Helene Segara as Esmeralda Notre Dame de Paris

Helene Segara as Esmeralda from Notre Dame de Paris

I was reading on http://notredamedeparisfans.tumblr.com/ that tumbler user express a dislike  for Esmeralda’s green dress from Notre Dame de Paris. You can read the post here (post doesn’t seem to be of NDdp Fan anymore).  She finds the dress to be like a sack with no movement and thinks the show should have opted for more traditional gypsy costume designs. Overall she doesn’t care for the design. Now since I don’t have a tumblr account and I made a squidoo lens on this topic, I’m going to offer up a defense with a blog post. However this is not the first person to express a dislike for the costume. So it’s nothing new.

Helene Segara as Esmeralda Notre Dame de Paris design by Fred Sathal

Helene Segara as Esmeralda design by Fred Sathal

 

I really do like the design I think it’s pretty and has a fashion edge to it. Of course I do not like all the versions of the dress. I tend toward the ones where you can see the texture more and I prefer one that are not floral patterns. I think the reason why the show didn’t opt for the cliche “gypsy” look was the show was trying to go for a “modern” and less of the musical vibe: more like music video as musical in France were not popular in 1998 (they mentioned this in either the featurette or on the frequent star special). This is probably why they got Fred Sathal  do the designs. Sathal is a fashion design with costume-like POV but not a costume designer, so all the costumes are not typical musical costumes.

Helene Segara as Esmeralda Notre Dame de Paris picture image

Helene Segara as Esmeralda Notre Dame de Paris

 

As for the movement, the dress does have some movement (watch Bohemienne) and while Esmeralda is dancer as part of her character, the actresses are not cast for their dancing, so the movement of the dance factor is mute point. I mean when an Esmeralda does dance she moves her hips, spins, runs around and/or does hand movements, not exactly movements that need a flowy skirt to showoff the quality of  movement and lines (well maybe the spin do). Plus she only dances once in two hours, so the play isn’t that interested her dancing.

 

Lola Ponce as Esmeralda Notre Dame de Paris picture image

Lola Ponce as Esmeralda Notre Dame de Paris

 

Later in the tumble post it’s mentions that red promotional dress that was used for London cast, French cast and was used in Russian version is prettier. Problem with that dress is the color is red which is Quasimodo’s color so it does really work for the show. Unless the colors are switch ( but I prefer Esmeralda in green, red is too cliche) or the dress was made green the dress.  I wonder what that would be like…..

The Red Promotional Notre Dame de Paris in Green, Tina Arena(Esmeralda) and Garou (Quasimodo)   picture image

The Red Promotional Notre Dame de Paris in Green, Tina Arena(Esmeralda) and Garou (Quasimodo)

I like the red promotional dress, I just don’t care for the fringe, especially on the sleeves. I kind of like it in green though it’s pretty in red. Also for the record I like the second act dress too (I’m planning a lens on that too ^_~). I like flutter sleeves, cowl necklines and ruffles. Consider that the dress is a prison doesn’t make a ton of sense but when did musical have to be logical.

 

Helene Segara as Esmeralda in the Prison dress Notre Dame de Paris design Fred Sathal picture image

Helene Segara as Esmeralda in the Prison dress design Fred Sathal Notre Dame de Paris

 

Maybe another cast versions should change up the costumes a bit variety being the spice of life. But let’s hear from you what are your thoughts, people? Do like the Notre Dame de Paris Costume Style or should it opt for a more traditional musical style (whatever that means)?

Bada as Esmeralda Korean version Notre Dame de Paris  picture image

Bada as Esmeralda Korean version Notre Dame de Paris

More Pictures from the Asian Tour.

Trying a new Format. Like? Or did you prefer the old way I handled these posts, let me know… or I’ll just continue till these Asian Tour Pictures run out

March 29 is apparently Ananke Day according to the good people at The Frollo Forum. Ananke was the original inspiration for the character of Frollo. Victor Hugo say the word carved into a wall in Notre Dame and wonder about the person who carved it.  It’s a greek concept that means roughly (very, very very roughly) “Death Destiny”.

So in honor Ananke Day here’s a video of “Anarkia” from Notre Dame de Paris peformed by Daniel Lavoie (Frollo) and Bruno Pelletier (Grongoire) Enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0sGpSBzuLg

Also I know I put this song as number 7 in the worst song list of Notre Dame de Paris but I really do enjoy it. So many subject changes for such a short song, I think Gringoire has ADD.

More Pictures of the Asian Tour.

Ian Carlyle as Clopin Notre Dame de Paris Asian Tour picture image

Ian Carlyle as Clopin Notre Dame de Paris Asian Tour

Dancer Notre Dame de Paris Asian Tour picture image

Dancer Notre Dame de Paris Asian Tour

Jane-Lily Young as Fleur de Lys Notre Dame de Paris Asian Tour picture image

Jane-Lily Young as Fleur de Lys Notre Dame de Paris Asian Tour

Matt Laurent as Quasimodo & Candice Parise as Esmeralda Notre Dame de Paris Asian Tour picture image

Matt Laurent as Quasimodo & Candice Parise as Esmeralda Notre Dame de Paris Asian Tour

Robert Marien as Frollo Notre Dame de Paris Asian Tour picture image

Robert Marien as Frollo Notre Dame de Paris Asian Tour

Matt Laurent as Quasimodo Notre Dame de Paris Asian Tour picture image

Matt Laurent as Quasimodo Notre Dame de Paris Asian Tour

Candice Parise as Esmeralda Notre Dame de Paris Asian Tour picture image

Candice Parise as Esmeralda Notre Dame de Paris Asian Tour

Dennis Ten Vergert as Gringoire Notre Dame de Paris Asian Tour picture image

Dennis Ten Vergert as GringoireNotre Dame de Paris Asian Tour

Finale Notre Dame de Paris Asian Tour picture image

Finale Notre Dame de Paris Asian Tour

Here is a video of Garou and Tina Arena singing Ma Maison c’est ta Maison with a chior of 2000. Enjoy

Fun Fact – Arena born in Australia and Original Esmeralda in the London Cast is based in Paris and speaks Fluent French.

Esmeralda's Design from Notre Dame de Paris picture image

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 ^_~

More Pictures of the Asian Tour Cast of Notre Dame de Paris, Enjoy

Dennis Ten Vergert as Gringoire Asian Tour Notre Dame de Paris picture image

Dennis Ten Vergert as Gringoire Asian Tour Notre Dame de Paris

Refugees Asian Tour Notre Dame de Paris image picture

Refugees Asian Tour Notre Dame de Paris

Ian Carlyle as Clopin Asian Tour Notre Dame de Paris picture image

Ian Carlyle as Clopin Asian Tour Notre Dame de Paris

Candice Parise as Esmerealda Asian Tour Notre Dame de Paris picture image

Candice Parise as Esmerealda Asian Tour Notre Dame de Paris

Matt Laurent as Quaismodo & Robert Marien as Frollo Asian Tour Notre Dame de Paris picture image

Matt Laurent as Quaismodo & Robert Marien as Frollo Asian Tour Notre Dame de Paris

Lilly-Jane Young as Fleur de Lys Asian Tour Notre Dame de Paris picture image

Lilly-Jane Young as Fleur de Lys Asian Tour Notre Dame de Paris

Stephen Webb as Phoebus Asian Tour Notre Dame de Paris picture image

Stephen Webb as Phoebus Asian Tour Notre Dame de Paris

Matt Laurent as Quasimodo Asian Tour Notre Dame de Paris picture image

Matt Laurent as Quasimodo Asian Tour Notre Dame de Paris

Asian Tour Cast Notre Dame de Paris picture image

Asian Tour Cast Notre Dame de Paris