esteban diaz - musical Notre Dame de Paris (2009)

Tuesday, 30 June 2009 00:00

Esteban Diaz, in giugno 2009, ha interpretato per la prima volta un ruolo in una commedia musicale, quella di Quasimodo in “Notre dame de Paris” .

Synopsis

Act I

The story is set in Paris in the year 1482. The poet Gringoire, who throughout the story acts not only as a participant but also as a sort of commentator, enters to set the scene for the story; he relates how Man has written his history in the building of the cathedrals ("Le Temps des Cathédrales").

The homeless and refugees, led by Clopin, swarm before the entrance to the Cathedral of Notre Dame begging for help and asylum ("Les Sans-Papiers"). Frollo, the Archdeacon of Notre Dame, orders Phœbus, the Captain of the King's Archers, to have his men disperse the crowd. As his men are driving off the refugees, Phœbus catches sight of the beautiful gypsy Esméralda (in later productions, the scene changes to have him see her while she is dancing before Notre Dame) and seems entranced by her. Esméralda tells him (and the audience) about herself, her life as a gypsy and her dreams ("Bohemienne"). Instead of arresting her, Phoebus leaves her alone.

Clopin, who has watched over Esmeralda since she was eight years old after the death of her parents, tells her that she is no longer a child and that she has reached the age where she will discover love ("Esméralda, Tu Sais"). He warns her to be extremely careful, since not all men are to be trusted.

In the next number, the audience is introduced to the nobly-born and beautiful yet child-like Fleur-de-Lys, to whom Phœbus is engaged to be married ("Ces Diamants-La"); her love for him is like that of Juliet for Romeo.

Now begins the wild and gay Festival of Fools, presided over by Gringoire ("La Fete des Fous"), the climax of which is the choosing of the King of Fools from among the group of people who can make the ugliest face; the King will be crowned by Esméralda. Hiding in the shadows is a monstrous figure who is dragged out into the light; it is the Bell-ringer of Notre Dame, the hunchbacked and facially deformed Quasimodo. By unanimous decision, Quasimodo is chosen and crowned as the King of Fools, but he knows that for all the power he has this one day nothing can make a woman (especially Esméralda) care for him ("Le Pape des Fous").

Frollo breaks up the festivities and orders Quasimodo to kidnap Esméralda and bring her to him that night so that she can be imprisoned as a sorceress and a violator of public decency ("La Sorciere"). Quasimodo, who is devoted to Frollo for raising and educating him after he had been abandoned as a baby ("L'Enfant Trouve"), says he will obey.

Night falls on Paris with its dark and hidden secrets commented on by Gringoire ("Les Portes de Paris"). Quasimodo stalks Esméralda through the dark streets and is about to seize her when Phœbus and his guards arrive and arrest Quasimodo. Phœbus introduces himself to Esméralda. He makes a date for a rendezvous with her the next night at the Cabaret du Val d'Amour. Phœbus and his men take Quasimodo away and Esmeralda darts off into the darkness.

At the Court of Miracles, the haven for all of the outcasts of Paris, Clopin presides over a wild revel, remarking that all are truly equal here no matter their race, religion, skin color or criminal background ("La Cour des Miracles"). Gringoire, who has wandered in accidentally, is seized and Clopin tells him that he will be hanged for his trespassing - unless one of the women will agree to marry him. Esméralda who has arrived during this, agrees to marry Gringoire (in name only) and Clopin, as King of the Outcasts, unites them and they join in the wild revelry.

Later, when Gringoire and Esméralda are left alone, he introduces himself to her as "the Prince of the Streets of Paris" and assures her that while he is not a "ladies' man" ("un homme a femmes" in the original French), he would be glad if she would be his Muse and inspiration. Since Gringoire is educated, Esméralda asks him what the word "Phœbus" means; he tells her that in Latin it means "the sun" or "sun god". Esméralda muses on the word as it romantically relates to the man Phœbus ("Beau Comme le Soleil"); she is joined on stage by Fleur-de-Lys, who also muses on Phœbus (although she seems to be more apprehensive about him), but both believe that Phœbus will love them forever.

Phœbus himself is under no apprehensions about what kind of man he is - he wants both women, one as a wife and one as a temporary mistress ("Déchiré").

The next day, Frollo summons Gringoire to Notre Dame and questions him about Esméralda, forbidding him to touch her. Gringoire changes the conversation by asking about a strange inscription in Greek on the wall of the Gallerie des Rois in Notre Dame, the word "Ananké". Frollo tells him that "Ananké" means "Fate" in Greek. They watch as Quasimodo is dragged on stage bound on The Great Wheel as sentence for his attempted kidnapping of Esméralda ("Anarkia").

Quasimodo endures his punishment, but cries out for water ("A Boire"), a plea that is ignored by everyone. Suddenly Esméralda appears and gives him a drink of water from her cup, an act of kindness that deeply touches the poor hunchback. He is then released from the Wheel, and he, Frollo and Phœbus sing about their different feelings for Esméralda ("Belle"): Quasimodo about his growing feelings of tenderness for her, Frollo about his growing fascination for her, and Phœbus (watched jealously by Fleur-de-Lys) about his wish for an affair with her before he marries Fleur-de-Lys.

Quasimodo leads Esméralda into Notre Dame and tells her how the cathedral has been his home and sanctuary, and now it can be hers whenever she needs one (“Ma Maison, c’est Ta Maison”). In spite of her initial fear of this strange, deformed man, Esméralda is touched by his gentleness and finds herself warming towards Quasimodo. Left alone, Esméralda, who has never prayed before, prays to the Virgin Mary (“Ave Maria Paen”). Frollo, secretly spying on her, realizes that his lust for her will destroy him but knows that he cannot resist ... and does not really want to ("Tu vas me détruire").

That night, Phœbus is on his way to the Cabaret du Val d’Amour for his rendezvous with Esméralda when he realizes he is being stalked by a shadowy figure. The figure (Frollo in disguise) warns him to go no further (“L’Ombre”), but Phœbus refuses to heed the threat and continues on his way.

At the Cabaret du Val d’Amour, Gringoire (who seems to be a regular customer) remarks how everyone, no matter the race, creed or color, comes here for a good time of one kind or another ... for a very low price (“Le Val d’Amour”). Phœbus arrives (he seems to be a regular customer here too) and meets Esméralda in a private room ("La Volupté"). They embrace and are about to make love when Frollo rushes in and stabs Phœbus with Esméralda’s knife (which she had placed on the floor earlier). Esméralda collapses over Phoebus’ body, Frollo makes his escape and Gringoire, Clopin, Frollo, Quasimodo and the Chorus comment on the terrible power of Fate ("Fatalité").

Act II

Frollo and Gringoire discuss the events and scientific discoveries taking place in Florence and how some of them (such as Gutenberg’s printing press and Luther’s doctrines) are changing the world forever (“Florence”). Gringoire notices how silent the cathedral is and Frollo tells him that Quasimodo has not rung the bells for three days.

Up in the bell tower, Quasimodo recounts how the cathedral bells are his only friends and loves (“Les Cloches”), especially the three “Maries”: “Little Marie” which is rung for children’s funerals, “Big Marie” which is rung when ships set sail and “Great Marie” which is rung for weddings. His greatest hope is that they will ring for Esméralda to hear that he loves her.

Frollo asks Gringoire where his “wife" is ("Ou Est Elle?"); Gringoire says he does not know and answers obliquely (but he tells Clopin, who has been searching for Esméralda, that she has been imprisoned in the prison of La Sainte and that she will be hanged if Clopin doesn’t save her).

In her cell Esméralda compares herself to a caged bird and calls to Quasimodo to save her, while back at Notre Dame Quasimodo wonders about Esméralda’s disappearance three days earlier and fears for her safety (“Les Oiseaux Qu’on Met En Cage”). Clopin and a group of outcasts are arrested and thrown into the La Sainte prison (“Condamnes”) as Esméralda is put on trial for the attempted murder of Phoebus and sorcery with Frollo as presiding judge (“Le Proces/La Torture”); when she refuses to confess, she is subjected to a foot-crushing torture until she cries out "I confess!" Frollo sentences her to death by hanging, but Esméralda still professes her love for Phœbus and Frollo is left to suffer from the emotional torment of his unrequited passion (“Etre Pretre Et Aimer Une Femme”).

Elsewhere, a recovered Phœbus is confronted by Fleur-de-Lys, who tells him that he will still have her heart and love if he will swear to have Esméralda executed (“La Monture”). Phœbus agrees (“Je Reviens Vers Toi”), claiming as an excuse that he was bewitched by Esméralda’s “sorcery”.

At five o'clock the morning of the execution, Frollo visits Esméralda’s cell and to her horror confesses to her that he knifed Phœbus out of love for her (“Un Matin Tu Dansais”) and offers her a choice: death on the gallows or life by giving him love. When Esméralda rejects his advances, he tries to rape her, but Quasimodo (who has secretly followed him) frees Clopin and the other prisoners. Clopin attacks Frollo, knocking him unconscious, and releases Esméralda and they flee the prison to Notre Dame for sanctuary ("Liberes").

Gringoire sings to the moon (“Lune”) in which he describes Quasimodo’s pain and suffering because of his love for Esméralda.

Quasimodo leaves Esméralda asleep in a safe place in Notre Dame (“Je Te Laisse Un Sifflet”), but bitterly reflects that while he will love her forever, his ugliness will ensure that she will never love him (“Dieu Que Le Monde Est Injuste”). Alone, Esméralda hopes that she will survive for the man she loves and sings about how Love has the power to change the world even should she die (“Vivre”).

With Clopin and his people occupying Notre Dame, Frollo orders Phœbus and his men to break sanctuary and attack the cathedral to drive them out (“L’Attaque de Notre Dame”). Clopin and his people resist bravely but are no match for the armed soldiers, and in the first attack Clopin is fatally wounded. Dying, he begs Esméralda to take his place as leader. The final battle has Esméralda and her people facing off against Phœbus and his soldiers, but the result is a foregone conclusion – Esméralda is captured and the outcasts defeated. Phœbus coldbloodedly hands Esméralda over to be executed, orders the outcasts driven out of Paris (“Deportes”) and leaves with Fleur-de-Lys.

Quasimodo, searching Notre Dame for Esméralda, finds Frollo standing at the top of one of the towers and begs him to help Esméralda (Mon Maitre, Mon Sauveur”). Frollo, finally driven insane, shows him the sight of Esméralda being hanged and to Quasimodo's horror announces that he is responsible. As he laughs wildly, the enraged Quasimodo seizes him and hurls him down the stairs of the tower to his death. As the executioners are cutting down Esméralda’s body from the gibbet, Quasimodo appears and demands that they give him her body. Driving them away, he kneels beside her body and mourns her, promising to stay with her and that even in death they will not be parted (“Danse, Mon Esméralda”).

After the curtain call, Gringoire leads the cast in a reprise of "Le Temps des Cathedrales".