Theatrical versions
The 1863 play by Hugo's son
Just one year after the book was published, Victor Hugo's son Charles published a Les Miserables play, co-written by Paul Meurice. An English translation (copyright © 2000 by Frank J. Morlock) is available here. I don't know if it has been performed recently. Most people don't know about this version. Charles Victor Hugo was better known as an accomplished painter.
The musical is only one of many theatrical productions of Les Miserables. Here are some of the others.
The Montfermeil play
If you go to the town of Montfermeil in the summer, you can catch an outdoor version of Les Miserables that takes place in one of the key locations of the book, the town where Jean Valjean made his fortune and was appointed mayor. Click here for details.
You can buy a copy and get permission to perform it here. According to Holloway's bio, a Cantonese version is running it in mainland China: see the Chunying theater website for details. The most recent staging that I know of was in Bedford, England, in January 2007
Jonathan Holloway's Les Miserables
Jonathan Holloway's play combines 19th century France with contemporary street culture, and is favored by people who want their Les Mis to have more bite. It's been performed around the world and is especially suited to small theater groups: it can be performed with a minimum of only nione people! (Three male, six female) But be prepared to learn more than one part...
Tim Kelly's Les Miserables
Tim Kelly's adaptation of Les Miserables needs thirty people (14 male and 16 female) and is popular with schools. Buy a copy or get permission to perform it here
About the pictures
The pictures of Jonathan Holloway's production are by Gerald Murray, from the 1997 production. They are used by kind permission of the playwrite and the Red Shift Theatre Company.
The pictures of Tim Kelly's version are from the Montgomery Blair High School production of 1998, photographed by John Kaluta, and are used by kind permission of John Kaluta and The Perfect Stage Crew.com
