A note of gratitude to the Mattsonian National Library
for supplying the following factoids and quotes.
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12 October 1990
Broadway Theatre
Jean Valjean: J.C. Sheets (understudy for Craig Schulman)
Fantine: Mary Gutzi (understudy for Christy Baron)
Theatre Capacity: 1,752
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Excerpts from The Young Mattopia Jones Chronicles,
translated from the original Mattskrit:

25 May 1993 - London, England
"Long walks, taxi rides, the tubes and a big, heavy backpack."

"Crash at 9 p.m., Langland Hotel.
Wake at 1 a.m. to dump junk off bed and take off pants."

Undated Journal Entry,
Assume 26 November 1993 - London, England
"Editor's note of apology:
Had I written a journal of my 'London Days,' it would have made
War and Peace look like a cheap, superficial short story.
Tamburlaine left land unconquered. I shall try not to..."

27 November 1993
Train from London to Edinburgh
Left London: 12:00, Arrived Edinburgh: 16:38
Train Name: Songs of Praise

28 November 1993 - Edinburgh, Scotland
"Cut to Les Mis - the definitive production!

Not a sour note from the cast. Impeccable. Understudy Whitcombe was beautiful & perfect voiced for Fantine. Innovative staging. I swear things have been toyed with - red caps on the boys at the barricade,
use of 'modified barricade' at 'Red & Black' pub meet, and other intangibles make this the most thrilling experience since the Broadway Theatre.

Sitting in about the twelfth row, center section, with 6 feet of leg room in front of me, it was perfect!

The only frustrating thing is that you can't pack it up and take it home. Although I have tried: sweatshirt, brochure, program, & Manchester cast tape (£23.99 all told).

In every way the inspiration I seek & find in Les Mis.

A terrific way to kick off my travel season."

6 December 1993 - Calais, France
"The Calais port was not designed for the traveller, non-French speakers, or people who don't know where they are...

And there's nothing worse in this world than having a Spanish pop song at 3 in the morning with scratches all over the vinyl playing on the PA system! There was enough repitition w/o the scratches!"

"An awkward night that got quite cold in the ferry station.
I am collected by the 5 a.m. bus to the Calais Ville station."

7 December 1993 - Montreuil-Sur-Mer, France
"On the ride to MSM, doze off in a big way, but wake up when the train makes its stops... and upon arrival at MSM, I note people leaving
and that I need to as well, but the legs won't cooperate!

My right leg was rubber and I fell forward, pick up my bags & fall again. A sweet little French woman (teenage, I suppose, blonde hair tucked under her cap - neo-30s-ish fashion) stops the conductor by sticking herself out the door, calling out that they need to wait.

She actually takes my big pack & sticks it on the platform.
('Is OK?' she asks, as if I had room to complain!)

It was just one of those moments - I look up at her as she gets back in & closes the door. She said 'Bye bye' in the sweetest voice I ever heard."

"As for Montreuil S.M. - I shall always remember it fondly, regardless the conditions of myself & the weather. I walked through the village in the morning darkness - still black as pitch at 7:30 a.m. Even hear the call of the roosters! The city wall is dramatically floodlit."