MHS Theatre Performance of 'Hunchback' Starts Tonight

Don’t expect the Walt Disney version of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" when the Merrimack High School Theatre Department's production opens Thursday.  This exciting dramatization by Tim Kelly, one of America's most popular playwrights, captures the essence of the famous original by Victor Hugo.  Set in 15th century Paris, it stays true to Hugo's original rendering. 

To help set the mood of the play the renowned pianist, Jeff Rapsis, will perform live improvised musical underscoring.  Rapsis is a writer/editor, educator, and also a composer and performer who specializes in creating live musical scores for silent film screenings.

This production brings to life, on the stage, some of the most memorable fictional characters ever created: the pitiable but good-hearted bell-ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral, Quasimodo (Kaycee Hutchins); the vain, handsome Captain Phoebus (Jonathan Watson); the villainous, tormented Frollo (Adam Beauparlant); the temperamental poet, Pierre Gringoire (Nathaniel Watson) and the beautiful, innocent, naive gypsy, Esmeralda (Valerie Nigg), whom they all love.  The colorful Beggars and Citizens of Paris include:  Connor Bergin, Marjorie Boyer, Emma Cook, Hannah Dutton, Rae Easter, Anna Forger, Brad Greenland, Kyra Gustavsen, Conor Hannon, Alyssa Maston, Kaitlyn McGee, Jared Reynolds, Meryl Rogers, Rachel Stover, Katie Swonger, Shaneily Torrens, Abby Varano, Emily Whaley, and Cheyenne Whitney.

The famous settings of the novel in medieval Paris are also here: the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the rollicking Festival of Fools, and the notorious Court of Miracles, where the blind see and the lame walk.  This dramatic presentation includes the murder of Captain Phoebus; the lashing of Quasimodo on the pillory, and the rescue of the beautiful gypsy Esmeralda from her place of execution on a charge of witchcraft.  In this dramatic adaptation the play ends on an upbeat note without the tragic denouement of the novel.

You will not want to miss this tragic tale Directed by Fran White, Produced by Linda Mandra, Choreographed by Heather Davis and Stage Managed by Alex Williamson.  Other students involved in this production are Kaitlyn Dine, Josh Meier, Julia Bates, Kelly Boland, Stephanie Aubin, Marita Dancy, Hannah Yudkin, and Zabrina Marino.

This powerful historical romance will be performed in the Merrimack High School Theatre, 38 McElwain St. Tickets, $10 for students and seniors and $12 for adults, will be sold at the door and seating is general.  Show starts at 7 p.m. and doors open at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 16, 17 and 18.