Les Miserables is a musical adaptation of the book by the same name written by Victor Hugo. This riveting musical first appeared on stage in Paris in 1980 and made its United States Broadway debut just a few short years later in 1987. With music by Claud-Michel Schoenberg, it continues to captivate audiences world-wide.
Les Mis, as the musical is affectionately known, is set in the 19th century and follows the lives of many as they struggle with revolution. The story begins in 1895 with a look into the life of Jean Valjean a prisoner in a hard labor camp. He is being released after serving 19 years in prison (a five-year term for stealing bread for his starving sister, and then subsequent time for trying to escape). Jean is taken in by a the Bishop of Digne. When Valjean is caught stealing the Bishop’s silverware, the Bishop sticks up for Valjean and urges him to become a reformed man. Valjean, knowing he would not be able to live a good life on parole, breaks away.
Eight years later Valjean is assuming a new identity and is a wealthy factory owner and mayor. Known as Monsieur Madeleine he meets a factory worker. Fantine is caught sending money to her illegitimate child and gets into a fight with the other factory workers. Valjean orders the factory foreman to take care of the problem. The foreman then fires Fantine. She then sells a lock of her hair and becomes a prostitute to survive. She is being beaten by one of her customers, when she is arrested by Javert. The mayor urges for her release and she is brought to the hospital.
Valjean then discovers that someone else is being arrested because they believe it is him, so he turns himself in. Before going to prison he visits a dying Fantine in the hospital and vows to find her daughter Cosette. When he is being arrested he asks for three more days to find the daughter, but not believing his intentions are true, he needs to escape. Valjean then finds Cosette, where we learn that she has been abused, and pays the inn keepers for her.
The next act is seven years later and Cosette is an adult and in love with Marius, a revolutionist. A fight breaks out and Valjean saves Marius life. Marius and Cosette marry and Valjean prepares for his death.
