Review of Hunchback Musical

RandomPrincess

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Original Poster
Full review -http://www.buzzfeed.com/louispeitzman/hunchback-of-notre-dame-musical-is-a-far-cry-from-disney

A few quotes from the article below -

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The stage production — based on Victor Hugo’s novel, but with the music of the Disney movie — proves that pushing boundaries can create a much more effective work of art.

In the musical The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which is finishing up its first North American run at the La Jolla Playhouse in La Jolla, California, the songs crafted by Menken and Schwartz finally match the material. The stage adaptation owes more to Hugo’s novel than it does to the Disney film — which might seem odd, given that all of the music comes straight from the latter, albeit with added and modified lyrics. And yet, seeing Hunchback on the stage, with the less kid-friendly elements clearly spelled out, it’s obvious that this is Hunchback as it was meant to be experienced. The complex score meets an updated, more mature book by Peter Parnell, to create a gorgeous and emotionally stirring production.

Those who attend the Hunchback musical hoping to see the Disney film onstage will be sorely disappointed: The changes are staggering from the beginning. Gone are the trio of gargoyles that provided Quasimodo with comfort and company, which might have represented his internal conflict in the Disney film. Instead, the musical articulates that with Quasimodo (Michael Arden) literally conversing with the inanimate world around him, from the stone walls of Notre Dame to its stained glass windows. There are moments of levity, but there is no sense of “comic relief.” This Hunchback offers a more straightforward representation of Quasimodo’s pain and isolation.

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Over all the reviewer seems to really like this show. Says it's minimal staging and it really lets the performers and story shine.
 

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