That is very interesting, outlier, about how similar the last stanzas of those two songs are. I've actually never seen the musical, but my mom bought a soundtrack of the songs, although we haven't really listened to it very much at all. I'll have to listen to it (or better yet, see the musical!). By the way, I didn't know (or maybe I knew but had forgotten) that

And... I had said earlier that I'd have to get an unabridged copy of the book; I didn't realize we already have one! Yeah!

EDIT: Meltintalle, you have a little sister named Cosette? That's so cool!!

I have never read the book, but I have seen the Liam Neeson version of the movie and the 10th and 25th anniversary versions of the musical!
I like the 25th anniversary version the best! Nick Jonas as Marius was a surprise, but a pleasent one. he's really got a good voice!

my favorite song in the musical is "Do You Hear The People Sing"! it's so beautiful and yet so sad all at once

This is embarassing but I've never read the book! It's on my mental list though, hopefully it'll be one that I get to this summer.
I've seen the movie with Liam Neeson, and REALLY liked it, so I know I like the story.

So i saw the musical, about two weeks ago now. It didn't have Nick Jonas in it, but the actor playing Thenardier has a regular role in a Disney TV show.

I really like some of the music, but you would never watch it for the plot. It jumps around a lot, the coincidences all feel horribly contrived, and Cosette has all the character of a sheet of cardboard. But i still liked it, on the whole, and this was a good production i think.

^^ what version did you see? was it the 10th anniversary version? because Nick Jonas is in the 25th anniversary version.
here's a clip - Nick Jonas as Marius singing "A Little Fall Of Rain":

it's so touching

Liberty Hoffman, I have no idea which "version" it was. I just saw it two weeks ago live, so i doubt it was the 10th anniversary one.

^^ oh, you mean you were at a liver performance? ooh, so lucky! ok, then it makes sense that it didn't have Nick Jonas in it

I found the CD of the original London cast from 1987 at my library - I listened to it all day. it's so addicting!!!!!

I didn't really care for the 25th edition actually... I liked it in the sense that it explained a lot more of the story and it had more acting in between songs, but other than that I prefer the 10th. Somehow the 25th seems a little more glamorous for lack of a better word, and doesn't feel as real as events that could have taken place... I have a hard time seeing (was it nick? i get the three of them mixed up) jonas onstage in a non-popstar-disney setting, but I'm sllloooooowwwwwwwlyyy adjusting to it Colm Wilkinson has been Valjean so many times (original london cast, 10th anniversary dream cast, and i think he was on the original broadway cast too) that he just is Valjean, I love Lea Salogna as Eponine, she has a kinda dreamy sound to her voice and it reminds me of Disney (probably cuz she was Jasmine and Mulan )

Arwenel, with the live performances, do they have the same format of the singers going up to the mic and singing or do they have it more of acting on stage (I hope that question made sense...) and yeah I don't think Cosette's character is done really well in the musical versions I've seen

I've been gradually tackling the Liam Neelson version of the movie as I read the book (I just finished 'Fantine'!!! ), and I'm liking the movie so far.... It's very true to the book, although I would have liked to have seen a bit more of the Bishop.... and I still haven't gotten over the fact that there's no singing

Out of curriousity: which encore do you like better? 10th anneversary 17 Valjeans or the 25th anniversary of the original 1985 cast???

outlier, it probably depends on the version, but the one i saw did involve some "acting" - people walking around, lying down, moving around, etc. There were a couple times, such as during Fantine's "I Dreamed a Dream", where the characters just stood in one place while singing which was a little annoying, but it wasn't horrible.

I am seeing the musical in three days!!

Today, the eleven year old girl that I nanny asked me if I was excited for Les Mis, after I said yes, she told me. "My teacher is going to see it and I was the only person in my class who knew how to pronounce it."

"You're welcome," I said.

^^ lucky you! have fun! do you know who's in the cast? is it local or is it on Broadway that you are seeing it?

I keep watching the 25th anniversary version it's so addicting!!!!!

I watched Nick Jonas singing in a Les Mis anniversary video and it is AMAZING! Why doesn't he sing like that all the time? Instead of his "girly, pop-ish" voice?

I am seeing the musical in three days!!

You must be excited! I hope you enjoy it, Orious!! I really need to start listening to the soundtrack of the songs that I have, to get to know them. I would love to see the musical sometime, and if I get to know the songs before I see it, I think I'd be able to enjoy it so much more.

I also want to get my hands on the 10th anniversary or the 25th anniversary version, or maybe both! They sound like they are both done quite well. (And that way I can get to know the songs, too.)

I watched Nick Jonas singing in a Les Mis anniversary video and it is AMAZING! Why doesn't he sing like that all the time? Instead of his "girly, pop-ish" voice?

that was my exact reaction after seeing it! and did you know that he actually played Gavroche (the little boy) in the 2003 broadway version of Les Mis? before the Jonas Brothers/Camp Rock stuff!!!!! so why did he fall for that?
I do not know
and not only did he play Marius in the 25th anniversary concert, he played Marius a month or so before that in the Les Mis play in London in the West End!

my favorite parts of the 25th anniversary version with Nick playing Marius are when he sings "Rain Will Make The Flowers Grow" with the girl who plays Eponine (that part brought me to tears! ) and when he sings "Empty Chairs At Empty Tables"!

What is this I hear? Do I hear people liking Nick Jonas as Marius?

I have very strong feelings, in the negative, about that casting decision. Who's bright idea was it to put a mediocre pop singer among those operatic brilliants? I love the 25th, except for the parts where Nick sings. He spoils it.

Samantha is so good in A Little Fall of Rain. It's so sad.

Liberty Hoffman, I am seeing the 25th anniversary tour. It's stopping about an hour from my house. http://www.lesmis.com/us-tour/ The parts aren't played by anyone very famous. (I mean, I am not seeing Alfie Boe or Lea Salogna. Sadly.) Some of the names are Ron Sharpe, Justin Scott Brown, Andrew Varela, Jenny Latimer, Betsy Morgan, Chasten Harmon, and a bunch of others.

I am so excited!