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larryland · 6 years

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It’s late July and the theatre scene is hopping! None of our regular Berkshire On Stage critics was able to fit a trip to the Mac-Haydn to see The Hunchback of Notre Dame into their schedule, but luckily Lisa Jarisch, a longtime subscriber to the Mac, agreed to share her impressions of the production. A true theatre lover, Jarisch holds a BA in English from Mount Holyoke College and has experience behind the scenes as a stage manager.

Berkshire on Stage: This is a new musical for the Mac-Haydn, and for the region. In fact, it was only just licensed for production in 2016. Have you ever seen the 1996 Disney animated film or read Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel on which it was based?

Lisa Jarisch: I am totally unfamiliar with the Disney film, and have but a vague recollection of reading the original “back in the day” when classics were a regular part of high school English curriculum. The basic story, however, has somehow worked its way into my English major consciousness…as in the name of Quasimodo always rings a bell. I am also old enough to recall the Charles Laughton film version…which James Benjamin Rodgers obviously channels in Quasimodo’s costume and make-up.

BoS: While it bears the Disney name, this is not a happy fairy tale. Tell us the plot of the show.

Jarisch: “Half-made” and orphaned, Quasimodo (James Benjamin Rodgers) is raised in solitude in the bell tower of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, and in servitude to the (im)pious Dom Frollo (Quinto Ott), whose intense hatred for the Gypsies who infest the street of Paris grows stronger during the Feast of Fools, when the city is turned “Topsy Turvy” and passions given free rein. Yearning to experience what he sees “Out There,” Quasimodo gives in to the urgings of the lesser angels…the stone gargoyles who have been his only friends in the tower. The stone saints who also share his world are less successful in their persuasion.

Crowned King of Fools during a wild night of debauchery, Quasimodo is revealed as the hideous, hump-backed and damaged “creature” his uncle has made him believe he is. As he us mocked, ridiculed, and attacked, the gypsy girl Esmeralda (Laura Helm) rises to his defense, offering kindness and a sip of water, earning Quasimodo’s undying, and ultimately unrequited, love.

Dom Frollo’s hatred for the gypsies reaches a crescendo and he orders his Captain of the Guard, Phoebus (Michael Brennan), to hunt down Esmeralda, for whom he is developing a most unholy passion, blaming her and the entire band of gypsies for the corruption of Quasimodo, who is no longer his willing slave. The ensuing pursuit changes everyone’s lives forever.

BoS: These sound like very adult themes, closer to what Victor Hugo wrote than what Disney wrought. What age group would you recommend this show for?

Jarisch: This is NOT the Disney fairy tale version. Unrequited love, ever-increasing lustful passion from a clergyman, deep-seated ethnic prejudice rearing its ugly head, mob-mentality bullying, emotional and sexual awakenings in a man physically, mentally and emotionally repressed his whole life. This is a show not likely to be enjoyed or understood by children under 12.

BoS: What stood out to you about this production? What were the highlights?

Jarisch: This is a glorious highlight of the Mac-Haydn’s 50th season, starting with the stunning vocals from each of the three leads. Ott, as the cruel, misguided, lecherous, and sanctimonious Dom Frollo, brings the house down with every number, none more so than the spine-tingling “Hellfire” at the end of Act I. His deep, rich baritone almost shatters the walls of the cathedral. He is a force to be reckoned with in both character and voice.

Helm brings a hardened yet vulnerable quality to her role as Esmeralda, while James Benjamin Rodgers—a personal favorite since his Jekyll and Hyde at the Mac several years ago—plays Quasimodo with just the right amount of servility, becoming the classic Tragic Hero as he develops self-awareness. His vocals are true and strong and manage to express both his recognition of his own deformity in the eyes of the world, and his frustration with the world that cannot see the man under them, so to speak. His denunciation of the stone saints and sinners who have been his companions, confidants, and conscience since birth in “Made of Stone” is no less a show-stopper than Ott’s “Hellfire.”

Special kudos to Gabe Belyeu—another personal favorite for years—in the role of Colpin, King of the gypsies, who serves as narrator to all the action swirling through Paris. He is at times both bold and brash, while counseling Esmeralda to flee as all is lost, he nonetheless orchestrates the gypsy crew to ever-increasing levels of hostility against the clergy, while taking a stand for the rights of all to exist in community, if not churchly Communion.

Brennan as Phoebus holds his own vocally against the truly Broadway-worthy voices of Ott , Helm, and Rodgers. His Phoebus is a lightly-sketched portrait of an Army officer mired in the throes of self-promotion and service to the church who is ultimately transformed by the strength of love, truth, and justice.

BoS: Were there things that bothered you? What would you have done differently?

Jarisch: I had some issues with the use of the spotlights in Act II. I was distracted from the stage action and the accompanying vocals by poorly focused and off-center lighting.

BoS: In some productions, Quasimodo is portrayed as being deaf and speaks in sign language. Was that the case in this production? If so, how did it work?

Jarisch: Quasimodo is clearly challenged in his communication skills; in this production Rodgers brings a halting, sometimes single-syllabic cadence to his speech. It’s made clear in his second encounter with Esmeralda that he is deaf, and able to read lips. Obviously, his singing is not affected by this impediment—Rodgers’ pure and strong voice is more than equal to the musical numbers set before him.

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BoS: Lyricist Alan Menken and composer Stephen Schwartz felt that having a live choir on stage was integral in achieving the full-bodied sound they had crafted for the film. Did the Mac-Haydn production go that route?

Jarisch: They most certainly did! Choirs of saints and sinners, hooded monks, and gypsy travelers all pay homage to the classical Greek chorus, enhancing the depth of the emotions swirling between the characters and through the plot. At times, the sheer volume of the large ensemble chorus made it difficult to clearly understand the lyrics, but the production was definitely the better for their presence.

BoS: Like many theatrical recreations of animated films, there are certain effects that are difficult, if not impossible to reproduce, even for large theatres. The Mac-Haydn is a small house and shows are performed in the round, meaning that everything is visible to the audience. Did they attempt some of the big effects?

Jarisch: As I have been for years, I continue to be amazed by the ingenuity and creativity shown when the Mac does shows which typically call for elaborate stage effects clearly not possible on a small theatre-in-the-round stage. I am still awe-struck by the technical quality of “Les Miserables” several years ago – the striking of the barricades at the top of Act II was stunning. Here John Saunders again delivers a beautifully directed piece, with choreography by Sebastiani Romagnolo more than up to the task of making gypsies, clergy, hunchbacks, gargoyles, and saints move in unison.

In Hunchback… set and lighting designer Andrew Gmoser succeeds in capturing the essence of the soaring grandeur of Notre Dame Cathedral, the gypsy-filled streets of Paris, and the lonely yet exhilaratingly open bell tower “At the Top of the World” which ultimately provides a sanctuary for the doomed lovers. The stained-glass panels surrounding the stage are stunning; when backlit they truly bring the cathedral alive. A set of large, oversize bells descends upon the stage at the appropriate moments.

Of particular note is the aerial work performed in “Topsy Turvy.” For the second time this season a large hoop descends from the rafters, allowing the performance of lithe, undulating aerial acts which highlight the gypsy world gone berserk on the Feast of Fools. I was impressed when such goings-on graced the stage in Cabaret earlier this season, and I was equally impressed this time.

BoS: Tell us about the physical production – lights, sound, costumes – did everything work together well?

Jarisch: Alison Zador’s gypsy costumes were perfect – silky, flowing, vibrant representations of their outcast, traveling lifestyle. Quasimodo is virtually the expected stereotype of the title role – hump-backed (I SWEAR his hump moved between Act I and II, but then I realized this was NOT Young Frankenstein!), a dragging limp, and a grotesquely-made up face resembling the gargoyles standing stoic watch in each corner of the bell tower set. The orchestra, under the batons of David Maglione and Jillian Zack, complemented rather than competed with the vocal performances, an issue I’ve had with some previous productions, where it seemed that the orchestra and singers were engaged in a duel of decibels.

BoS: Any concluding words to help our readers decide if this is a show they want to see?

Jarisch: Even without season tickets, the allure of seeing Ott, Rodgers, Helm, and Belyeu would have had me running for the box office. They, and the ensemble cast, did not disappoint. While the score is certainly not one to remember – I can’t honestly say I left the theatre humming – nor are any of the songs likely to become standards on the karaoke scene – the music and lyrics by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Wicked) captures the essence of the work, from the unrequited love of Quasimodo, to the doomed love of Esmeralda and Phoebus, to the sordid ecclesiastical lusts of Dom Frollo. I am glad the Mac-Haydn has given the region such a fine introduction to this piece.

Admittedly I would listen to Ott and Rodgers sing the Chatham phone book, but this is a show worth the price of admission, and as usual, there is not a bad seat in the round-stage house.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame, book by PeterParnell, music by Stephen Schwartz, lyrics by Alan Menken, directed by John Saunders, musical direction by David Maglione and Jillian Zack, and choreographed by Sebastiani Romagnolo, runs July 26-August 5, 2018, at the Mac-Haydn Theatre, 1924 NY Route 203 in Chatham, NY. Scenic and lighting design by Andrew Gmoser, costume design by Alison Zador. CAST: James benjamin Rodgers as Quasimodo, Quinto Ott as Dom Frollo, Laura Helm as Esmeralda, Gabe Belyeu as Clopin Trouillefou, Michael Brennan as Phoebus de Martin.

For showtimes and more details please visit www.machaydntheatre.org or call the box office at 518-392-9292

REVIEW: The Hunchback of Notre Dame” at the Mac-Haydn Theatre It’s late July and the theatre scene is hopping! None of our regular Berkshire On Stage critics was able to fit a trip to the Mac-Haydn to see…

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londontheatre · 6 years

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Cast from Marlowe Panto

We’ll have to do it again then, won’t we! Yes, it’s that time of year once again and panto season is well and truly upon us, heralding the approach of Christmas with jeers, cheers and cries of “It’s behind you!”.

The Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury slightly veers from the typical pantomime this year with a truly unique take on Peter Pan, but one which pays off magnificently as Paul Hendy’s production is a magical feat of sheer brilliance and wonder.

David Ribi as the adventurous Peter Pan is full of cheek and boyish delight and impresses with his aerial acrobatics as he flies high above the stage, and even the audience at times. He is paired well with the rich-voiced Samantha Dorrance as Wendy. The two are charmingly sweet and endearing in their scenes together and complement each other well in their musical moments.

There are celebrity appearances too from former soap stars Shaun Williamson and Wendi Peters. Williamson takes a devilish delight in playing the bad guy, bringing a dramatic flair to the villainous, but well-dressed, Captain Hook. Peters takes on several roles that include Mrs Darling and a rather unorthodox mermaid, but has the most stage time as chief of the Crazy Horse tribe, Squatting Cow. She shows great versatility and is clearly having fun with each of her characters.

There are also great turns from Tiger Lily (CBBC presenter Gemma Hunt) and Tinkerbell (Jo Osmond) too, not forgetting a strong ensemble team and the wonderful child cast of the two Darling boys, the Red Indians and the Lost Boys.

The real stars of the show however are the returning duo of Ben Roddy and Lloyd Hollett. Roddy is back for his eighth year at the Marlowe Theatre, this time bringing his unrivalled panto dame act to the role of Mrs Smee, while Hollett plays the role of Starkey the pirate in his seventh Marlowe pantomime. The Marlowe Theatre struck comedy gold with these two who play so well off each other and are even funnier in the moments when they go off-script.

This year’s song and dance numbers feature music from the likes of Queen, Britney Spears and the stage musical Wicked – if you ever wanted to see Barry from EastEnders singing Taylor Swift, this is the panto for you. They’re made even more watchable by Jono Kitchens’ well-crafted choreography, not to mention the addition of some awesome fire stunts and the highly impressive acrobatic troupe The Black Eagles.

Look out for the synchronised swimming performance, which will have the audience howling with laughter! Helga Wood and Morgan Brind have done a superb job of bringing the world of Neverland to life with the scale and detail of their sets and the cast costumes – as expected, Roddy models some particularly outrageous costumes throughout the show. The effects used in the production are also rather splendid, with the scene of the children’s flight to Neverland particularly well done. A special mention must also go out to the show’s musical director, Chris Wong.

The Marlowe Theatre’s Peter Pan is not your run-of-the-mill pantomime. While it includes all the necessary ingredients – the bad jokes you can’t help but laugh at, a ‘fat man in a dress’, the corny one-liners and this year’s obligatory Donald Trump quips – it operates at a higher level than most. I’m not just talking about the delivery of every possible fruit, veg and herb pun conceivable either! As has now come to be expected from them, the team of Paul Hendy and Emily Woods have once again created another slick and action-packed production with impressive effects, highly professional choreography and memorable performances from a very talented cast.

For a highly enjoyable evening that will entertain both children and adults alike, The Marlowe Theatre is the place to be this season. Oh yes it is!

Review by Julie Robinson

SHAUN Williamson, Wendi Peters and Gemma Hunt top the bill in Peter Pan, this year’s Marlowe Theatre pantomime. They are joined by Canterbury favourites, Ben Roddy and Lloyd Hollett.

Shaun, a regular visitor to The Marlowe but perhaps best known for his roles in EastEnders and Extras (and more recently Celebrity Big Brother), will play Captain Hook, while Wendi will take on the Mrs Darling/Mia the Mermaid/Big Chief Squatting Cow roles. Wendi, who was Cilla in Coronation Street, currently plays the Cook in the CBBC show, Hetty Feather. Both Shaun and Wendi have extensive theatre experience, including roles in West End musicals.

Gemma (Tiger Lily) presents the popular CBeebies show, Swashbuckle. Ben once again plays the Dame, this year Mrs Smee, while Lloyd is Starkey. David Ribi, who is the main presenter on Channel 5’s Milkshake, will play Peter Pan, while Samantha Dorrance (the female lead in CBeebies’ The Tale of Mister Tumble) is Wendy. Jo Osmond (Dr Who, Maleficent) plays Tinkerbell.

PETER PAN FRI 24 NOV 2017 – SUN 14 JAN 2018

The Marlowe Theatre The Friars Canterbury Kent, CT1 2AS http://ift.tt/1dw0U00

http://ift.tt/2AIDYNa London Theatre 1

#IFTTT #London Theatre 1

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