First performed in French when it opened in Paris 15 years ago, Notre Dame de Paris has been translated and performed in various languages such as Korean and Russian across the world. Now, it’s back in Singapore at the Marina Bay Sands Grand Theatre after its last performance in 2006, which was entirely in French with English subtitles.

Directed by Gilles Maheu (who also directed the theatre production Les Ames Mortes) the musical has no big numbers, offering a different kind of performance from the usual showstopping stage routines. Instead, the company delivers this dark cautionary tale splendidly with just the bare minimum of sets and costumes.

Performed more than 4,000 times, this musical is based on the 1831 story of the same name by Victor Hugo (who also wrote Les Miserables). It was written for the stage by Luc Plamondon and features music composed by Richard Cocciante, while Oscar-winner Will Jennings (who wrote “My Heart Will Go On” for Celine Dion’s hit for the movie Titanic) wrote the English lyrics to this box-office breaking musical that sold 4 million tickets in France alone.

The classic novel, familiar even to children who have watched the 1996 Disney version tells the tragic story of the bell ringer of the Notre Dame Cathedral named Quasimodo (Matt Laurent). Born deformed, the hunchback was abandoned and an outcast from birth, but was sheltered by the church’s Archdeacon, Frollo (Robert Marien). As the story progresses, we see both Quasimodo and Frollo, as well as the captain of the king’s archers, Phoebus, (Alberto Mangia Vinci) and other men all fall in love with a gypsy, street dancer Esmeralda (Alessandra Ferrari).

With the masterful weaving of song and dance on stage, the performance will captivate and stun as powerful and lithe bodies fly by each other. The 24 dancers and acrobats put on a show choreographed by Martino Muller that will remind you of the sophisticated French circus.

While the stars of the show were undeniably the acrobats, paired with Cocciante’s sweeping music pieces, the dancers and 7 principal singers held their own.

Quasimodo performed by Laurent, whose expertise comes from the 15 years he’s spent honing the role with the show and 4 musicals to his name has a strong, gravelly voice, that draws out the outcast’s suffering in every word he sings.

Ferrari as Esmeralda also delivers an admirable performance with her clear voice that speaks of her innocence and naiveté. The same can’t quite be said of her other admirer, Alberto Mangia Vinci’s, Phoebus, as he was somewhat weak in both his acting and voice. But dancers with powerful bodies twisting behind screens certainly pulled up, if not distracted us from the performance of the emotionally tormented captain as he sang.

The musical has a stunning repertoire of songs and singers, from Charest’s solo of “The Age of the Cathedrals” to Laurent and Ferrari’s duet of “This Small Whistle I Leave You”, but it’s the musical number “Where is she?” that serves as the best showcase of the cast’s singing. Between Frollo, Clopin and Gringoire, the 3 men all sing of the beautiful Esmeralda, each exposing Frollo’s lust, Clopin’s worry and Gringoire’s longing with their crisp vocals and powerful delivery.

The industrialized finish of the set, a rough high wall, and bare wooden pallets brings a raw edge to the romanticized settings of the ever-popular story. A mix of new and old, the props used seem to be pulled from different time periods that blends well into the this age old story. From the flowing silk dresses similar to those from the Regency era, to the modern-looking cells of the Bastille used to lock up the refugees, the contrast is perhaps a reminder that the things written about in 1831 are still happening to this day.

Maheu said in an interview that the story of Notre Dame de Paris was real and relevant in today’s society. The themes of racism, refugees seeking asylum, religion and love, are a reminder of the everyday cruelties that continue to happen all over the world.

This is a saga of torn loyalties and unwise decisions, and those who enjoy the darker themes will enjoy certainly the show, but those interested in the unusual use of acrobatics in musicals should also take a chance on this show while it’s still here.

 

 

Additional Information

Where: Grand Theatre, MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands.
Runtime: Dec 17 to Jan 11

Tue – Fri: 8pm
Sat – Sun: 2pm & 8pm

Ticket prices: $55 to $175, available on SISTIC.

 

Photos courtesy of Base Entertainment