As Trademarkology's resident theatre fanboy, from time to time, I will be exploring when two of my favorite worlds collide: trademarks and musicals.
In 1989, my family took a roadtrip from Nashville to New York City. It changed my life. How? It introduced me to theatre. The first show I saw: Les Misérables. From that day forward, I dreamed a dream that someday I would be able to share my love of theatre with the world. Little did I know my dream would be fulfilled in the trademark world. So I am going to start where it all began (for me), with Les Mis.
Based on the novel by Victor Hugo, Les Mis tells the epic story of Jean Valjean's redemption following 19 years in prison. The musical unfolds in 19th Century France against a revolutionary backdrop. In English, "les misérables" translates to "the wretched," and the story spends a lot of time presenting the plight of the less fortunate.
Not suprisingly, the producers of the show trademarked "LES MISERABLES," and the iconic image of a poor girl in front of a flag that is associated with the show, receiving federal registrations for both marks in 1989.
As these marks suggest, Les Mis has its fair share of heartwrenching moments. These moments are delivered through memorable songs that regularly often feel like solemn prayers. Ultimately, Les Mis is a story of redemption and - most of all - love, entering the final refrain with the line, "To love another person is to see the face of God," a direct quote from Victor Hugo's source material.
If you have not seen it, I highly recommend grabbing someone that you love and seeing it as soon as possible. I have seen at least twenty different productions of the show from high school performances to local theatres to Broadway and the West End. It never disappoints.
Rating: 5 out of 5 Kick Ball Changes
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