I’m not going to lie, I am quite possibly Les Miserables’ number 1 fan. I can’t get enough of those sweet Jean-Michel Schoenberg tunes. I cry, I laugh and I scoff at those wacky revolutionaries with their fancy clothes and ludicrously large vocal ranges. So when one of the illustrious Lot’s Wife editors (and also housemate) asked if I was interested… well needless to say I was trepidatious. I’m not going to pretend to be unbiased.
Tres Miserables was pretty damn hit and miss. Condensing a 2.5 hour operatic saga into 50 minutes with only 3 actors is no small achievement, and it really was summarised quite well. Points for that one. What lost those points however, was the unnecessary insertion of a paedophilic priest. Negative points for that. The sexual tension between Jean Val Jean and Javert? That deserves at least like, 5 points. Having a mighty lol at sexual violence? We’re right back down to 0.
So by the end of what I could only envisage as then end of act one (who knows, it was only 50 minutes long in total), I was sitting pretty neutral, points wise. I should take a moment now just to extend my super mega kudos to the woman in the cast- holy hell she had a set of lungs on her. She could really sing. So I guess that tips the scales to slightly over neutral. Well done Tres Miserables, we’re half way and you’re doing better then the movie.
Second half and we’re mostly on the barricades. Yep, ok, I’m not to proud to admit that I am laughing my arse off. I’ve always been struck by the hypocrisy of the boys on the barricade; mate, the revolution is over go home. Snotty little rich kids with too much time on their hands. Did someone say student politics? So yeah, points for that. “On My Own”, the masturbatory anthem? Oh man, I’m never going to be able to listen to this song ever again. 7 points. Oh what’s that? Another lol at sexual violence? Negative 10 points.
Honestly, Tres Miserables was not the worst comedy I’ve ever seen. In fact, when it was funny, it was REALLY damn funny. Also the live pianist was excellent. Snaps for you live pianist.
Final Tally: +4 points.
Verdict: Didn’t offend me quite as much as the movie did (fuck you Russell Crowe).
