The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Paper Mill — Page 9

Is this rumor or fact?

If it's fact Disney theatrical is clearly run by idiots. They are too stupid to admit they have a winner on their hands. I'm not saying its perfect, but it's few problems could easily be fixed. The show is simply stunning. 

Plus, it also would've been a tough sell because of the subject matter.

"I still think this will eventually come around again. Maybe the reason it's not coming in is because they couldnt get a theatre?"

 
I have a feeling that they want to work on it a lot more before bringing it to Broadway. I wouldn't say goodbye to Hunchback forever just yet.

I saw it Wednesday night and thought it was so beautiful.  Was not expecting what I witnessed.  I plan on trying to go again on Sunday.  

Saw it tonight.

Sorry if this has been discussed frequently, but did anybody else feel that the book and lyrics took a significant step back in many instances from the James Lapine version?

The sound is glorious, Patrick Page is outstanding. Most of the cast is good. Other than that, this is a really upsetting example of what bad direction can do to a good score and story. I just don't even know where to begin. Almost every one of the totally inconsistent, visually stagnant, utterly uninteresting concepts at play felt like something an undergrad would come up with to be clever in a Directing 1 class. If nepotism wasn't the reason for the choice of director, I can't imagine what was. This could have been a very special show. It's now too adult to appeal to families, but not nearly smart enough to justify its darkness.

Several critics have it wrong: there's not a tug-of-war between the "Disney" side and the "Mature" side in this production. There's just a massive dissonance between some remarkable material and some truly amateurish storytelling: something Disney animation has rarely been guilty of. 

Updated On: 4/4/15 at 02:47 AM

But the smaller your show is, the more creative you can be.

Well it's unfortunate that it's not going to come to Broadway. I saw it at Paper Mill and thought it was exquisite. Hopefully though they will produce a cast album. This is one score that I definitely believe is one that should be recorded (and with that epic choir).

Sorry if this has been discussed frequently, but did anybody else feel that the book and lyrics took a significant step back in many instances from the James Lapine version?

Oh my God, yes. Thank you!

I have no doubt we will see Hunchback on Broadway at some point. I'm glad they dodged the bullet here. It doesn't even have to be the Lapine version, they just need to do a mass overhaul of the book and set design. I think Disney realizes how special Hunchback is and what it really could be with the right book. They don't want to piss it away, they want to get it exactly right for Broadway. I respect that.

I know someone from a major musical-producing venue who is driving in to see it tonight. Apparently, they are indeed looking for another shot elsewhere (first).  Smart thinking. 

Updated On: 4/4/15 at 01:38 PM

"Mourn all you want, the Lapine version will (in almost all certainty) never be performed again."

Fine move on their part then, breaking rule number one of musical theater: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." You could literally swap out one musical number in Act Two and it would be perfectly fine. Nepotism and bone-headedness killed this version dead. Period.

I went on Thursday night and really enjoyed the show. Arden and Page were fantastic and the score was very good and the choir was excellent.  There were flaws but overall it was very good. Regarding next run, I heard that they are planning a run in Chicago in the summer and Broadway in the fall.