LES MIX

Ryan makes a dramaturgical case for Anne Hathaway's mediocre vocals in the new trailer for the Les Miz film.

By Ryan Bogner (Producer, Wingnut)

So yesterday we got a teaser trailer for the new Les Miz movie musical that's coming out this Christmas.

Someone in the marketing department decided that because of Susan Boyle, the most recognizable song in the score is "I Dreamed a Dream" and so decided that was what should play over the shots. Though the scuttle on the message boards is that the film looks amazing, many fans were underwhelmed with Anne Hathaway's vocals. 

Probably because Musical Theater fans used to hearing this:

 
Les Belt

 Instead got this:

 
Les Mix

Not nearly as vocally exciting as we're all used to hearing. But I want to explore the case for Tim Hooper and Anne's choiceof making the moment a bit lighter vocally from a dramaturgical perspective.

 

Let's think for a minute on what the situation here is. In the musical the song happens right after she's unjustly lost her job due to some harpy singing to the foreman of the factory that she's a slut for everyone but him. So she's pissed. It makes since that she's going to approach this song from a place of anger and resentment to her situation.

But look closely at the trailer of the film. The shots we have of Anne singing this song have her with her shortened hair. Hooper has clearly moved I Dreamed a Dream to after Fantine has lost everything and been forced to become a prostitute.

Ok Fantine has lost everything, her locket, her hair, her job, her lover, her dignity,  she thinks her kid is dying and she's got who knows how many STI's and Upper Respiratory infections from hooking it on the streets of Gay Paree.

Spolier Alert: She's going to die from one of them really soon. 

So in this new context it makes sense that she wouldn't have any vocal strength...she's weak, she's defeated, she's about to die. Its the only choice that makes sense.

I have no idea if this move is going to work better than what we're used to in the stage version, but my point is this:

I'd like to see any of you belt an E with Consumption and a raging case of Syphilis. 

 

RYAN BOGNER is a New York based Theater Producer. He has produced Yeast Nation, Hurricane, Hater and Hey, You Know What Movie Would Make a Good Musical? among others, and is working towards an MFA in Theater Management and Producing at Columbia University. www.heyyouknowwhatproductions.com

 

EMAIL HIM | TWITTER | OTHER POSTS BY THIS AUTHOR

Comments

[Emily]

Ryan, I completely agree with you, and this is the defense I've been making for her since the trailer came out. I'll even go one further and say that you need to take a different tact with FILM acting/singing, as opposed to STAGE acting/singing. Hathaway doesn't need to belt to the back of the balcony - the camera is already right up in her grill. She's sobbing throughout the song (and seriously, can any of us sing great with a stuffed up nose?), but she's ACTING HER ASS OFF. Maybe I'm a weirdo, but I think it all works!! :)