How to play Marius in Les Miserables?

Question:I am playing the part of Marius in Les Miserables Schools edition, I was wondering how i should play this part, and how he feels towards Eponine and other characters.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I am playing the part of Marius in Les Miserables Schools edition, I was wondering how i should play this part, and how he feels towards Eponine and other characters.

Every interpretation has to be different, but the character of Marius runs a very high risk of becoming wet and annoying.

To combat this, I would begin with the character as idealistic and romantic, but after being separated from Cosette, he could become much darker and more cynical. This leaves an interesting dynamic in 'A Little Fall of Rain' when the death of Eponine brings out his sensitive side once more.

Break a leg!

He was Hugo's "romantice lead". Marius is very idealistic, dedicated to his cuase and is willing to die for it. But he also has the same love for Eponine. You would probably want to play on the fact that he's a young, well-educated idealist who sees the wrongs in Napoleonic France and he's willing to stant up to it at the risk of his own death. He's distant from Valjean, but that's because Valjean is very secretive and is hiding his past to protect Eponine. But when Marius is wounded, it's Valjean who rushes out to save him, at risk of HIS own life. This is the most interesting group of relationships in the book. You can really do a lot to develop the complexity of the plot with your portrayal of Marius as smart, but not wise...put against the older Valjean who is smart and wise, but still everybit the idealist that Marius is...just 40 years later.

If you put the first two answers you received together----you'll make a great Marius. Just make sure he's not a wimp!