Originally Posted By AutoPost This topic is for Discussion of: <a href="http://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2014/10/24/know-before-you-go-guide-published-for-hunchback-of-notre-dame-at-la-jolla-playhouse/" target="_blank"><b>10/24/14: Know Before You Go Guide Published For Hunchback of Notre Dame at La Jolla Playhouse</b></a>
Originally Posted By leemac Belongs here more than the Aladdin thread: Very exciting - lots of work on the score with new songs and reworked songs from Berlin. Full list here: <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lajollaplayhouse.or...YG-1.pdf">http://www.lajollaplayhouse.or...YG-1.pdf</a> Rhythm of the Tambourine and Flight into Egypt are brand new. It is interesting that The Court of Miracles has been reinserted (it was missing from Berlin) whilst Out of Love has been taken out. Glad that A Guy Like You is still absent - darker gargoyles. Very very very excited. Opens Sunday.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Interesting that Court of Miracles is back. I like it in the film, but didn't feel like I was missing it on the Berlin soundtrack. It looks like they've also reinserted In A Place of Miracles, which was cut from the film; from the storyboard I saw, I was nonplussed by it but perhaps there have been changes This might be a silly question, but does anybody in the show go to Egypt? I'm assuming it's some reference to the gypsies...
Originally Posted By u k fan This looks very interesting. I'll miss Tanz auf dem Seil, but I guess they want to get the first half moving quicker. I hope I get to see/hear this someday (pun unintended, but cool anyway)!!!
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <Glad that A Guy Like You is still absent - darker gargoyles.> My least favorite scene in the animated feature. So much of the animated 'HBONT' is so outstanding, that having Jason Alexander as a quippy, Borscht Belt comic just seemed wrong. One of my favorite songs and sequences is 'Hellfire.' And the opening 'Bells of Notre Dame' is just gorgeous both in song and animation.
Originally Posted By leemac <<One of my favorite songs and sequences is 'Hellfire.'>> I'd go further - one of the greatest numbers and animated sequences in history - it is that good. The counterpoint to Heaven's Light it is a tour de force.
Originally Posted By leemac <<leemac - are you going?>> Yup - but not until late November as it is the first opportunity I'll have to get out to the left coast.
Originally Posted By leemac <<This might be a silly question, but does anybody in the show go to Egypt? I'm assuming it's some reference to the gypsies..>> Saint Aphrodisius was Egyptian and I think he sheltered refugees in Egypt including Jesus' family. But don't quote me on it.
Originally Posted By TMICHAEL Saw it opening night. Was quite interesting to sit directly behind Steven Schwartz and one person away from Thomas Schumacher..with Alan Menkin down the row. Steven, you really, REALLY need a new hair piece. Saw the Berlin show and LOVED it. The staging there blew me away. The way the gargoyles were rewritten was really great and Drew Sarich was flawless as Quasimodo. This production, however, needs help. The music is still excellent. They have some terrific voices in the cast and for an opening night, most did exceptionally well. The book is a bit different than both the Animated Feature and the Berlin show. Much heavier in Frollo's story, especially the opening BELLS OF NOTRE DAME. But, the La Jolla stage is much to small for a show like this. Choreography seemed to get cut off and cramped in many places. Also, I have never been a fan of most single set shows. The bell tower set piece is grand, but that's it, save for a bit of extra set dressing for TOPSY TURVY and COURT OF MIRACLES. I'm sure if it heads to Broadway, more will be added, hopefully. As a whole though, the staging and lighting were not very good or inspired. And sadly, high school drama club came to mind during a few scenes ESPECIALLY during FINALE ULTIMO. One key scene in particular, was actually embarrassing. That said, Have tickets to another performance at the end of the run. Looking forward to seeing what, if anything, is changed and improved. And at the very least, I'll get to hear this wonderful piece again....and without having to translate it to english in my head, LOL
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Thanks for the thorough review. <And sadly, high school drama club came to mind during a few scenes> Very ouch baby
Originally Posted By TMICHAEL You're welcome. And also, let me say I am a bit biased. I felt the staging in Berlin was near perfect. Yes, they built the theater for Der Glockner and that ain't cheap. BUT, if it heads to Broadway, with multi year runs, the cost for the hydraulic lift stages is well worth it. <Very ouch baby> It really was. I'll put it this way: I saw a bus and truck version of Miss Saigon at the Long Beach Terrace a while ago. When it came time for the Helicopter scene, they lowered a screen and just showed a movie of a CGI helicopter flying around and landing, with the actors going through the screen. It looked really, REALLY STUPID. My friend loudly said "OH NO THEY DIDN'T" and everyone around us laughed. This scene was just as bad if not worse.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <When it came time for the Helicopter scene, they lowered a screen and just showed a movie of a CGI helicopter flying around and landing, with the actors going through the screen> Funny!
Originally Posted By leemac Thanks TMICHAEL. I've relatively low expectations so hopefully I'll be fine. La Jolla is a good regional theater company but ultimately they can only work with the space that they have - it is only a 492 seater venue so it does need some slack. It sounds a lot like Sister Act. There was a lot to like in the original Peter Schneider production at the Pasadena Playhouse even with a relatively simple staging. SE destroyed it all when they tried to scale up for the largest theatre in London (Palladium). I'll just be happy to hear the music again. I remember making a pilgrimage to the NYU Skirball to see King David restaged. It wasn't very elaborate but it was a goal of mine to see it staged professionally as we couldn't make it to the premiere at the New Am. Hearing Saul Has Slain His Thousands live was a true thrill.
Originally Posted By leemac <<And also, let me say I am a bit biased. I felt the staging in Berlin was near perfect. Yes, they built the theater for Der Glockner and that ain't cheap. BUT, if it heads to Broadway, with multi year runs, the cost for the hydraulic lift stages is well worth it.>> I'm not sure I'd have the same impression of the set in 2014 as I did in 1999. I'm convinced that the material just isn't commercial enough for Disney to take it to Broadway. Schumacher only wants sure-fire family hits these days - he doesn't seem interested in backing more interesting projects like Peter and the Starcatcher any more (and that show was exceptional). It is all about Aladdin (which is formulaic and uninspired) and finding a home for Frozen. The other stuff in development that was more creative like Winnie the Pooh and Dumbo seems to have died. I guess after the likes of Mermaid and Tarzan it is more about self-preservation - and also satisfying Iger's vision for solely exploiting IP.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Thanks for the early review! I'm seeing it in a couple weeks and it gave just enough information to get me excited without giving anything away When I first read that the theater seated less than 500 people, I thought that was a very curious choice. I'm glad to know that it's a fairly simple staging, so that I won't be too disappointed when I see it. For me, this show is all about the music (and some interesting storylines/characters) so I think it could be a success with some simplicity, even if the music is anything but simple And is this being treated as an out of town preview for an upcoming Broadway show? I've done some searching for reviews and none of the traditional media suspects have posted anything about the show since before it opened, leading me to think that they all expect it to make its way to NYC. Although the Papermill engagement has been arranged, Disney hasn't been clear about their ultimate intentions with the show
Originally Posted By leemac <<When I first read that the theater seated less than 500 people, I thought that was a very curious choice. >> It isn't a DTP show. It is being staged by La Jolla and Paper Mill. Same scenario as Newsies so it can always make its way to Broadway but it isn't a DTP-financed production.
Originally Posted By utahjosh I can't make it to La Jolla for this production, but I'm really hoping it's successful enough to move to broadway or at least an cast recording or album of some sort. I love my german copy, but I really wish I knew what they were saying.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Hmmm...now you guys have me searching to see if I can justify a trip to see the Papermill version too. It's easy enough for me to take the train or a bus to NYC, but getting out to the theater could be a little tricky. March isn't the best time for me to be traveling, but I could conceivably do a matinee day trip. Hmmmm....
Originally Posted By TMICHAEL <I'll just be happy to hear the music again> You will not be disappointed, as the music and vocals are performed beautifully. Even with it's flaws, I'm already looking forward to seeing it again towards the end of the run in December.
