NIKKI INDELICATO
Life & Arts Editor
“What makes a monster and what makes a man?”
One of the most notable lyrics that gets answered over the course of two and half hours can be found within the musical written by Peter Parnell with music and lyrics by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz.
“The Hunchback of Notre Dame” is currently being put on at Main Street Studios in downtown Fredonia.
Directed by Ted Sharon, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” follows the story of Quasimodo as he meets Esmerelda and they function in a society that looks down upon them for being themselves.
The cast is made up of over 30 people playing a variety of roles from gargoyles to the congregation and, of course, the leads.
This production is unique for Main Street Studios because instead of casting understudies, they cast covers for the roles of Quasimodo, Captain Phoebus and Esmerelda. Each of these actors shares their respective roles and exchanges shows with each other.
This show leaves the audience with nothing but amazement from the moment they walk into the found space where the set is located. Even with a minimalistic set, it is not hard for the audience to easily be transported back to 1400s Paris once the orchestra starts playing the first note of the opening number.
This is also one of the first productions that Main Street Studios has put on at this scale as well. Within the newly renovated building, the production allowed for a full orchestra of 16 people to sit and accompany the cast and crew to bring the show to life.
With the few noticeable location changes within the entire show, with the movement of a door or lighting change, it seamlessly wove the show together.
Along with the rustic set, the costumes were also very vibrant and helped showcase each of the characters that were within the ensemble.
On my particular night of viewing the show, leading the cast for the night was Emily Minch as Quasimodo, Delaney Gruber as Esmerelda and Michael Williams as Captain Phoebus. Each of these actors stood out and clearly made each character their own. With each of their portrayals, it was very easy as an audience member to understand the heartbreak and love that each character endures over the course of the show.
On the alternate nights of the performance, the roles of Quasimodo, Esmerlda and Captain Phoebus are played by Jong Sang Rheu, Alice Khekht and Brandin Smalls, respectively.
Throughout the rehearsal process, many of the cast members who were double-cast would also work together to help one another find the grounding for their portrayals. They would follow the source material, taking notes from the original novel by Victor Hugo and the Disney movie that debuted in the 1990s.
One standout in the cast was Gavin Card who played the evil Claude Frollo. He perfectly captured the charm of the villain while also capturing the dark side who tries to hide Quasimodo from the world and rid Paris of Romanis.
This production is the perfect blend of honoring the source material to tell the story as it should be mixed in with a touch of Disney magic with memorable songs written by the legend Alan Menken that can be found in the movie.
As an audience member, you can see the dedication that each member of the cast poured into the show to make sure they could make this a memorable production for everyone who attends the show.
As an added bonus for attending their final paid preview before opening night on April 29, the cast, creative team, and director held a talkback with everyone in the audience to talk about the process and journey of bringing this massive production to life right in the heart of Fredonia.
The show will continue to run at Main Street Studios through May 7. No matter what cast you go to see, you will be in for a night full of laughs, tears and a new perspective on one of the most known stories that have been told for years.
Photo Gallery: “Hunchback of Notre Dame”
CONNOR RAPOSA, Special to The Leader
