Tag Archives: Loni

08Feb 2012

Music of Der Glöckner von Notre Dame“ Part 6

by jess

This is the sixth part of my review on the music of Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Trommeln in der Stadt

Mob Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Trommeln in der Stadt (Drums in the City) is a new song that uses Sanctuary from the original soundtrack. This song opens Act 2 and it expresses what the citizens think of Crazy Frollo’s search for Esmeralda. At first when they though it as just about “cleansing” (creepy word choice huh?) the city of Gypsies that was fine but with the all the soldiers, blockages and fire they’re are none to happy about it.

Like I said this song uses the music from Santuary, which is the music playing when Quasimodo is recusing Esmeralda from the Pyre in the movie, so the music is great. It’s dramatic and has high energy which is a great way to start the the second act. It also great to see how the normal people of Paris react to Frollo’s obsession.

Ein Mann wie du

Quasimodo with the Gargoyles Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Ein Mann wie du (A Man like you) is A Guy like you. It pretty much the same as the original song but it’s less annoying. Instead of making visual gags the Gargoyles throw random French words and phases into the song. Which isn’t as annoying as it sounds.

The song has one other difference Quasimodo sings in it. From what I can understand of the lyrics (because my German is non-existence) is that Quasimodo expresses that he wants to believe the Gargoyles but doesn’t quite. Musically I don’t think it adds much I guess it adds a bit of character development because this musically is a a lot guilty at throwing Quasimodo at the audience but at least he is more interesting here than the Disney movie Quaismodo.

Quasimodo with Antoine, Charles and Loni Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Given that this song in it’s conception is song that provides levity it’s a little awkwardly placed in this musical. As movies have continuous action something was need after Hellfire, the torture of Gypsies, the burning of the house, Phoebus getting shot and falling in the river to bright up the mood and while I don’t like A Guy like you at least the placement makes sense. Ein Mann wie du as a song of levity doesn’t really work. It’s the second song in Act 2 so the audience has had a break and the song prior didn’t have an emotional investment in it as it’s just about the Citizens of Paris. So ultimately and this pains me to say it’s not as successful as A Guy like you, it’s just better performed and not nearly as annoying.

So it’s mixed I don’t hate this song as I hate it’s Disney counterpart but I dislike the song in the musical as it doesn’t work as it’s concept intended. It hard because I like 10x better than the Movie version.

Next Time-
Weil du liebst
Tanz der Zigeuner
Weil du liebst

Quasimodo, Phoebus and the Gargoyles Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

15Jan 2012

Der Glöckner von Notre Dame Characters

by jess

Pictures are of the Original cast of Der Gloeckner Von Notre Dame

Drew Sarich as Quasimodo in Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Quasimodo in this version is not deaf but he has trouble expressing himself in verbal communication. He is however able to express himself when he sings. He seems to have a more of a morose attitude than he had in the Disney version but he is still pretty much the same.

Judy Weiss as Esmeralda in Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Esmeralda is a young dancer who is a newcomer to the Court of Miracles. She gets very frustrated with inequality. She a has a difficulty keeping her thoughts to herself which is why she had to move to Paris and why she gets in trouble with Frollo. She is not a sassy or as sexual aware as she in the movie but she does come off sweeter and naive, which is more like the book.

Norbert Lamla as Frollo Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Frollo was a priest in his youth and decided that Paris needed to be save so he became a became a Judge. He hates Gypsy and believes that they are sole the problem with Paris. He takes care of Quasimodo as a act of contrition for killing Quasimodo’s mother. He hopes Quasimodo will think like him and his emotional abuse is something that he is unaware of. Frollo becomes consumed with lust for Esmeralda which drives him insane. He thinks the cure is either to possess her or destroy her. He seems to have intensity than he has in movie. I would also point out that Frollo being a former priest is only mention once. (Then again I can’t find the copy of the script I found ages go and I didn’t read the whole thing, so it could have been mention several time in the dialogue portion {that’s the problem with not have a public DVD recording of the show}).

Fredrik Lycke as Phoebus in Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Phoebus is the newly promoted Captain of the Guards. He hopes the job will offer him some rest and relaxation. He also enjoys flirting with girls. After meeting Esmeralda he decides that he rather be good than obey Frollo’s insane orders and becomes a criminal. I rather like that Phoebus starts off similar to the book more or less a playboy type and then betters himself.

Jens Janke as Clopin in Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Clopin is the story teller, leader of the Court of Miracles and the Festival of Fools. Clopin does very little for the plot but he seems to enjoy regaling the tale to the audince and providing exposition. In his storyteller role he dresses like an old begger which further separates his character into two distinct characters unlike the movie where he does as pretty the same person.

Tamas Ferkay as Antoine in Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Valentin Zahn as Charles in Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Yvonne Ritz Andersen as Loni in Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

The Gargoyles are Quasimodo’s imaginary friends. They try to encourage Quasimodo to leave Notre Dame and recuses Esmeralda. They also try to comfort him after Esmeralda dies. They don’t have the over the top personalities that their Disney counterparts have nor do the make pop culture references or fart jokes. Their levity is light-hearted and subtle. I don’t think the production could really take these character away nor could they make them akin to Disney movie characters if they wanted to achieve a dark tone. So making them subtle and completely imaginary was a good way to handle them, though they are still a bit annoying but no where near the level they are in the movie.

*Trivia – Gargoyles names are taking from Famous actors who played Quasimodo:
Loni- Lon Chaney (1923)
Charles – Charles Laughton (1939)
Antoine – Anthony Hopkins (1982)

Carlo Lauber as the Archdeacon in Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

The Archdeacon guilts Frollo into taking care of Quasimodo. He also orders Frollo to leave Notre Dame when he tries to arrest Esmeralda. He is also the one who asks Quasimodo to hide Phoebus after he is shot. Like the Disney movie he does have that much personality. He does seem to do a bit more in the play than the movie but not much.

05Jan 2012

Der Glöckner von Notre Dame Plot

by jess

Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

In a nutshell Der Glöckner von Notre Dame follows the plot of the Disney movie. So please forgive me for rehashing the Disney plot, more or less. Also please forgive me, it’s a little hard to review this as I can’t watch the show in it’s entirety.

Act 1

Frollo (Norbert Lamla) with Baby Quasimodo and the Archdeacon Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Der Glöckner von Notre Dame starts with Clopin dressed as an old Beggar, telling the origin tale of Frollo and Quasimodo, in which a group of Gypsies try to illegally enter Paris and are ambushed by the Minster of Justice, Claude Frollo. One of these gypsies is a mother who attempts to flee and tries to claim sanctuary in Notre Dame but Frollo accidently kills her. The Archdeacon guilts Frollo in taking care of baby who is deformed, Frollo agrees to raise the baby, which he named Quasimodo and hopes he can raise him to think like him.

Quasimodo with Antoine, Charles and Loni Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Twenty years later Quasimodo is the bell ringer of Notre Dame. Quasimodo is shy, awkward, and is of few words. His only friends are imaginary Gargoyles, Antoine, Charles, and Loni. The gargoyles encourage Quasimodo to venture outside for the Festival of Fools. Frollo visits Quasimodo and tells him that if Quasimodo were to leave he’ll only confront the cruelty of the world but the Gargoyles keep telling him to disobey Frollo. After Frollo leaves, Quasimodo’s desire to spend one day outside wins over his loyalty to Frollo.

Esmeralda and Clopin Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

As the Parisians prepare for the Festival of Fools, Clopin, the King of Gypsies and leader of the Court of Miracles prepares the Gypsies for the festival. A newcomer to the Court of Miracle becomes the focus of their attention. This newcomer is a young dancer named Esmeralda. While this is occurring, Phoebus is returning to Paris and if excited about his new promotion and hoped to get to a little rest and relaxation in this new post. He also takes this time to flirt with a local girl. His flirting is interrupted with a gypsy accused of theft is fleeing. the gypsy pleads their innocence but Frollo arrives of the scene and orders the soldier to arrest the Gypsy. Frollo tells Phoebus he plans on finding the Court of Miracles eliminating the Gypsy.

Quasimodo and Clopin Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

As the Festival begins Quasimodo dresses in a disguise to hide from Frollo’s gaze. However Frollo’s gaze follows to Esmeralda as she dances for the crowd. After her dance, the King of Fools contest starts. Thinking Quasimodo’s face is a mask, Esmeralda pulls him on stage where is he then crowned the King and then the crowd turns on him and he humiliated. Esmeralda helps Quasimodo and openly insults Frollo for his cruelty. Frollo orders Phoebus to arrest her but Esmeralda disappears. Frollo then scolds Quasimodo for disobedience and sends hims back to Notre Dame.

Esmeralda singing Helf den VerstoÃŸ'nen Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Esmeralda follows Quasimodo into Notre Dame but Phoebus catches her in the cathedral and Frollo arrives to arrest her but the Archdeacon orders Frollo to leave because she is protected under sanctuary. Frollo orders guards at every door of the cathedral to ensure that Esmeralda can’t escape. Esmeralda then prays for her people and the down-trodden.

Esmeralda and Quasimodo Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Esmeralda follows Quasimodo up to the bell tower. Once up there, Esmeralda becomes captivated by the view of Paris. The Gargoyles encourage Quasimodo to talk with Esmeralda. Quasimodo tries a little bit but then in order to repay her kindness he helps her escape. Before leaving Esmeralda gives Quasimodo an amulet which will lead him to the Court of Miracles should he ever need her and she give a kiss on the cheek. After she takes her leave, Quasimodo expresses his tender feelings of love for her while Frollo expresses the torment she brings him and feelings of lust.

Esmeralda saving Phoebus Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Frollo hears that Esmeralda has fled the cathedral. Frollo asks Quasimodo where she has gone and Quasimodo lies to Frollo by claiming her doesn’t know. Phoebus then realizes Frollo is insane and defies him. Frollo orders Phoebus to be executed but Esmeralda saves him while Frollo and his men begin the search for her by burning Paris to ground. As Phoebus is fleeing he is shot by an arrow and falls into a river.

Act 2

Mob Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Frollo’s men continue their search while Esmeralda rescues Phoebus and tells him to seek sanctuary at Notre Dame while she returns to the Court of Miracles. Meanwhile the Gargoyles convince Quasimodo that Esmeralda has romantic feeling towards him and is safe from Frollo’s madness. The Archdeacon then bring Phoebus up to the bell tower knowing that Esmeralda is friends with Quasimodo asks him to hide Phoebus.

Quasimodo, Phoebus and the Gargoyles Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Frollo then turns up at the Bell Tower and finds out that Quasimodo helped her escape. Frollo then tells Quasimodo that he knows the location of the Court of Miracles he plans on attacking at dawn. After Frollo leaves Phoebus asks Quasimodo to help him find the Court of Miracles and warn Esmeralda. Quasimodo refuses to leave the cathedral but Phoebus and the gargoyles tell him about the values of devotion and selflessness, and Quasimodo agrees.

Dance of the Gypsies Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Quasimodo uses Esmeralda’s amulet to find the Court of Miracles. The Gypsies assume that that they are Frollo’s spies but Esmeralda assures them that they are their friends. Phoebus tells them about Frollo’s plans. Clopin orders the Gypsies to leave. Esmeralda and Phoebus decide to leave the city together while Quasimodo watches them and is heartbroken as Esmeralda prepares to leave with the man she truly loves. However before anyone can flee the Court of Miracles, Frollo’s men show up and arrests everyone and reveals that he followed Quasimodo.

Ann Christin Elverum as Esmeralda singing Einmal Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Quasimodo is taken back to Notre Dame where he is tied up. The Gargoyles implore him to help Esmeralda but Quasimodo tell them to leave him. Frollo visits Esmeralda in jail and offers her freedom by becoming his women. She tells Phoebus that she would except Frollo’s offer if only to save him but Phoebus tell her to do it for herself but she tells him that a life with Frollo doesn’t seem like living. As Esmeralda awaits her execution she hopes that humanity learns to live in peace.

Molten Lead Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Esmeralda is tied to the stake and she refuses Frollo and he lights the pyre. Quasimodo seeing Esmeralda in pain rescues her and takes her into the safety of Notre Dame. Frollo’s order an attack on Notre Dame and Phoebus and the other Parisian stand up against Frollo. Quasimodo defends the cathedral with molten lead and as he tells Esmeralda he has won he sees her die. As Esmeralda is dying she thanks Quasimodo for being an good friend. Quasimodo mourns her as Frollo breaks into the room to try to kill him. In a fit of rage Quasimodo throws Frollo off of Notre Dame. The Gargoyles try to console Quasimodo by saying the world is full of good and evil. Quasimodo then carries Esmeralda’s body though the Square with Phoebus by his side. Clopin appears and brings the show full circle and ask what makes a monster and what makes a man.

Quasimodo carry Esmeralda and Phoebus Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Next Time – Characters of Der Glöckner von Notre Dame Musical

Ann Christin Elverum as Esmeralda Der Glöckner von Notre Dame