The power and its abuse - Der Glöckner von Notre Dame

Ronacher Theater [ENA] The Ronacher Theater, which is famous for various fascinating musical performances, surprised its spectators during this autumn with the new musical “Der Glockner von Notre Dame” which was based on the original story of Victor Hugo. Without exaggeration I will say that the musical kept spectators to watch it “on one breath” while following the moving story of Quasimodo.

The spectacular costumes took the publicum into a journal to the Middle Age France. The music of the musical was written by Alan Menken that music became an essential part of our life for already more than 40 years. The role of Quasimodo was performed by David Jakobs who is very well known for his roles in other musicals such as Evita, Elisabeth or Catch me if you can, among many others. The role of Esmeralda was performed by Abla Alaoui who is known for her interpretations in such musicals as Sister Act, Tanz der Wampire or Miss Saigon.

The role of Quasimodo was performed by David Jakobs who is very well known for his roles in other musicals such as Evita, Elisabeth or Catch me if you can, among many others. The role of Esmeralda was performed by Abla Alaoui who is known for her interpretations in such musicals as Sister Act, Tanz der Wampire or Miss Saigon. But returning back to the story of Quasimodo which was put into the context which is nowadays is as actual as never before. Despite historical and cultural background, to my perception this story is about the power abuse of someone who is weaker.

The Master took Quasimodo as a baby of his dead brother. He from the beginning new that the baby was not beautiful and that he himself was right, correct and was doing everything according to social norms. Social norms were the most important thing for the Master as well as his reputation. And he also had a chance to show how good and right he is in comparison so such poor creature as Quasimodo. This is what Master was thinking about Quasimodo and was not tired to repeat it to him over and over again.

Master locked Quasimodo in a tower. He was frightening him that outside are evil people, that all people are evil and that they will make harm to Quasimodo. That is why it is better for him to stay in the tower and don`t go out. And Master was abusing Quasimodo. When he himself had thoughts which he considered to be not right or not conform with the societal norms and moral, he was punishing Quasimodo thus realizing his pressure. And he knew that whatever he is doing to Quasimodo he will not be punished by himself because Quasimodo was locked in the tower and could not go and complain to anyone. All these features are features of abusive and sadistic behavior, which is unfortunately existing in nowadays, not only in the Middle Age France.

And while observing the course of the story the spectators give themselves the question: what is the cause and what is the consequence? Maybe Quasimodo was not born with hunchback? Maybe this was an abusive behavior and fear of Quasimodo which transformed his spine into the form protecting shield like the one of turtles? Maybe Quasimodo was not deaf from the birth? But maybe loud sounds of bells, the noise which some else would make to turn away from this job, but Quasimodo could not because he was locked, maybe the shouting and evil words of Master turned him to the state of almost deaf person?

What was the story of love to Esmeralda for Quasimodo? Yes, this was the story of eternal love and the performance ends with the story that in the crypta of Notre Dame several years later two skeletons holding each other were found, one of whom was man with the deformation of the back in the form of hump. But this was also the story of liberation of Quasimodo. Through the wish to protect Esmeralda from injustices of the world, he discovered that he was a subject of unjust and cruel treatment himself. He was abused, his freedom was taken away, he was permanently humiliated and from loneliness he started to talk to sculptures around while considering them as his friends.

While protecting Esmeralda Quasimodo discovered that he is strong, and this gave him strength to liberate himself from the Master. This play is an inspiration to everyone and a reminder that everyone is beautiful in his or her own way and that there is always a solution and an exist from any situation. This play is also a manifesto about alternatives, that alternatives to every situation exist and that there is no need to stand abusive and humiliating behavior, that every tower has its windows and its doors through which some one can leave to discover a beautiful and full of chances world outside the tower.