A Tear for a Drop of Brand Named Soda
Made by by Professor Donohue
Apparently it is customary for Richard Charest to thank the crowd in country’s official language and start singing in French but the crowd was happier to heard Richard Cocciante singing in Italian.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QT8s0cUejM
These video are from a promotional visit the cast did in January.
I was reading a blog that thinks that David Tennant should be cast as Clopin. And while the blog tells the reader not to take it seriously I agree David Tennant would make a great Clopin.
Devaid Tennant is most known for his playing of the tenth incarnation of The Doctor in the BBC version of Doctor Who and for playing Bartemius “Barty” Crouch Junior in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
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Tennant is cheerful, charismatic and he has a quick witty way of talking that would be perfect for Clopin. However he can also be threatening. Both of these facets are integral to Clopin’s character.
There just something about his mannerism and looks that I think make him an ideal choice for Clopin.
This performance of Belle confuses me. We have no Phoebus but whatever this isn’t the first performance to cast aside Phoebus. We have three languages being sung; French, Turkish and English. And what is Esmeralda wearing? It looks like a Grecian style maxi dress. I could expect this is Quasimodo and Frollo were not in period-ish style costumes. Maybe I’m missing something. Oh well, at least it’s not red. But also why does she seem angry? Also is just me or is Quasimodo’s prosthetic falling off?
The 1956 version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame is one of the only times where Clopin and the Duke of Egypt are separate characters. He is a leader of the Court of Miracle and is the King of Beggars. His duties include preceding over the “King”of Fools” crowning, yelling “charity” at random points, hanging poets, leading the charge to save to Esmeralda and just hanging out.
Clopin doesn’t really do too much in this film beside those things. He gets a few good lines here and there. He has respect for Esmeralda as he tries to convince Esmeralda that she is too good for Gringoire and he is there when she dies and begs for mercy on her behalf.
Clopin also yells ‘charity” at various points which does get annoying but provides insight to the viewpoints of the common people and King Louis. So it’s an interesting mechanic but the way he says “charity” is really annoying and grating.
It would have been interesting if he had more of commentary on society or some kind of conviction like the 1939 version or Notre Dame de Paris but he really doesn’t. He is not even that entertaining, so he is kind of wasted.
He doesn’t have that much character to him and the movie isn’t to concerned with developing him as character and thus he is more of a mechanic for the plot.
But unlike other Clopins he doesn’t have heart and therefore for you can’t really feel for him and he is not that memorable.
Next 1956 Article – Fleur de Lys
This is a video for a Korean musical version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame . You can see the influences of Notre Dame de Paris and the Disney version. It was done by the N.A Company and it premiered in August 2012. It seems to have great energy and maybe more light-hearted than other stage versions. And I think there may even be Sister Gudule in this version.
This a Japanese Ad for Notre Dame de Paris. The World Tour Cast will perform in Tokyo from Feb 27th to March 17th. THis is the first time the show will be performed in Japan.
The cast mixing in this ad is weird. They play audio of Bruno Pelletier and Garou singing in English and yet they show footage of the 2005 Asian Tour cast. Both Matt Laurent and Richard Charest were in the 2005 Asian Tour and are in the World Tour Cast. It just seem like false advertising to not showcase the cast that people are paying to see.