Merry Christmas 2014
Esmeralda, Quasimodo, and Laverne King’s Academy Hunchback of Notre Dame
Having been in a High School production once I know that King’s Academy put a lot effort into their production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Do I wish somethings were different? Yes, like I wished Phoebus sang and I wish his name was Phoebus but in all honesty I don’t think this production was meant for me. It was meant for the students, family, and the school and that is fine. It’s a decent re-telling of the Disney movie and the German musical Der Glockner von Notre Dame and really that is all it needed to be.
I will say that while the kids are all talented, the real stand-outs are the girls who play Esmeralda and Laverne.
Next Version – I can’t say right now as I’m debating between two, It’s between a good version and a bad version and even if I did know 100%, it’s a secret.
Also I’m going to take a break, reviews will resume in January.
Esmeralda singing God Help the Outcast Disney Hunchback of Notre Dame
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 Heaven‘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
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 ensemble‘ 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?
Way back in March 2013 I did a post of Jean de Florette, a famous movie from France and its similarities to the Hunchback of Notre Dame (you can read that post here).
Emmanuelle Beart as Manon in Manon des Sources
In that post I mention it’s second part, a film called Manon des Sources
Manon (Emmanuelle Beart) and Ugolin (Daniel Auteuil) Manon des Sorces
In this movie Ugolin sees Manon dancing naked and falls into a deep crazed infatuation with her. Manon has similar free-spirited innocence that Esmeralda had in the novel, she even has goats. Unlike Frollo’s obession with Esmeralda, Ugolin never tries to harm Manon but he does try to win her over but Manon despises him and his uncle for destroying her father. However like Frollo, Ugolin is undone by his love for Manon.
I highly recommend seeing these two movies, they are great.
Frollo, Quasimodo and Ensemble performing Esmeralda King’s Academy Hunchback of Notre Dame
The King’s Academy version of the Hunchback exist as step between Der Glockner von Notre Dame and the official American musical version of La Jolla and Papermills. The King’s version has some core differences of Glockner and even the Disney movie. Also Please note, I’m working off of memory, I had hope to re-watch it and make a list but I couldn’t do that so I probably will miss things.
So the big difference and something that I find a unforgivable is Phoebus or rather not Phoebus. This version calls him Edgrick, I’m not sure why they changed his name. The did change the gargoyle names back to there original Disney name of Victor, Hugo and Laverne instead of the Glockner names Charles, Loni and Antoine. Also in this production Phoebus does not sing. This Phoebus’ signature song of Ein bißchen Freude or Rest and Recreation does not occur. Also Out of Love is cut which is also cut from the La Jolla version. He also doesn’t sing in Esmeralda instead Frollo sings Phoebus’s part which doesn’t make that much sense as the Frollo asks why he hears her words inside his head I have no idea what he would be referring to, though the lyrics have been changed somewhat.
King’s version
Frollo:
Why do I long for Esmeralda?
Why do I hear her words inside my head?
Why do I think of Esmeralda?
With all the Gypsies Beggars left for Dead
Yes my Duty calls for
Paris is Burning
Lit to expose that furtive pair
Sneaking about
Out There
Glockner
Phoebus:
What have I done for Esmeralda?
Why do I hear her voice inside my head?
Why do I think of Esmeralda?
With my career and prospects left for dead?
Frollo:
Once more my Duty calls
Paris is Burning
Lit to expose that furtive pair
Sneaking about
Out There
http://www.shipperland.de/miracles/
I wish Phoebus or Edgrick had sung in Esmeralda be it harkens to the basis of the book three guys and how they hearts are made different with regard to one woman. Plus it adds rich to the big act ending song.
Another cut song from the Glockner version is Tanz auf dem Seil or Dance on the Rope which served as Esmeralda’s introduction. Instead she appears dancing before a crowd like in the movie. The La Jolla version also cut Dance of the Rope and opted for keeping the dance angle but added the song Rhythm of the Tambourine.
The King’s Academy also cut Tanz der Zigeuner, Dance of the Gypsies and reintroduced The Court of Miracle from the original. Minor change really.
Clopin doesn’t narrate the tale as a beggar which he does in Glockner. In the King’s versions he is in his jester costume at the start. Minor change.
However the big change is at the end, no one dies and I mean no one, well except Quasimodo’s mother. But Frollo lies, he is about to attack Quasimodo and Esmeralda but he just walks off. This could be because he said care for the child.
A curious addition and not really a change but it needs to be mention is Djali isn’t in this version but one of Hugo’s lines mention Djali not by name but he does say “the one in the dress ain’t bad either” referencing to the nonexistent Djali.
Again I’m probably missing other difference between the shows but those are the one I remember and can find
Next Time -Direction and Staging
Esmeralda, Quasimodo and Ensemble performing God help the Outcast King’s Academy Hunchback of Notre Dame
It works as a combo. I have no shame in admitting I thought this was going to use the trailer from the film E.T.
Robert Marien as Froll & Matt Laurent as Quasimodo, World Tour Notre Dame de Paris Crocus City
YAY, Korea is putting on a French Cast Production of Notre Dame de Paris in honor of the 10th anniversary of the show in Korea. This marks the like fourth run of the show in Asian country but it’s the fisrt time since 2005 that a production has been in its native.
The show will run at The Grand Theater, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul from January 15th to February 27th 2015.
So here is the cast and if you have been following the Notre Dame de Paris recent cast ( or just in general) you will see some familiar faces.
Quasimodo – Matt Laurent & Angelo Del Vecchio
Frollo- Robert Marien & Jerome Collet
Esmeralda – Stephanie Bedard & Myriam Brosseau
Gringoire – Richard Charest & John Eyzen
Phoebus – Yvan Pedneault & John Eyzen
Fleur de Lys – Stephanie Schlesser & Myriam Brosseau
Clopin – Roddy Julienne, Gardy Fury & Angelo Del Vecchio
Also according to Matt Laurent’s site the show will also go to
Daeju, South Korea
Daejeon, South Korea
Kwanju, South Korea
Busan, South Korea
Ulsan, South Korea
Taipei, Taiwan
http://mattlaurent.com/calendrier.php
Frollo
While I have bashed the 1986 version of the Hunchback of Notre Dame
Esmeralda and Gringoire
At best it’s watchable which is more than I can say for the Dingo version or the Enchanted tales version which one can only watch because they are so bad you can’t look away. The 1986 version isn’t so bad it’s good it’s just meh. Which considering the amount of laziness half-ass workmanship that went into this version, meh is high praise.
Next Version- Unknown
Djali
Frollo
From the Dingo version, to Jetlag, to the 1977 version and the 1986 version of the Hunchback of Notre Dame,
Quasimodo
If the people in charged are not putting any effort in to the look and feel of the movie why should they put effort in the script? Adherence to the original content is not a bold move and not for the respect or love of the source material. It’s done because no one cares on the production and following the story closely is easier than thinking about a decent adaptation for a visual medium.
1986 Esmeralda
It’s sad and insulting that some of the most faithful versions of Hunchback are lazy pieces of shit. This of course isn’t always the case (Notre Dame de Paris) but it’s par for the course you can either have a good movie that looks like the production team was trying but the story is messed up or a version where hardly an effort was made and it looks like crap but they followed the novel.
Gringoire
Is the 1986 version the worst and laziest version? No and no, while I don’t think the company did put much of an effort into the 1986 version the Dingo is far and away much lazier and Enchanted Tales and Secret of the Hunchback are most contestable versions. The 1986 has moments but it is lazy and adherence to the novel while it could be considered a plus in its favor, it is just part of the laziness memo.
Next Time – Conclusion
Frollo