Season 3 of The Good Placehas started and in the primer episode there is a “The Man who Laughs” Reference. Well not so much a reference as it’s right there in the frame.
William Jackson Harper as Chidi Anagonye
Moral philosopher, Chidi, is going through another existential panic. He takes to the University library and takes out a myriad of books one being “The Man who Laughs” by Victor Hugo. Though the main joke of this scene is Chidi holds up a book by The Chocolate Rain guy called Chocolate Book, The Man who Laughs sits front and center. You can’t miss it.
I’m not sure what this means. Could be superficial advice for the character? The production people just like the book? Foreshadowing? Or it good have a deeper meaning? Not sure.
Hiba Tawaji as Esmeralda & Martin Giroux as Phoebus
I have been watching videos of the most recent cast of Notre Dame de Paris and I noticed something about Hiba Tawaji’s portrayal of Esmeralda that was just off. It was something I couldn’t place but it was something I didn’t like. It was like she was trying to do too much but not succeeding. She just wasn’t coming off as natural but forced.
Just so we’re clear this has nothing to with her as singer or person, this is just in her acting. She is fine as a singer.
Natalia Osipova as Esmeralda, Roberto Bolle as Quasimodo and Mick Zeni as Frollo, Roland Petit Notre Dame de Paris 2013
This version of Hugo’s novel is very pared down to a very minimal telling of the story. You have the four principal characters: Quasimodo, Esmeralda, Frollo and Phoebus. The ballet doesn’t have Gringoire, Clopin, Fleur de Lys, or extra characters.
As one can guess having only the love/lust plot-line it follows that trajectory and doesn’t concern itself with the subject of blight of the downtrodden, social justice or the modernity of the printing press’ impact on architecture.
It starts with Quasimodo getting crown Pope of Fools, Frollo gets mad. Esmeralda dances to which she attracts the attention of Quasimodo and Frollo.
Frollo then has Quasimodo kidnap Esmeralda. And here is where we a deviation. After Quasimodo grabs Esmeralda they are set upon by the corps dressed in red. Now I was very confused, I had no idea what was happening. I thought it was maybe fire or that the dancers were somehow symbolic of Frollo’s lust. I didn’t know!
According to http://ticket.heraldtribune.com (an actually well-done review) the corps are portraying thugs. This makes sense both within the context of the ballet’s narrative and adapting Hugo’s story. In the original novel after the kidnapping, Gringoire, who was trying to help Esmeralda, is set upon by the Court of Miracles. However the thugs are now in this scene to help convey Quasimodo as more sympathetic as he is protecting Esmeralda. This adaption isn’t really necessary to story and could have been skipped but works to add more dancing which you need in a ballet.
So after the thugs are dealt with, Phoebus then arrests Quasimodo. Phoebus notices Esmeralda and they are attracted to each other. Then Quasimodo is sentenced and Esmeralda gives him water. Esmeralda and Phoebus have their tryst, though he flirts with whores prior and during their time together. That is to communicate Phoebus’ lack of romantic feelings towards Esmeralda and that he just in it for the sex. He is then stabbed by Frollo. I’m pretty sure that Phoebus does in fact die in this version.
Esmeralda has her trial and is sentenced. Quasimodo then saves her from the gallows.
The second act is Esmeralda and Quasimodo bond. Frollo then attacks Esmeralda and I mean he slaps her a bunch. She is then dragged off to her death. Quasimodo strangles Frollo and then carries Esmeralda’s body away.
It is a very basic rendition of Hunchback which is fine for medium of ballet. You don’t want anything too complex but is this telling too simple? Perhaps. It is very pared down to a degree that basic disney’s knockoff have more developed story lines though that is not always a good thing.
To be honest the narrative only works to convey mood, style and dancing and that is what this Ballet is all about. But we should address the character before getting to those points of interest.
I have been wanting to these type of posts for a while. Basically it’s just fashions, mostly gowns, that look similar to an Esmeralda costume in someway.
Renato Balestra, Spring 2014
This gown by Renato Balestra from spring 2014, is akin to Disney Esmeralda’s costume in terms of its color story and verticality. I also like that it has a sari-like way about kind adding to appeal.
This was a suggestion of one of those lists I found a while ago and truthfully this is a great casting idea. Ralph Fiennes would be a perfect Frollo.
Ralph Fiennes as Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights
As far as Fiennes’ acting prowess goes, he can played Frollo regardless of the type of Frollo the version is depicting. Whether it be sympathetic or cruel or some mixture of both. Fiennes has a very unique ability to make his villains likable yet still very threatening. Even his heroes run the gamut from nice to intense.
Ralph Fiennes
Fiennes has a good look to play Frollo. Not only is he age appropriate to the role but he has a great bone structure for Frollo’s angular, austere yet intense face.
Ralph Fiennes
He’s got it all. He has good look for the role, he’s age appropriate, and he’s capable of playing a likable bad guy. Fiennes would be an ideal casting pick for Frollo in any interation of the character. But what do you think? Would you like to see the actor who played He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named play Frollo?
Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort from the Harry Potter franchise
Also the idea of the actors who played Voldemort and and Dumbledore playing the same character makes me smile.
Way back in April 2018, I asked which version of Hunchback should be next to review. I had a few versions of my radar, like the Dingo version and La Esmeralda. See post here
Now I did picked one a while but due to personal issues I wasn’t ready to sit down and go back down the rabbit hole. So I put it off till now, hopefully.
Roland Petit’s Notre Dame de Paris ballet
The version that is up next was a suggested by neala897 and it’s the Roland Petit Ballet. We will see how this goes because ballets are hard to review.
As of yet I have not watch the Ballet that will come later as I as fresh of perspective as possible.
But here is a little background information. Petit mounted Notre Dame de Paris in 1965 with music by Maurice Jarre. Jarre was a film composer who did the music on films like Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Doctor Zhivago (1965) and Passage to India (1984.) I will just say one source site the ballet as debuting in 1965 and another sites 1967, the point is this ballet is from the 60s.
So let’s get into this. I’m going to watch the version performed by the Opera national de Paris, 1996 with Isabelle Guérin as Esmeralda, Nicolas Le Riche as Quasimodo, Laurent Hilaire as Frollo and Manuel Legris as Phoebus.
Who has seen this version or at least this ballet before?
Previously I randomly had my itunes play songs to see how often a Hunchback song or Hunchback related song came up. By related song I mean the artist was in some way associated with a Hunchback version.
Each test consistent of 20 songs and I did five test. A total of 100 song. Here are the results, I’m only revealing the Hunchback or Hunchback related songs that played.
Test 3
-Dans nos Souvenirs by Helene Segara
– Bohemienne by Helene Segara
– Le Temps de Cathedral Seoul French Cast
– Oh L’adorable Creature from La Esmeralda
– Julie Ose by Julie Zenatti
– Dieu que la Monde Seoul French Cast
6/20 = 30%
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Test 4
– Vivre Notre Dame de Paris Symphonique
– Je Voudrais une Chanson Interlude 2 by Julie Zenatti
– Le Process Notre Dame de Paris Original cast (another ringtone)
– La Monture by Chiara Di Bari Notre Dame de Paris Seoul French Cast
4/20 = 20%
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Test 5
– Trommein der Stodt from Hunchback of Notre dame Berlin (note this the second time this song played)
– I’m a Priest by Daniel Lavoie Notre Dame de Paris London cast
– Overture from La Esmeralda
– Ave Maria Paien Notre Dame de Paris Symphonique
– Recitatifet et Duo: Donc Phoebus est A Monfort from La Esmeralda
– Qu’Est-ce Qu’on va Faire avec Monde by Helene Segara
6/20 = 30%
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The Overall Results
22 out of 100 songs were from a Hunchback version or sung by someone associated with a Hunchback version, or 22%.
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I thought this was an interesting test. Not sure how I feel but I do have a lot of random music from over the years so maybe 22% isn’t so bad.
Last week I randomly listened to 20 songs on my iTunes so see what the probability was of getting either a Hunchback song or a song sung but an artist affiliated with a Hunchback version. The result were one in five or 20%.This is the second test. Nothing have changed I have added no new songs.
So instead of me listing all the songs I got I’m only going to mention which Hunchback songs were played because no care about my music.
Test 2 had disappointing results as only one Hunchback song was played and it should barley count. The song was Visite de Frollo Esmeralda from Notre Dame de Parisbut it was only the “Je t’aime” part. A while ago I wanted it for a ringtone*. Turns out I used the opening of La Sociere more.
So the result was 1 in 20. or 5%. Not as good as last time. Went down 15% from test one.
*2025 update -Remember when Ringtones were like a huge thing?
Esmeralda and Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
You know who in the Disney line-up would make the perfect Disney Princess? Who embodies the ideal of what it means to be a lovely human being? Quasimodo.
In all seriousiness, Quasimodo meets all the qualifications for Disney Princess-dom, whatever that means and to be fair to this idea“the official rules*” don’t actually make a stipulation that the “Princess” has to be a female. It’s implied but not stated.But given that Quasimodo is presented as a man lets consider him and the only female human character isn the movie, Esmeralda and lets’ look at the the official rules and the meta guidelines.
Here’s a dumb post, what is the chance of me getting a hunchback or hunchback related song (as in a singer who associated with a Hunchback version) to randomy play on itunes when it is on shuffle? I know, super important scientific enquiry!
Now I don’t really listen to my music on iTunes anymore. I tend to use Pandora, spotify or youtube so the music I have on iTunes represents my taste circa mid 2000s up to 2014 roughly. So I have a lot anime/ video game music and Bollywood and random stuff as well as Norte Dame de Paris and other Hunchback stuff.
I took a sample of 20 songs because 20 is a good sample size. So what is the likelihood of me listening to a Hunchback song or a singer from a Hunchback version on itunes in shuffle mode?
Click for the list of songs
1. Rien n’est comme avant by Helene Segara (1)
2. Beau comme Soleil by Nadia Bel (2) DAMN first two out of the gate
3. Higurashi no naku koro ni opening
4. Tromme in der stadt from Berlin Hunchback Musical (3) We’re getting so many
5. Now I’m your Mom by David Byrne
6. Tere Liye from Veer-Zaara
7. Wind City [ City of Wind Windia] by Cyril the Wolf (This is the 2nd time I have listen to this)
8. Kokoro no Kasa wa from Sakura Wars
9. Kogaku Motet from Final Fantasy 9 Plus OST
10. A Walk in the Dark by David Byrne (I love this song)
11. Fossil Roo from Final Fantasy 9 OST
12. Pandemonium from Final Fantasy 9 OST
13. Broken Things by David Byrne
14. Surreal by Ayumi Hamasaki
15. Sumida from Sakura Wars
16. Hungarian Dance no.5 by Brahms
17. Amnesie by Julie Zenatti (4)
18. La Sorciere from Notre Dame de Paris (5)
19. Kalluri Vaanil from Pennin Manathai Thottu (The Benny Lava song)
20. Phony King of England from Disney Robin Hood
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The result is one in five or 20%
But everyone knows that good science requires testing so MAYBE I will do this again sometime for science. Another good experiment would be the frequency of language. Like how many English language songs I get, or French, or Japanese or Hindi, but this a Hunchback blog so let’s keep to hunchback. But in this case of this sample because I’m curious;
Click for song language frequency
Engish – 5 out of 20
French – 4 out of 20
Hindi – 1 out of 20
Instrumental – 4 out of 20
Japanese – 4 out of 20
miscellaneous – 2 out of 20
I’m kinda surprised that more English songs came up.
