On April 18th 2013, The King’s Academy will perform “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” Disney collaborated with the school to adapt the movie into a stage show. Now I’m basing this post on the preview.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyLZURia7go
First off, this is a high school performance so I’m not going to get into the singing or acting. I’ll just say what I find interesting and what I dislike. I will say that the singing is quite good in general .
This stage version seem to very similar to the german Der Glockner Von Notre Dame. Clopin doesn’t have a puppet, Frollo says that Quasimodo will hopefully “think like him” instead be of “use to him”, and Quasimodo sings “God Help the outcast.” Now I mention in my Glockner review that I hated that Quasimodo is shoe-horned into that song, depriving Esmeralda of her only solo song. But who knows, maybe she will this version, though I doubt it. My guess is that this show will follow the movie more than Der Glockner did. I can’t imagine a high school production killing Esmeralda but then again, I was in a High School production of Oliver Twist and Nancy dies, so maybe. Unlike Glockner “The Court of Miracle” remains in the show but I think it doesn’t work with a full chorus that is trying to sound pretty. It should have been a smaller group singing more roughly.
Now some nitpicks, Clopin is pronounce wrong. It’s not “Clo-pin”, It’s “Clo-pan”. Disney got it right but perhaps the kid was nervous. But did he call Phoebus “Edgerick”? I can’t respond to that? That is so wrong. Did they change the name and think no one would know? Who ever wrote shame. Edgerick? What kind of name is that? Maybe I miss heard that. Also, I personally don’t care for the chorus’ arm choreography. I get what they’re doing, it’s just silly. ‘
I hope the songs from Glockner are in the show mainly “Someday” and “Esmeralda.”
I can’t really review this since it’s a preview as I can’t see the full scope of the show and I really don’t like being overly critical to teenagers who can sing well.
If there a full version of play on youtube I will review it more in depth but as I live no where here Florida and lack the means to fly there I can’t see it live. But if you do, visit here from more info. And then tell me all about it ^_~
Show is amazing! Disney coming next weekend. Rumor is Broadway 2014…
Thanks for posting. The show is coming along well.
TKA mom
Hope my school does hunchback