The Bold Soul: A Writer's Life in Paris

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Enfin. Tomorrow has come, and it's TODAY. Les Misérables has come back to France, where it originally began, in every sense. Merci, Monsieur Hugo. But I won't be able to see the film until Saturday, which will ratchet my excitement up to the level of "Dear God, woman, will you PLEASE shut up about that fricking-fracking movie, already!" and that's pretty much the absolute most annoying level I can achieve. Just ask Georges. Can I just say: isn't this a haunting film poster of young Cosette? Look at those eyes: bereft of all hope before Valjean saves her from the horrid Thénardiers. So what's left to share with you until I can talk about my own impressions of the film? I could think of only one last clip. Although I'm not sure how Victor Hugo would like his masterpiece as a musical, I think he'd be gratified to know his message has continued to live on around the world in print, on the screen and in song. Wave a red flag in solidarity! Hum one of the songs! Or better yet - go out and see the movie (again)! Read more →

Un Day More

The waiting is nearly over. Now it is literally just ONE day more until the film opens here in La France. Let's really roll back the clock. Here's a clip I found from the 1987 20/20 broadcast about the original London show of Les Mis, shortly before it opened on Broadway. Can't believe how young Colm Wilkerson looked! And Michael Ball really was the best Marius. And here's a bonus from the original opening of Les Mis in London. How fast 25+ years can pass. Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you, tomorrow, you're only a day away! (Oh, shoot, that's a different musical!) Tomorrow we'll discover what our God in heaven has in store... 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | One more dawn... one more day... One Day More! Read more →

Serenity

I had to go back in my archives a couple of months (that's why there are green leaves on the trees) to find this shot of the quiet back courtyard of Saint Rita's church near Blanche. The gates behind the church happened to be opened, and I liked that they had the votive candles there among the greenery. Very peaceful. And rather appropriate that this church, across the boulevard from the Moulin Rouge and steps away from Pigalle, should be named after the patron saint of lost causes. Read more →

Two Days More

OK, it's two days more until the film is playing in France. However, I realized last week that for me, the wait will be a few days longer, because we have Le Garçon with us this week and that means we can't go to see the movie until the weekend. Sigh. But that's all right. At least it will finally be HERE. The time is near: so near, it's stirring the blood in their veins... We need a sign to rally the people... I'm prepared to "ooh and aah". 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | The color of the world is changing day by day... Read more →

Three Days More

Did you know Aretha Franklin did her own rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" for the inauguration of President Bill Clinton? (Geez, that seems like such a long time ago now, doesn't it?) Yeah, neither did I. It's pure "Queen of Soul", even if it's not pure Les Misérables. She changed a few lyrics and turned it into a song of hope instead of one of despair. Which in the circumstances was perfect. Rock your dream, people. Especially when the tigers come at night... 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | Dreaming bold! Read more →

Fontaine

There are some streets here and there in Paris where you can find one of these large fountains (this one is on a small dead-end street off Rue de Clichy). I haven't come by here in warmer weather but the discoloration seems to indicate that the fountain may be operational in other seasons than winter. If so, I'll bet it's very pretty, set at the end of this short quiet street. Read more →

Four Days More

Javert: he is our cautionary tale. Oh, Javert. So cold, so cruel, so misguided. So inflexible, intolerant. So consumed by fear, although he doesn't realize that's what drives him, until it drives him to the end. Counting down, and glad I don't know any Javerts in real life. 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | And glad I'm NOT a Javert. Read more →

Five Days More

Our hearts are full of love... for Les Mis. :) Feeling the love for just five days more... 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | Loving it! Read more →

You rang?

Creepy old door bell-pull that I happened to spot when walking past an apartment building the other day. It was located just above the modern digicode panel. But then, THIS was (half of) the double door to the building. That lion looks like he wants to bite my head off. Doesn't exactly scream, "Hey come in for a drink and stay a while", does it? Read more →

Six Days More

One of my favorites in the show is Eponine and "On My Own". I'd never seen this clip before of the original Eponine, Frances Ruffelle, but the moment I heard it I recognized her as the voice on my soundtrack CDs, which are from the original London cast that included Patti Lupone as Fantine and of course, Colm Wilkerson. Less than a week to go! Last night, I got Georges to watch the entire 25th Anniversary Concert with me so he could get a sense of how Victor Hugo's epic novel was done as a musical (something he was not quite able to get his head around, a reaction that has been common with the French people I know). He liked most of it but had some thoughts about Gavroche's greatly minimized role and the Thenardiers being cast as the comic relief when in fact they were nothing more than scummy villains in the novel. But at least when he sees the film, he'll have more context for the interpretation of the story as a musical. 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | All alone,... Read more →