A Little Fall of Rain [LesMis In Concert, 1997] - Frances Ruffelle

LesMis Chelmsford Concert
August 24, 1997
Frances Ruffelle singing "A Little Fall of Rain". Enjoy!

[@Euroviking86]

Even though she is dying, Éponine looks the happiest she's ever been, because she's in Marius's arms.

[@starwarzfan71]

@@Euroviking86 and Frances Ruffelle’s voice really captures that emotion as well (that’s why she is my favorite Éponine and imo the best Éponine because her voice just captures multiple emotions like in On My Own her voice while still imo almost celestial, she sounds almost suicidal)

[@yqang2904]

She always moves me to tears at the part "I sleep in your embrace at last"

[@1HGNiall]

Sam Barks is by far my favorite Eponine, but Frances is slowly growing on me. She's the original Eponine, so she has this uniqueness and really set the bar for all other Eponines.

[@KaylynGrace]

She actually moves me to tears, unlike any of the other Eponines

[@rebeccashapiro7924]

you picked the right one - shes the OG!

[@hamoodyman9239]

same

[@starwarzfan71]

@@KaylynGrace she’s my favorite Eponine and imo the best Eponine because her voice is celestial and can capture multiple emotions in this song even though she is dying she sounds happy, and in on my own she sounds almost suicidal

[@MadMaxPaladin]

Wow I've been scouring YT for Frances Ruffelle's performances and finally found this. Thank you SO MUCH for posting it. I have no idea how anyone can prefer Lea or Samantha to Frances. She is the quintessential Eponine, and forever will be.

[@PhantomifyEponine]

Frances Ruffelle is so pretty, even if she's dying :') THE Eponine, everyone!

[@Xoxitl]

My favorite Eponine has and will continue to be Frances. I agree with other posts here, there is something to the quality of her voice that is perfect for Eponine's character. Keep in mind, true to the novel's Eponine, she was a product of her social class yet with every passing day with increasingly missing teeth and sold hair she became the most beautiful creature Marius had ever seen. Eponine is scrappy Fraces's voice for this role was just that, scrappy yet beautiful.

[@JatkaJay]

Eponine is the most beautiful creature Marius had ever seen????

[@acrosstheuniverse999]

She'll always be my favorite Eponine

[@cupcakequeen0617]

This song always get to me. I find this was true love that she would risk her own life to save the one man she loved; she died for his happiness and having that final moment in his arms is probably the best thing she ever got while living.

[@emmellanna]

I think she's the most natural Eponine.

[@rachtchi]

Anyone who's read the book and knows what they're talking about would agree that Frances is Éponine. Sam and Lea are fantastic but Frances is queen.

[@velgrace9026]

Nice emotion.. I love it....

[@devane85]

I really hate how these videos devolve into a competition about whose voice is better. It's all subjective. I love Frances' vocals and felt they fit the character perfectly.

[@Girl-rj3qe]

They only start in voice debates when fans of popular Eponine comment on other videos stating only their Eponine is the best.

[@corasmith6420]

i love Frances Ruffelle as Eponine.

[@asdfgladlyx3]

Even though I love the Lea Eponine (I forever will), Frances Rufelle actually potrayed Eponine better. I think she has to sound someone who's so madly inlove that she's consumed by it and isn't rational. & this is coming from a Lea Salonga fangirl :^)

[@devane85]

Forgot to add that I think Michael Ball complements Frances' voice perfectly on the Original London Cast performance of this song.

[@xoxMUISxox]

Although, if I'm not mistaken, Frances is he orignal Eponine and she won a Tony for her performance as Eponine... I find that a lot of Lea Salonga fans demonstrate the need to insist that she is the only good Eponine and while I do agree that Lea is extremely good, she is by no means the only person ever to have played Eponine well.

[@missanna444]

I agree with you on that one. They don't realize that she's supposed to be dying in this scene. Besides, no matter how well the Ruffelle or anyone else does, this song always makes me sad.

[@de3h]

WOW I adore Salonga and think she's just perfection, but I still can respect the woman who originally brought the role to life.

[@Girl-rj3qe]

You sure must respect her, she’s the original Eponine. And this is a big statement, she helped create the role and was there as they made cuts and edits with the role. I love Lea Salonga but Frances is the original Eponine.

[@klawis]

Before, Lea is the best Eponine for me but when I read Les Mis, *FRANCES IS EPONINE, She will always be the best Eponine* Samantha is the least Eponine for me- don't get me wrong. Yes she is an excellent singer but not as 'Ponine.

[@starwarzfan71]

Frances Ruffelle is the best eponine just like how colm Wilkinson is the best jean val jean

[@jamiegrifter]

Original and my favourite! Only recently found out her daughter is Eliza Doolittle!

[@kylierhiannon6740]

She is the original.....so I agree, there is no doubt that she's brilliant Though I love love love love love love love (if I kept going i'd tear up my keyboard) Samantha Barks.

[@TheRandomPhangirl]

This was filmed the day after my cousin was born

[@syvhne]

Yes! Maybe Lea Salonga did not sing it the way Frances did b'coz she make it her own not wanting to be an imitation of Frances Ruffelle so she twist which is also beautiful if u really know how to appreciate opera's like the way I appreciate Frances version & some well known critics said that Lea version surpass the greatness of the original key of "Attack of the Rue Plumet" (esp the scream part), "On My Own" & "A Little Fall of Rain".

[@oPeRa1923]

Fudge. I can't stop crying. 😭😭😭😭

[@syvhne]

I agree!

[@Tiepobadaae]

im not the biggest fan of frances's voice, but it fits the role, and it has such heartbreaking emotion i break down. i like some other eponines better, but she did a good job and deserved this role

[@sydnisan]

This is how Eponine is supposed to sound. Read the book!

[@JessFeser]

@andromache007 I agree. I like both Lea Salonga and Frances Ruffelle. I read somewhere that in the book, Eponine is supposed to have a gruffer voice (something like that). I think Frances Ruffelle does an excellent job with that.

[@theguiltyonesing]

I think that each Eponine plays her beautifully in their own way, but this version of A Little Fall of Rain just doesn't pull me emotionally the same way as Lea Salonga and Michael Ball.

[@celestebacalso7345]

Same here... #sobs

[@taurushere6380]

Oof im crying

[@AndrewKeyz]

Eponine's love for another human being I think was the strongest out of all characters in the story. It literally cost her her life. She was perhaps the least self centered person out of all.

[@aliceraven904]

Fantine????

[@KateBushDepot]

@annief31 Wow, what an ignorant post! Frances is an amateur? Then how come Boublil & Schonberg (Miss Saigon) as well as Andrew Lloyd Webber (Sunset Boulevard & Whistle Down The Wind) used her vocals in demos and 1st public presentations of their works in front of artists, critics & prospective investors? Maybe they're tone-deaf as well? Also, do some research on the early days of LesMis. THIS is the original key FYI. If you can't stand her singing then you probably hate the role itself.

[@lasatiuchvil]

My third favorite version of this song, after Lea and Samantha in the movie.

[@Girl-rj3qe]

She’s growing on me. I feel like other Eponines (Lea Salonga and Samantha Barks) are well loved for their voices but Frances’s voice and acting shows more of Eponines sad and desparate situation. I still love Lea but her fans are so rude to Frances, while Samantha Barks I still like (she was my first Eponine) but now I think her voice fit more for Idina Menzel roles like Elphaba or Elsa than Eponine

[@rachtchi]

I love Sam and Lea, but 'Ponine is Frances's role.

[@Concetta20]

*Cry*

[@syvhne]

I like FRANCES, LEA &SAM. We all have our subjective preference ryt? I know it comes with the territory that they will b compared but there's no need to hate & bad mouth the other one just b'coz u like the other one.

[@syvhne]

& Lea is Kim of Miss Saigon to me & always be =).

[@YourFavouriteNub]

@annief31 she's not an amateur. She has a unique voice and her Eponine is as amazing as Salongas. They are different, but they are both amazing in an own way.

[@hannahsolayao9467]

Lmao, these kinds of posts are funny. There is what we call interpretation of characters. Rufelle portrayed the imperfect and scrawny side of Eponine, Lea Salonga portrayed her to be actually dark and mysterious. I love Lea Salonga, but seriously; respect Frances too?

[@CountryCowboy008]

I'm gonna be constructive here: Is that Frances' real voice? Because it sounds to me like she's making a childish voice, which I find a bit "mockery" to the role. I don't know. But hey, I love Frances' version light years ahead of Samantha's.

[@alandominicfong6907]

Nope, this is her real voice, particularly comparable to her role as Dinah in the original London cast of Starlight Express, but also in her solo albums. Frances Ruffelle has a very unique voice, that is not for everyone, but I love her singing!

[@KateBushDepot]

A lot of people who only discovered LesMis via the TAC thinks that the 'proper' way of singing Eponine's songs is how Lea did it and it's just not true. Listen to some live recordings of LesMis (esp older ones) and you'll get what I'm trying to say.

[@RobertoAlexisValencia]

I like this version of Eponine best.

[@lesmizfanatic90]

love both lea and frances but i slightly prefer how unperfect frances' voice is as opposed to lea's perfect polished voice. i think it adds so much more to the character of eponine and makes her more believable. but lea is amazing as eponine

[@EmpressSofia]

Who plays Marius here? Is it the same guy who plays one of the students in TAC?

[@williamrizzo4501]

Love Lea, but there's only 1 Eponine, that's Frances.

[@andromache007]

@annief31 Well I happen to love her "ugly, throaty, nasal, whiny voice". Eponine's role is also about emotions, you know.

[@proudmomm]

Why is when people rewrite this amazing story they either leave Eponine out or they change it to not save Marius, makes me so mad!!

[@curiositylives]

shes the original but this looks like the parody of the 10th anniv.

[@ndeb100]

Nicole Whinnet Frances IS Eponine. Its simple as that. Just like Idina IS Elphaba. You can like whoever you want but this fact doesnt change. I love Sam and Carrie but Frances IS Eponine...

[@booboo5150]

She might be the first to play this role but for me, Lea surpassed her. It's like she and the other actresses that followed her were only the appetizers before the main dish to be served :)

[@jkutyna]

Can't stand that Lea salona playing this role, Frances is the only one who ever did this role any justice. She was the original stage actress for the part, on both the West End productions, and the Broadway production as well. She won the Tony award for Eponine, and she was the singer chosen to represent the role on the official soundtrack, although the complete symphonic recording chose Kaho Shimada just because they wanted to use an international cast for that recording.

[@Ehntu]

She sounds lovely here. Better than all her recordings, anyway. She sounds pathetic... which is what Eponine is supposed to sound like.

[@disneysingergirl11]

i just want to find a video of the original london cast. i have the cd of that, and out of the different singers i have heard, they are the best,. o and i agree that marius should have gone with eponine. i mean come on!!!! u c a girl one time and u fall in love???thats called unrealistic. and u can c in this that they would be cute together.

[@Girl-rj3qe]

In the book Marius and Cosette took some time before falling in love. And Eponine in the book is crazier and she wanted Marius to die in the barricade with her

[@buggy20002]

the boy is cute

[@TheMsiaddict]

He's Matthew Cammelle

[@manchestertart5614]

@@TheMsiaddictThank you for his name , I've only seen him on KZbin as the Phantom and he's fabulous as Erik. So seeing him as Marius is wonderful.

[@TheMsiaddict]

@@manchestertart5614 You're welcome.

[@xsarabearx1]

not only is that how shes described in the book you gotta remember when shes singing this shes been shot so ya her singing is not going to be perfect

[@DeyIlagan]

@annief31 Very ignorant for you to say that. Of course we're entitled to our own opinions; if you don't like Frances' voice, then fine, that's you. But Frances is most definitely NOT an amateur.

[@uberathlete]

At least Frances can hit those low notes. Samantha Barks in the 25th made me wince every time she attempted to do so.

[@KateBushDepot]

*Sigh* You keep missing the point here. I don't judge people because of their tastes. Heck, I don't even spend time thinking about what I don't like, let alone look for them on YT. What pissed me off is that some know-it-all is sort of claiming that the proper way to sing the song is how Lea sang it, hence the need to point out that this is the ORIGINAL KEY. If you don't like it fine. I just can't stand those who go to videos of artists they don't like only to comment that someone did it better.

[@Dan-gi6tf]

we get it, you’re a frances fan lol

[@Girl-rj3qe]

@@Dan-gi6tfthis is frances’s video and she posted it so of course she’s frances’s fan

[@rhblake]

since when did charlie sheen play marius?

[@myopicmaniac]

she is SO amazing lea is SO overrated

[@UNKNOWN-df3sy]

It was written many years ago but I should write it : I totally agree with you, especially about lea

[@Ayyeliki]

She Is the best Eponine, I agree but Disagree with the Lea sentiment, check this out : kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKLUp4utiLuajsk Admittedly, I liked Leas voice far more when she was just starting out and young- like ~1989 - it’s almost too “perfect” now….

[@syvhne]

F.Y.I LEA PLAYED EPONINE BCOZ FRANCES DECLINE TO DO THE 10TH ANNIV. I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST FRANCES BUT IF LEA PLAYED EPONINE IT'S NOT HER FAULT TO BE GOOD ENOUGH OR TO BE BETTER, DESPITE THAT SHE'S ASIAN TO PLAY THE ROLE &SO FAR THE ONLY ASIAN EVEN IF THERE A LOT OF EUROPIAN GIRLS TO REPLACE FRANCES. & A LOT OF WELL KNOWN CRITICS SAID LEA DID JUSTICE FOR EPONINE.

[@missanna444]

Her character is supposed to be DYING. How about you try singing a song while you are weak and bleeding everywhere. I don't think it would be easy. Not trying to be mean, but just think before you say something rude. I've made that mistake, too.

[@1974luciole]

Frances IS Eponine. The rest are just a bunch of sopranos trying to be eponines.

[@ethalinia]

I think she plays the part very well, but I prefer more trained voices.. I mean, this might be a trained singer but I don't like the way her voice cracks- that's just my opinion though, I do think her tone suits Eponine very well and her acting is great :)

[@dorisannekagawa9502]

Lea Salonga is way better than this girl.

[@zerolamperouge5152]

Meh i know shes the priginal eponine but she really do sounds a dying cat to me

[@animalluver987]

good. the book says eponine is supposed to sound horrid

[@Girl-rj3qe]

Eponine is dying, that’s how she’s supposed to sound

[@RottenCoke]

I stil don't like this girl very much, but she sounds so much better here than on the Original Broadway Cast Album.

[@philippa230493]

not a fan of lea. for me, she's too polished. Love Frances and love Samantha

[@nicolewhinnett641]

Im really sorry to all you frances fans... I really like her performance as eponine but for me Samantha Barks and Carrie Hope Fletcher will always be the best Eponines. I understand that frances sounds kore like eponine is supposed to sound but I dont like it as much as a clear well voiced version like sam or carrie's... as I said I do like frances but for me sam and carrie will always be my favourite eponines

[@whjk11b80]

Sam's and Carrie's voices are much more likeable, Frances may sound odd and even unpleasant at first. But for me it's her uniqueness that makes her my favourite Eponine. As much as I enjoy Sam and Carrie, I think they sound a bit too pure for the role (I know, it may sound weird ).

[@AirKAT08]

She sounds drunk!