The Mendham Players went all-out for this year’s spring musical, featuring life-sized hanging bells, haunting choral arrangements, and the final performance of some of Mendham’s most talented seniors. The Patriot had the privilege of going behind the scenes to observe the production process and interview the director, Mr. Barthel, along with members of the show itself.
The story of The Hunchback of Notre Dame is one filled with love, tragedy, and heartbreak- three perfect ingredients for a musical. To give a summary, the musical is set in 15th century Paris, with the main character being the hunchback named Quasimodo (Devon Donnelly), whose uncle and archdeacon of the church, Claude Frollo (Misi Geller) locks him away due to his deformity and personal shame for his late brother’s (Samu Geller) actions before his passing. As the story unfolds, the war hero and captain of the guard, Phoebus (Billy Cooper), and the kind-hearted Romani dancer, Esmerlda (Alexa Swenson), change the lives of those around them. Tragic events ensue as each man finds something different in Esmerelda: Quasimodo, unexpected friendship; Frollo, a sinful object needing his spiritual purification; and Phoebus, a romantic partner. The musical explores themes of oppression as Esmerelda attempts to fight her fate and societal persecution, and identity through the Hunchback’s unconventional kindness.
The cast featured a stellar selection of seniors, with several new additions to the production as well. Devon Donnelly, Misi Geller, Billy Cooper, and Alexis Swenson’s vocals stood out; each of them is a beautiful singer and also excelled in the embodiment of their role. According to the Director, Mr. Barthel, this year’s cast is what makes this show special: “Their talent, their vision, what they bring to the table as collaborators is really what makes this a different show.” He mentioned two newcomers and seniors Neeve Hadar (ensemble member and statue) and Billy Cooper (Captain Phoebus), and he remarked, “they have really kind of emerged as strong leaders.” Despite this, he shared that, “we have some cast members who have been part of the cast for a long time, Devin Donnelly, who plays Quasimodo, who’s really stopped up and emerged as a leader this year, and then Megan [Turner] has always been a leader, and Jeevan Shaw, who, you know, has really done a great job with the set.” Several students commented on the fluidity and vibrancy of the costumes and the lighting, aspects of the show that refuse to be overlooked.
The community that comes with being a part of the Mendham Players is an accepting and positive one. Devaiah Poylangada, a senior and member of the stage crew, spoke on this. “Throughout my whole experience being on stage crew, I met a lot of amazing people in the musical itself, and in a lot of ways, I also learned a lot of new skills.” Using these newfound skills, the production team outdid themselves with their lobby design this year. From vivid lighting and silks adorning the walls to a tarot reading table and thematic “Wanted” posters featuring the cast’s most prolific members, they created an unforgettable experience for the audience.
Student assistant director Lainey Levens summarized it perfectly: “It’s a really good experience because the community is so great, and I’ve met some really amazing people through it, and I’m really proud of what we do.”
