By Olivia Collins

The school play, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, hit the stage two weeks ago and was a huge success. As a student who normally does the play, I watched the play from a more critical view; however, everything from the cast to the sets and lights was the level of a Broadway show.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame follows the story of Frollo, Quasimodo, Esmerelda, and Phoebus. Frollo is a prominent figure in the church and is left to care for the misshapen Quasimodo. Meanwhile, France is turned into chaos as the gypsy Esmerelda leaves an impact on Frollo, Quasimodo, and Phoebus, driving all three of them to become obsessed with her in different ways.

This show is not the Disney adaptation you would expect and deals with more mature themes. Nevertheless, the cast and crew handled this in such a way that left the audience deeply moved. I was not only impressed by the leads but also with the ensemble as most of the songs were difficult and in Latin, yet they were a crucial part in amazing the audience. The sets added another level to the play, which enhanced each scene as the audience looked upon the bells and stain glass window of Notre Dame.

The cast, crew, and production managers put on an incredible show which moved myself and an entire audience. I know first hand the amount of work and time that goes into creating a show of this par. The entire cast, crew, and the people behind the scenes should be incredibly proud of the show they performed. If you missed the show, I recommending watching any of the performances on YouTube, as they are all posted on the Garnet Valley High School – Performing Arts Association channel. The spring play is Seussical and will be performed March 5th-7th. You won’t want to miss it!