It was one of the shows of the summer not to be missed. Carried by an impeccable cast, which includes two interpreters of the original troupe in Daniel Lavoie and Bruno Pelletier, the musical still enchants as much, nearly 25 years following its creation. We were able to see it on Tuesday, during the Montreal premiere at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier.
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Could it be a gift he made himself for his 60th birthday, which he celebrated last Sunday? Still, Bruno Pelletier seems to have fun like a little kid in the role of Gringoire.
The interpreter always very in voice started the show under warm applause of the public, to interpret the timeless The Cathedrals Time. The tone was brilliantly set.
Photo Agence QMI, Mario Beauregard
The musical has lost none of its luster, on the contrary.
Immediately followingwards, with Homeless, the audience was spoiled with one of the most effective combos for a musical. The work of Luc Plamondon and Richard Cocciante has not aged a bit and is still just as powerful.
Much has been made of the return of Bruno Pelletier. Well Named. The singer shows himself in good shape in more physical paintings, such as Fool’s Day et The Val d’Amour.
MARIO BEAUREGARD/QMI AGENCY
everyone shines
But we realize quite quickly how the brilliant performer is only one among others, as his acolytes are all super talented.
In this Our Lady 2022 version, pretty much everyone has their little moment to shine on stage.
Photo Agence QMI, Mario Beauregard
Daniel Lavoie, who portrays the tortured priest Frollo, is particularly present in the first act, giving us a very intense You are going to destroy mewhere we see all the torments of his character.
Coming to the ninth tableau of the first act, Angelo Del Vecchio’s Quasimodo is disturbingly vulnerable. Of course, one can only think of the interpretation that Garou made of it at the end of the 1990s. But Del Vecchio has nothing to be ashamed of his performance. We believe in his Quasimodo.
Several titles well known by the public are interpreted during the first part. The Court of Miraclesdelivered by a
Clopin (Jay) perched on a huge steel beam, was very well received.
Photo Agence QMI, Mario Beauregard
The two female performers, Elhaida Dani (Esmeralda) and Emma Lépine (Fleur-de-Lys), also had their moments to shine, especially during their very beautiful duet on beautiful like the sun.
Gigantic Belle
Of course, we expected the gigantic Belle, one of the most important pieces of our Francophonie. And we were not disappointed. Del Vecchio, Lavoie and Gian Marco Schiaretti (Phœbus) sent the ball to each other nicely, before finishing in unison, a moment that gave us chills.
Photo Agence QMI, Mario Beauregard
As of this writing, the second act has only just begun. But already, relying only on the first part, we can affirm that this Notre Dame of Paris is a real success.
The show Notre Dame of Paris is presented until August 21 in Montreal. The production will then visit Quebec, Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières until mid-September. For all dates: notredamedeparis.ca.
