Records, but that is really not the same)
Here goes nothing...
Jean Valjean is our main protagonist and is one heck of a character to cast anyway. He's a convict. He's a mayor. He's a businessman. He's a father. The story takes him from a young man all the way through middle age. And he has to be an A-MA-ZING singer. I have the absolute best idea for Valjean. Are you ready?
Hugh Jackman.
I know, perfect, right? Handsome. Rugged. Tall. Strong. Likeable. And, man, can he sing! Anybody who can hold their own on stage with Aretha Franklin gets my vote.
Did you know he could sing like that?
Anyway, next, is a role that is fairly small in the overall reach of the story, but she sings probably the most famous song from this production. Fantine, sings I Dreamed a Dream, and it's the one song that everybody associates with this production, and somehow everyone forgets how little she's actually in the story. But, based on that one song, she needs to be a belter. And she needs to be young. Can Carrie Underwood act? There's really only two scenes plus this song, so maybe she's good enough?
Next, the Thenardiers. These are some of my favorite characters in the whole story. The best part is that they need to be able to sort of sing, the requirements here are not nearly so high as they are for a couple of the other parts. I recommend Jeremy Irons (he sang in the Lion King, remember?) and Kathy Bates.
"Master of the House" indeed...
For Cosette, I think Emmy Rossum is the perfect choice. And I know that she did Phantom of the Opera and everyone says that actresses don't like to be typecast, but, really, besides looking pretty on a red carpet, what does she have going on these days? Hmmm? Didn't think so. Cosette it is.
For Eponine, there is really only one person: Lea Solonga. She played Eponine on Broadway, and if you've seen the 10th anniversary concert, she's Eponine in that version as well. She's been the singing voice of several Disney princesses, including Mulan. Usually "singing voice" girls are not pretty, but Ms. Solonga is:
I just can't see anybody but her doing it right. I know she's a little old, but I just can't get past her voice.
And the man between Cosette and Eponine, Marius Pontmercy. Would you totally kill me if I said Zac Efron is our man?
And last, Inspector Javert. Alan. Rickman.
Right? I love him and I hate him and I want him to sing forever! I don't know what he is saying here, but I want it to never stop:
I know right up front that there is a lot of disagreement about this, people are really, really passionate about this particular musical. So, let's hear it...
Agree? Disagree? Post your thoughts in the comments?
*This number is completely made up.
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Videos: YouTube
