Les Mis Fans ~ Keep An Eye Out During PBS Pledge Break Times

[Latte]

Hugh has a nice voice, but, it is not good enough for JVJ.
I will be very dissapointed if they give it to him.

[The Accordion]

I love love Hugh Jackman - but IMO his voice is not right AT ALL for Valjean.

[michaelfsfan]

Glad you guys over there got to see this. What a pity Nick Jonas can't sing more than two words without a sharp intake of breath. It's a shame he was in it becasue the rest of it is really the highest quality. I'll never know what Cameron Mackintosh was thinking with that bit of genius mis-casting!!

I was in the audience for the second (evening) concert and my favourites were Lea Salonga and Norm Lewis.

I have to admit that I got a bit emotional when the original London cast members came out to sing "One Day More" at the end, especially since I'd seen Frances Ruffelle play Eponine before.

Also, I was thrilled that my friend David Charles Abell, who conducted the 10th Anniversary Concert, was asked to lead the orchestra that night.

As for Nick Jonas, two words: Oy vey.

[pollyanna]

Hugh has a nice voice, but, it is not good enough for JVJ.
I will be very dissapointed if they give it to him.

I love love Hugh Jackman - but IMO his voice is not right AT ALL for Valjean.

This^^^

Apparently the production wants Hugh Jackman to play a lead role, presumably Jean Valjean, although at the time of the report no talks had yet taken place. I'm torn by this. If they must have a movie star, Jackman would be my choice, yet, as someone already commented, at the anniversary concerts Alfie Boe won over thousands of people who had seen someone else in the role before, so why couldn't he win over a cinema audience as well? I know that big names sell tickets, but word-of-mouth is great for selling tickets as well.

Agree. I still can't get over how wrong Gerard Butler was for the role of the Phantom, and how it ruined the film for me, not to mention Renee Zellweger in Chicago. Jennifer Hudson was practically unknown (outside of AI) when she was cast in Dreamgirls, and she ended up winning an Oscar for her performance of one song in the film and became a media darling. I hope the producers keep an open mind.

[danceronice]

I think we wouldn't have to worry about fail of Butler-ian proportions (as Jackman can, in fact, sing) and I think the argument in his favor over Alfie Boe is that Boe can hold a THEATRICAL crowd and can sing in a concert they happen to be filming for TV...but Jackman is a known, proven quantity who can sing and do theater but who CAN, for certain, act for film cameras. The former skill does not necessarily translate to the latter, even in non-musical roles, and vice-versa. It's not even necessarily they'd be banking on Jackman's name to sell tickets (as this is of movie of Les Miz, people are going to go see it), it's that they don't want to cast a bunch of stage-only people and discover they're absolutely useless on film. Jackman's a big name, he CAN do movies (Van Helsing notwithstanding), and he also can sing, so they don't have to either agonize over dubbing or take film cred over voice a la Phantom. (Not that casting a girl who could sing as Christine did much to help the film along, either. Butler was not the ONLY thing wrong with that production.)

[skatesindreams]

Jackman might surprise those of you who don't think he's equal to the role.
The movie is more likely to be financed/made if he is a part of it.

[MLIS]

I'm a huge Jackman fan, but I just don't see him as Valjean. I do, however, see him as Javert, which is nearly as large a part and has a couple of big solo sections (including my all time favourite song ever written for the theatre, "Stars"). Possibly he's interested in playing Javert (a much more interesting role than Valjean, imho)?

[pollyanna]

I agree that Jackman can sing, I just don't think he has the correct voice for Jean Valjean.

I rather like the idea of Jackman as Javert.

[skatesindreams]

I would love to hear him do some of the material from either role; so that we could hear/see for ourselves.
He's touring a one-man show that may end up on Broadway; so, it might be possible.

[floskate]

Jackman is professionally trained vocally and as such should have way more vocal versatility than many of you are giving him credit for. He has a superb voice - just watch his work in Oklahoma at the National Theatre - don't just judge him on the fluffy songs he does at awards ceremonies. I do agree he would be an awesome Javert but would certainly be interested to see what he could do with Valjean. As someone who still can't bring myself to watch the movie version of Sweeney Todd because of the heinous ''singing'' of Depp and Bonham-Carter, at least Jackman can actually sing!! That's a plus straight away.

[Latte]

Jackman is professionally trained vocally and as such should have way more vocal versatility than many of you are giving him credit for. He has a superb voice - just watch his work in Oklahoma at the National Theatre - don't just judge him on the fluffy songs he does at awards ceremonies. I do agree he would be an awesome Javert but would certainly be interested to see what he could do with Valjean. As someone who still can't bring myself to watch the movie version of Sweeney Todd because of the heinous ''singing'' of Depp and Bonham-Carter, at least Jackman can actually sing!! That's a plus straight away.

I've seen him in Oklahoma. He was very good, but, I still can't see him as Valjean. He isn't even a tenor.
Javert would fit him better.

[michaelfsfan]

Jackman is professionally trained vocally and as such should have way more vocal versatility than many of you are giving him credit for. He has a superb voice - just watch his work in Oklahoma at the National Theatre - don't just judge him on the fluffy songs he does at awards ceremonies. I do agree he would be an awesome Javert but would certainly be interested to see what he could do with Valjean. As someone who still can't bring myself to watch the movie version of Sweeney Todd because of the heinous ''singing'' of Depp and Bonham-Carter, at least Jackman can actually sing!! That's a plus straight away.

Eys, let's not forget that Jackman had built up quite an impressive musical theatre resume before being cast as Wolverine in X Men - Beauty and the Beast, Sunset Boulevard (I saw him play Joe Gillis opposite Debra Byrne, who made a fantastic Norma Desmond, and he was one of the best in that role IMHO) and Oklahoma! (loved him as Curly too).

[floskate]

I've seen him in Oklahoma. He was very good, but, I still can't see him as Valjean. He isn't even a tenor.
Javert would fit him better.

There have been actors who have played Valjean over the years who are not true tenors, but high baritones. I'm a high baritone and can sing every note of Valjean's in the score. (You need a strong head voice and falsetto to do it mind you.) It all depends on placement and tone and while it may be much easier for a true tenor to sing, it is not impossible for a high baritone to pull off. All I'm saying is that no one but Hugh knows exactly what his voice is capable of. Being the professional that he is though, I highly doubt he would play a role that he knew he couldn't really sing. We shall see....

[skatesindreams]

All I'm saying is that no one but Hugh knows exactly what his voice is capable of. Being the professional that he is though, I highly doubt he would play a role that he knew he couldn't really sing. We shall see..,

I believe that, as well.
He knows that "Phantom" didn't do so well because of miscasting.

[AnnieBgood]

I just pray that they cast Lea Salonga in some part. One can hope.

[Latte]

I just pray that they cast Lea Salonga in some part. One can hope.

Another vote for Lea.

[victoriaheidi]

Jackman is professionally trained vocally and as such should have way more vocal versatility than many of you are giving him credit for. He has a superb voice - just watch his work in Oklahoma at the National Theatre - don't just judge him on the fluffy songs he does at awards ceremonies. I do agree he would be an awesome Javert but would certainly be interested to see what he could do with Valjean. As someone who still can't bring myself to watch the movie version of Sweeney Todd because of the heinous ''singing'' of Depp and Bonham-Carter, at least Jackman can actually sing!! That's a plus straight away.

Quick lane-swerve here: Sondheim referred to Sweeney Todd as his favorite film adaptation of one of his musicals, and it's easily my favorite Tim Burton movie. Just throwing that out there.

[Gazpacho]

I just pray that they cast Lea Salonga in some part. One can hope.

Not as Fantine though. No one can match Ruthie Henshall's Fantine.

Here Come to Me is breathtaking too.

[floskate]

Quick lane-swerve here: Sondheim referred to Sweeney Todd as his favorite film adaptation of one of his musicals, and it's easily my favorite Tim Burton movie. Just throwing that out there.

I wasn't referring to Sondheim's opinion, I was referring to mine

[victoriaheidi]

Not as Fantine though. No one can match Ruthie Henshall's Fantine.

Here Come to Me is breathtaking too.

Ruthie Henshall will always be my favorite Fantine and, potentially, my favorite Roxie Hart, too.

I've been thinking: I bet Timothy Spall is Tom Hooper's top pick for Thenardier.