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Theatre Review: A Novel Musical Twist On Hugo's Classic 'The Hunchback Of Notre Dame'

  •  Jeff Hudson 
Thursday, August 25, 2016 | Sacramento, CA
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No other Broadway-style musical that I know of is set in a French cathedral during the late 15th Century. And yet “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” is quite a departure from most musicals.  It opens with vocal music hinting at Gregorian chant. But soon we are transported to a lushly imagined live-action vision of the streets of Paris during the Middle Ages.

This staging features a rich vocal texture – it includes a 19-voice chorus that gives the singing in “Hunchback” a sonic depth that at times is more like an opera than a Broadway show.

Another unusual aspect -- there’s a scene involving a fairly suggestive dance by a gypsy girl, who teases the crowd with two scarves, a tambourine, and sings lyrics like “come feel the heat, come taste the desire.” The number is less racy than a Broadway show like “Chicago,” but it’s still a bit of a departure for a Disney show.

The breakthrough is the innovative way the way the show pairs deaf actor John McGinty, playing the hunchback Quasimodo, with vocalist Jim Hogan, who sings while McGinty communicates through sign language. They perform together like a pair of ballet dancers – I’ve never encountered anything quite like it, and it’s pretty exciting.

This musical offers a somewhat prettified pastel vision of somber life during the Middle Ages, though it does include references to people dying of the pox. And the gypsy dancer turns out to be a strong, resourceful woman in a rather modern mode. But these are minor reservations – all in all, this is a new musical that’s a lot of fun to watch, and it’s got several catchy tunes you’re likely to hum for days. Check it out during this brief Music Circus run – and don’t be surprised if you see “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” return as a touring show someday.

The Music Circus production of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” continues through Sunday, August 28th at the Wells Fargo Pavilion in Sacramento. 

HUNCHBACK-R


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    Related Stories

  • The Hunchback Of Notre Dame Makes Debut At Music Circus

    Wednesday, August 24, 2016
    Glenn Casale, director of the Music Circus production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, joins Insight Wednesday to talk about the Northern California premiere of this Victor Hugo-inspired piece and how Quasimodo is played by deaf actor John McGinty.

 theatreMusic Circustheatre reviewThe Hunchback of Notre Dame

Jeff Hudson

Contributing Arts Reporter and Theatre Critic

Jeff Hudson has been contributing arts-related stories to Capital Public Radio since 1995, with an emphasis on theater and classical music. He attends over 100 performances annually, ranging from modern musicals to medieval masses.   Read Full Bio 

 Email Jeff Hudson

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