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
They start talking about Hunchback at like 9 minutes in. The interview starts at 14 minutes and last till about 25 minutes.
All I been hearing that this show is great. Also this shows seems to about Frollo’s story and not Quasimodo. They also say it’s Victor Hugo story with Disney score. I don’t think I believe that, I mean Frollo is not Quasimodo’s uncle and his motivation for adopting Quasimodo was out of pity and love from his brother. I suppose the show get the latter part but it’s still different.
The interview is is very good. I like how Page says he addresses how he plays Villains as not villains. Even in the Disney version Frollo doesn’t consider himself a villain.
I do hope this show goes to Broadway because it is very unlikely that I will get to see it at the PaperMill Playhouse so I can review it properly. Or Maybe Disney Theatricals should just send me a screener of the show because it’s very important that they impress me, a minor niche blogger.
I’m a sucker for the Moomins, I just adore them. If you don’t know the Moomins, they are happy troll-like creatures who live in Moomin Valley. They are originally from Finland and were created by Tove Jansson in 1945.
Moomins in Christmas is Coming
The Moomins sleep all winter, so winter is an unknown world to them which is the plot of Moominland Midwinter and a couple episodes of the second anime version of Moomins or Tanoshii Moomin Ikka which was made in the early 90s.
In the second half of the episode Christmas is Coming they learn about Christmas, in that they wake up from sleeping and learn Christmas is coming. They don’t know what that means and think Christmas is something big and scary and that a decorated tree, dinner and presents keeps it happy. The episode conveys the message that Christmas is more about giving and not presents but it’s done in a new and fun way.
The basic plot is that all the, or most of the Disney characters are snowed in at the House of Mouse and Donald is being a grump, so Mickey uses clips and shorts to try and cheer him up. Which doesn’t work since it’s only when Mickey asks him to put the star on the tree that he lightens up.
The first story is called Donald on Ice. It’s Donald skating and failing a lot. But the ending is cute. Donald runs in to an abominable snowman who wins a snow man contest and wins skate, that was cute.
The second story is Pluto’s Christmas Tree from 1952. Where Mickey cuts down tree with Chip and Dale inside. Pluto barks at them and havoc happens. It’s cute enough.
The third story is The Nutcracker with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Ludwig. It was fun enough. I enjoyed the narrator.
The fourth story is the 1983 Mickey’s Christmas Carol which is a classic.
Scrooge in Mickey’s Christmas Carol
One of the big problems is the leaps in animation quality. The House of Mouse parts are really poorly animated which is jarring with the 1952 and 1983 compared to the 1999-2001 animation. The older stuff is just so much richer.
Minnie, Goofy, with Jafar, Pain , Tigger, and Pooh
The House of Mouse parts are the weakest parts but some of the quips from the characters were a little silly but the whole Donald is grumpy is a weak premise and unnecassary. The only thing that was enjoyable about it was a reaction from Grumpy. Did I mention that the animation in those parts are REALY bad?
Donald with Daisy and Goofy
So I’m a little stumped most of Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse is alright and some of it bad and pointless. I would recommend just going to bathroom or getting a snack for the House of Mouse parts or just watching the clips on there own.
Also the wikipedia page said Victor and Hugo from Hunchback were in this but I didn’t seem them and I found it so weird that Belle doesn’t get a line, she sings but Beast says the lines.
I may not be in favor of older men playing Frollo but I would say Charles Dance would make a Fantastic Frollo.
Charles Dance as Tywin Lannister from Game of Thrones
Charles Dance is most popular known for his role as Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones
but the guy has a very impressive acting resume. I has also been in a Phantom of the Opera adaption and Rebecca, two books I also like. He was also in Bleak House
which I watch but I didn’t read. He also has a lot project come out including the third witcher game and Pride and Prejudice and Zombie.
Charles Dance as Mr. Tulkinghorn from Bleak House
But why would he make a good Frollo. Think Dance just excel at acting and his voice would just be awesome for Frollo. I think he would just knock Frollo’s complexity and torture out of the park. While Dance would be old for Frollo in the purest sense of the novel, he would fit the part in the austere harsh way. The harsh angular look is ideal for Frollo and so many times we don’t see those traits in the Frollo character.
Charles Dance
If Charles Dance were to play Frollo I would be happy even if the purest part in my mind complain a little it would be quiet when Dance spoke his first line with an intense glare. What are your opinions on Charles Dance as Frollo
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
I mention that I would post some Christmas stuff I like. This by no mean everything just things I feel like mentioning quickly.
This is Eivør Pálsdóttir singing Dansaðu Vindur. It was adapted from the Swendish Eurovision song Den Vilda. This song was a hit in 2013 when it came out. And it’s on the Frostrósir album
Eivør is one of my favorite singers. Here she is singing in Icelandic but she in a lot of other languages including English. It’s just a pretty Christmas song.
For the month of December I’m going to take a break from the Non-Disney Princesses to view three direct to video Disney Movies, Gwahahahhaha, I hope they suck. I also may post a few Christmas related things that I like on the weekends but I’m not 100% on that.
Ok, that was inane sappiness. The End. I kid, Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas was released as Direct to video in 1999 and tells three sepreate stories that feauture Donald Duck, Goofy and Mickey.
Mickey and Minnie opening their gifts
Donald Duck story is called Donald Duck Stuck on Christmas. It’s basically Huey, Dewey and Louie wishing that Christmas was everyday. This causes a groundhog effect where the live the same Christmas off and over again till they learn that Christmas is about giving and love and not about presents.
Goofy’s story is called A Very Goofy Christmas, gee cleaver title. It’s about Max, at his youngest, losing his faith in Santa Clause and Goofy tring to regain it. In the end Max tries to regains Goofy’s faith in Santa and they wish for each other happiness.
The last story is Mickey’s and it’s called Mickey’s and Minnie’s The Gift of the Magi. It pays out like The gift of the Magic except with Mickey’s Harmonica instead of the watch and Minnie’s watch instead of hair. It’s pretty much just gift of the Magi which is another fine story about giving and the Christmas spirit. Though I would point out that Mickey and Minnie can still use their gift unlike the couple in the Gift of the Magi because Minnie gave Mickey a box for his harmonica and Mickey gave Minnie a necklace which was supposed to be for her watch but it’s still a necklace. Also what time period is this because it have like old fashion cars, and Mickey’s attire look like Victorian street urchin but there is a computer story, ah whatever.
The Story Gifts
Basically all three stories are the same thing, Christmas = Giving +Love. You have seen these stories over and over, there is nothing new to them. The only spin that they made is adding slapstick that gets rather old after a while. There are better way to get the Christmas spirit message to kids. Maybe this video thinks it will be the first but Mickey’s Christmas Carol does it better.
The cast
There is not a lot to say on this video, it’s boring, sappy and inane but that is not a surprise. The most I can say is it’s harmless and the worst I can say is meh. I did chuckle a bit in the Goofy story when they think they see Santa and it’s just a Beagle robbing a house, that was funny. The sadest part was when Donald repeated dropped the pancakes on the floor, too sad.
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.
, I just adore them. If you don’t know the Moomins, they are happy troll-like creatures who live in Moomin Valley. They are originally from Finland and were created by Tove Jansson in 1945.
and a couple episodes of the 
or Tanoshii Moomin Ikka which was made in the early 90s.
. It’s very much all over the place. Some of it is good and some of it just confounding. This video was released in 2001.
adaption and 
, two books I also like. He was also in 
does it better.
