The story of the Hunchback of Notre Dame by the French Romanticist Victor Hugo is one that many have heard, but few know. Most of us know the story from the Disney movie; the story of a hunchback named Quasimodo who struggles between his desires and his reality and ultimately settling so that everyone one can have a Disney ending. The real story is far more tragic; Quasimodo, La Esmeralda the gypsy, and Claude Frollo the archdeacon all die at the end of the tragedy.
While recording a CD in Edmonton recently, I’ve had the privilege to watch the world premiere of Hunchback; a musical theatre production by Catalyst Theatre performed in the Citadel Theatre. The production aims to restore the balance between the three characters while taking a drastically modern artistic approach. Reflecting the dark nature of the tragedy, the design for the show took on a very gothic and grotesque direction by employing ominous lighting, bizarre costumes, and well-developed characters.
Aforementioned, the artistic direction is certainly interesting. The stage is relatively static as the entire basis of the scenes consists of these branching pillars spread out on the stage. Yet with delicate planning the light and the shadows work to imaginatively portray a variety of scenes from the slums of Paris to the inner sanctums of the Notre Dame. The jagged and intentional usage of the colors black and red work to demonstrate the dark, all-consuming desires that is emphasized in the play. The sinful and dirty reality of life in Paris is displayed without the usage of overwhelming amounts of stage prop, creating a very minimalist yet effective setting.
A review of a musical would be incomplete without mentioning the music and the acting. The music variety certainly is present ranging from Quasimodo’s lament to the gypsy’s seductive song. The character that was most brilliant portrayed in my opinion was captain Phoebus de Chateaupers, whose booming and arrogant voice filled the theatre. The live accompaniment composing of a pianist, a string quartet, and an accordion works wonders to give a Parisian feel while the addition of a synthesizer adds a distinctive modern touch to break the limitations of conventional instruments.
“… Hunchback exceeds the hype surrounding it. Catalyst takes a powerful, rich story and tells it like it’s meant to be told.” –Edmonton Sun
Far from conventional yet suitable for almost all age ranges, Hunchback is both visually and aurally stimulating. One should not hesitate at the opportunity to give this bold musical a chance to captivate.
Click here for pictures of the premier performance taken by Layla Hyde. Click here to visit the musical’s website.