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K Maer
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"DeYoung's great music." With this I agree. I also agree that the edgy, modernist musical is the order of the day recently, but so what? There is room for something with music this beautiful and a romantic/tragic storyline. If you build it properly, people with come.
Mr. Zak and company did a really admirable job with all aspects of bringing this story to life. They chose gorgeous voices and appealing leads who all performed at the highest level, in my view.
I love how the entire theater was used effectively to bring the story to life. Bravo indeed!
Something that has this perfect a score and this much potential should be given a chance to succeed beyond the wonderful venue the Bailiwick has given it.
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LisaMarie
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I was there Monday night and thought the show was brilliant.
This reviewer seems to have missed something that is key. This story is about Frollo's decent. So it would make sense that while in other interpretations of this classic tale the other characters may have more focus. The transitions of Frollo were very well thought out and acted with perfection. Being a huge fan of Dennis' voice a concern of mine was who could possibly sing those powerful songs other than him? The singing talent was tremendous....especially with regard to the part of Frollo. One could clearly see the strength and eventual torment portrayed by this fabulous actor and the progression therein. I was captivated from the very first word. I was moved to tears. I laughed, I was breathless at times. Yes, the setting was modest, but to me that just magnified the strengths of the actors and the words that they spoke and sang. I seriously forgot that there were no set changes, no physical props such as furniture or backdrops on the stage. The direction the actions on stage made me feel I was in different places at different times. That truely says something.
I am fortunate enough to live near the city of Chicago and absolutely intend on returning to the theater to see this play. There is not a bad seat in the house.
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bob crane
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Truly saying your not all that observant.
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EMG
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I wish to convey my sincere disagreement with you on several points in your review of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. I do heartily concur that the book is weak and needs work. I do think Mr. DeYoung would have been better served having assistance in that regard. I also think Mr. Rank's performance was spot on. I do agree the "Egyptian" humor should have been trimmed.
I wish to point out that Mr. DeYoung stayed faithful to the original work by Victor Hugo. The Hunchback is not the main character in the story. It is indeed Fr. Frollo. In that aspect I think the musical is very effective in capturing his self torture and descent into madness over his inability to reconcile himself over virtue and temptation. I thought Mr. Rill's interpretation of Frollo was excellent and found him the primary reason to see the musical.
I believe Mr. Wolff's rendition of Quasimodo was fine, though I do not think the development of the character was lacking. I could easily see his love for Esmerelda emerging. Again, I found this very much truthful to the novel. Frollo's lust for Esmerelda was evident from the start.
I think the minimalist set, the inclusion of the 6 piece band, and the versatility of the ensemble made this evening a most memorable one. I found myself swept up in the moment and the beautiful music and left the theater with the intent to view the musical again. I found myself able to believe that we were viewing Notre Dame and its denizens and was not disturbed by the minimal set. Is that not the intent of the theater? To allow one to imagine themselves transported to the events happening on the stage? Given the small confines of the Bailiwick, the musical was better served by the lack of ornate staging.
The musical's majesty can be found in the beautifully constructed With Every Heartbeat. I think the earthiness and lack of pomp and pretense served it very well. When I take the musical as a whole, I cannot agree with your assessment that the moment for this musical is passed. I heartily believe it to be a very viable musical that with some work would be even better. I believe it should be seen and experienced.
Best Regards,
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Caroline
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Huh?
Apparently we didn't see the same show! In this world of remake after remake of "Showboat" and "1776" its refreshing to see truly original music that tugs at the heartstrings.
Mr. DeYoung is talent and the world should embrace something new and exciting. The timeframe will never change - it will always be loved!
And this is a MUSICal... thus MUSIC! There's not a sour note in the piece. Mr. DeYoung's M.O. has always been about wisecracks, so it's yet another piece of him that is inserted into this work.
A final note - this cast is superb! The vocals of the lead actors are incredible. Keep in mind, these are NOT Broadway actors, yet the rich and full talents are embraced by the smaller setting. There is not a weak link in the cast and they bring the beauty of the music to light.
Go see this!
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S Spiegelhalter Oswego IL
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I left the premiere humming the phenomenal music. In my book that's always been the mark of a great musical.
The story line can be improved upon I agree but not one thing needs to be retooled when it comes to Jeremy Rill's Frollo. Brilliant. I was transfixed with his character the entire evening.
My husband and I completely enjoyed the Bailiwick Theater experience and urge serious as well as casual musical theater fans to see this production.
Lastly, my heartfelt congratulations to Dennis DeYoung for bringing his emotionally charged adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel to life.
I hope it deservedly so finds its way to Broadway.
S Spiegelhalter
Oswego IL
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Char Countryside
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The opening ballad: "Who Will Love this Child" moved me. After that any chance to care about the characters was lost as the pounding orchestrations drowned out the lyrics and I became terribly tired of the relentless earnestness of the "belt it to the rafters" ballads. Also, all of the lyrics and the music were in the same voice. The vocabulary Quasimodo would use is much different than the priest or the gypsy. In other words, instead of dismissing the critics as words people who focus on the book because they aren't qualified to evaluate music, as I heard him do, DeYoung should just go out and get himself a librettest. Chris Jones and the other words people are right on.
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