Les Miserables for Dummies

April 21, 2016

Jean Valjean has been in a prison camp for 10 years. He is now set free on parole by Javert

Photo story by Rachel Bell and Sam White, Photos by Breanna Jones

For those of you who want to know the basic plot of Les Mis before you go see it, here are photos from the Mount Vernon production taken at dress rehearsal April 15 along with captions explaining the plot. SPOILER ALERT! Nothing important to the plot will be held back.

Jean Valjean receives silver from the Bishop of Digne in order to get his life back on track. The Bishop's good deed will make Valjean determined to be a good man. — Jean Valjean receives silver from the Bishop of Digne in order to get his life back on track. The Bishop’s good deed will make Valjean determined to be a good man.

Ten years later, we find Fantine working in a factory. Fantine has a child, and the other factory workers find out, so Fantine is fired. She turns to prostitution to support her daughter.

Jean Valjean is now mayor of the town, and he figures out that he allowed poor Fantine to be fired. Fantine is dying and he feels it's his fault that she won't survive. — Jean Valjean is now mayor of the town, and he figures out that he allowed poor Fantine to be fired. Fantine is dying and he feels it’s his fault that she won’t survive.

Javert is looking for Valjean, as he broke his parole 10 years ago. Javert gets his first clue pointing to Valjean being the one he is looking for. Valjean is very strong and Javert hasn't seen anyone else who could lift a cart off a man's leg like this. — Javert is looking for Valjean, as he broke his parole 10 years ago. Javert gets his first clue pointing to Valjean being the one he is looking for. Valjean is very strong and Javert hasn’t seen anyone else who could lift a cart off a man’s leg like this.

Fantine is on her death bed and thinking of her lovely daughter, Cosette. Fantine tells Valjean to get her daughter from the Thenardiers and take care of her.

The innkeepers, or Thenardiers, are the ones taking care of little Cosette. They aren't the greatest people in town, taking advantage of their drunk customers and stealing things. — The innkeepers, or Thenardiers are the ones taking care of little Cosette. They aren’t the greatest people in town, taking advantage of their drunk customers and stealing things.

Jean Valjean finds the Thenardiers and Cosette and pays to take Cosette away, so he can raise her.

Ten years later, Jean Valjean runs into the Thenardiers and they are struggling to get a living. Thenardier accuses Valjean of taking their little girl away, though they never really cared for Cosette.

A group of students are planning a revolution. Marius is thinking of a girl he just ran into on the street. Cosette was the girl he ran into, and it was love at first sight.

Marius gets his best friend Eponine to find the beautiful girl, Cosette, that he ran into on the street. Eponine loves Marius and so does Cosette, so an exciting love triangle develops.

Jean Valjean has just told Cosette that they are moving away, as Javert knows where he is. Cosette has just met the love of her life, so she really doesn't want to move. — Jean Valjean has just told Cosette that they are moving away, as Javert knows where he is. Cosette has just met the love of her life, so she really doesn’t want to move.

The students prepare for their first battle. They are determined, but not expected to win.

In battle, Eponine dresses up as a student and fights. She is shot and dies in Marius' arms. — In battle, Eponine dresses up as a student and fights. She is shot and dies in Marius’ arms.

breanna dress rehearsal april 1500638 — Jean Valjean disguises himself as a student and fights to keep Marius safe. He has found out that Cosette and Marius love each other, and wants Marius to keep her safe as he ages.

Javert was diguised as a student to get information for the other side of the battle. He is caught and Jean Valjean is given the chance to kill him. Valjean, being the good man he is sets Javert free.

Jean Valjean prays that Marius will be okay. Valjean knows that his life won't last much longer and Marius can take care of Cosette when he is gone. — Jean Valjean prays that Marius will be okay. Valjean knows that his life won’t last much longer and Marius can take care of Cosette when he is gone.

Valjean has saved Marius and Thenardier finds them in the sewers. Thenardier steals Marius' ring while he is unconscious. — Valjean has saved Marius, and Thenardier finds them in the sewers. Thenardier steals Marius’ ring while he is unconscious.

Javert was left very confused after Valjean chose to spare his life. Javert questions all of his life's choices and jumps off a bridge, ending his own life. — Javert was left very confused after Valjean chose to spare his life. Javert questions everything he’s ever done and jumps off a bridge, ending his own life.

Jean Valjean explains to Marius that he was in prison and he broke his parole. He tells Marius to marry Cosette and take good care of her, because he will be leaving.

At the wedding, party crasher, Thenardier shows Marius the ring he "found", so Marius finally understands that Valjean saved him the night of the battles. — At the wedding, party crasher, Thenardier shows Marius the ring he “found”, so Marius finally understands that Valjean saved him the night of the battles.

Marius tells Cosette that they need to find her father and thank him at once.

Meanwhile, Fantene has come down from heaven and is urging Valjean to let go and come back with her. — Meanwhile, Fantine has come down from heaven and is urging Valjean to let go and come back with her.

Marius and Cosette arrive and Cosette cries to her father, wanting him to stay.

Valjean officially dies, so Eponine and Fantene lead him to heaven along with all of the students that lost their lives. — Valjean officially dies, so Eponine and Fantine lead him to heaven alongside all of the students that lost their lives.

The cast of Les Misérables. Photo by Breanna Jones