In this chapter, Sternfeld argues that Les Mis was “not only the most successful megamusical of the decade, but the most successful musical of all time.”
She supports this thesis by discussing the musical from its debut on Broadway its influence in modern American society. The storyline and the music of the show is discussed first. The author goes into detail about the themes and motifs that are expressed. In the music, there are certain melodies and rhyhtms that are repeated. This repetition is important because it makes dramatic and emotional links to the story. The songs and their meanings are talked about at great length. The author mentions what critics had to say about the musical. Furthermore, the factors that made Les Mis a cultural phenomenon are discussed.
