-did some additional writing-
"Dance my Esmeralda, sing my Esmeralda.
Dance just one more time for me.
You know I'll die for love of you.
Dance my Esmeralda, sing my Esmeralda.
Please let my poor soul fly free.
It is not death to die for you." - Quasimodo
firstly and most importantly, thanks to all who have showed their concern about my entry, the one before the previous. i didnt expect to get any comment really, since it was just a thought of how i felt during that period which has been made a reminder for each November. thanks anyway, your comments really made my day ;)
and at least i know this dwindling place still have some readers :)
anyway, i saw
Notre Dame de Paris musical at the indoor stadium yesterday with my mom and dad. the turn out was not as quite i expected. if i were the performers i might have felt a tad hurt. it could be cos well, it's the extended period. it was full house the last few times. the show was in french but subtitles were screened at the side of the stage. language could be the barrier for others too. nevertheless, the show's performance was also not quite as i expected. in fact, i think it was pretty brilliant. we were standing by the end of the show, with the audience clapping and cheering non-stop till the black curtains separated the stage and us.
Notre Dame de Paris is a show based on the story of a church bell tower hunchback
Quasimodo, a gypsy girl
Esmeralda, a captain, poet, priest and the town's refugees. the story revolves around the Church of Notre Dame in Paris and the events unfold around there. it's a story of a complicated love dimension, unrequited love, lust, vengeance, sin, fship and probably more. the character that gels all of the rest is on Esmeralda - the girl who dances and lives wildly but has a heart yearning for love and comfort that is true and pure. Quasimodo - the hunched back with a heart of gold, but with a physical disadvantage and superficial distortions. some have said that the grotesque exterior of Quasimodo is the mirror of the gothic architecture of the Church of Notre Dame, which was a largely important monument in paris. well apparently according to the book, Quasimodo vanishes mysteriously after Esmeralda's death and dead of a broken heart. moreover, it is said that when later on a gravedigger found Esmeralda's grave, her skeleton was wrapped with another that looked like Quasimodo's. a tragic love story indeed. one dying of a broken heart, the other dying with that ignorance.
the dances were energetic and explosive. the songs and singing was excellent, clear and beautifully sung. if seated closer, you'd be able to observe their expressions clearly, face and body language that the cast had fused professionally with the character they were playing. if it were performed in english, it might have been different. the authenticity would be different though half the time we had to juggle reading the subtitles and watching the actors perform their best. but it's a worthy watch if you appreciate this kinda thing.
im now addicted to listening to the soundtrack. i have upgraded to distinguishing certain tunes and words with the title and parts of the musical from knowing nothing at all. getting the lyrics is another thing and level that im not sure i'd be adventurous to do.
"Live for the one I love.
Love, as no one has loved.
Give, asking nothing in return." - Esmeralda
Labels: pictures, reviews
