NOTRE DAME DE PARIS in New York

[Fan123]

Posted: 7/2/22 at 6:03pm

I'm curious, are any of the New Yorkers or New York-adjacent on this board, going to see this? Running 13-24 July.

https://notredamedeparis.com/

Previously I've tried a little to listen to this show's score, without much success. It just doesn't seem sufficiently... dramatic... for the subject matter? But I'd like to keep an open mind about different styles of musical theatre. I'd be interested to know how a US audience receives this.

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 7/2/22 at 6:25pm

I’m seeing it! I love all things Hunchback. I’ve watched the recorded version on YouTube with English subtitles and I love it. I like the music a lot (tho I admit I have a playlist where I cut some of the more boring songs but that’s opera for you). What I like most about it is that it’s very loyal to the book whereas most adaptations make significant changes.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/2/22 at 8:51pm

I won’t be able to see it but I’m excited to read what people think. It probably won’t be seen in New York again any time soon.

[blueshadows]

Posted: 7/3/22 at 8:15am

I’m not a “US Audience” but I do travel to NYC quite a lot to see shows. Saw this show twice in Montreal (in French) and absolutely loved it. The score is one of my favorite among all musicals I have seen/listened to cast recording, it is beautiful, memorable and grand. Looked at the cast from the website and some cast were the same as I have seen, the one playing Quasimodo is great and the one playing Esmeralda is amazing. The one playing Frollo is the original actor who played the role when it first opened back in the 90s. The songs by Gringoire (Le Temps des Cathédrales, Lune, Florence, ...) are big highlights so maybe try listening to those see if you like it? The Gringoire in this production in not the one I saw so I can’t comment.

The show is not perfect though, the staging is very average to me (especially in comparison to many other Broadway shows) and I’ve heard some of the English version of the songs, it could have been better I think, but the songs remain beautiful. 

Updated On: 7/3/22 at 08:15 AM

[mikem]

Posted: 7/3/22 at 1:53pm

In a weird coincidence, Les Dix Commandements (The Ten Commandments), which came out in 2000 and was the next big French musical after Notre Dame de Paris, also had its New York debut a couple of months ago.  I'm not sure what the history and tradition of the French stage musical tradition are, but both shows seem like they are staged very similarly -- relatively bare stage, lots of ensemble dancing around in similar costumes, much more of an emphasis on lighting than set or costume and not really setting up a stage environment where the audience thinks they are transported to a different time and place.  I mentioned this to a French person, who seemed to think that general style is typical of a French musical and didn't originate with Notre Dame de Paris, but that's just one person's opinion and I don't know if that's a commonly held belief.

So I wouldn't go expecting a Broadway-style set.  If you like the score, you'll probably like the show but I don't think the staging is going to wow you.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 7/4/22 at 8:51pm

This is such a strange piece of theatre.  It has a handful of really great tunes, but the scenic design and staging are so... different. It played at the Paris Casino in Vegas when the casino was still quite new, and it really didn't do well. No one really knew what to make of it.

It has had quite a large following in Europe and Korea, and there have been a few DVDs made commercially available. Most of those videos are available on YouTube if you are curious about what you are getting into before buying tickets. 

[Sauja]

Posted: 7/13/22 at 3:51pm

Very curious to hear how this will be received when it starts performances tonight. Has anyone seen any discount codes? I’m still trying to decide if I want to give it a shot.

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 7/14/22 at 12:08am

I'll be going this Saturday!  Don't know much about this particular rendition of Hunchback but I've heard great things about the score.

Also, we happen to have 3 tickets to 2nd ring row B center if anyone's interested, $177 each

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 7/14/22 at 12:36am

Sauja said: "Very curious to hear how this will be received when it starts performances tonight. Has anyone seen any discount codes? I’m still trying to decide if I want to give it a shot."

It’s on TDF.

[matty159]

Posted: 7/14/22 at 2:37pm

HeyMrMusic said: "Sauja said: "Very curious to hear how this will be received when it starts performances tonight. Has anyone seen any discount codes? I’m still trying to decide if I want to give it a shot."

It’s on TDF."

And thank goodness it is/was!  Those prices are higher than I thought they would be,  I’ve only looked at the Saturday matinee to see what’s left and it’s pretty well sold.  My only exposure to this is a CD I bought MANY years ago.  I’m excited and scared.  If anyone goes tonight via TDF, please share where your seats were!

To add:  as of now it’s still available for next Friday and Sat on TDF.

Updated On: 7/14/22 at 02:37 PM

[teos]

Posted: 7/15/22 at 11:23am

I aw it on the opening night!

I'm French and I had never seen the show (obviously, I've heard "Belle" and "Le Temps des Cathedrales" a thousand times since 1998). I loved the show: I don't know if it's because of the nostalgia of seeing something so cult, or if it's because the show is really good, but I had a great time.

The songs are so beautiful! For the staging, I liked it : sure, it's very different from what we see on Broadway, there are a lot of ballets, but well, it's a show from another time, from another country. I can only recommend it!

If you're not afraid of heights, there are cheap seats at the top of the theatre!

[matty159]

Posted: 7/15/22 at 3:25pm

Thank you for your review!  I’m more excited now!  
 

What was the running time?  It isn’t listed anywhere.  Just want to know for making plans after!

[teos]

Posted: 7/15/22 at 4:55pm

matty159 said: "What was the running time? It isn’t listed anywhere. Just want to know for making plans after!"

 

I left the theater around 10:15 pm... if that helps! I would see 2h/2h15.

 

[Lem22]

Posted: 7/16/22 at 12:01pm

The show is closer to 2hr 40min. I left yesterday around 10:40pm (8:00pm curtain).

I was already very familiar with the material; I'd suggest approaching it as a spectacle rather than a narrative driven musical. While the plot is not complicated, there is not much coherence between plot nor character development, but overall I enjoyed it and was glad I finally saw it live.

The cast is overall strong and I was very happy to see Daniel Lavoie, who originated the role of Frollo in the original production back in 98.

(TDF seat was located in orchestra left; very good seat)

 

Updated On: 7/16/22 at 12:01 PM

[matty159]

Posted: 7/16/22 at 8:53pm

The TDF seats I had for the matinee were excellent!  Close the center aisle Orch Left.  Great Deal!

I was so glad to finally see it!  It is definitely a spectacle.  The audience ate it right up.  The majority of the house definitely knew the show and there was a sing-a-long during what I think may have been the longest curtain call I’ve witnessed ever!

It is definitely worth the trip to Lincoln Center if you have the interest.  Though I would be curious if anyone who sat in the higher tiers could see the surtitles.  They were on screens about the size of my tv downstage on the far sides.

They also have a great shirt at the merch stand that is specific to NY that’s pretty cool!

[willep]

Posted: 7/16/22 at 9:28pm

Lem22 said: "The show is closer to 2hr 40min. I left yesterday around 10:40pm (8:00pm curtain).

I was already very familiar with the material; I'd suggest approaching it as a spectacle rather than a narrative driven musical. While the plot is not complicated, there is not much coherence between plot nor character development, but overall I enjoyed it and was glad I finally saw it live.

The cast is overall strong and I was very happy to see Daniel Lavoie, who originated the role of Frollo in the original production back in 98.

(TDF seat was located in orchestra left; very good seat)

"

Oh, wow! I had missed that Lavoie was doing it! Planning to catch it next weekend. I’ve been watching YouTube videos of it for YEARS.

[matty159]

Posted: 7/16/22 at 10:36pm

willep said: "Lem22 said: "The show is closer to 2hr 40min. I left yesterday around 10:40pm (8:00pm curtain).

I was already very familiar with the material; I'd suggest approaching it as a spectacle rather than a narrative driven musical. While the plot is not complicated, there is not much coherence between plot nor character development, but overall I enjoyed it and was glad I finally saw it live.

The cast is overall strong and I was very happy to see Daniel Lavoie, who originated the role of Frollo in the original production back in 98.

(TDF seat was located in orchestra left; very good seat)

"

Oh, wow! I had missed that Lavoie was doing it! Planning to catch it next weekend. I’ve been watching YouTube videos of it for YEARS."

You are gonna go crazy!  I am ashamed to admit, I’ve already booked to see it again.

[David10086]

Posted: 7/16/22 at 10:53pm

Don’t ever be ashamed to admit it! If I stay something you enjoy, spoil yourself and see it as many times as you want! ❤️

[matty159]

Posted: 7/16/22 at 11:32pm

David10086 said: "Don’t ever be ashamed to admit it! If I stay something you enjoy, spoil yourself and see it as many times as you want! ❤️"

I’m guilty of doing that a lot!  You’re words are perfect!

[CCB5]

Posted: 7/18/22 at 10:52am

Wow!  We went Friday night, this is an absolutely amazing show, go if you can!  Daniel Lavoie was the main draw for us, we were worried about how many years it has been but his voice is still strong and all of the singers were amazing, we agreed on loving Angelo Del Vecchio who plays Quasimodo, he has such a deep, thrilling, resonant voice and he uses the gravelly characteristics so well when called for, Hiba Tawaji was a magnificent Esmerelda but the ballet dancers during "Danse d'Esmerelda" were so good that I couldn't pay attention to her, I thought the dancers were way better than that song.  She shines more later in the show, especially in the duets, like with Emma Lupine as Fleur.  We loved the way they used the lighting so Phoebus (Yvan Pedneaut) is interacting with their shadows during "Beau comme le soleil".  My favorite song is still "Tu va me detruire" where Daniel Lavoie sings about how she's going to destroy him... my French is okay but we both felt the subtitles to the side of the stage were nice, my wife doesn't speak French at all.  "Belle" of course is an amazing song and the audience went crazy, lots of great songs.  I felt the show holds together wonderfully, the way they used the dancers spotlighted to show Phoebus' agony, we loved them dancing in the air on the bells when Quasimodo sings about the three Maries.  I felt there could be more to the set but my wife loved it, I felt some bits were like an Angelin Preljocaj ballet.  We saw Funny Girl the next day, which was a disappointment, get so much more spectacle for the money at Notre Dame!  Much of the audience was French or eastern european, packed house, masks required.  Expect a rock opera with modern ballet and acrobatic/break dancing, not a straight musical.

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 7/20/22 at 7:28pm

Just wanted to add that I also enjoyed this a lot, having gone essentially blind.  It's a different type of theater than a typical Broadway book show and it's definitely more about the spectacle and grandiosity than it is about really digging into the plot, but I loved the way they used staging elements and I actually thought the set was quite versatile and utilized very well.  I'd recommend not sitting too close, as the supertitles are on either sides of the stage so there could be a lot of looking back and forth between them in the stage if you're too far forward, and there's also just a lot to take in.  I thought both the dancers and acrobats were incredible and a treat to watch and the main actors were quite good as well.

The canned music was a bit of a disappointment and to be honest I wouldn't really call any of the individual songs memorable (I didn't consider Belle to be a standout, though it's probably the one that dives into character the most), but the general mood of the piece was there and if you like power ballads you'll probably like the music of this.  There's a synopsis of each song in the program, which I think helps a lot since even with the translations there were times when I wasn't sure what was happening, but overall it's more of a show you just take in without trying to follow too closely (not dissimilar to Bat Out of Hell)