https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQBAVC1tdjk&spfreload=10
Ok a few things, first off I really like the costume. I like Esmeralda is blues but you can see the Disney inspiration but it doesn’t feel tacky or cheap, it feels right.
Second, I want to thank the person who gave this song back to Esmeralda. In the German version they made this song a duet with Quasimodo, which sure that is was quiet lovely but she didn’t get any other solo and even Phoebus got a solo number and he didn’t even sing in Disney version despite the fact that Kevin Kline can sing (he sings in my new favorite song Electric Love,*) not that really makes a different as Demi Moore didn’t sing for Esmeralda either.
And finally speaking of Esmeralda’s singing, I really like Ciara Renee’s voice for the role. She has a similar voice to Heidi Mollenhauer which is in turn similar to Demi Moore. A voice which has dark, almost smokey tone but with a lot of warmth.
I also think it’s interesting that Frollo is taking the Archdeacon role here which is similar to Frollo from 1982 and 1939 version. Not sure it because of this influenced by the movies or not just interesting.
Anyway what do you think?
(I might talk about this show more if I ever do posts on other works by Hunchback actors ^_~)
Oh and Kevin Kline is going to be in the new Beauty and Beast movie as Maurice, Mind-Blown
I get the minimalist aspect of the set and have seen it criticized in a couple of reviews. I like that it’s minimalist, because the characters are and should be the focus. But still, couldn’t they use some lighting techniques during the Hellfire scene to give it more of a punch? I know it wouldn’t go with the aesthetics of the rest of the show, but for me it’s just not as awesome without being so over the top! It needs the added personality to really drive the song and themes it represents home. If the show does go to Broadway I hope they do work with more lighting techniques to give the songs their own distinct personalities.
You’re right, lightening would have been the ideal solution to Hellfire. It would still keep with the style but it would have added so much dynamism to the number.
There are a few issues with the show’s approach to thing. Like in Made of Stone, when the chorus is “leaving” Quasimodo alone they take off these cowls to show it but it would have been way more effective if the the cowls had hood and they put over their head to show that they no longer part of Quasimodo’s imagination but now just cold lifeless stone. For the chorus, who in that scene were supposed to be statues of Notre Dame to take off the costume component and have like a town person costume underneath seemed a little off-message. Seemed like a missed opportunity. Also I wish Someday followed Einmal example that it carried till Esmeralda was on the pyre, it was just so powerful.
Also I don’t know it you saw it, there is a petition to get Hunchback on Broawdway because there was no plan to transfer to Broadway after the Papermill performances.
I really didn’t understand what the people in Made of Stone were supposed to represent and at first thought they were the gargoyles, but this time were just figments of Quasimodo’s imagination.
Although I like the back story between Jehan and Claude, the narrative was just too literal! “Jehan and the girl left”…thank you, I can see that. And what happened to Clopin? Honestly, as much as I want to see Disney succeed with this, I think they made too many changes in trying to appeal to the average American theater goer and tried a little too hard to make it darker and closer to the book, yet still maintain the Disney side of things.
Yes, I saw, signed and donated to the petition. I’ve got friends I want to visit in my hometown which is in NY and going to see this musical on Broadway would just make for a fun weekend trip. Plus it’s about damn time that the states had a successful stage adaptation of HOND/NDDP!
There are quite a few videos from the musical up on YouTube. :) Now if only we could get an original cast recording!
I hope they release a recording soon. They probably will when the show goes to Broadway. I should say “If” but considering that I have heard nothing but praise about the show I can’t imagine it won’t go to Broadway.
I’ve seen a few mixed reviews, mostly stuff about the narrative and from the other videos I’ve seen, I do agree…not every thing has to be stated by the characters!!! The audience can see what’s happening and doesn’t need step by step narration. There are some parts which seem a bit choppy and not very natural, like the blocking still needs to be worked out. And the Hellfire scene is kind of lack luster…I just don’t feel that it does the original scene in the movie justice. But on the plus side finally someone gave Jehan a part in a song!!! And the guy playing Jehan is nice to look at. Overall the songs are amazing and the new ones add more to the characters. I hope it goes to Broadway and that a recording is put out soon.
I did see the Hellfire part on youtube and yeah much like Glockner it doesn’t measure up to the Disney version. It could be a damn if the do and damn if the don’t thing because the vision of the show is to be bare bones so if they did make the number big and over-the-top like Disney version than it doesn’t match the aesthetics of the show but if the don’t than it just pales in comparison. Maybe they though Hellfire’s passion was enough to carry the visuals but it really doesn’t. Hopefully Broadway will come up with something to mitigate it.