海角大神

For months, musical fans have been praising the casting decisions (Hugh Jackman! Anne Hathaway! Oh, fine, Russell Crowe), devouring trailers, and nodding with approval over the awards praise showered upon the film version of 鈥�Les Mis茅rables鈥� by the Screen Actors Guild and the Hollywood Foreign Press.

So there鈥檚 no fear that the big-screen adaptation of 鈥淟es Mis鈥� will appeal to them, those super-fans who can tell you that Colm Wilkinson was the original Jean Valjean in London and can recite every separate part of ensemble number 鈥淥ne Day More.鈥� They鈥檒l be turning out to the theater in droves to see their beloved story of a French revolution and the people who are affected by it and will hum along to the songs under their breath as they soak in the vocal performances.

But you know who else should give the movie a chance? People who hate musicals.

There is a (fairly large) group of people to whom simply the word 鈥渕usical鈥� is enough to conjure up shuddering. Singing, like people do on 鈥淕lee鈥�? And over-emoting and wearing over-the-top costumes? Count them out. They鈥檒l be watching TV (not 鈥淕lee鈥�).

But I know of several people who view going to see a musical as on par with a tooth extraction who, through accident or being forced to go, saw the stage version of 鈥淟es Mis.鈥� I, the eager fan, asked them how they liked it, and got positive responses from all of them. 鈥淚t was鈥� good鈥� was the main reaction, almost all with a surprised tone.

And the reason that 鈥淟es Mis茅rables鈥� can win over musical-allergic theatergoers is that it鈥檚 not glitzy. It鈥檚 not glamorous. There are no kick lines, no spangly outfits, no drawn-out dance numbers. It is the story of various people struggling to survive in nineteenth century France that happens to have some musical numbers attached.

The story is powerful enough that the book by Victor Hugo was a classic long before the musical came along 鈥� some may complain that revolutionary student Marius and protagonist Jean Valjean鈥檚 adoptive daughter Cosette aren鈥檛 especially deep characters, and they鈥檙e right. But everyone remembers Jean Valjean himself, the escaped convict, and his moral struggles and the ruthless Inspector Javert who pursues him, certain that no criminal can be a good man and vice versa.

And the music鈥檚 just gorgeous 鈥� if you simply like music that sounds beautiful, it will win you over, whether or not you鈥檙e a musical fan. (It will also get stuck in your head, especially the anthemic 鈥淒o You Hear the People Sing?,鈥� so beware.)聽

Anyone who鈥檚 read the novel will know this beforehand, but it鈥檚 pretty darn good at subverting the happy ending most people associate with musicals, also. Let鈥檚 just say the show has a pretty high body count.

It鈥檚 a serious story about people struggling with almost insurmountable problems 鈥� things like getting food and finding a job and when it鈥檚 right to stand up to your government. One character, Fantine, is forced to become a prostitute because she has no other options. Not exactly musical fun time, is it?

So yes, they sing. But give it a chance beyond that. There are no sequins 鈥� I promise.