The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the SCERA Center for the Performing Arts

Last night I went to see The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the SCERA Center for the Performing Arts and, even though I recently saw an outstanding production of this show, I love it and I don't think I will ever get tired of seeing it so I really enjoyed this version, too! This musical tells Victor Hugo's classic story about how a gypsy girl named Esmeralda (Rose Fletcher) inadvertently captivates Claude Frollo (Andrew Lambert), the Archdeacon of Notre Dame Cathedral, Phoebus de Martin (Adam Moore), the Captain of the Cathedral Guard, and Quasimodo (Benjamin Oldroyd), a deformed boy who has been hidden in the bell tower his whole life, which brings about tragedy and redemption. I love just about every song in this show and the talented cast sings them beautifully! Oldroyd is incredible (he is one of the best Quasimodos I've seen) and his versions of "Out There" and "Heaven's Light" are beautiful and filled with both wonder and longing while his version of "Made of Stone" is incredibly plaintive. Fletcher is alluring in "The Rhythm of the Tambourine" (she is a great dancer) and playful in "Top of the World" with Oldroyd but her emotional performances of "God Help the Outcasts" (my favorite song of the show) and "Someday" with Moore brought tears to my eyes.  Lambert portrays Frollo's torment very well in a powerful rendition of "Hellfire" that gave me goosebumps. I also loved the portrayal of the Saints (Stan Peck, Krystal Bigler, Sarah Glancy, Lindsey Lebaron, Tanner Lybbert, Shawna Packer, and Xander Richey) because they have some of the best costumes I have seen and their interactions with Quasimodo are highly amusing in "Out There," "Top of the World," and "Flight into Egypt" but poignant in "Made of Stone" (I love how they turn back to stone after they abandon him). One of my favorite aspects of this production is the choreography because it so exuberant and athletic in "Topsy Turvy," "The Tavern Song," and "The Court of Miracles" (I especially loved all of Keith Allen's flips as Clopin). I was also impressed by the staging of "Hellfire" with Esmeralda dancing in a red light, the rescue of Esmeralda from the pyre, and Frollo's fall from the bell tower because they are very cleverly done. The elaborate set features a dramatic multi-level stone cathedral dominated by a rose window which becomes the bell tower, the town square, and the Court of Miracles by the addition of several pieces moved on and off stage by the ensemble. This is a wonderful production of one of my favorite shows and I am glad that I got to see it again! It runs through October 4 and tickets may be purchased here.