HUNCHBACK La Jolla Previews- Page 7

[sctrojan65]

Posted: 11/12/14 at 7:17am

It's quite possible you won't like it then. You've narrowed in on enough shortcomings already that I have a feeling you'll be focused on those and won't be able to get beyond them.

And that's okay. Not everyone has to like everything.

I'll admit that I went in with some preconceived expectations, as well. The dramatic way they present "Bells of Notre Dame" in the movie is pretty powerful and engaging. It's different here.

Same goes with "Topsy Turvy." I could have seen this done in some sort of really splashy Broadway-like way. It was understated and unassuming though which I think worked okay in the context of the show.

As for the choir? I didn't exactly feel they overly intruded on the action. The narration on occasion? Yes. But the choir, no. I certainly didn't walk out of the theater thinking, 'What's with that choir?' Actually I think musically they blended in pretty well.

I mean, we'll see what you think. But if you have a number of established criticisms of it already, I'm not sure those will be pacified.

And again, that's okay. It won't touch everyone the way it's done.

I was able to put my preconceived notions out of my mind and once I started settling in to this telling of the story, liked it.


Updated On: 11/12/14 at 07:17 AM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 11/12/14 at 11:21am

Maybe the German gargoyles were goofy-looking but at least their role in the show was clearly defined.

Quite the contrary. The gargoyles were the most stunning design feature of the German production and far less goofy than in the film. It was the one design element that I think should have been retained from the German production.

[Nateben2]

Posted: 11/12/14 at 9:37pm

Two more positive reviews:
http://www.lajollalight.com/news/2014/nov/11/hunchback-playhouse-review/

http://sdgln.com/entertainment/2014/11/12/theater-review-hunchback-notre-dame

Updated On: 11/12/14 at 09:37 PM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 11/12/14 at 11:44pm

Positive: 4
Negative 0

[Nateben2]

Posted: 11/13/14 at 1:17am

Updated On: 11/13/14 at 01:17 AM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 11/13/14 at 1:21am

Positive: 4
Odd: 1

[keb2]

Posted: 11/13/14 at 10:01pm

The reviews are not all positive:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-hunchback-of-notre-dame-review-20141114-column.html
http://www.laweekly.com/publicspectacle/2014/11/11/disneys-staging-of-the-hunchback-of-notre-dame-is-like-every-other-musical-youve-seen
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2014/nov/13/theater-hunchback-la-jolla/#
http://www.sdcitybeat.com/sandiego/article-13609-la-jolla-playhouses-%E2%80%98hunchback-may-be-too-sweet.html

[owenblinky]

Posted: 11/14/14 at 1:16pm

IMO those reviewers are complaining for all the wrong reasons. Accusing a Disney musical of being too sweet? Especially considering that this is the darkest most sexual Disney musical of all time.

LOL at the line about the "towering orchestra." 13 players isn't even enough for a chamber orchestra. These reviews have no credibility in my book.

[ShakinBaconGirl]

Posted: 11/14/14 at 1:50pm

Okay Menken.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 11/14/14 at 1:52pm

The only credible CA theater reviewer is Charles McNulty of the LA Times. The rest are equivalent to bloggers, IMO.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 11/14/14 at 2:11pm

LOL at LA Weekly. Are they actually serious? How dare they stay true to the book!

[owenblinky]

Posted: 11/14/14 at 3:12pm

All these accusations of ripping off Les Miz are pissing me off.

Wah! This Victor Hugo story reminds me of another Victor Hugo story!

Idiots.

[ShakinBaconGirl]

Posted: 11/14/14 at 8:28pm

I'm just gonna leave this here:https://youtu.be/cFn_UUA36dk I know you are reading this, Hunchback crew. consider it

[RW3]

Posted: 11/14/14 at 8:52pm

Ciara Renee has been getting positive responses from critics and audiences.

[QuasiFrollo]

Posted: 11/14/14 at 9:12pm

What about it?

[Nateben2]

Posted: 11/14/14 at 9:47pm

It's interesting it's get notes for being too dark and too light at the same time.

What I do notice is a slight anti-Disney sentiment in some of the press.

I think in each review - good, mixed or bad - has some truth to it, and I wish the team luck as they plan the future for the show at Paper Mill, and hopefully beyond.

[ShakinBaconGirl]

Posted: 11/14/14 at 9:56pm

There is definitely an anti-disney sentiment around Broadway. Not just in the press. Many posters here were hoping Aladdin would get creamed by the critics. Even Beauty and the Beast had Broadway purists foaming at the mouth when it opened in he 90's. Updated On: 11/14/14 at 09:56 PM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 11/15/14 at 12:41am

Does the NY Times ever review LaJolla?
There is some anti=DISNEY residue still lurking around Broadway but most of it is long gone. The critics were quite kind to ALLADIN and NEWSIES There was a time when people thought DISNEY was gonna take over but that didn't happen. Now they produce some hits and some flops and the shows mostly make money and stand on their own. But if they produce a good show it's not unjustly attacked just because DISNEY produced it. And with some of the crap that's being produced now DISNEY's rep is certainly changing. They are using Broadway vets and giving them a chance to do edgier stuff like HUNCHBACK.

[Eurotrash]

Posted: 11/15/14 at 12:45pm

Why did I read that last clump of reviews. Unoriginal because it's set in France? Good grief.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 11/15/14 at 10:46pm

Well, all of the audio on Tumblr (minus Someday, Out There, and Court of Miracles) has been removed :/

[ShakinBaconGirl]

Posted: 11/16/14 at 1:35am

On a positive note, Ciara sounds absolutely gorgeous on "someday". Too bad the creators butchered the song.

I'm also realizing "Out there" was never meant to be sung 8 times a week. Updated On: 11/16/14 at 01:35 AM

[sctrojan65]

Posted: 11/16/14 at 10:27am

Reviews are what they are. I've never let them stop me from seeing a show. If it's a show of interest, I'll see it anyway.

Had I waited and seen some of the critical ones on Hunchback, I still would have seen it.

And would've been glad I did too.

Much like ignoring the press on Bullets Over Broadway. I really liked that one too, and would have missed what, IMO, was a great show had I listened to the critics.

Same goes with Hunchback. Is it the best I've seen? No. But I found it moving and quite well done with some great vocal performances. It's edgier than what Disney has done before in some ways, but I like that about it too.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 11/17/14 at 8:22am

Apparently, they have removed all of the references that Quasimodo is deaf. Can anyone confirm?

[mlsheehan]

Posted: 11/17/14 at 10:54am

Well, I saw the show on Friday. It was made clear in a scene between Esmeralda and Quasimodo where he says the bells have made him deaf, but he reads lips and gets much from watching faces.

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 11/17/14 at 11:50am

In anticipation for seeing the show at papermill in March, I decided to reread the novel. What I find really interesting that i had forgotten is that the book describes how one of the main bonds between Frollo and Quasimodo is that they both truly love the Notre Dame. This important connection was deleted from the Disney film but it seems, from the opening number that was on Tumblr, that they have somewhat brought Frollo's love of the cathedral back into the plot.