b'YOU SHOULD HEAR THE PEOPLE SING! Two of the stars of Les Misrables, Robert McDougall who plays Javert and Daniel Belles who plays Jean Valjean, talk about the show, themselves and the power of the show. 1. What inspired you to become a performer?Valjean represents a view where morality is separate from legality. That RM: I actually was dragged to see John Farnham do his Last Time Tourdoesn\'t make Javert evil, it makes him rigid, and perhaps a bit anally in Tamworth by my parents, and couldn\'t have been less interested. Iretentive. It would never occur to Javert to break a law in order to wanted to be at home watching Star Trek, but after about 20 minutes ofachieve a higher purpose, because for him no purpose can be just if it him being absolutely hilarious on stage, I got really into it. I went homeviolates the rules of society. For most of the show he is merely doing his after the show and devoured the DVD copy of The Main Event (Farnham,job as he understands it, and certainly not with malign intent, yet this is Newton John and Warlow) and halfway through Warlow/Farnham singingoften misconstrued as malevolent because of his manner. Again I relate Granada I said "This is what I want to do".a lot.DB: I was inspired to become a performer largely through the musicalDB: Jean Valjean is an interesting study in the idea of redemption. After influences of my Mum and Grandmother. I also grew up singing with mybeing released from 19 years in prison he finds that he cannot escape mates from school. his past as a thief. In an act of mercy from a bishop Valjean steals from, he is changed and realises the rest of his life will be in service of the 2. If you were a song in musical theatre, which song would you be?debt he owes to the bishop for not sending him back to prison for the RM: I\'m Reviewing the Situation from Oliver ? Ha Ha! Tricky question.rest of his life.What Kind of Fool Am I? from Stop the World, I Want to Get Off? I can\'tHe is a through line that the story evolves out of and is in some ways its think of one that\'s not instantly self-deprecating. Let\'s go with heart. I love that he is a character with enormous physical strength who The Impossible Dream from Man of La Mancha. is only ever tested through the strength of his character. Its a beautiful DB: I wouldnt be a song, Id just be the horn that goes off when peopledichotomy.die in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.4. If you could have dinner with one character from any musical or 3. Tell us about your character(perhaps talk about the similaritiesplay, who would it be and why? and differences between yourself and your character in the show,RM: I think I\'d actually like to meet Mary Poppins. I\'m a teacher in my as well as a quick rundown on who they are and where they fit inday job and I suspect we would have some fascinating chats about the story). educational techniques. Also, I really want some of that medicine.RM: Javert is BY FAR my favourite character in Les Mis. He spends theDB: I would have dinner with Oliver. He could probably use the feed.better part of 15 years hunting someone whose original crime is fairly5. Can you tell us what your favourite career moment has beeninsignificant; purely because he broke parole under Javerts watch.so far? He\'s the quintessential, by-the-book hall monitor! I actually relate a great deal. Rules are incredibly important to me, I crave structure andRM: Going on for Javert in the Australian production for the first time certainty, (picked the wrong industry by the way) and I often find myselfwas pretty magical. The whole cast swamps you at the end of the show irritated or personally affronted when people don\'t follow them. There\'sand gives you a big congratulatory hug, and I just remember feeling so a way to behave in society, set down by laws, but also by general socialprofoundly grateful, more than I\'d ever felt in my life. I had also flown my convention, and when these are not adhered to I become instantlyfather down from Tamworth, and he was brought backstage andirritated, it feels like people are cheating. was crying a lot. It was very special, definitely number one, but thereMany people view Javert as the villain of the show and I actually thinkare others.thats a real misread. Javert is driven by a code of honour; to him obedience to the law and the state is the same thing as morality, while 40'