Quasimodo -The Musical in Concert with Enya Angel as Esmeralda | Untold story of the Hunchback of Notre Dame

The Fame Reporter interviewed Enya Angel, playing Esmeralda in the most incredible untold story of the Hunchback of Notre Dame the world premiere of Quasimodo – The Musical in Concert, playing at Capitol Theatre in Melbourne from 20 – 22 September.

Broadwest Productions in association with the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra proudly present Quasimodo – The Musical in Concert, a new and spectacular re-imagination of Victor Hugos’ classic hunchback story, focusing on the true meaning of love.

Featuring lush orchestrations by Hamish Ander and under the Artistic and Musical Direction of Andrew Wailes, this show features memorable characters, and a series of sweeping and powerful musical performances telling the universal human issues of Love, Lust, Betrayal and Murder with a twist of Broadway. Original music and lyrics have been created by Melbourne-based producer Samuel Kristy.

We sat down with Enya and talked about what enticed her to want to be apart of this World Premiere as leading lady Esmeralda, what the music is like in this brand-new musical working with the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra, collaborating with this incredible cast and more.

Could you tell us a bit about your character, Esmeralda, and what drew you to this role in Quasimodo – The Musical in Concert?
Esmeralda is a young Romani woman who lives in 1400’s Paris and makes a living through dancing and street performing. She is a member of a marginalised group who were often racially and culturally profiled.

I adore Esmeralda’s story as she is fiercely independent and self-sufficient, and yet can’t help but seek out the love and acceptance she lacked in her childhood. Unfortunately this leads her to trusting the wrong people and being betrayed by the people she put her faith in.

I love that her real story is finally being told, rather than the watered-down version we’ve seen in other iterations.

Esmeralda is a complex character with a significant role in the story. How did you approach bringing her to life in this new adaptation of Victor Hugo’s classic?
She is certainly complex! I’ve felt a huge responsibility to her character and story and knowing that it is incredibly important to do justice to her, especially as a non Romani person playing her.

I first read Victor Hugo’s novel, and then the entire musical script so I had a very clear understanding of her story and motivations. Interestingly, in the Victor Hugo novel and this new adaptation, Esmeralda was raised by the Romani people, but is not Romani herself. She was separated from her mother at a young age, and the Romani people took her in.

Having this knowledge really empowered my vision of her as I felt like she is an excellent portrayal of nature vs nurture, in that Romani people were thought of in a derogatory way and still are by some people, but Esmeralda’s character is an example of their kindness, veracity, and spirit.

As there is no dialogue in our Concert Version, I’ve practiced all the songs like monologues, ensuring I focus firstly on the emotion, story, and essence of the song, before focusing on the vocal aspect. I think this has really helped me feel confident in who she is as a person.

This musical features a blend of different musical styles including symphonic writing, Broadway, rock, pop, swing, and jazz. How do you feel this eclectic mix influences your performance as Esmeralda?
The music is the strongest part of this show. I have three solo songs in the concert version, and a few duets.

Each song is a different style and I think it brings out the eccentricity and vibrance of Esmeralda’s world.

She is a colourful, vibrant figure in a medieval world, and it’s incredibly polarising for people to see, namely Frollo, who can’t come to terms with the fact that she is a good person but not under the control of the Church. The eclectic compositions have helped to bolster that juxtaposition.

Working with a live orchestra and large chorus adds a unique dimension to this production. How will the live orchestration impact your experience and performance on stage?
It is going to be truly electrifying and I cannot wait to sing and perform with the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic.

They will be filling out what would normally be done with an ensemble, the Chorus especially will add to the emotion and power of my performance. It’s going to make acting the part incredibly easy!

The Capitol Theatre’s historic and visually stunning setting plays a crucial role in this production. How will the venue’s atmosphere enhance the storytelling and your performance as Esmeralda?The Capitol has one of the most stunning lighting set ups I’ve seen and I think the colour and vibrancy it will bring to the show will impact my portrayal of Esmeralda.

She represents the colourful and bright aspects of human life and the lighting will really enhance that.

Can you describe a memorable moment or challenge you’ve encountered while preparing for this role?
Absolutely, there have been many actually. The different vocal styles in each song was a challenge initially as I hadn’t found Esmeralda’s voice yet. I had to really work on her sound so I could represent that throughout the changing vocal styles.

Another big challenge for me was exploring her love of dancing. I have danced for many years and recently tore my ACL, and had reconstructive surgery.

I really thought my career was over for a while, so to be given the opportunity to bring Esmeralda to life in the concert version was incredibly emotional for me. I’ve had to harness that emotional reaction and repurpose it to work for my portrayal, and not against it.

How does this new interpretation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame differ from other adaptations you’ve seen or worked on, and what do you think makes it stand out?
It is the first musical adaptation that remains true to Victor Hugo’s novel, especially the ending. This story is incredibly tragic and depicts the harshness of 1400’s in Paris, without trying to sugar-coat anything.

Pivotal characters that have been left out or diminished are raised up, and the nuances of the story are laid out clearly. Also, characters that become the hero in well-known adaptations are actually the villains! Also, the novel ends in absolute tragedy and ruin for many characters, and I think the lack of a cathartic ending makes Quasimodo The Musical stand out immensely.

With the focus on themes of love, lust, betrayal, and murder, how do you navigate the emotional depth required for Esmeralda’s character in this musical?
I’ve had to map out Esmeralda’s relationship to the other characters in order to fully comprehend the gravity of her life. She is such a bright light in contrast to the setting that it either makes people fall in love with her, or make them believe she is evil.

At the core of it all she’s just a young woman trying to find her way in the world and find trust and belonging, but instead she is objectified, villified, and made out to be a murderer. No one but Quasimodo ultimately sees her for who she really is and he is unable to save her in the end.

It’s incredibly tragic and nuanced so it has definitely been a challenge to find her, but I think bringing my own personal experiences, along with a mountain load of empathy, has helped me round her out.

Collaborating with a talented cast, what has the ensemble dynamic been like, and how does it contribute to the overall production?
I met and sang with Des Flanagan, Sean Hutton, and Ben Clarke at our first media call and I can honestly say it was electrifying. It’s not often you can say that a first sing through is effortless, but it really was and it makes me incredibly excited to explore that energy on stage with such a talented cast. Des Flanagan as Frollo is going to be epic!

How do you prepare yourself mentally and physically for a role in a high-stakes, emotionally charged production like this one?
Stay calm! I like to centre myself constantly, and remain present while rehearsing and researching.

Incorporating parts of myself into Esmeralda helps to create a level of authenticity that keeps me grounded.

Vocally, this show is hugely taxing so I’ve been in a constant state of balancing prep and rehearsal with vocal health and agility. Show week, you’ll find me going for long solo walks listening to the music, steaming my voice, and focusing on vocal pedagogy techniques. Stamina stamina stamina!

What do you hope audiences take away from the musical, and how do you believe Esmeralda’s story contributes to the overarching themes of the show?
I hope audiences leave feeling inspired by the strength shown by both Quasimodo and Esmeralda. In the face of adversity, both characters come out triumphant.

Quasimodo finds his strength to stand up for what he believes is right, and Esmeralda stays true to herself and her belief in kindness and compassion when faced with hate and true evil.

Esmeralda never wavers, not for a second, and I think that as a character, Esmeralda could be very inspiring to women everywhere for that reason. Remain true to yourself.

Finally, what are you most excited about for the world premiere of Quasimodo – The Musical in Concert, and what can audiences expect from your performance as Esmeralda?
I am bursting at the seams with pride and honour to be a part of this incredible story. Esmeralda has been a dream role of mine for so long, and to be trusted with this part as a relative unknown in the musical theatre world is such an honour.

Especially singing with the likes of Des Flanagan and Joshua Robson, I have everything to prove. I really hope audiences connect with my portrayal of Esmeralda and see the depth of character I have tried to create.