hello! and welcome to my first post on this blog. In an effort to make sure that I actually write here, the content will probably vary day-to-day. And today, it is about the Hunchback of Notre Dame musical.
For those of you who may not be privy to the musical endeavors of the Walt Disney Company as I am, let me enlighten you on what I am in fact referring to. In the years of 2014-2015 Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame film was created into a stage musical and had limited runs in the La Jolla Playhouse and Papermill Playhouse. And then...never saw the professional light of day again. (I am kidding...maybe).
The reason the show never made it to Broadway, is due to the cost. The show during this run had a 19-person cast, but also a 32-person choir that was onstage providing the necessary volume and sound to give the music the grandiose movie-soundtrack feel. I would not want them to cut this number or sacrifice these performers, and I am sure Disney did not want to either (I would hope) which is why we are where we are.
I also think it would be impossible to predict what kind of revenue this show would generate, since they really leaned in with adapting more of the darker side of the story. They took out a lot of the film elements that were in the film in the first place to make it more "kid-friendly" -- the biggest of these changes being that the campy gargoyle friends Quasimodo has are no more (and to be honest, thank god, they annoy me). I think all of these plot changes and additions make for a much better story. In example, Frollo is much more outwardly predatory and he is once again given his position of Archdeacon -- which is what it was supposed to be in the film until the Catholic Church got angry, so he became a "judge". These changes however remove the show from having that family-friendly-Disney appeal that something like The Lion King would have, which probably would mean it would be a financial loss. (Not any more of a loss than Disney's 1 billion dollar investment they made in OpenAI a few weeks ago but I digress...)
All of the logic aside, this show is so good!!! I am once again thankful that bootlegs exist because being able to see it performed at all, even just on a computer screen gives me full body chills every time.
And, despite being a Disney fan myself, I do not typically say that about Disney movies that have been adapted for the stage. I find a lot of the added songs in the musical versions do not fit within the story and/or are just not good. But, aside from one, all of the added/expanded songs in Hunchback are incredible. Someday, Made of Stone, Rhythm of the Tambourine, In a Place of Miracles...I could go on but I shant.
Anyway, I am unsure what else to write. I need this to get revived ASAP, as it is Disney's best musical accomplishment. Need the opportunity to scream, cry, and throw up at the overture in person.
