Les Misérables - Roles Available
JEAN VALJEAN - protagonist. Stronger than other men, physically robust. Ages throughout the story, so must be adept at playing age as well. The key to his character is his great humanity and compassion.
Low A to High A
JAVERT - antagonist. Javert is unswerving in his belief that men cannot change for the good. At first glance he might appear to be the villain of the story, but on closer examination it is clear that he is not an evil man. He has a profound sense of duty. Role demands an actor who can play many layers to this man.
Low F to High F sharp
CHAIN GANG - The Chain Gang consists of Jean Valjean's fellow prisoners. There are four soloists
(indicated as convict 1,2,3,4.) The overall vocal range of the convicts is low and they should be able to sing in a rich baritone if possible.
Low F to High E flat
CONSTABLE 1 & 2 - There are two Constables with solos in the show.
E to High E
FARMER- The Farmer has solo lines that are a bit difficult to sing. There may be additional non-singing farmers.
Middle C to D flat
LABOURERS - The Laborer has solo lines that are a bit difficult to sing. There may be additional non- singing laborers.
A sharp to D flat
BISHOP OF DIGNE - a good man who saves Valjean with his compassion. His compassion carefully establishes the premise of the show by literally buying Jean Valjean's soul for God.
Low A to High E
FANTINE - beautiful young girl who, abandoned by her lover, is left to fend for herself and her daughter Cosette. She is rejected by society and forced through circumstances to become a prostitute. She is a brave woman defeated by life, sustained by her love for her daughter and clinging to her dignity. We witness her descent through poverty, hunger, cold, loneliness and destitution to death. She is a noble character.
G flat (below middle C) to D
FOREMAN - begins Fantine on her downward spiral of desperation. He should be virile, commanding and a bit sleazy around the edges.
D (below middle C) to D
FACTORY GIRL- (GIRL 5) The Shop Girl who fights with Fantine. She is mean, catty, and selfish. She also is most likely having an affair with the Foreman and jealous of Fantine.
E (below middle C) to D flat (above middle C)
SAILORS - three sailors begin The Docks scene. All three have solos.
Low C to middle C
BAMATABOIS - the "customer" who taunts Fantine into violence, a wealthy, dissolute young man who thinks of himself as a gentleman.
D (below middle C) to High D
OLD WOMAN - the character who purchases Fantine's hair.
E (above middle C) to D
PIMP - controls the prostitutes at the docks. Mean, aggressive and abusive.
E (below middle C) to D
FAUCHELEVANT - is the victim of the cart crash. The role requires a few solo lines.
B (below middle C) to E flat
JUDGE - The Judge or Judges are non-singing roles.
IMPOSTER JEAN VALJEAN AND FAMILY
These characters are also non-singing. This is the man who Javert believes to be Jean Valjean.
YOUNG COSETTE - is the child of Fantine. She is the ward of the Thenardiers, forced into child labor, a trembling little creature, underfed, and bullied by Eponine. Cosette is small and looks properly pathetic. This role will be doubled with Young Eponine.
A (below middle C) to C
MADAME THÉNARDIER - wife of Thenardier. Together they con the world as partners in crime. They were made for each other, although she complains about him, she loves him. She is coarse and vulgar, romantic, greedy, evil and larger than life. An opportunist.
G sharp (below middle C) to D
THÉNARDIER - villain of Les Miserables. He is embodiment of evil. That said, he should also possess a wicked sense of humor. He delights in cheating, robbing, fraud and blackmail, relishing every aspect of them with glee. He is tough, greedy, brutal, stupid and crafty and yet irresistible. He hates society and blames it and everyone else for all his misfortune. Thenardier is also the opportunist and realist of the show. He is a thief, a liar, a cheat, steals valuables from the dead with no remorse. He is also the comic relief
C (below middle C) to G sharp (above middle C)
YOUNG EPONINE
Little Eponine is the pampered daughter of the Thenardiers. She does little except enter the stage and taunt Little Cosette. She should be a smaller version of grown Eponine and resemble Eponine in appearance and features.
This role will be doubled with Young Cosette, so this actress must sing
GAVROCHE - Thenardier's son. He is left to fend for himself and lives by his wits in the streets of Paris. His "arch enemy" is Javert the Policeman. He is brave and witty. Think a young Artful Dodger.
B (below middle C) to G
EPONINE - daughter of the Thenardiers. She is a young girl who is streetwise and tough, but also sensitive and lonely. She bravely follows Marius to the Barricades in the hope that they will die there together. Eponine is a tragic character, hopelessly in love with Marius.
F sharp (below middle C) to E
ENJOLRAS - the student leader. He is handsome, brave and daring, although youthful. He combines his revolutionary ideals with a strong charismatic leadership. He is described by Victor Hugo as "a thinker, and a man of action". On the barricade he physically and vocally should dominate everyone else.
A to G (above middle C)
MARIUS - the romantic hero of the story. He is impulsive, passionate, willful and headstrong. His moods change according to his circumstances. He is sweet and tender but also capable of great courage and compassion.
Low A to High A flat
COSETTE - the beautiful daughter of Fantine. She is strong willed and loving. She is an intelligent, inquiring, personable girl. She is not in any sense a "soppy" romantic heroine.
B flat (below middle C) to High C (2 octaves above middle C)
BRUJON - Member of Thenardier's gang of thieves. Physically very strong. The body of a bear and a pea-sized brain. A genuine gangster, he is stupid and evil.
C sharp (below middle C) to E
BABET - Member of Thenardier's gang of thieves. Physically frail. He is lean and cunning.
C sharp(below middle C) to E
CLAQUESOUS - Member of Thenardier's gang of thieves. Tough, dangerous and secretive.
C sharp (below middle C) to E
MONTPARNASSE - Member of Thenardier's gang of thieves. A teenager. Handsome and dangerous. Kills with a knife. Strongly built and supple.
C sharp (below middle C) to E
COMBEFERRE - Member of the ABC Society. The philosopher and believer in peace. He is gentle, humane, strong and brave.
Low A to F
FEUILLY - Member of the ABC Society. A worker, self-educated and an orphan. A believer in "nationality." Affectionate, warm and poetic.
Low A to F
COURFEYRAC - Member of the ABC Society. A student. He is youthful, passionate and fearless.
Low A to F
JOLY - Member of the ABC Society. A medical student. Eccentric and light-hearted, although
sometimes morbid. His name is derived from the English word "Jolly."
Low A to F
PROUVAIRE - Member of the ABC Society. A student of social studies. He is kind, softly spoken and at the right moments strong and masterful. He is also a poet.
Low A to F
LESGLES - Member of the ABC Society. A student. Cheerful, laughing at life but unlucky. His close friend is Joly.
Low A to F
GRANTAIRE - Member of the ABC Society. A student. He is the opposite of Enjolras. He believes in nothing. Although he admires Enjolras, he loves to mock him. Witty and drunken, he is happy being with the group and the put up with him because of his good humor. He also keeps a watchful eye on Gavroche, the mascot of the group, and is most heartbroken when Gavroche is killed. So much so that Grantaire abandons his cynicism and rushes to die on the barricade.
Low A to F
