The Archdeacon and Brother Labas with Baby Quasimodo
The Priests a.k.a unnamed Archdeacon and brother Labas (not sure of spelling), are the only people who appear to work at Notre Dame and are Quasimodo’s care givers. This means that Quasimodo has two dads.
Both of them fulfill the role of Frollo’s parental/priest roles from the book, though why there are two of them, I couldn’t tell you. If I had to venture a guess I would say it was more for comedy. The Archdeacon is more the less the straight-man to Lebas, though the aren’t exactly funny, except for the scene where Frollo is threatening the church for shinies. Other than that there was no need for Brother Lebas.
They aren’t wholly nice as they don’t give in to Frollo and the Archdeacon saves himself when he is arrested. For their roles they are fine, they are not the annoying and they don’t get in the way despite Brother Lebas being a superfluous character.
Esmeralda steeling herself up for the Watermelon-seed Spitting Contest that is being held as part of the Festival of Fools. Meanwhile, the Archdeacon is having second thoughts about agreeing to hold the contest INSIDE the front hall of the cathedral
For the Music of Der Glöckner von Notre Dame I have decided to do a few songs at a time (with the two exceptions). I’m also going to try to not compare the singers between the Disney Cast and the Original Berlin Cast and I’m going to try not to discusss staging too much.
Die Glocken Notre Dames
Frollo (Norbert Lamla) with Baby Quasimodo and the Archdeacon Der Glöckner von Notre Dame
Die Glocken Notre Dames (The Bells of Notre Dame) is the show’s opening number and it is pretty much exactly the same as it is in the movie but there are some differences. First off, no Puppet. Yeah, I know tragic. Clopin appears as a beggar and not as a performer, so any humor that the Disney version had is gone. Giving us a a clear tone. Also Clopin is not telling the story of Quasimodo and Frollo to children he instead tells it to the audience which makes him more clearly a narrator.
Another difference is Quasimodo’s mother talks back to Frollo. Now, I don’t speak much German and I don’t have access to a script (I looked and couldn’t find one so if you know what she saying or know of a script let me know) so I have no idea what she is saying, I could guess. Probably goes along the lines of something like this:
Frollo- Hey, you there what are you hiding? Quasimodo’s Mother – Who me? It’s just my Baby Frollo – You Lie, give me what you are concealing, I wants it!
Or something like that or I’m way off.
Another difference is there is some instruments. The difference can really be heard when the Archdeacon is singing. There is a Piano and a lower brass opposed to the original which seems to be woodwinds, bells and a high brass. Also the usage of bells at the end is different whereas the movie uses what sounds like low octave bells that play a few notes the musical opts for scales of higher octave bells and I swear I hear a xylophone in there.
Also the attitude of Frollo and Archdeacon are different. In the movie Frollo is cool and calm and the Archdeacon has a sad yet kind of soft tone till he get firm about the eyes. In the stage show Frollo is flustered and Archdeacon is forceful from the get go.
Also a staging difference, there are videos that you can be see on youtube (if Youtube isn’t killed by SOPA and PIPA) that shows this number performed on stage and when Quasimodo’s Mother is push by Frollo she doesn’t die right away. As she is dying she reaches for Quasimodo. So I guess she died of blood loss and not of head trauma or a broken neck like the movie but I’m no doctor. Watch Video Here
Zuflucht
Frollo and Quasimodo Der Glöckner von Notre Dame
Zuflucht or Refuge is a song that is extended from Frollo’s part of the movie version of Out There. This song is where you learn that Frollo was a Priest but he thought that Paris was sick and needed to be save and so he changed his career to a judge. Quasimodo still sings in it with the addition of the Gargoyles Antoine (Hugo), Charles (Victor) and Loni (Laverne). The Gargoyles here sing against Frollo and encourage Quasimodo to go out side to see the world for himself.
Musically the first part is the same as the movie, so where Out There starts properly (Quasimodo’s part) the music changes and the last part with Gargoyles is like a composite of the new movement and the old one and it works well. I actually like the gargoyles here, their harmony together and with Frollo is nice. The harmony is like the Angel and Devil on each shoulder troupe. And having the Gargoyle sing with Frollo solidifies the gargoyles as imaginary. The Gargoyles part makes it clear that they are not as cheerful or upbeat as their movie counterparts. There is a combination of hope and confusion in their lines, because as they sing about what the outside world is like they can’t complete their thoughts because as aspects of Quasimodo they too have no idea what the outside world is like.
Draußen
Quasimodo with the Gargoyles Der Glöckner von Notre Dame
Draußen or Outside is exactly the same as the movie version of Out There with one wonderful difference; there is no more wobbly vibrato. Another than that there are no further differences I can ascertain.
Drew Sarich as Quasimodo in Der Glöckner von Notre Dame
Quasimodo in this version is not deaf but he has trouble expressing himself in verbal communication. He is however able to express himself when he sings. He seems to have a more of a morose attitude than he had in the Disney version but he is still pretty much the same.
Judy Weiss as Esmeralda in Der Glöckner von Notre Dame
Esmeralda is a young dancer who is a newcomer to the Court of Miracles. She gets very frustrated with inequality. She a has a difficulty keeping her thoughts to herself which is why she had to move to Paris and why she gets in trouble with Frollo. She is not a sassy or as sexual aware as she in the movie but she does come off sweeter and naive, which is more like the book.
Norbert Lamla as Frollo Der Glöckner von Notre Dame
Frollo was a priest in his youth and decided that Paris needed to be save so he became a became a Judge. He hates Gypsy and believes that they are sole the problem with Paris. He takes care of Quasimodo as a act of contrition for killing Quasimodo’s mother. He hopes Quasimodo will think like him and his emotional abuse is something that he is unaware of. Frollo becomes consumed with lust for Esmeralda which drives him insane. He thinks the cure is either to possess her or destroy her. He seems to have intensity than he has in movie. I would also point out that Frollo being a former priest is only mention once. (Then again I can’t find the copy of the script I found ages go and I didn’t read the whole thing, so it could have been mention several time in the dialogue portion {that’s the problem with not have a public DVD recording of the show}).
Fredrik Lycke as Phoebus in Der Glöckner von Notre Dame
Phoebus is the newly promoted Captain of the Guards. He hopes the job will offer him some rest and relaxation. He also enjoys flirting with girls. After meeting Esmeralda he decides that he rather be good than obey Frollo’s insane orders and becomes a criminal. I rather like that Phoebus starts off similar to the book more or less a playboy type and then betters himself.
Jens Janke as Clopin in Der Glöckner von Notre Dame
Clopin is the story teller, leader of the Court of Miracles and the Festival of Fools. Clopin does very little for the plot but he seems to enjoy regaling the tale to the audince and providing exposition. In his storyteller role he dresses like an old begger which further separates his character into two distinct characters unlike the movie where he does as pretty the same person.
Tamas Ferkay as Antoine in Der Glöckner von Notre Dame
Valentin Zahn as Charles in Der Glöckner von Notre Dame
Yvonne Ritz Andersen as Loni in Der Glöckner von Notre Dame
The Gargoyles are Quasimodo’s imaginary friends. They try to encourage Quasimodo to leave Notre Dame and recuses Esmeralda. They also try to comfort him after Esmeralda dies. They don’t have the over the top personalities that their Disney counterparts have nor do the make pop culture references or fart jokes. Their levity is light-hearted and subtle. I don’t think the production could really take these character away nor could they make them akin to Disney movie characters if they wanted to achive a dark tone . So making them subtle and completely imaginary was a good way to handle them, though they are still a bit annoying but no where near the level they are in the movie.
*Trivia – Gargoyles names are taking from Famous actors who played Quasimodo:
Loni- Lon Chaney (1923)
Charles – Charles Laughton (1939)
Antoine – Anthony Hopkins (1982)
Carlo Lauber as the Archdeacon in Der Glöckner von Notre Dame
The Archdeacon guilts Frollo into taking care of Quasimodo. He also orders Frollo to leave Notre Dame when he tries to arrest Esmeralda. He is also the one who asks Quasimodo to hide Phoebus after he is shot. Like the Disney movie he does have that much personality. He does seem to do a bit more in the play than the movie but not much.
The Disney Main Female is more of a canon than a line of characters that Disney deems as important. So are Esmeralda’s behaviors in Hunchback of Notre Dame applicable to how other so call Disney’s Princess Behaviors? Let’s compare Esmeralda against the the rules presented in the Video “How to make a guy like you” and see how she does.
( Note There are 21 Rules, they write 16 twice, Video is meant to be funny)
21. Show him you can look good no matter what you’re wearing.
Check
Esmeralda, Quasimodo and Phoebus leaving Notre Dame
20. Use Body Language.
Check, Esmeralda is working it
Esmeralda’s Dance Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
19. Make him jealous.
Check, she kisses all main three guys @_@
Esmeralda giving Frollo a peak on the nose Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Esmeralda getting close to Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
18. Be a friends to nature’s animals.
Check, at least Djali, she doesn’t interact that much with other animals
Djali, Esmeralda, and Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
17. Act scared of him.
No, not even, she clocks him right in the face
Phoebus being hit by Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
16. Rush into it. Don’t bother getting to know each other ahead of time.
Check, a kiss on the lips is what seals it in a Disney movie
Phoebus and Esmeralda Kiss Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
15. Look deeply into his eyes.
Check, she’s guilty
Esmeralda and Phoebus Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
14. Pretend like you would want him even if he wasn’t a prince. (yeah, right.)
No, there is no royalty in the movie and she is more put off by Phoebus’s position as a Knight/ Nobel
Esmeralda and Djali reactiom to Phoebus’ name Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
13. Having a wicked step-mother never hurts.
N/A, This Lady just looks like Lady Tremaine (Cinderella) doesn’t she?
Frollo’s Female Doppelganger singing a line in God Help the Outcast Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Lady Tremaine Disney Cinderella
12. Never do what your parents tell you to do. They only want what’s best for you.
N/A, no one really ever told her what to do and she doesn’t have parents to get in her way
Esmeralda exerting some power Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
11. Be constantly happy. Bottle up any negative emotions you have until after the wedding bells have rung.
It’s hard to say, she’s no negative-nelly but she’s not little miss sunshine either, mmmm after some thought I’m going to say yes, Check
Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre dame
10. Trust EVERYONE.
Pretty much
Archdeacon and Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
9. Don’t bother being intelligent. It won’t help you that much.
No, I guess I’d give her Street Smarts though.
Esmeralda, Djali, Brute and Oaf Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
8. Always be prepared, even if this mean carrying around glass shoes in your pocket.
Check, note the knife strapped to her calf
Esmeralda defying Frollo by helping Quasimodo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
7. Be Sweet and innocent…until you want to kiss him.
If it wasn’t for the the Archdeacon of Notre Dame (voiced by David Ogden Stiers) the movie would have ended with Frollo throwing baby Quasimodo into to the well of most certain Doom. After Frollo killed Quasimodo’s mother, (because he didn’t know how people hold babies), the Archdeacon used fear to manipulate Frollo into making amends for murdering somebody outside the cathedral. The Archedeacon basically says that Notre Dame saw what he did so make amends and raise the child. Frollo in fear for his soul decided to take care of Quasimodo so long as Quasimodo lives in Notre Dame.
Frollo killing Quasimodo's Mother
The Murder of Quasimodo's Mother Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Frollo seeing Quasimodo for the 1st time Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Well Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Archdeacon Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Archdeacon Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Archdeacon Eyes Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Notre Dame Sees all Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Archdeacon Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Archdeacon is in control in Notre Dame and has sway over Frollo but only in Notre Dame that is till Frollo goes batshit crazy pushes him down the stair towards the end.
Archdeacon and Frollo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Archdeacon and Frollo Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Archdeacon Fall Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Archdeacon is also the voice of reason and tries to help Esmeralda by sticking up for her and giving her advice(caution). He also tries to help before she is almost burned (he pops his head out of the cathedral but is stopped).
Archdeacon and Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Archdeacon and Esmeralda Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
Archdeacon Stopped Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Archdeacon doesn’t do lot in the film but he is a big part of the Frollo and Quaismodo’s relationship which is a major plot point, so for him it quality over quantity. If he’s in a scene, you know there is damn good reason for it.
Archdeacon Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Disney version is the last time that the role of Frollo (the lusty guy ) and the Archdeacon role have been separtated into two different characters. Will it be the last time? On ne sais jamais (one never knows)
I have decided to do a few songs at a time (with the two exceptions). I’m also going to try to not compare the singers between the Disney Cast and the Original Berlin Cast and I’m going to try not to discusss staging too much.
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