The Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a musical based on the book by Victor Hugo and songs from the Disney film, which tells the powerful story of the kind-hearted hunchback Quasimodo, the righteous but corrupt archdeacon Dom Claude Frollo and the handsome Captain Phoebus as they all vie for the attention of the spirited Esmeralda.

I was somewhat taken aback by the melodrama and intensity of this show, this was indeed a full on production to conclude TADLOPs 50th anniversary year.

One of the mainstays of the show is the Congregants, who flitted between playing gargoyles, statues, soldiers, revellers, parishioners, priests, nuns, prostitutes, Romany and citizens of Paris. This was a full-on ensemble piece that saw the stage packed with performers and a choir that brought to life the massive harmonised songs and dance numbers with show stoppers like ‘Topsy Turvy’ and ‘Rhythm of the Tambourine’.

There was nothing on a small scale about this show, large cathedral set, handmade costumes stylised to represent fifteenth century Paris and a performance that spilt off the stage and into the auditorium.

There were three outstanding performances of the evening. Liam McGrath as Frollo, who was immaculate in his sinister and controlled performance as the archdeacon and commanded every scene in which he appeared. Katie Kinnon (a new comer to the players) who was simply charming as the vibrant Esmeralda and her BSL signed performance was tender in delivery and emotional to watch. Kurt Hassall as Quasimodo was just breath taking, I am surprised he didn’t get a standing ovation just for singing ‘Made in Stone’ but his reward was saved by the audience until the final bows.

Other characters that stood out in this production for their singing were Hannah Lister as Florika and Nat Hodgkiss as one of the Congregants, both worthy of playing principal parts in future productions.

The set was impressive but additional masking at the back of the stage would have prevented seeing performers accessing the central door of the set before they made their entrances.

The technicality of this show is on a grand scale and sound is worthy of praise, this is the first show to which every microphone was switched on, fully working and well balanced on the evening that I attended. It did however mean that I was able to hear a few performers who found it difficult to find their pitch in the complex score.

Rich Kee as Director, Alex Madden as Assistant Director, Sian Everett as Musical Director and Charlotte Lampitt as Choreographer must be extremely proud in bringing the joy, darkness and mix of emotions associated with the original book to life on stage.

Overall the rich musical score played by a quality band gave the lush score a cinematic feel underpinning the quality of this show. I am still singing in my head the ‘Bells of Notre Dame’ several days later.

I look forward to seeing TADLOPs next musical 9 to 5.

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