The Hunchback of Notre Dame

'Hunchback' hits stage at Merrimack High School May
16-18

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., Merrimack, N.H.  Tickets, $10 for
students and seniors and $12 for adults, will be sold at the door and seating
is general.  Show starts at 7:00 p.m. and
doors open at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 16, 17 and 18.