History Theatre / LaBoheme

* AdaptationalHeroism: Henri Murger was balding and apparently lacking charm while Rodolfo is portrayed with a full head of hair and a poet’s charm. Mimi, in the novel, meanwhile, strung Rodolfo along for months before moving on to a richer suitor. She is based on Murger’s girlfriend, Lucille Lovet, who was indeed a sickly grisette but also a manipulative hussy who had no compunction about making Murger jealous. Murger also based Mimi on his muse, Marie-Virginie Vizal, who similarly left Murger for one of his friends. Both women died young, of tuberculosis; Lovet died in the hospital and Murger was not notified in time to claim her body before it was sent to the dissection room. Her sweet, wholesome character in the opera is almost unrecognizable, but she is still a sickly grisette who is called Mimi although her name is Lucia.

* AdaptationalHeroism: Henri Murger was balding and apparently lacking charm while Rodolfo is portrayed with a full head of hair and a poet’s charm. Mimi, in the novel, meanwhile, strung Rodolfo along for months before moving on to a richer suitor. She is based on Murger’s girlfriend, Lucille Lovet, who was indeed a sickly grisette but also a manipulative hussy who had no compunction about making Murger jealous. Murger also based Mimi on his muse, Marie-Virginie Vizal, who similarly left Murger for one of his friends. Both women died young, of tuberculosis; Lovet died in the hospital and Murger was not notified in time to claim her body before it was sent to the dissection room. Her character in the opera is almost unrecognizable, but she is a sickly grisette who is called Mimi although her name is Lucia.

* InnocentFlowerGirl: Mimì is described as an "angel" and her profession is to embroider flowers on to clothes.
* InnocentSoprano: Mimi the innocent, angelic, and dainty seamstress is a light soprano.

* PleaseWakeUp: [[spoiler: Rodolfo to Mimì at the end]]

* [[BreakHisHeartToSaveHim Break Her Heart to Save Her]]: Rodolfo, knowing that he cannot take care of the fatally ill Mimì, briefly pretends to be cold and heartless with her.

* GrumpyBear: Among the Bohemians, Marcello is the most pessimistic.

* IllGirl: Mimì's major character trait.

''La Bohème'' has been adapted for other media many times, including a 1926 film (silent! no music!) starring Creator/LillianGish and Creator/JohnGilbert.

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!!Tropes particular to the 1926 film:

* BloodFromTheMouth: Signaling that Mimi's cough has gotten to a serious stage.
* DiesWideOpen: [[spoiler: Lillian Gish's Mimi dies with her eyes open and Musette closes them. A far cry from the operatic version where Mimi [[BigSleep dies with her eyes closed]].]]
* GaussianGirl: Used liberally for Lillian Gish. This is most notable when Mimi and Rodolphe are at a picnic in the country. In one scene the camera cuts back and forth from a shot of John Gilbert in perfect focus, to a shot of Gish looking all blurry, and back again.
* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: It's subtly implied that Musette is a HighClassCallGirl. She is probably a courtesan or "kept woman" who seeks out sugar daddies like Alcindoro; her flashy, hedonistic behavior would be considered ''demi-mondaine'' at the very least. There's no other explanation for why she can afford such fine clothes and such a sumptuous dinner table. And she's certainly very kindly and sweet towards poor Mimi.
* LargeHam: Rodolphe in-universe when he's acting out his play, which evidently involves a sword duel and a dramatic rescue of a maiden.
* PsychicLink: At the peak of his success following the debut of his play, Rodolphe thinks about Mimi, wishing that she would come to him. Mimi, dying in a different part of town, hears this and staggers back to Rodolphe's apartment.

* EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys: Schaunard the musician has a pet monkey that he takes out to the street to do an act. This is how they get the rent in one month when they're particularly broke.

** It also appeals to many people because of how relatable it is. College students living in dorms may relate to Rodolfo and his friends, their playful shenanigans even reflecting those of frat boys. Anyone who’s ever fallen in love may relate to either Rodolfo and Mimì or Marcello and Musetta, depending on how the relationship is going. Anyone who’s had a recent break-up may resonate with Act III and, again, may relate to either Rodolfo and Mimì or Marcello and Musetta. And a recent widower may weep with Rodolfo [[spoiler: when he finds out that Mimì has died right at the end]].

* VoiceTypes:
** Rodolfo - tenor
** Marcello - baritone
** Schaunard - baritone
** Colline - bass. This opera features the first and last bass-only aria written by Puccini, "Vecchia zimarra senti".
** Mimì - soprano
** Musetta - soprano