costumes | The Hunch

09Dec 2014

The Costumes of the King’s Academy Production

by Jessica

Esmeralda, Quasimodo, and Laverne King’s Academy Hunchback of Notre Dame

At last we come to my favorite part of any Hunchback products, the costumes! Though to be honest wasn’t going to discuss the costumes but there are a few point I feel I need to mention about the King’s Academy production. Now I was in a High School play once and I know they didn’t care about the costumes like at all and it was a fairly well regarded school for theater, though I’m not sure why. Anyway unlike my old middle/high school the King’s Academy did try in the costume area, it’s just some costumes are much better than others.

Let’s start with the negatives.

Frollo’s costume is boring. It’s just black vestments with a red stole. It’s not inherently bad, just dull. But it’s Quasimodo’s costume that leaves me wondering. First off, he has no make-up for the facial deformities and I forgive that, I really do and I’m a heartless critical nitpicking monster but what I can not forgive or wrap my head around is the white label. Just why? It makes his costume looks so lazy. Also I don’t really care for the costumes the dancers wear during Hellfire and yes this is a colossal nitpick. I mention it because I actually like the light up tutus the dancers wear in Heaven’s light. At first I thought they were cheesy but it works with the song and the point of the dual songs is the light reference. I just wished the dancers looked more like fire in Hellfire. I think they were almost there but the pants should gave been red in tone and not black, though I suppose they could have been and the video just makes the look black.

Stuff I sort what like.

I like the tutus in Heavenâ€˜s light, there are cheesy but I appreciate them. Speaking of the dancers and the ensemble, I appreciate that they have the appreciate costumes for the roles they have.

Esmeralda’s costume is one of the few costume in the main cast that is pretty much a copy of the Disney costume but it’s done well and looks nice.

The gargoyles are the only costumes that look like they were made from starch for the production and in that sense they stand out in a good way.

Heaven’s Light King’s Academy Hunchback of Notre Dame

Next time Conclusion of the King’s Academy Production

Frollo, Quasimodo and Ensemble performing Esmeralda King’s Academy Hunchback of Notre Dame

03Dec 2014

Reactions to the La Jolla Promo Video

by Jessica

Last week I posted the Promo video of the La Jolla production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame on the blog’s Facebook page, so some of you have seen this already.

These are my reaction to the video, what I like and what I dislike. This might be my only chance to discuss this since it’s looking unlikely that I will make the Paper mills prodution this spring and who really know if this show will get an audio recording, or go to Broadway or La Jolla will just magically send me a video recording of the show for christmas but anyway here we go.

Ciara Renee and Michael Arden in the Jolla Production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame

What I liked:

No Gargoyles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YES! Yeah sure they have their place in a kids movie in a franchise that has character like this but in a musical that is boosting being closer to the original story, no, just no.

The Sets- the sets are lovely. As silly as this might sound, I really like the floor. It’s not only accurate to Notre Dame but ti’s a nice visual statement.

The cast looks like they are having fun – I know this a ploy, if the cast is having fun then I the audeince will have fun, take my nonexistent money, (I’m a broke blogger). But I do enjoy the fun the seem to be having.

The Costumes – Across the broad these costume look great. A few of the ensembleâ€˜ costume caught my eye one being yellow and having an most painterly touch to it and the other had leather-like components which is great but the two costume I really want to take about are Esmeralda’s costume. The promo video doesn’t show her in the prisoner costumes so we can’t talk about that but it does show her casual and performance dress. Her performance dress reminds me of across between Bollywood and Ren-faire, I don’t mean that in a negative way. They is something about the fabric or the sparkles just reminds of costume I seen in Bollywood film specific movies that features courtesans who are performing a dance number. However the neckline reads more medieval, I dunno I think it works and it’s pink though if it were red I don’t think I would have minded. That being said I’m sick of seeing Esmeralda in red or pink as her primary color and for that reason Esmeralda’s casual costume here is a breathe of fresh air for me. It’s mostly blue which is a color she does wear in the novel although I think turquoise was color to the novel. The costume is very similar to the Disney costume as it the same basic cut, she also wears a purple skirt and her corset had gold stripes. The hip scarf is devore blue velvet and ti reminds me a little bit of Esmeralda costume in Notre Dame de Paris, whether this was intentional or I’m just making a connection that is not there it’s still a nice touch that adds a bit of texture to her costume. I wished her sleeves had been more puffy, it would have made a nice visual for the audience but that is a nitpick. Also I like that her knife is back though now that I think about, Esmeralda must have had a knife in the Disney version so it’s a null point. I wouldn’t I love her costumes but I appreciate them.

What I didn’t like:

Quasimodo’s makeup – It just looks like two lines of his face, it’s lackluster. Considering the scope of this production it just very underwhelming. Now to be fair, the promo video make not have a good shot of it but it seems like the deformity is coming more from the actor making a face than makeup. In a show like Notre Dame de Paris where everything is minimal, they can get way this the deformity being implied rather than realized but here I don’t think they can. And considering Quasimodo’s characterization in any version is wrapped up in his deformities, it’s not a little thing.

Hmm, only one thing I didn’t really like, either the video was too short or I’m going soft.

What did you think of the promo video?

22Apr 2014

Costumes in the 1997 version of Hunchback; There is something familiar about these costumes

by Jessica

Salma Hayek as Esmeralda, 1997 Hunchback of Notre Dame

The costumes in the 1997 version of the Hunchback were done by John Bloomfield. Bloomfield’s credits include Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and Waterworld, two movies not known for their costumes. Of the two movies, Robin Hood is more similar in style and design to Hunchback’s costume and two costumes show this more than others.

Edward Atterton as Gringoire

Speaking in favor of costumes as a whole they do look old. So many times in film and TV, the costumes look new and pristine. For a film like Hunchback this should not be the case, the clothes should look old and worn. This is something that was seen in Robin Hood. But are the costumes good? Meh, they’re average. Nothing is wrong but nothing is really is amazing.

Mandy Patinkin as Quasimodo

Let’s just get Quasimodo and Frollo out the way. Quasimodo’s look is pretty much stolen from 1939 version. It’s a good Quasimodo look compared to the 1956 version but the Chaney version set a standard for how Quasimodo should look and the 1939 version exceed it, so most versions try to match the 1939 version. This version did and didn’t add anything.

Richard Harris as Frollo

Frollo’s costume……..well…………it’s probably the most interesting costume in the whole adaptation. I don’t mean interesting as good thing though. Frollo’s look in the novel was meant to be severe and austere but this version’s Frollo amps it up. He wears a black cowl robe which is what he wears in the novel but the total baldness just makes him look silly. In my 1997 Frollo post I said he looks like Nosferatu from the 1922 movie and he does. It’s too austere of look to take it seriously.

Salma Hayek as Esmeralda, 1997 Hunchback of Notre Dame

Then we come to Esmeralda’s main costume. It’s a conventional medieval get-up. She wears a chemise with ties at the sleeves to reveal more arms, a corset and a skirt. The color is mostly shades of red tones however their is multiple colors mixed in the skirt and corset. The skirt itself looks like multiple scarfs that were fused to form a skirt. However the skirt is dyed in a vertical pattern and it seems to be a very light fabric. Though this costume is very inauthentic the different colors does help make it not as boring as it could have been.

Salma Hayek as Esmeralda and Edward Atterton as Gringoire

Unfortunately, this costume is made a little silly by the slave bracelet and the shoes. The shoes are forgivable on a practical sense but Esmeralda should be barefoot and somehow I think this costume would have been better sans the footwear. The Slave bracelet however is just silly. Slave Bracelets are bracelets that attract to a ring by a chain. They are based on Indian jewelry. My guess is the idea of her wearing one was to help push her an exotic beauty but the addition of it looks cheap.

Lady Marian in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

Esmeraldas’ costume and the one wore by the Phoebus-like guard are very reminiscent of Robin Hood costumes. Esmeralda’s costume with it scarf like skirt is similar to costume wore by Lady Marian. Once I learned that Bloomfeild did both movie my head link these two costumes together. Phoebus-like guard has the same heavy layered and studded armor that was used in Robin Hood and it’s black so you know he bad. However the loose layers in very similar in both films.

Salma Hayek as Esmeralda and Edward Atterton as Gringoire

The costumes could have been boring but some decisions there were made either made them look good or silly. at best these costume are average to ok nothing more or less.

I just want to say, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is like a guilty pleasure of mine, I loved this movie as kid.

Next time; Sets

Sets 1997 Hunchback of Notre Dame picture image

Notre Dame Set in teh 1997 version of Hunchback

30Oct 2013

What Would Quasimodo Wear?

by Jessica

Tomorrow is Halloween. A day of candy, costumes and feeling mildly scared in a fun way. But what would our dear Hunchback characters wear as their costumes?

Phantom of the Opera Halloween Costume for Quasimodo

Quasimodo – Phantom of the Opera (Another deformed French but considered sexy by many)

Darth Vader Halloween Costume for Frollo

Frollo – Darth Vader (he love wearing black and has a flair for dramatics)

Flapper, Halloween Costume for Esmeralda

Esmeralda – Flapper

Chick Magnet, Halloween Costume for Phoebus

Phoebus – Chick Magnet

Edgar Allan Poe, Halloween Costume for Gringoire

Gringoire – Edgar Allan Poe

Jack Sparrow, Halloween Costume for Clopin

Clopin – Captain Jack Sparrow

Wicked Queen, Halloween Costume for Fleur de Lys

Fleur de Lys – A Wicked Queen

Beer Keg, Halloween Costume for Jehan

Jehan – Beer Keg

Kangaroo, Halloween Costume for Sister Gudule

Sister Gudule – Kangaroo (she wants to keep her baby close to her)

Lady Gaga, Halloween Costume for Djali

Djali – Lady Gaga (would need to be modified for a Goat)

24Oct 2013

5 Hunchback-ish costumes

by Jessica

There still time for a Hunchback of Notre Dame costume! But you don’t need to limit yourself to the characters from the book or the films. You can create a costume that is inspired from the book. This is a list of 5 Hunchback-ish costumes you can create fairly quickly and be creative with.

1. Quasimofo – Obviously a joke-ish costume but you can make the hunchback in to one badass. I would recommend wearing a suit with shades and getting some kind of hunch like a pillow. And maybe a toy gun .

2. Pope or King of Fools – This doesn’t have to be Quasimodo all you would need is to make-up your face to be ugly. The from there get a jester crown and a robe some kind.

3. A Bell – there is no Hunchback version that doesn’t have bells in it. You can wear all yellow maybe get some yellow bell-bottoms or you can incorporate actual bells into your costume. This one would be a creative one to pull off.

4. A Gargoyle – Gargoyles are a major part of Notre Dame’s charm and Quasimodo in a lot of ways in liken to one. It’s a great costume idea as recognizable and not often done. You can have a lot fun with one. You can get a Gargoyle make-up Kit or buy stuff like a pig snout and spray-paint it grey and then wear grey face paint and grey clothing.

5. An Executioner – executioners play a huge part in the book, Quasimodo is whipped and Esmeralda meets her end by one. So why not put the fear in the massive with it as a costume. Wear all black with a hooded mask and carry either an axe or a to fit the book a noose or a whip.

19Sep 2013

Gypsy/Fortune Teller Costumes

by Jessica

Looking up Gypsy costumes on Amazon yields a lot different costume results.You get Belly-dancing, bar wenches, pirates, fortune tellers, stuff label as Gypsy and even a costume of the 300 Queen. Basically a standard Halloween Gypsy costume has a few core elements; bright colors, hip scarfs, corset, texture/patterns and gold elements. More often than not these costumes are in the “sexy” variety of costumes. Of Course, most pre-made Halloween costumes for women are “sexy.”

These Costumes are some of the Gypsy/Fortune Teller variety available on Amazon.

Gypsy Princess Adult Plus Costume

Disney color scheme, seems to be very inspired by the Disney costume to-boot.

In Character Costumes, LLC Fortune Teller Dress

Lots of texture and pattens that go quite nice together. Could easily be a pirate costume as well.

California Costumes Women’s Mystic Gypsy Costume

The boots kill me in this picture, it’s like a costume The Nanny would have wore.

InCharacter Costumes Good Fortune

Elite Sexy Good Fortune Teller Gypsy Costume

Las Vegas version of a Gypsy/FortuneTeller. It’s silly with the lace, confetti-dot, satin and faux velvet but I don’t hate it.

Leg Avenue Women’s 3 Piece Crystal Ball Gypsy Peasant Dress With Puff Sleeves

Leg Avenue Women’s 3 Piece Crystal Ball Gypsy Peasant Dress With Puff Sleeves…

The Ruffle tier skirt is a reminds me a skating costume but considering there have been a few notable Notre Dame de Paris skating performances that may not be too out-of-the-box

In Character Costumes, LLC Women’s Gypsy Costume

Very quintessential Halloween Gypsy Costume even though it goes with the stereotypical vest and not the corset.

Leg Avenue Women’s Seductive Gypsy Costume

Overly Sexy with Disney color scheme, I find the “corset” a little silly.

Ladies Sexy Shimmery Fortune Teller

The way the skirt hangs this costume reminds me of a Gothic Lolita costume.

18Oct 2012

More Hunchback Costumes

by Jessica

More Esmeralda

My pick for Esmeralda

Quasimodo

Frollo

Phoebus

Clopin

Fleur de Lys

Comes in hot pink

Djali

13Oct 2012

Notre Dame de Paris Costumes

by Jessica

Estro Comtumi Esmeralda Notre Dame de Paris Costume

Here is an Italian site of unofficial Notre Dame costume, http://www.estrocostumi.com/estro/musical/notre-dame/

20Mar 2012

New Lens Notre Dame de Paris Lens

by Jessica

Esmeralda’s Design from Notre Dame de Paris

I just finished a new Squidoo Lens. It’s on Esmeralda’s Green Costume. I want to make a few lenses on the Costumes from Notre Dame de Paris. I picked the Green Costume first because it’s iconic, it’s my favorite ^_~ and it differs so much from cast to cast. This lens is the reason I’m late with my article this week. This lens was labor of love for me ^^. Please Enjoy though I may add more (sewing patterns that work for this costume are hard to find).

Anyway Please Check it out – http://www.squidoo.com/nddp-costume-esmeralda-green
Let me know what you think. Leave a comement, sign the guestbook, or just vote in the polls ^_~

13Mar 2012

The Costumes of Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

by Jessica

Esmeralda and Quasimodo Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

I’ve made no secrets that I love costumes but I got to say the costumes in Der Glöckner von Notre Dame do nothing for me. For the most part they are pretty generic. The costumes were design by Sue Blane of Rocky Horror fame but I feel like there was little to no real effort put into them.

Frollo and Phoebus Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

My first problem is the use of colors. Costumes used in musicals can help identify the characters and colors are a great way to do this. When colors are used like that they can add a style to the overall look of the show. Some examples are Romeo and Juliet where Montagues are in Blue and Capulets are in Red. Notre Dame de Paris also does a good job of using colors to distinguish the characters Esmeralda- Green, Quasimodo- Red, Frollo- Black ect. In Glöckner Quasimodo wears red but so does Esmeralda, Clopin wears brown, Frollo wears Black and Purple, Gargoyles in grayish taupe, Phoebus is wears Dark Blue and Gold? So the colors they wear do not make characters stand out from each other.

Judy Weiss as Esmeralda in Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

A second problem is the details on the costumes. It not that they’re badly done, it’s just that, if you’re sitting in the audience of the show you’re not going to see them. Little details don’t work in musicals. So the lace on Esmeralda’s Blouse and embroidery on her corset are lost to the audience. All the costumes I’m sure are lovely up close but it’s wasted from the audience’s perceptive.

Quasimodo with Antoine, Charles and Loni Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

The one costume(s) that I like are the a gargoyles, at least they have a sense of drama and design to them. Quasimodo is hardly ugly, Esmeralda looks like she threw together a renaissance fair costume from her closet, Phoebus looks more like a musketeer than Burgundian Knight, the Archdeacon’s costume looks way too modern and Frollo’s costume just looks like they copied Frollo’s costume from the 1939 version, fitting given that Disney copied that movie but kind of lazy. Clopin has two costumes, the beggar and the King of Gypsies, and yet I don’t get a true sense of personality from either one. There is just no cohesion to these costumes, no style no real personality that makes these costume feel like they belong to the show.