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The Hunchback of Notre Dame Book, Music and Lyrics by Dennis DeYoung Directed by David Zak Musical Direction by Robert Ollis Choreography by Brenda Didier At Bailiwick Repertory 1229 W. Belmont Chicago, IL Call 773-883-1090, tickets $25 - $35 - $45 Thursdays thru Saturdays at 7:30 pm Sundays at 3:30 pm Running time is 2 hours, 20 minutes with intermission Through August 17, 2008 Review update: August 7, 2008 by Tom Williams Dennis DeYoung and David Zak’s musical “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” with several major cast changes, played with more intensity and a clear focus. The show has grown more polished with tighter transitions with stronger acting and better voices. That is quite remarkable since the earlier production in May of this year featured excellent voices and a fine acting. Due to other commitments, several leading players left the show. Zak and DeYoung recast even stronger performers to replace them. Evan D’Angeles, as Quasimodo, added his golden voice while Greg Franklin, as Frollo, not only delivered fine singing but gave the tormented priest a deeper emotional base. Doug Storm as Phoebus played the Captain as a more youthful fellow with his smooth charm and silky voice. These new additions brought the talent level up several notches. Holdover Liz Pazik, as the gypsy fortune teller, has a deeper spark making her more effective. Dana Tretta, as Esmeralda the naive gypsy dancer, exudes a polished, truthful manner that gives Esmeralda empathy. Tretta’s singing is tremendous as she has grown to make Esmeralda hers. This remount is excellent, even an improvement from the fine original Chicago production. If you have not yet seen this show—get to Bailiwick Repertory soon to witness a beautiful new musical. If you’ve already seen “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” come back—you’ll be even more delighted this time. Highly Recommended Powerful epic musical drama is a major achievement for Dennis DeYoung and David Zak The much anticipated musical, “The Hunchback of Norte Dame,” 15 years in the making has finally made it to the stage at Bailiwick Repertory. Who would have thought that rock legend Dennis DeYoung from Styx could write the book, lyrics and music for an epic musical? I’m glad to report that DeYoung’s effort has produced a monumentally thrilling night of musical theatre. His “The Hunchback of Norte Dame” is an outstanding success. Featuring a cast of 20 (including 3 Equity players) and a 6 piece band that sounds like a full orchestra, DeYoung has produced a wonderful adaptation of Victor Hugo’s classic.
Much credit goes to David Zak for his innovative staging and smart casting. He negotiated an agreement with Actor’s Equity that allowed him to cast several strong actor/singers that made DeYoung’s moving score come alive. Bailiwick’s enhanced audio system sounded terrific adding depth to the production. Zak’s use of Bailiwick’s stage including multi-level ramps that surround the theatre worked to enlarge the scope of the production. “The Hunchback of Norte Dame” contains fine production values as Bailiwick Repertory raises their technical acumen to new levels.
“The Hunchback of Norte Dame” is an epic tale set in Paris in 1482 at Norte Dame Cathedral as Father Frollo (Jeremy Rill) finds an abandoned badly deformed baby on the church steps. He sings the stirring “Who Will Love This Child?” as he adopts the child. Forward twenty years to the “King of Fools” festival in Paris that finds Phoebus (James Rank) and the people searching for the ugliest person in Paris to be ‘crowned’ the King of Fools. This rousing show-stopper ends with Quasimodo (George Andrew Wolff)—the deformed man being mocked as the Fool. He is the person Frollo raised in the church’s bell tower. Frollo admonishes the crowd with the strong song “By the Grace of God.” We then hear Quasimodo render his first words in “In My Silence.” We instantly have empathy for Quasimodo.
The gypsies are trying to gather a crowd as Esmerelda (Dana Tretta) leads with her “When I Dance for You.” She is arrested by Gudule (Michael Harmichar) until Father Frollo saves her. We hear Mahiette (Liz Pazik) sing her fortune-telling song “Come, Behold.” Next, the soldiers, led by Captain Phoebus and Gudule, unwind on the eve of a battle with wine, women and song in “A Votre Service.” Esmerelda has grown to love Phoebus as she sings he dreams in “Paradise.” We hear Quasimodo, Esmerelda and Frollo emotionally sing the power ballad “With Every Heartbeat,’ the shows best song. Act two opens with Quasimodo sings his joy as he rejoices since Esmerelda showed kindness to him by giving him water as he lands “Beneath the Moon.” The tragic action in act two finds Frollo, Quasimodo and Esmerelda’s love triangle being dramatically rendered in song and movement. Quasimodo lands his love song in “Esmerelda.” The tragic ending will reach into your heart. Dennis DeYoung’s score is filled with ringing anthems, wild gypsy tunes, stirring ballads and emotional numbers with fine religious references. His excellent lyrics flesh out character traits effectively. David Zak’s staging uses every inch of Bailwick’s main stage.
The fine cast features fine work from Liz Pazik as Mahiette with a nice performance from James Rank as Phoebus. Michael Harmichar and Jeffrey A. Ward offering fine supporting roles. Dana Tretta, as Esmerelda, was effective as she projected sensuality, strength and compassion. Tretta sang her heart out. Ultimately, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” rests on the back of Quasimodo. George Andrew Wolff gave the deformed man a genuine likableness. Wolff has a rich tenor voice that soars. His truthful performance was a winner. Jeremy Rill, as the tormented priest, Frollo, was my pick for the finest performance in this captivating show. Rill’s strong ranging voice landed his emotionally wrenching songs with sheer power. We feel his pain. Rill is a major talent in a breakout role. You’d be hard pressed to find a finer new musical than “The Hunchback of Norte Dame.” It is a grand epic pop operetta in the tradition of Les Miserables. That’s good company. See this spectacle and you’ll appreciate the fine craft Dennis DeYoung has produced. “The Hunchback of Norte Dame” is a true work of art. It is worth seeing a couple of times. It is a grand scale musical and one of Bailiwick’s finest productions. Highly Recommended Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast Date Reviewed: May 19, 2008 |
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Site owned by Tom Williams 1-773-549-0227, tom99@chicagocritic.com Copyright, Chicago, IL 2006 |
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