(Eric and Lesli Marguerita)
Of all the shows I've seen Eric do in the last eight years, this may have been the most profoundly moving. And that's saying something, considering I've seen him star in Jesus Christ Superstar, Miss Saigon and Whistle Down the Wind, all very emotional pieces. The reason this experience was so very special was the vision and the courage of its director, Glenn Casale. He had the courage to cast the leading role of Quasimodo (Latin for “half-formed”) with a deaf actor, John McGinty. Glenn's vision was to make us acutely feel his humanity.
He did so by giving Quasimodo a
“shadow” (Jim Hogan) who brilliantly sang the heart-rending songs
written by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, while John signed and
acted the lyrics. Gargoyles came to life as Quasimodo's only
friends, giving admonishment, encouragement and advice and turning to
stone when someone else entered the scene. The only visitor had been
his guardian, Dom Claude Frollo (Mark Jacoby) until his curiosity and
awakening love for the beautiful and fiery gypsy, Esmeralda, played
by Lesli Marguerita, gives him the courage to leave his bell tower
prison for the first time, resulting in tragic circumstances.
(John McGinty and Lesli Marguerita)
Captain Phoebus de Martin (Eric Kunze) is the dashing soldier who also falls in love with Esmeralda and he is a reluctant partner with Quasimodo who insists on rescuing her from the wrath of Frollo. It was so much fun seeing Eric in this role, skillfully brandishing a sword and singing sweet love to Esmeralda in the duet, “In a Place of Miracles”. Eric has a talent for instantly switching from humor, to bravado, to ardor and he wears his heart on his sleeve.
(John McGinty and Jim Hogan)
Unlike many other musicals, this is a
group effort and every single cast member is instrumental, most
wearing different hats throughout, such as the brilliant Keith
Beardon as King Louis XI, as well as a monk, a gypsy, and who knows
how many other parts as well. Each person is perfectly cast and they
work together as a finely tuned machine, each important in their own
way.
For me, the most brilliant touch was at
the beginning and the end. (For those of you who haven't seen the
show and are planning to see it in La Mirada, this is a SPOILER
alert!) Glenn has John walk onto the stage as himself. He is a good
looking man and it is hard to imagine him as the ugly monster
Quasimodo is supposed to be. As he is helped into a makeshift vest
which contains the hump and ties it around his waist, he bends down,
musses his hair, assumes a bent posture and distorts one side of his
face to complete the transformation. At the end of the show, the
hump vest is removed and he is John again. The best part for me was
at the end of the bows, to thunderous applause, when John opens his
arms to Jim Hogan and they have a joyous embrace. It was truly a
magical moment, one which I had the privilege to enjoy for five
performances last week.
(Eric, Lesli and John)
(Maggi and Eric)
Sending my sincere thanks to the entire
cast and crew for one of the most memorable theater experiences of my
life. There have been many professional rave reviews online and in the media, which I shall be posting in the days to come.
