I fell in love with this show from the first double album with Ms Lupone. My heart broke with her Fantine. I love Ruthie Henshall coz she gets more light and shade - But as Sondheim says in his book, you fall for actors who play characters that you first hear/see play the roles. Lupone's Fantine has power - I could well see her skanking her way through the gutters... And the strength to leave her family for this cad who knocked her up.
A bit understated for Ms. LuPone, she did after all chew off the very scenery in her "Evita" days. Still a valid performance. Don't be sayin' nothin' bad about Ms LuPone!
Ruthie Henshall is, for me, the prime interpreter of this song. But let us not forget that Ms. LuPone sang it before any other. She was the first Fantine, and, furthermore, the first American actor to win an Olivier award...respect this living legend!
Forgive me, folks, but this version is the #1 top perfect wonderful version for me. I have seen Les Miz in L.A., NY, and again in L.A. Patti Lupone, who originated the role of Fantine is by far my favorite. Period.
Okay, so this is NOT the best she has ever sung the song. Patti LuPone is a quite sensitive artist, and ill health or stress obviously can play hell with her performance. When she's well and on top of her game she is very difficult to beat indeed. Even when she's under a cloud, she's still a professional and I respect her talent. That's all.
A WARNING to all posters: If you don't WORSHIP Sutton Foster, I will flag down all your comments. Negative opinions of her are NOT welcome! You can't hide from me. I am the famous WALT1896, the master cloner and the master flagger on Youtube using my over 200 accounts! Wherever WALT1896 is, see posts marked as SPAM!
Is that Patti? For a moment I thought is was Harpo! But I didn't laugh. NOT her song. That;s OK! Not every singer is for every song. I'm not holding my breath waiting for a "Leonard Cohen does Cindy Lauper's Greatest Hits". Didn't Patti do topless in "Son of Sam"?
@ruthiehenshalllesmiz, saw Les Mis 4 times and Patti was the most enjoyable. Maybe because it was my first. But you don't notice any of that at the theatre. I guess you will enjoy Anne Hathaways big mouth on the big screen.
If I had British officers, Canadian soldiers, and American tech, I would probably have a life and I would not waste my time writing comments on Youtube!
@benagustine: How right you are. LuPone's scooping style just annoys me too much -- but at least she knows how to act. Ruthie Henshall's rough, ugly voice, coupled with her wooden acting, is the worst Fantine performance i've ever seen!
s a conclusion to the recent Father Ray Memorial Week, the Father Ray Foundation organised a special Thank You Concert last Saturday for invited guests and sponsors at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort. It was held in the chic Supper Club, where President of the Father Ray Foundation, Father Pattarapong Srivorakul welcomed his guests to an afternoon of international music and song. The programme began with a rendition from children from the Father Ray Day Care Center, followed by a shit.
I understand that Patti originated the English-speaking Fantines but I'm just not crazy about her in the role. The camera gets too close to her face and I just see "New Jersey" written all over it
Thanks for posting, @ryer3! I've always been curious about LuPone's performance. LIke many posters, I don't find anything wrong with her acting. I have issues with her singing, though. The scooping of the notes is atrocious and I'm very disappointed at her inability to sustain notes. I also agree with the critics who have labeled Lea Salonga The Legendary Fantine.
this is the version i always grew up listening too. ms lupone is a theatre icon and i love her delivery of this song! yes there are always other actresses, but they interpret the role their own way as did patti lupone
Sorry, but Patti blew the wheels off all of the "also rans" out there, and left them gasping in the dust. The Ruthies and Leas just couldn't hold a candle to the real thing. Just sayin'.......
this version may not be as good as it gets but i saw one of Ms LuPone interpretation... it was not bad... she did jsutice and have lived the character... maybe we just became used to the recent interpreters that we find this as "rubbish"... this version maybe but MS LuPone as the character is not.. i am a Lea Salonga fan, but i do give credit to mi LuPone... The producers will not choose her if she could not deliver the part, better ones usually come after, but the originals will alway be..
@ryer3 Agreed, its hard to believe we are already at the point in history where performance art in the early 90s looks dated, just like the work of Edwin Booth and Sandra Bernhardt looked dated a few generations before.
@ryer3 And, if you've ever heard her talk about this run, I forget which interview, but she says that she was constantly in a rush to die so she could get out of the wig, have a drink and smoke a cigarette. There was one particular performance I've heard her speak of several times where she left the Valjean and Eponine hanging for the finale because she under-estimated her timing.
I so love Patti LuPone but her performance as Fantine stuns me with how bad it is. She just doesn't fit. She looks old and harsh. Not the young innocence the role and this song speaks to. And the bad wig and Patti as a blond? Really?? Her singing is also harsh and lacking the innocence, heartbreak and lost hope so well portrayed by Ruthie Henshall & Lea Salonga. Comparing to Susan Boyle seems wrong. She may have performed the song well, as have many others, but she did not play the part!
that was an interesting 'shame' @ :59. much different than what i am used to, but still very nice. i didn't like the end, though. the 'and life has killed the dream i dreamed' bit was too fast, not enough emotion in the instrumental. i will always prefer ruthie Henshall as fantine, but that's just my opinion, and this was a very nice vid. btw, was patti LuPone fantine in the Copmlete symphonic recording??????
@MegaSunnybob Debbie Bryne, who played the role of Fantine in Australia, was in the Complete Symphonic Recording. And I agree with all of your sentiments. The "shame" definitely caught me by surprise, but I really liked it.
@heaslch09 Totally agree. Usually when I hear this song by other performers, it gives me goosebumps, but nothing happened here.
Patty is absolutely awesome doing Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd, but here she lacks the innocence of the character. Probably she fits much more in that kind of evilish roles.
I think Patti somewhere along the way lost that spark that got her that fame, or she is just worn out from it, whereby Susan is still hungry for her spark to set off. I will say Lea Salonga will not wait for anyone but will be traveling full speed...
I'm not knocking Patti's talent at all but IMO Lea's version is soo much better. Lea puts the raw emotion into the song that it needs and it just gives me the chills.
Great to see and hear Patti singing the role she originated in English. I love the original French version too and the fact that Fantine gets to sing "The Song of the Miserable Ones" or whatever with the infant Cosette in her arms....
I think Patti gets the early maturity of the young mother living on the street by her own means nicely here. Some of the other interpretations are too virginal and innocent for my liking.
@Dianaemanuel I agree... Susan has a great voice, she is more about the powerfull belting.. Patti sings with such ease and control... no one better than her :D
I saw the london show with Colm Wilkinson and Patti Lupone and I cried all through the first act....believe me this had never ever happened to me in a London musical. Patti sang with such pathos and Colm was magnificent....I never want to see it again as I am sure their performances can be improved upon but my experience at Les Mis was so special I just want it to stay that way.
@etcapel I'm so jealous you got to see the original cast and believe me, they were perfect! Other people can give their interpretations,but, no one can ever improve upon their performances! And this is coming from someone who just saw it for the 24th time over the last 20+ years. Some performances were great, some not so much, but, I always end up going back to the OLC as my favorite!
1:50 always bugs me in her performances of this song. She's great then suddenly does this amateur, hammy outburst that sounds almost comical... really offputting.
OMG! What a fabulous performance. Well, it's Patti Lupone for God's sake! The thing is she's actually too powerful and too strong a singer for the role and I hate myself for having to say that.
@markbob120 Have you seen Lea Salonga's version in the 25th anniversary concert? While I love Ruthie beyond words, Lea LAYS IT OUT!! Her interpretation is one of anguish and sadness. She's singing about her life and it's lost opportunities yet knows she must go on for her daughter's sake. Ruthie 'sings' it. I don't feel the emotion in her face, but her words say it all. To me, Lea's "IDaD" is the standard now. Just my humble opinion.
@AuroraBrent Thanks for the information! I have not seen Lea's version of IDAD and did not know she performed it at the 25th anniversary concert. I have seen Lea's On My Own from that same concert and love it! Thanks again.
like celine and baba, (don't get me wrong, if you like that nasal Kentucky twang in a singer, all three have it) she lacks the depth and range of both Ruthie and Linda Rondstadt.
@krispykritterlover, oh my God. My sister gave me her book as my birthday present and I couldn't put it down. I kept laughing my ass off. I mean, come on. How about when she was talking about the scores of people who would come backstage after Evita (when she was first becoming famous) including "queens, actual royal ones." LMAO!
Patti Lupone was the original Fantine when Lez Miz opened in London, two years prior to the US premiere which was in Washington, DC. The only reason Patti did not play the part in the US production was due to an actor's equity issue - the producers wanted both Patti and Colm Wilkinson, but were forced to choose between them.
@aguynnm There was no actor's equity issue with Patti (she is American after all) She was the one who chose not to do the role on Broadway and decided that while she was still performing in the role in London because according to her..."It was the perfect cast in a perfect play in a perfect setting." And she knew it couldn't be recreated like that in any other place.
@Paris1832 That may be the public the answer, but the whole Actor's Equity thing seems feasible. Because for every USA Equity in Europe, there has to be a Europe Equity in America. It sucks, but it's probably true.
Patti Lupone was the original Fantine when Lez Miz opened in London, two years prior to the US premiere which was in Washington, DC. The only reason Patti did not play the part in the US production was due to an actor's equity issue - the producers wanted both Patti and Colm Wilkinson, but were forced to choose between them.
Patti Lupone was the original Fantine when Lez Miz opened in London, two years prior to the US premiere which was in Washington, DC. The only reason Patti did not play the part in the US production was due to an actor's equity issue - the producers wanted both Patti and Colm Wilkinson, but were forced to choose between them. Weird, but true.
Patti Lupone was the original Fantine when Lez Miz opened in London, two years prior to the US premiere which was in Washington, DC. The only reason Patti did not play the part in the US production was due to an actor's equity issue - the producers wanted both Patti and Colm Wilkinson, but were forced to choose between them. Sounds weird, but I heard it from her in an interview.
Patti LuPone was the original Fantine. She did the show in London before they brought the show to Broadway. Randy Graff was cast as Fantine on Broadway. Patti did want to reprise her role on Broadway.
Who is the Original Fantine of Claude Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil's Les Miserables? Can you please let us know who the original Fantine is? We are only talking about Claude Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil's Les Miserables.
From Wikipedia:
Originally released as a concept album, the first musical stage adaptation of Les Misérables was presented at a Paris sports arena in 1980. However, the first production closed three months later when the booking contract expired.
Most of the cast from the concept album performed in the production. The cast included Maurice Barrier as Valjean, Jean Vallée as Javert, Rose Laurens as Fantine,
The first production in English, produced by Cameron Mackintosh and adapted and directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird, opened on 8 October 1985 (five years after the original production) at the Barbican Arts Centre, London. It was billed in the RSC Barbican Theatre programme as "The Royal Shakespeare Company presentation of the RSC/Cameron Mackintosh production", and played to preview performances beginning on September 28, 1985.
The original London cast included Colm Wilkinson as Jean Valjean, Roger Allam as the persistent Inspector Javert, Ken Caswell as the Bishop of Digne, Patti LuPone as Fantine,
@inlovewithJLT I am completely aware of that .... can you help find in this thread that I stated that the London production was the first? (just need to see exactly what I wrote). thanks
@jgluckner1738 Patti Lupone originated the English version of Les Miserables worldwide in October 5 1985 almost 2 years before the show landed in Broadway.
God, she just makes that voice come out of her throat so effortlessly, like spreading softened butter on a slice of bread. Every time I hear her, she just gets better, even after sixty years of age. Timeless perfection.
Yes, I understand that the character's are French and I enjoy Les Mis in many different languages.More so the English accent than American, which is harsh. But on the story as a whole, my issue is with them taking liberties with casting. as in the last revival on Broadway.Fantine was Puerto Rican who had a Caucasian girl who grew up to be an Asian girl. Doesn't make sense to me. And a class driven, stringent society of that time period wouldn't be accepting of the diff. races either
However, I need to ask you a question and I don't mean anything bad by this but do you know whether anyone else in the audience seriously was bothered by these casting choices or were confused by these actoresses being cast?
If yes, fair enough. If not, well continuity is all well and good, but the audience being clear about this situation helps contradict your point slightly.
@hole1991 I've seen the show many times with people when there has been different ethnic people playing Fantine or Eponine and they were either confused or thought they were suppose to be that race. Plus I've talked to people who had seen the last revival and I asked what they thought about the "miss" casting and they hated it. It's not the same Les Mis that it was back in the 80's and early 90's. sorry to say.
Okay then. What if it was a situation that the casting had continuity. Like for example, if they cast Lea Salonga as Fantine, what if they got girls from a Phillipino or Asian heritage (sorry to all you wonderful people from the Phillipines if you guys aren't really Asian-I am completely ignorant regarding this) to play Cosette? Would that be more acceptable for you?
@hole1991 If I was in an Asian country and the whole cast was Asian, then fine. But, if you look at it on a whole, France in the 18th century had a very ridged class society. Different races would not have mixed nor would they be accepted at the time period the show takes place. Just like I wouldn't accepted another race playing Kim in Miss Saigon or Celie in The Color Purple.
The best part though is look she gives to the conducter who is stepping all over her. The real show would have been to watch her dress him down afterwards...but the diva she is, she wouldn't let no musician screw with her number, she could jump a bridge as easy as him..
I'm the person who actually took the time to transfer this from VHS to my computer and then encode and upload it here. But then my account was deleted and suddenly I see it popping up everywhere. XD I don't mind though. Spread the Patti love. <3
@Ryer3 This is from the 1992 U.K. Royal Variety Performance. It's part of a longer Les Mis medley featuring other members of the original cast and some of the more recent cast members of the time. Colm sings BHH after Patti's IDAD. And then the whole cast, including original Eponine Frances Ruffelle do "One Day More." Marius is Simon Bowman who is currently playing Valjean in the London production. I might upload the whole thing, tho I'm sure I've seen someone else post the ODM here before.
Thank you for that information. As you have noticed I have corrected the label for this clip. Correct me if I am wrong, but is this where Cameron MacKintosh was given tribute and his big 4 shows (CATS, Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera and Miss Saigon) were presented? I might have watched this show from long ago... Can you upload them?
You're thinking of "Hey! Mr. Producer" the special that aired in the 90's honoring Cameron Mackintosh on all shows he produced up to that point, including Les Miserables.
The Royal Variety Performance is an annual showcase of the globe's top entertainment, not just on stage but in all areas of entertainment. It was originally held for the Royal Family almost a century ago and continues to this day.
I'll upload them at some point. I'll let you know.
Oh, and as far as the date--1992--I am not 100% certain but I know it's not 1985. The person who sent me the videotape years ago dated it 1992, but I've yet to confirm this. I'm fairly certain it aired in the early 90's though, with the earliest possible being 1989, as the same broadcast featured the cast of Miss Saigon, which premiered in London on 20 September, 1989.
@LaMisereHQ Wow, can't believe I originally posted this over a year ago, hehe. ;-) Nice to see this again, it has been awhile since I watched it. Patti delivers this rendition seemingly half-hearted, imo. I'm a HUGE Lupone fan and she has both deeply inspired and moved me with her brilliant performances and uniquely expressive voice, but I can also recognize when an actor's heart isn't totally in it, and here, she is nowhere nearly as moving as when she was in the show proper.
think what distinguished this from others is that she is ACTING from a trained classical acting background. Its an intelligent interpretation- no unnecessary emoting, its truthful and honest. Remember she spent four years in the Acting Company doing Shakespeare, Restoration and Chekhov!! VERY few musical theatre actors do that. And she won an Olivier for this role. She is an honest actress which is what many dont want to see nowadays, But I do think Ruthie is good. :)
Hm, I find that interesting because I have heard that in Gypsy, she overacted too much. Maybe to enhance the comedy element or because of the chereography?
In any case, she did give a poigant, effecting performance here whilst still being subtle. I do agree.
@ezekielg444 have you seen the randie graff version? I'm not saying it's better, I haven't decided which version I like best. Randie Graff was Fantine in the original broadway cast
Did I miss when they handed out the Lea Salonga brain washing pills?! She's good, but please! She can't even come close to being in the same league as Patti.When is Lea going to sing "Bring Him Home" so all of you can say how she's sings it the best and is better then Colm Wilkinson!
Random scoops that don't fit, and just plain PITCHY! I still love you Patti, but whoo doggie this is pretty bad.
Floggerdye 3 days ago
The most awful version I've ever heard. And yes I've heard the SuBo version too.
BOWYERD999555 3 days ago
I fell in love with this show from the first double album with Ms Lupone. My heart broke with her Fantine. I love Ruthie Henshall coz she gets more light and shade - But as Sondheim says in his book, you fall for actors who play characters that you first hear/see play the roles. Lupone's Fantine has power - I could well see her skanking her way through the gutters... And the strength to leave her family for this cad who knocked her up.
peterobs 1 week ago
Another over-rated hack ala, streisand and dion.
HugoBossUnzipped 1 week ago
The only good thing I can say about her is that she's got guts -- that's for sure.
mmdillon1 3 weeks ago
A bit understated for Ms. LuPone, she did after all chew off the very scenery in her "Evita" days. Still a valid performance. Don't be sayin' nothin' bad about Ms LuPone!
MauiLevi 1 month ago
she did well!!!!!!!!
depeau44 1 month ago
Ruthie Henshall is, for me, the prime interpreter of this song. But let us not forget that Ms. LuPone sang it before any other. She was the first Fantine, and, furthermore, the first American actor to win an Olivier award...respect this living legend!
boynamedalexxx 1 month ago
Forgive me, folks, but this version is the #1 top perfect wonderful version for me. I have seen Les Miz in L.A., NY, and again in L.A. Patti Lupone, who originated the role of Fantine is by far my favorite. Period.
20gilbert20 1 month ago in playlist Patti Lupone
This song proves it. Men suck.
beachria 1 month ago 4
only one fantine and thats ruthie henshall
Emma2011D 1 month ago
she sucks!!!!!!!!!!!
TobyGoTv 1 month ago
@TobyGoTv like u could do better. patti lupone is amazing!
TheBroadway1000 1 month ago
@TobyGoTv SHUT UP SHES MY IDOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
iloverent101 1 month ago
Every actress who played Fantine did a nice job, but Ruthie Henshall was the best.
partsat99 1 month ago 2
Okay, so this is NOT the best she has ever sung the song. Patti LuPone is a quite sensitive artist, and ill health or stress obviously can play hell with her performance. When she's well and on top of her game she is very difficult to beat indeed. Even when she's under a cloud, she's still a professional and I respect her talent. That's all.
GuinnBerger 2 months ago
@wait1896 Teehee, you're silly
heyitseleni 2 months ago
@wait1896
"She should stop following Sutton Foster's footsteps" lmao
ILoveSkarmbliss 2 months ago 2
Awful
gaydocalex 2 months ago
@wait1896 get a life!
jamesthemaniac 2 months ago 3
This has been flagged as spam show
A WARNING to all posters: If you don't WORSHIP Sutton Foster, I will flag down all your comments. Negative opinions of her are NOT welcome! You can't hide from me. I am the famous WALT1896, the master cloner and the master flagger on Youtube using my over 200 accounts! Wherever WALT1896 is, see posts marked as SPAM!
IWillFlagUrPostsSpam 2 months ago
Is that Patti? For a moment I thought is was Harpo! But I didn't laugh. NOT her song. That;s OK! Not every singer is for every song. I'm not holding my breath waiting for a "Leonard Cohen does Cindy Lauper's Greatest Hits". Didn't Patti do topless in "Son of Sam"?
Aerohog1 2 months ago
Those HUGE lips are so distracting! She's UGLY. Ruthie Henshall is much more pleasant to look at.
ruthiehenshalllesmiz 2 months ago
@ruthiehenshalllesmiz, saw Les Mis 4 times and Patti was the most enjoyable. Maybe because it was my first. But you don't notice any of that at the theatre. I guess you will enjoy Anne Hathaways big mouth on the big screen.
jjmaze 2 months ago
@ruthiehenshalllesmiz Please fuck off you shallow moron.
JhonathanFree 1 month ago
If I had British officers, Canadian soldiers, and American tech, I would probably have a life and I would not waste my time writing comments on Youtube!
zzzut 2 months ago
i think that pattis voice makes any emotion she has in her face and body sound fake. dont get mad at me everyone! thats just my opinion!
WEEZERman1212 3 months ago
This is the best interpretation ever. I love her so much. I saw Lea's interpretation and I liked it, but I loved Patti's more.
lanelite2828 3 months ago
must she slur the words so much? I love her voice, but she sounds like she's drunk...
Siri61 3 months ago 2
Her voice is beautiful, no doubt. But i like the Lea Salonga version better.
g2g17 3 months ago 2
@g2g17 have you ever heard the RUTHIE HENSHALL version???
lilithmoon1979 3 months ago
@g2g17 Agreed
lasaboteuse 3 months ago
Wow. That was utterly awful. What's with the head swaying?? And she looks like a man in drag. Just wow.
operagirl81 3 months ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
she is shit..... worse version of the song i have ever heard
jamiesexonlegs 4 months ago
The Geico lizard should sing this on a commercial ! THAT would be awesome if he was break dancing at the same time!
jamesjuma1 4 months ago 3
@jamesjuma1 OMG YES
iluvjonbrandis 4 months ago
@benagustine: How right you are. LuPone's scooping style just annoys me too much -- but at least she knows how to act. Ruthie Henshall's rough, ugly voice, coupled with her wooden acting, is the worst Fantine performance i've ever seen!
tybashdracistfaggot 4 months ago
s a conclusion to the recent Father Ray Memorial Week, the Father Ray Foundation organised a special Thank You Concert last Saturday for invited guests and sponsors at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort. It was held in the chic Supper Club, where President of the Father Ray Foundation, Father Pattarapong Srivorakul welcomed his guests to an afternoon of international music and song. The programme began with a rendition from children from the Father Ray Day Care Center, followed by a shit.
anothercountyheard 4 months ago
Love Patti. Don't like this arrangement.
lcowles 4 months ago
no. just, no.
GraceTV333 5 months ago
I understand that Patti originated the English-speaking Fantines but I'm just not crazy about her in the role. The camera gets too close to her face and I just see "New Jersey" written all over it
ShaiHuludisCool 5 months ago
Thanks for posting, @ryer3! I've always been curious about LuPone's performance. LIke many posters, I don't find anything wrong with her acting. I have issues with her singing, though. The scooping of the notes is atrocious and I'm very disappointed at her inability to sustain notes. I also agree with the critics who have labeled Lea Salonga The Legendary Fantine.
benagustine 5 months ago
@benagustine this is wrong. From what I can see it is worthless crap, I wouldn't trade roadkill for this.
anothercountyheard 4 months ago
this is the version i always grew up listening too. ms lupone is a theatre icon and i love her delivery of this song! yes there are always other actresses, but they interpret the role their own way as did patti lupone
MissMandaPandpants 5 months ago
is she trying to act in this at all? i mean damn
TheKsutt100 5 months ago
Patti OWNS this song! :D
RemusandNymphadora1 5 months ago
I've never liked Patti Lupone, but I love her version of this song so much!
lisambofoh 5 months ago
Ms. LuPone maybe have originated the role but Ms. Salonga portayed the role by the book and sung this song so wonderfully.
hyunbin92482 5 months ago
Sorry, but Patti blew the wheels off all of the "also rans" out there, and left them gasping in the dust. The Ruthies and Leas just couldn't hold a candle to the real thing. Just sayin'.......
bobbbxxx 5 months ago
wow what a voice
luiskopke 5 months ago
I'm sorry, this is theatre blasphemy, I know. But Kerry Ellis blew Patti out of the water with her rendition of this song.
phoenixrage1 5 months ago
She is the first American to win the Olivier, and this performance is why.
kylejerel 5 months ago 2
She looks like Carol Burnet
luciloooo 6 months ago
@westseniorhigh thanks for the info!
MegaSunnybob 6 months ago
this version may not be as good as it gets but i saw one of Ms LuPone interpretation... it was not bad... she did jsutice and have lived the character... maybe we just became used to the recent interpreters that we find this as "rubbish"... this version maybe but MS LuPone as the character is not.. i am a Lea Salonga fan, but i do give credit to mi LuPone... The producers will not choose her if she could not deliver the part, better ones usually come after, but the originals will alway be..
donmaster1205 6 months ago 21
@donmaster1205 i totally agree with you!
ryer3 6 months ago 8
@ryer3 Agreed, its hard to believe we are already at the point in history where performance art in the early 90s looks dated, just like the work of Edwin Booth and Sandra Bernhardt looked dated a few generations before.
102936 1 month ago
@ryer3 And, if you've ever heard her talk about this run, I forget which interview, but she says that she was constantly in a rush to die so she could get out of the wig, have a drink and smoke a cigarette. There was one particular performance I've heard her speak of several times where she left the Valjean and Eponine hanging for the finale because she under-estimated her timing.
broadwaybabi91 3 weeks ago
I don't care if she was the first. She's rubbish!
uknowwho889 6 months ago
Mrs. Lovett! :)
MuziekFan1995 6 months ago
I so love Patti LuPone but her performance as Fantine stuns me with how bad it is. She just doesn't fit. She looks old and harsh. Not the young innocence the role and this song speaks to. And the bad wig and Patti as a blond? Really?? Her singing is also harsh and lacking the innocence, heartbreak and lost hope so well portrayed by Ruthie Henshall & Lea Salonga. Comparing to Susan Boyle seems wrong. She may have performed the song well, as have many others, but she did not play the part!
TheBroadwayNut 6 months ago
ill always love ruthie:)
MadameTourvel2012 6 months ago
Awkward modulation lol]
\
rhonertpascual 6 months ago
that was an interesting 'shame' @ :59. much different than what i am used to, but still very nice. i didn't like the end, though. the 'and life has killed the dream i dreamed' bit was too fast, not enough emotion in the instrumental. i will always prefer ruthie Henshall as fantine, but that's just my opinion, and this was a very nice vid. btw, was patti LuPone fantine in the Copmlete symphonic recording??????
MegaSunnybob 7 months ago
@MegaSunnybob Debbie Bryne, who played the role of Fantine in Australia, was in the Complete Symphonic Recording. And I agree with all of your sentiments. The "shame" definitely caught me by surprise, but I really liked it.
westseniorhigh 6 months ago
The origional and best, only Madelana Alberto rivals this.x.
ashleyartus 7 months ago
Perfectly sang and perfectly acted... am so moved... Patti LuPone is truly one of the best... she is a gem in theatrical arts
kaqcruz03 7 months ago 2
the voice!!! breath taking!
denziehottie 7 months ago
@ezekielg444 because the play was originally in French
vtwilight 7 months ago
x pwhoar.x
ashleyartus 7 months ago
Not a patch on Lea Salonga - too much trilling and sliding up and down notes - not very musically accurate - that's just my opinion though
riggers35 7 months ago 2
I'm just so used to Ruthie Henshall I think she'll always be my favourite...
But this is amazing too :)
actressindemaking 8 months ago
Winston Churchill- "If I had British officers, Canadian soldiers, and American tech, I could rule the world."
Me- "If I had British writers, Canadian actors, and American production, I could rule the theater."
canuckleful 8 months ago 64
@canuckleful
How could the production be American if it was created by the British Writers?
grendle7 3 months ago
1992? but didn't the play start in 1985? why didn't she do the RVP then?
ezekielg444 8 months ago
no susan boyle was the orignal Fantine haha jk
sueygurl1962 8 months ago 2
I cannot believe what I am reading here. Patti LaPone is an amazing talent. What a bunch of pretentious snobs!
ahrzhule 8 months ago 5
@heaslch09 Totally agree. Usually when I hear this song by other performers, it gives me goosebumps, but nothing happened here.
Patty is absolutely awesome doing Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd, but here she lacks the innocence of the character. Probably she fits much more in that kind of evilish roles.
oaiturriaga 8 months ago
I think Patti somewhere along the way lost that spark that got her that fame, or she is just worn out from it, whereby Susan is still hungry for her spark to set off. I will say Lea Salonga will not wait for anyone but will be traveling full speed...
yoh1954 9 months ago
she's not my favorite fantine, but i gotta admit. that vibrato is stunning!
ezekielg444 9 months ago
Her physical performance here sucks but Patti LuPone is still the best Fantine I have ever heard.
PhantomPhoenix1 9 months ago
Man. Patti LuPone sucks so much in this role. No emotion. Manly and monotone voice. Ruthie Henshall and Lea Salonga are much much better.
Idiosyncratic7716 9 months ago
i've never heard this song with change of key at 1.02
fontenayperi 9 months ago
I'm not knocking Patti's talent at all but IMO Lea's version is soo much better. Lea puts the raw emotion into the song that it needs and it just gives me the chills.
renthead1989 9 months ago
@renthead1989 Quite right... Lea's version is raw with emotion!
yoh1954 9 months ago 2
I prefer henshal though
crackerpopskikay 9 months ago
That was horrible. There was no feeling at all until she decided to a little sob at the end. Really bad.
Happyperson290 9 months ago
she's amazing. such a legend.
ValesPrettyOdd 10 months ago
Oh Patty... did they not have quality wigs in the 1980s... wow... what a bad wig...
kennyalancramer 10 months ago
I love her voice! The wig kinda makes her look like a drag queen.... but I love her voice!!!!
liljee16 11 months ago
Great to see and hear Patti singing the role she originated in English. I love the original French version too and the fact that Fantine gets to sing "The Song of the Miserable Ones" or whatever with the infant Cosette in her arms....
I think Patti gets the early maturity of the young mother living on the street by her own means nicely here. Some of the other interpretations are too virginal and innocent for my liking.
peterobs 1 year ago
she has such a wonderful vibrato its chilling
SnoopRoyale98 1 year ago
I hate how this song has been hijaked by SuBO lovers. One only has to see it performed like this to see how it should be done.
Dianaemanuel 1 year ago 5
@Dianaemanuel I agree... Susan has a great voice, she is more about the powerfull belting.. Patti sings with such ease and control... no one better than her :D
ethalinia 11 months ago
I saw the london show with Colm Wilkinson and Patti Lupone and I cried all through the first act....believe me this had never ever happened to me in a London musical. Patti sang with such pathos and Colm was magnificent....I never want to see it again as I am sure their performances can be improved upon but my experience at Les Mis was so special I just want it to stay that way.
etcapel 1 year ago
@etcapel I'm so jealous you got to see the original cast and believe me, they were perfect! Other people can give their interpretations,but, no one can ever improve upon their performances! And this is coming from someone who just saw it for the 24th time over the last 20+ years. Some performances were great, some not so much, but, I always end up going back to the OLC as my favorite!
Paris1832 1 year ago
I don´t understand why you like this performance ..
jozena27 1 year ago 3
1:50 always bugs me in her performances of this song. She's great then suddenly does this amateur, hammy outburst that sounds almost comical... really offputting.
omglolwhatever 1 year ago 2
Ah, Patti LuPone. I could see her as Eponine.
xMusicIsMyNaturex 1 year ago
OMG! What a fabulous performance. Well, it's Patti Lupone for God's sake! The thing is she's actually too powerful and too strong a singer for the role and I hate myself for having to say that.
NastyMan1960 1 year ago
Horrible rendition! She doesn't give the meody line its due and hams up the end shamelessly. Long live Ruthie Henshall!
markbob120 1 year ago
@markbob120 Have you seen Lea Salonga's version in the 25th anniversary concert? While I love Ruthie beyond words, Lea LAYS IT OUT!! Her interpretation is one of anguish and sadness. She's singing about her life and it's lost opportunities yet knows she must go on for her daughter's sake. Ruthie 'sings' it. I don't feel the emotion in her face, but her words say it all. To me, Lea's "IDaD" is the standard now. Just my humble opinion.
AuroraBrent 1 year ago
@AuroraBrent Thanks for the information! I have not seen Lea's version of IDAD and did not know she performed it at the 25th anniversary concert. I have seen Lea's On My Own from that same concert and love it! Thanks again.
markbob120 1 year ago
Susan who?
This is the best version of this song.
deanriam 1 year ago
like celine and baba, (don't get me wrong, if you like that nasal Kentucky twang in a singer, all three have it) she lacks the depth and range of both Ruthie and Linda Rondstadt.
HugoBossUnzipped 1 year ago
she in my opinion has been the most powerful fantine.
ribbaable 1 year ago
@dianoi25 Patti's the best Ass hole!
coreyavefl2009 1 year ago
Why is she so perfect? And hilarious (her book, I mean).
krispykritterlover 1 year ago
@krispykritterlover, oh my God. My sister gave me her book as my birthday present and I couldn't put it down. I kept laughing my ass off. I mean, come on. How about when she was talking about the scores of people who would come backstage after Evita (when she was first becoming famous) including "queens, actual royal ones." LMAO!
oneworldguy 1 year ago
Patti Lupone was the original Fantine when Lez Miz opened in London, two years prior to the US premiere which was in Washington, DC. The only reason Patti did not play the part in the US production was due to an actor's equity issue - the producers wanted both Patti and Colm Wilkinson, but were forced to choose between them.
aguynnm 1 year ago
@aguynnm There was no actor's equity issue with Patti (she is American after all) She was the one who chose not to do the role on Broadway and decided that while she was still performing in the role in London because according to her..."It was the perfect cast in a perfect play in a perfect setting." And she knew it couldn't be recreated like that in any other place.
Paris1832 1 year ago
@Paris1832 That may be the public the answer, but the whole Actor's Equity thing seems feasible. Because for every USA Equity in Europe, there has to be a Europe Equity in America. It sucks, but it's probably true.
broadwaybrent367 1 year ago
Patti Lupone was the original Fantine when Lez Miz opened in London, two years prior to the US premiere which was in Washington, DC. The only reason Patti did not play the part in the US production was due to an actor's equity issue - the producers wanted both Patti and Colm Wilkinson, but were forced to choose between them.
aguynnm 1 year ago
Patti Lupone was the original Fantine when Lez Miz opened in London, two years prior to the US premiere which was in Washington, DC. The only reason Patti did not play the part in the US production was due to an actor's equity issue - the producers wanted both Patti and Colm Wilkinson, but were forced to choose between them. Weird, but true.
aguynnm 1 year ago
Patti Lupone was the original Fantine when Lez Miz opened in London, two years prior to the US premiere which was in Washington, DC. The only reason Patti did not play the part in the US production was due to an actor's equity issue - the producers wanted both Patti and Colm Wilkinson, but were forced to choose between them. Sounds weird, but I heard it from her in an interview.
aguynnm 1 year ago
Patti LuPone was the original Fantine. She did the show in London before they brought the show to Broadway. Randy Graff was cast as Fantine on Broadway. Patti did want to reprise her role on Broadway.
chino17 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Randy Graff was the original Fantine. Not Patti Lupone.
kjley 1 year ago
@kjley Randy Graff was the original Fantine on Broadway. Patti originated the role in London 1 year before the Broadway company opened.
bnorem09 1 year ago
@kjley Patti Lupone originated the English version of Les Miserables worldwide in October 5 1985 almost 2 years before the show landed in Broadway.
ryer3 1 year ago 44
@kjley sadly, incorrect.
PattiwhackPics 1 year ago
@kjley
And five years before London, in september 1980, there was the French production, the world premiere of Les Misérables, with Rose Laurens as Fantine.
z1mtschnecker1ch 1 year ago
@kjley, no she wasn't. Patti LuPone debuted this role worldwide on the London stage to major critical acclaim
oneworldguy 1 year ago
@kjley You just got LuPowned
KeepItGayStageNazi 10 months ago 2
@kjley fail
lewis5william 8 months ago
That was INCREDIBLE it gave me chills to my VERY CORE
JPLGaGa123 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
she was not the original fantine.
jgluckner1738 1 year ago
@jgluckner1738: who was the original Fantine, aside from the lady who portrayed this role in 1980 at the Palais du Sports?
ryer3 1 year ago
@jgluckner1738
Who is the Original Fantine of Claude Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil's Les Miserables? Can you please let us know who the original Fantine is? We are only talking about Claude Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil's Les Miserables.
From Wikipedia:
Originally released as a concept album, the first musical stage adaptation of Les Misérables was presented at a Paris sports arena in 1980. However, the first production closed three months later when the booking contract expired.
ryer3 1 year ago
@jgluckner1738
The concept album includes Maurice Barrier as Jean Valjean, Jacques Mercier as Javert, Rose Laurens as Fantine,
ryer3 1 year ago
@jgluckner1738
Most of the cast from the concept album performed in the production. The cast included Maurice Barrier as Valjean, Jean Vallée as Javert, Rose Laurens as Fantine,
ryer3 1 year ago
@jgluckner1738
The first production in English, produced by Cameron Mackintosh and adapted and directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird, opened on 8 October 1985 (five years after the original production) at the Barbican Arts Centre, London. It was billed in the RSC Barbican Theatre programme as "The Royal Shakespeare Company presentation of the RSC/Cameron Mackintosh production", and played to preview performances beginning on September 28, 1985.
ryer3 1 year ago 2
@jgluckner1738
The original London cast included Colm Wilkinson as Jean Valjean, Roger Allam as the persistent Inspector Javert, Ken Caswell as the Bishop of Digne, Patti LuPone as Fantine,
ryer3 1 year ago 3
@ryer3 The London production was not the first production though. Rose Laurens is the original Boublil and Schonberg Fantine.
inlovewithJLT 4 months ago
@inlovewithJLT I am completely aware of that .... can you help find in this thread that I stated that the London production was the first? (just need to see exactly what I wrote). thanks
ryer3 4 months ago
@ryer3 Don't know where, it was at the top of the page yesterday and you listed her and the other original London leads as the original cast.
inlovewithJLT 4 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@jgluckner1738 Patti Lupone originated the English version of Les Miserables worldwide in October 5 1985 almost 2 years before the show landed in Broadway.
HappyThoughtsToU 1 year ago
God, she just makes that voice come out of her throat so effortlessly, like spreading softened butter on a slice of bread. Every time I hear her, she just gets better, even after sixty years of age. Timeless perfection.
PalatineUvula 1 year ago
Sorry, but Ruthie wins this round.
rachel869 1 year ago
This is (in my opinion) the best version of the song. I've heard other versions sungby Patti Lupone, but none as powerful as this one.
elocelotito 1 year ago
WOW! Is there no song this woman cannot nail?
NastyMan1960 1 year ago
she's good, but she's not the best. I prefer the fantine from the dream cast anniversary performance done as a concert
DeathGodRiku 1 year ago
wow...what else is there to say? Ms.LuPone is the best at this. Its a little insulting to comparing Susan to her because there is NO comparision
broadwayloverny10 1 year ago
this is gross
navillusleahcim 1 year ago
@navillusleahcim You know what, what I said was rude as well. I'm sorry.
freakytheatreboy 1 year ago
noone can sing these like ruthie henshall...
XHUMBITO1 1 year ago
I wonder how she feels abt Susan Boyle, who sang this song and shot to WWF?
TheSpencer1960 1 year ago
why are like, loads of verses missing? aha
davidjholt68 1 year ago
She dreamed a show in days gone by where she didn't sing one song then die!
joeydimaggio5 1 year ago 2
Damn good version......but TBH Ruthie still the Queen.
thattoheathman 1 year ago
Paris that was Eponime that was Asian not Cossete.
macaddict100 1 year ago
In the last revival on Broadway, The older Cosette was Asian. Eponine was white.
Paris1832 1 year ago
Paris that was Eponime that was asian not Cossete.
macaddict100 1 year ago
The Patti LuPone version has always been my favorite. And she is very beautiful here. Thank you sooo much for uploading this! xoxo
gabriellecorinne 1 year ago 10
@hole1991
Yes, I understand that the character's are French and I enjoy Les Mis in many different languages.More so the English accent than American, which is harsh. But on the story as a whole, my issue is with them taking liberties with casting. as in the last revival on Broadway.Fantine was Puerto Rican who had a Caucasian girl who grew up to be an Asian girl. Doesn't make sense to me. And a class driven, stringent society of that time period wouldn't be accepting of the diff. races either
Paris1832 1 year ago
@Paris1832
Like I said, fair point.
However, I need to ask you a question and I don't mean anything bad by this but do you know whether anyone else in the audience seriously was bothered by these casting choices or were confused by these actoresses being cast?
If yes, fair enough. If not, well continuity is all well and good, but the audience being clear about this situation helps contradict your point slightly.
hole1991 1 year ago
@hole1991 I've seen the show many times with people when there has been different ethnic people playing Fantine or Eponine and they were either confused or thought they were suppose to be that race. Plus I've talked to people who had seen the last revival and I asked what they thought about the "miss" casting and they hated it. It's not the same Les Mis that it was back in the 80's and early 90's. sorry to say.
Paris1832 1 year ago
@Paris1832
Okay then. What if it was a situation that the casting had continuity. Like for example, if they cast Lea Salonga as Fantine, what if they got girls from a Phillipino or Asian heritage (sorry to all you wonderful people from the Phillipines if you guys aren't really Asian-I am completely ignorant regarding this) to play Cosette? Would that be more acceptable for you?
hole1991 1 year ago
@hole1991 If I was in an Asian country and the whole cast was Asian, then fine. But, if you look at it on a whole, France in the 18th century had a very ridged class society. Different races would not have mixed nor would they be accepted at the time period the show takes place. Just like I wouldn't accepted another race playing Kim in Miss Saigon or Celie in The Color Purple.
Paris1832 1 year ago
Comment removed
Paris1832 1 year ago
@Paris1832 You're a bigoted person pretending to not be racist.
benagustine 5 months ago
The best part though is look she gives to the conducter who is stepping all over her. The real show would have been to watch her dress him down afterwards...but the diva she is, she wouldn't let no musician screw with her number, she could jump a bridge as easy as him..
paulbranc 1 year ago
I'm the person who actually took the time to transfer this from VHS to my computer and then encode and upload it here. But then my account was deleted and suddenly I see it popping up everywhere. XD I don't mind though. Spread the Patti love. <3
LaMisereHQ 2 years ago 56
That's great, thank you for taking time to do that ... just curious tho' from what show did this clip come from? Would love to watch the entire show.
ryer3 2 years ago
@Ryer3 This is from the 1992 U.K. Royal Variety Performance. It's part of a longer Les Mis medley featuring other members of the original cast and some of the more recent cast members of the time. Colm sings BHH after Patti's IDAD. And then the whole cast, including original Eponine Frances Ruffelle do "One Day More." Marius is Simon Bowman who is currently playing Valjean in the London production. I might upload the whole thing, tho I'm sure I've seen someone else post the ODM here before.
LaMisereHQ 2 years ago
Thank you for that information. As you have noticed I have corrected the label for this clip. Correct me if I am wrong, but is this where Cameron MacKintosh was given tribute and his big 4 shows (CATS, Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera and Miss Saigon) were presented? I might have watched this show from long ago... Can you upload them?
ryer3 2 years ago
@Ryer3: You're very welcome!
You're thinking of "Hey! Mr. Producer" the special that aired in the 90's honoring Cameron Mackintosh on all shows he produced up to that point, including Les Miserables.
The Royal Variety Performance is an annual showcase of the globe's top entertainment, not just on stage but in all areas of entertainment. It was originally held for the Royal Family almost a century ago and continues to this day.
I'll upload them at some point. I'll let you know.
LaMisereHQ 2 years ago
Oh, and as far as the date--1992--I am not 100% certain but I know it's not 1985. The person who sent me the videotape years ago dated it 1992, but I've yet to confirm this. I'm fairly certain it aired in the early 90's though, with the earliest possible being 1989, as the same broadcast featured the cast of Miss Saigon, which premiered in London on 20 September, 1989.
LaMisereHQ 2 years ago
Thanks again ... will be very happy to see them uploaded.
ryer3 2 years ago
@LaMisereHQ Thank you! :)
sibilaiton 1 year ago
@LaMisereHQ Wow, can't believe I originally posted this over a year ago, hehe. ;-) Nice to see this again, it has been awhile since I watched it. Patti delivers this rendition seemingly half-hearted, imo. I'm a HUGE Lupone fan and she has both deeply inspired and moved me with her brilliant performances and uniquely expressive voice, but I can also recognize when an actor's heart isn't totally in it, and here, she is nowhere nearly as moving as when she was in the show proper.
LaMisereHQ 5 months ago
think what distinguished this from others is that she is ACTING from a trained classical acting background. Its an intelligent interpretation- no unnecessary emoting, its truthful and honest. Remember she spent four years in the Acting Company doing Shakespeare, Restoration and Chekhov!! VERY few musical theatre actors do that. And she won an Olivier for this role. She is an honest actress which is what many dont want to see nowadays, But I do think Ruthie is good. :)
jeraskew 2 years ago
@jeraskew
Hm, I find that interesting because I have heard that in Gypsy, she overacted too much. Maybe to enhance the comedy element or because of the chereography?
In any case, she did give a poigant, effecting performance here whilst still being subtle. I do agree.
hole1991 1 year ago
out of lea, susan and even patti, ruthie henshall so owns this song. lol
ezekielg444 2 years ago 2
@ezekielg444 have you seen the randie graff version? I'm not saying it's better, I haven't decided which version I like best. Randie Graff was Fantine in the original broadway cast
pearlywhites82 1 year ago
@ezekielg444 yeah i love Ruthie's version
ExAxLxPx12 1 year ago
Did I miss when they handed out the Lea Salonga brain washing pills?! She's good, but please! She can't even come close to being in the same league as Patti.When is Lea going to sing "Bring Him Home" so all of you can say how she's sings it the best and is better then Colm Wilkinson!
Paris1832 2 years ago