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"Fantine" illustrated by Valnay of the play of Les Misérables, adapted for the stage by Victor Hugo's son, Charles, at the Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin (1878)

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These are a couple of panflets on the Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin Les Misérables from 1878, probably the earliest adaptation of Les Mis, the theatrical drama by Charles Hugo, Vicky's son.

It premiered in 1863 at the Théâtre Des Galeries in Brussels, just one year after the publication of the novel. This is the OG cast

of which I can't seem to find any pictures of yet.

The play is divided into prologue, the first part called: Fantine, the second part: Valjean and an epilogue.

It sticks close-ish to the brick and even closer to the now almost 2 centuries of adaptation canon templates. Like seriously so many standards of les mis adaptation are born here.

Still tho there's some weird adaptations choices like the amis and Javert dying on an explosion, or Javert's backstory being changed to his dad being a guard??at Toulon??? and him and Claquesous are cooworkers ig, as well as Montparnasse being there in the Montfermeil scenes for some reason, Valjean also escapes without going to Toulon a second time idk little stuff like that.

If you are interested in reading the 1863 libretto here google books and gallica

Going back to the french staging I found this little booklet for the first part of the show. It's pretty cool, it resumes all the plot of that first act; from the Bishop up to Cosette and Valjean arriving at the petit Picpus and there's an opinion bit at the end about the actors, the direction, stage design.

The way they've separated it into two makes me think that maybe they've just split it into two different shows? I can't seem to find anything on the second act of this production. I've also found restagings from other years that seem to do the same [1904]

This one from [1908] has the full thing but separates it into a 3 part play.

Either way the most important thing for me here the cast

I found pictures of some cast memebers, in costume.

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— Les Misérables : Shoujo Cosette

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The apartment was deserted, and nothing was stirring in it. Nevertheless, by dint of gazing intently he thought he perceived on the ground something which appeared to be covered with a winding-sheet, and which resembled a human form. This form was lying face downward, flat on the pavement, with the arms extended in the form of a cross, in the immobility of death. One would have said, judging from a sort of serpent which undulated over the floor, that this sinister form had a rope round its neck. The whole chamber was bathed in that mist of places which are sparely illuminated, which adds to horror.

Jean Valjean often said afterwards, that, although many funereal spectres had crossed his path in life, he had never beheld anything more blood-curdling and terrible than that enigmatical form accomplishing some inexplicable mystery in that gloomy place, and beheld thus at night. It was alarming to suppose that that thing was perhaps dead; and still more alarming to think that it was perhaps alive.

— Les Misérables, II.V.VII Illustrated by Adriano Minardi (Italian Edition, 1930)

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in which JVJ, who has never once opened up to another human being, a single time, ever.... talks about the scary nun for the rest of his life (?)

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"Hullo!" said a masker, "here's a wedding." "A sham wedding," retorted another. "We are the genuine article."

— Les Misérables, V.VI.I Watercolor illustration by Gino Stabace & Carlo Chiostri (Italian Edition, 1930)

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She began to make coarse shirts for soldiers of the garrison, and earned twelve sous a day. Her daughter cost her ten. It was at this point that she began to pay the Thénardiers irregularly. However, the old woman who lighted her candle for her when she returned at night, taught her the art of living in misery. Back of living on little, there is the living on nothing. These are the two chambers; the first is dark, the second is black.

— Les Misérables, I.V.IX Illustrated by Carlo Chiostri (Italian Edition, 1930)

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I think this is the first time I've seen Javert wearing a color other than black in illustrations.

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Vol.II - Book.V - Ch.X

Nahh I always thought it was cute.

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Edmond Malassis, Illustrations for Théodore de Banville's play "Gringoire", 1904.

Unfortunately the book is rare and I've only been able to find images on auction sites so far.

(@lifesbeencrazy thought you might like this)

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Have this doodle page. There will be more art coming. I really want to try something illustration-ish for les mis, digital. I want to get better at that

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Enjolras had no right to push Grantaire away when he that useful.

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Enjolras had no right to push Grantaire away when he that useful.

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Barbie as Rapunzel is giving both Cosette and Marius.

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Vol.I - Book.VII - Ch.V

The most relatable line Valjean ever said.

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Les Misérables, French Comic by Rene Giffey (1949)

He looks well for someone who spent 19 years in prison.

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Three o’clock in the morning had just struck, and he had been walking thus for five hours, almost uninterruptedly, when he at length allowed himself to drop into his chair.

— Les Misérables, I.VII.IV Illustrated by Rene Giffey (French comic, 1949)