The Hunchback of Notre Dame - "Hellfire"

Myself (Michael Schiumo) portraying Archdeacon Claude Frollo in the absolutely amazing 2018 Town and Country players production of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame".

[@trueblueedits4673]

I love how in this version Esmeralda is actually dancing in the background. It gives the whole performance a ton of dimension.

[@LucarioBot]

ikr

[@yumikumi2]

You're very right. In a play, because there is no visuals floating around like in the movie, you need live visuals to set the mood of the songs. Esmeralda dancing in the background is a nice touch to convey to the audience.

[@LucarioBot]

@@yumikumi2 exactly

[@averycash9899]

Even if most could have her in all white dancing through a cloud of smoke from a fog machine, like the visual from the cartoon it would be great. The fire one, using a red light under/ over the fog with a double in red would be a great visual!

[@LucarioBot]

@@averycash9899 yes that needs to happen

[@mcmptn]

The stage set up is like the audience is the cathedral's congregation. Esmeralda actually dances onstage, thus making herself as real to the audience as she is in Frollo's imagination during this scene. He goes to her, only to be immediately blocked by the praying figures, as if they're trying to block his path to sin at first, but once he surrenders to it, the hooded figures seem more like the Grim Reaper than praying monks, and they're clearly set on dragging him down...presumably to the depths of Hell. He manages to break free with one final appeal for protection against sin's power, but it's too much for him, and he succumbs. The red around him is like the fires of Hell, and the black is like sin and darkness. Ultimately, the spotlight is on Frollo himself, and everyone else fades into background, i.e. even though the Latin lyrics of this song were a prayer confessing sin and asking forgiveness, all of that has faded away; it is now a song about Frollo's lust driving him mad and separating him from God. I guess what I'm trying to say in so many words is: masterfully done!

[@_rahh]

i am NOT reading all of that but yes

[@zaxbitterzen2178]

This is one of if not the best/darkest disney song's of all time. To live in that time period, and to have such a position within the church/judicial system your sense of entitlement would be sky-high. To have absolute power, a blackened self-righteous heart, and impulses you deem as "unholy" especially unto yourself like how do you not become a villain?

[@davidpulanco2715]

This is an interesting setup, to have the audience on either side of the action. It does feel like a cathedral and the audience is the congregation.

[@LucarioBot]

this is actually great amazing performance

[@himageko7777]

This is the best performance of this song I've ever seen! Absolute chills at the start of the second verse when the other monks appeared!

[@1ightcap]

I like how the there is a bunch of ominous faceless monks, except 3rd from the right who didn't get the memo that he was supposed to draw his hood spookily

[@issiv.4998]

Omg I only realized that after rewatching and reading your comment😅

[@Ingridfire]

I wasn't that bothered but after reading your comment I get the giggles watching the last half of the video 😂

[@ZgermanGuy.]

I wonder they are going to make frollo priest like he was in the original book in the life action remake of disney Well first and foremost I would actually love for one of those to be actually good

[@LucarioBot]

nah they wouldn't want to offend anyone by depicting an archdeacon as the villain though I would pay for them to use the musical plot

[@TheKnowledgeMan101]

@@LucarioBot They've already offended alot of people throughout the century with alot of many bad things, not to mention they've offended alot of people with the horrible live actions, they've did. But this one, if they adapt the Stage musical, and make it closer to the original, its a remake done right

[@LucarioBot]

@@TheKnowledgeMan101 I agree with everything you said and it’s not just that but age ratings as well

[@TheKnowledgeMan101]

@@LucarioBot yeah, but remember, people nowadays love things dark, I mean look at the success of Marvel's Deadpool. And it can be age restricted to ensure no child can watch it.

[@LucarioBot]

@@TheKnowledgeMan101 which is why Disney wouldn’t do it because if children can’t see it it’ll make less money but yeah I myself do love dark & poetic stories so I would pay trillions to see that kind of movie without the offensive romani stereotypes present in both the novel and movie

[@neonbrine]

This is really good im glad I got this in my recommendation

[@TeejHero]

Absolute banger of a performance. You crushed this!

[@katieofsister]

I definitely think this cast did the most justice with this song! Such beautiful singing voices and a powerful depiction as well!!

[@goldcharizard]

This is Andrew from Telerx. This randomly popped up because I searched for this song earlier. I was quite surprised I found you on here. Anyway that was boss.

[@gelchert]

Excellent performance, Michael! Every bit as good as Tony Jay’s or Patrick Page’s, and as a Catholic, I especially appreciate how you crossed yourself at appropriate moments as Frollo would have. The staging is really clever, as well. It evokes the Disney movie about as well as can be done onstage. All in all, a great effort from everyone involved!

[@ChloeGPotter]

I've seen lots of great performances of this song, but this version is my favourite! The singing, the positioning of the actors and everything else is amazing

[@krystalharwood7842]

michael, your voice is phenomenal!!

[@skeems24601]

Thank you so much for the kind words

[@gunslingerfan1238]

Cool, you actually did the sign of the Cross before singing.

[@miriamrutkowska9903]

that's so good and so underrated :o

[@shiNIN42]

Powerful singing, just how I love this great song :D

[@katesykesUK]

Excellent performance! You sang this so well!

[@NoireFair]

Stunning, absolutely PHENOMENAL performance!! 👏👏👏

[@ANP4158]

Not gonna lie this is creepy 😨

[@isabellavetere9098]

The 1 dislike is Esmeralda

[@mk-ki4ls]

" Dis I like "

[@wacc2112]

This is an amazing performance omg

[@RiniDiamandis]

You're amazing! I GOT ABSOLUTE CHILLS 😭😭😭😭💖💖💖💖

[@skeems24601]

Thank you, that's very kind of you.

[@ourochroma]

I loved that moment 1:58

[@Chris_Burdick]

As good as this performance is, it can't top the Disney Version. I'm sorry.

[@turkeygod6665]

Holy shittttt Bravo my man

[@JoelApplegate]

Better than the movie version - Bravo, Michael.

[@giamello6812]

Why did quaseymodo look like Bradley Cooper

[@bryanfan3175]

well done. I applaud you good.

[@beckygarza9348]

Hello Michael. Awesome voice and vibrato. Do you happen to know if the full play is available? Also, who is the actor that played Quasimodo?

[@smg2175]

Wow, what a great interpretation, bravo!

[@mauricesmithjr4050]

Tony jay would’ve love to see this

[@Yazztan]

cool chungus

[@Atala-vr8zg]

wow this is so beautiful

[@alaskaforever3879]

Why is frollo dressed as a priest. He was a government offical.

[@skeems24601]

@@alaskaforever3879 The musical follows closer to the original book in which frollo is indeed the archdeacon of Notre Dame. The animated movie didn't want to go down that rabbit hole so they made him a judge who was very pious.

[@shoeling]

good vibes here

[@hottea311]

Круто

[@endangrusmala9132]

The best live action I've ever seen!! Great!!👍

[@windingpaths]

I would lose my **** if I saw this in person! Fantastic!

[@j.jauffret2315]

Superb! 😍😍😍

[@sofiamaimone6980]

Que maravilla el público!!

[@_rahh]

BURNNNNN!!!!🔥🔥🔥

[@JohnSWeekley]

This is so cool!

[@deer563]

This song is so good

[@nl396]

Frollo was a judge not priest

[@LucarioBot]

the musical is based off of the original novel where frollo is the archdeacon instead of a corrupt judge the movie changed it to avoid controversy