It is expensive because everyone in the entire western hemisphere wants to see it.

Despite still being on Broadway, Chicago and having multiple touring productions, it still has incredibly high demand. It couldn't maintain that kind of demand without backing it up with a great show.

I think it is brilliant. I listen to the soundtrack all the time. It would be an incredible feat even if it were created by a team of people. But the fact that LMM both wrote it and starred in it is really remarkable. I also think he is a pretty good dude.

GriffenRamsey

(181 posts)

6. And the choreography!

Reply to genxlib (Reply #5)

Tue May 12, 2020, 01:16 PM

May 2020

It's a spectacle.

genxlib

(5,518 posts)

8. It is great

Reply to GriffenRamsey (Reply #6)

Tue May 12, 2020, 01:22 PM

May 2020

We saw it from the very front row of the balcony which is the best seat in the house for seeing the full motion on stage.

The rotating stage is particularly spectacular.

All of the movement and staging is incredibly elaborate to make it flow so seamlessly from one song to the next.

GriffenRamsey

(181 posts)

15. That first song that won me over was the The Schuyler Sisters

Reply to genxlib (Reply #8)

Tue May 12, 2020, 01:59 PM

May 2020

The Schuyler Sisters - YouTube
www.youtube.com › watch
Lyrics
There's nothing rich folks love more
Than going downtown and slummin' it with the poor.
They pull up in their carriages and gawk
At the students in the common
Just to watch them talk.
Take Philip Schuyler: the man is loaded.
Uh-oh, but little does he know that
His daughters, Peggy, Angelica, Eliza
Sneak into the city just to watch all the guys at—
Work, work!
Angelica!
Work, work!
Eliza!
And Peggy!
The Schuyler sisters!
Angelica! Peggy! Eliza! Work!
Daddy said to be home by sundown.
Daddy doesn't need to know.
Daddy said not to go downtown.
Like I said, you're free to go.
But–look around, look around, the
Revolution's happening in New York (New York)
Angelica! Work!
It's bad enough daddy wants to go to war.
People shouting in the square.
It's bad enough there'll be violence on our shore.
New ideas in the air.
Look around, look around—
Angelica, remind me what we're looking for...
She's lookin' for me!
Eliza, I'm lookin' for a mind at work. (Work, Work)
I'm lookin for a mind at work! (Work, work!)
I'm lookin for a mind at work! (Work, work!)
Whooaaaaa! Whooaaaaa! (Work!)
Wooh! There's nothin' like summer in the city.
Someone in a rush next to someone lookin' pretty.
Excuse me, miss, I know it's not funny
But your perfume smells like your daddy's got money.
Why you slummin' in the city in your fancy heels
You searchin for an urchin who can give you ideals?
Burr, you disgust me.
Ah, so you've discussed me.
I'm a trust fund, baby, you can trust me!
I've been reading Common Sense by Thomas Paine.
So men say that I'm intense or I'm insane.
You want a revolution? I want a revelation
So listen to my declaration:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident
That all men are created equal"
And when I meet Thomas Jefferson,
I'm 'a compel him to include women in the sequel! (Work!)
Look around, look around at how
Lucky we are to be alive right now!
Look around, look around at how
Lucky we are to be alive right now!
History is happening in Manhattan and we
Just happen to be in the greatest city in the world!
In the greatest city in the world!
Cuz I've been reading Common Sense by Thomas Paine. (Look around, look around)
So men say that I'm intense or I'm insane.
(The revolution's happening in New York)
You want a revolution? I want a revelation
So listen to my declaration
We hold these truths to be self evident
That all men are created equal
Look around, Look around
At how lucky we are to be alive right now!
History is happening in Manhattan and we just
Happen to be
In the greatest city in the world
In the greatest city-
In the greatest city in the world!
Work, work!
Angelica! (Work, work!)
Eliza! (Work, work!) And Peggy!
The Schuyler sisters! (Work, work!)
We're looking for a mind at
Work, work! Hey!
Work, work! Hey!
Work, work! Whoa! Hey! Hey!
Work, work! Hey! Hey! Hey!
In the greatest Work, work!
In the greatest city in the
World
In the greatest city in the world!
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Lin-manuel Miranda
The Schuyler Sisters lyrics © 5000 Broadway Music

still_one

(92,061 posts)

10. Each to our own. The talent is great, but from my perspective it isn't a Les Miserables

Reply to genxlib (Reply #5)

Tue May 12, 2020, 01:25 PM

May 2020

and those people paying 1000 dollars plus for a seat when it came out, was pure status of keeping up with the joneses in my view

genxlib

(5,518 posts)

12. I think that was certainly true in the first few years

Reply to still_one (Reply #10)

Tue May 12, 2020, 01:40 PM

May 2020

But it has stayed wildly popular beyond anything that could just be attributed to being trendy

I find Les Mis to be forced. When it gets to the purely musical songs, it is good. But much of the dialog is shoehorned into monotonous psuedo-song that is really annoying to me.

As you say. To each their own.

still_one

(92,061 posts)

17. Interesting, I could not understand half the words in the songs in Hamilton

Reply to genxlib (Reply #12)

Tue May 12, 2020, 02:07 PM

May 2020

genxlib

(5,518 posts)

19. I don't disagree

Reply to still_one (Reply #17)

Tue May 12, 2020, 03:02 PM

May 2020

It is hard to understand on the first listen. I actually recommend people listen to it in advance while reading the words so that they can actually follow the story more closely during the show.

I realize that I just stated a huge contradiction so I am sorry for any hypocrisy; real or perceived.

I guess I just think it fits better stylistically in Hamilton. In Les Mis, it just feels forced. Can't explain it.

I get what you are saying. It doesn't help that some of the fastest patter is done in a french accent.

You might want to give it another try at the much cheaper price of streaming. The words can be hard to understand but that is largely due to a really intricate rhyming structure. I wasn't really a fan on multiple casual hearings until my daughter talked me into a serious listen. Now I am really impressed with the word play and rhyming schemes.

For what its worth, I have seen Les Mis a second time and still found myself annoyed in parts. Nevertheless, I have the movie on my DVR and I am determined to try again. Maybe this time I will try it with closed captions.