Conclusion: Esmeralda; or The Deformed of Notre Dame

Edward Fitzball

Esmeralda; or The Deformed of Notre Dame is rightfully obscure. It's a very loose adaptation of the Victor Hugo book, and it's one of the earliest. The sources that I've researched say it even predates La Esmeralda. It's not the first, that honor likely goes to a forgotten 1832 theatrical adaptation.

 It was fairly popular during its time, and Edward Fitzball seemed proud of his own work, so others must have as well. There's nothing that makes this stand out. It is, like the complete edition advertises, a "standard play."

I don't think that there's no real reason to go back to it. On top of that, if you did want to go back to it, the process of doing so is cumbersome and inconvenient.

It's not a bad play, it's just unremarkable and outdated.

Presentation for Dick's Standard Plays: Esmeralda; or The Deformed of Notre Dame

Dick's Standard Plays Complete Edition

The only reference I have for this version is from the Dick's Standard Plays Complete Edition. I have not seen a performance of Esmeralda, mostly because it hasn't been widely preformed in many, many decades, so this is the only thing I have to go by.

The presentation is pretty bare bones. The only art is from the cover illustration which, if a bit basic, is still well done. The formatting is a bit problematic. In order to save paper, it seems, the text is separated in two columns. It's functional, but not particularly pleasant to read. The spacing is very small and close together. This fact makes dialogue confusing to read at times. Characters names are abbreviated when they speak, but because of the small spacing

The grammar and spelling also is not very good.

The complete edition is not very well done, but, in 2015, you really have no other option. It hasn't been reprinted, there's just not the demand out there. There's not even an ebook version. This version is all there is, but the good news is is that it's free. It's archived here. 

Next: Conclusion

The Characters: Esmeralda; or The Deformed of Notre Dame

Esmeralda

Esmeralda, like in many adaptations, is not a particularly well developed. There's a bit more to her than the interpretation from La Esmeralda, but not by much. Esmeralda acts as a sort of martyr figure, and manages to tug at the heartstrings a bit when saying goodbye to the gypsy women who she considered family. As for her personality, she's mostly  She's defined by her love for a man, Phoebus, and not much else.
benign.

Quasimodo is probably the most well rounded of the characters in this. He has conflicting emotions regarding his lovalty to his master and his love for Esmeralda. Quasimodo is given several long monologues that run a little over dramatic. It feels like every other scene with him has some long, existential soliloquy about his appearance and his despairing ability to love.

Frollo

Claude Frollo is usually referred to as "the monk." Part of me wonders if this is call back to the 1796 novel The Monk, which was quite popular at the time. This is a fairly standard Frollo, a large portion of his dialogue is from the book, but it's nothing too special. Edward Fitzball explores the relationship between Quasimodo and Frollo fairly competently. Usually these early stage versions ignore this element of the story.

Phoebus is typically portrayed in these early adaptations as a heroic figure. This is a trend that didn't really end until the 1923 movie came out. To be honest, the 1923 film has a lot of influence from this play, more than I had considered.

Gringoire is a comic relief character, which, like the heroic Phoebus, was a trend in 19th century plays and operas. He's vain, he's pompous, and, in a bizarre addition, is a puppeteer. This is interesting, because in the 1996 Disney animated version, Clopin is a puppeteer. Perhaps this is just a coincidence.

Captain Phoebus

There's not much to say about Clopin. he's there, I guess. He is given the role of Mathias Hungadi from the book, being the leader of the Gypsies as apposed to the king of beggars.

I'd like to take this opportunity to discuss the new characters for this version: Captain Earnest and Coucou.

Captain Earnest is essentially Phoebus with a different name. He's noble, he's a soldier, and a companion.

Coucou fills some of the roles that Esmeralda had in the book. The biggest thing she does is save Gringoire by marrying him. Unlike Esmeralda in the novel, Coucou actually wants Gringoire as a husband. There's a running gag of her bossing Gringoire around and ocasionally beating him when he disobeys. Maybe it's because of the play's vintage, but her comedy doesn't really resonate with me. I don't really find spousal abuse that funny, to be honest.

None of the characters are really that well developed, which is a shame. I do like some of Quasimodo's overwritten monologues, and there's occasionally a bit of enjoyable comedy, but on the whole these characters are pretty flat.

Next: An Overview of the Dick's Standard Plays Version

(Unfortunately, because of the age of the play, I don't have many images to show. There were no photographs, and the only illustrations I could find were from the published version by Dicks' Standard Plays. As a result, I have no images for Quasimodo, Gringoire, or the majority of the cast.)

The Plot: Esmeralda; or The Deformed of Notre Dame

During the reign of Louis Xi, in 1482, Pierre Gringoire, a "poet and puppet show man" is preforming a puppet show for the "enlightened" and "intellectual" public. The people's attention is drawn, however, to the dancing girl Esmeralda. Gringoire tries to win over the few remaining spectators, mostly older women, but they also leave to watch Esmeralda.

Esmeralda

Claude Frollo, a monk from Notre Dame, gives money to Esmeralda saying that, "were it my soul, I would give it to thee, beautiful Egyptian." Esmeralda is upset, remembering that Frollo "follows (her) about like a dark shadow." She tries to make Frollo leave.

She discusses her discontent with some women, who assume that she is alarmed by Quasimodo, the "ugly hunchback" who is "on the battlements (of Notre Dame), staring at (her)." They then suspect Gudule, a recluse who hates all gypsies. Esmeralda explains that she didn't refer to Quasimodo or Gudule, but rather Frollo. To escape the monk Esmeralda hurries off. Gudule tells the women of her plight, how gypsies supposedly stole her only child.

Quasimodo, in the belfry of Notre Dame, laments his existence. He is "loved by no earthly creature" but can love nonetheless. He wishes that he hadn't seen Esmeralda, so he wouldn't feel so miserable about himself, as she is beautiful and his is not. Quasimodo throws himself down, but is called upon by Frollo. Frollo questions Quasimodo's loyalty to him, but Quasimodo reassures him by mentioning all of the things that Frollo has done, from his adoption to his employment.

Frollo tells Quasimodo that he is in love with Esmeralda. Quasimodo views love as a "blessed emotion" while Frollo views it as something he should be "reviled, mocked" for feeling. He orders Quasimodo tell help kidnap Esmeralda during the night, and the hunchback reluctantly agrees.

At the Gondelaur mansion, Fleur de Lys is concerned that Captain Phoebus is ignoring her. Instead of watching her sing, he is watching Esmeralda. Phoebus tries to tell Fleur and her mother not to be jealous. Esmeralda is invited topreform for Captain Phoebus and his fiance Fleur de Lys. Phoebus tells Esmeralda to meet at the Virgin statue.

Frollo and Quasimodo hide near a Virgin statue. Esmeralda arrives, expecting to meet Phoebus. Frollo orders Quasimodo to kidnap her, but he refuses at the last minute. Frollo attempts to seize her himself. Phoebus comes to stop him, and as a result, Frollo pulls out a dagger to stab Esmeralda. However, at the last moment, Quasimodo prevents Frollo from doing this by grabbing his arm. Phoebus tells Frollo to "begone or meet thy death."

The Court of Miracles

Quasimodo is conflicted about his relationship with Frollo, but he still agrees to help Frollo with his next scheme. He promises to protect Esmeralda from Frollo at all costs.

Gringoire, distraught from his earlier failure, wanders about. He ends up in the Court of Miracles, and is interrogated by Clopin, the "gypsy king." Clopin tells Gringoire that he'll be hanged if none of the local women wish to marry him. The one that does, a woman who Gringoire describes as "a female cyclops," is named Coucou. Clopin preforms the wedding rites, then he has the gypsies dance for the both of them. After that, Coucou and Gringoire leave together.

Frollo had been waiting for Esmeralda to arrive, as she lives in the Court. Phoebus accompanies her. The two of them sit down near a fire. Esmeralda makes Phoebus aware not to touch her amulet, as she believes it will help her find her long lost mother. Esmeralda promises to marry Phoebus, and that he will fix everything wrong in her life. Frollo watches with Quasimodo from a nearby window.

Frollo stabs Phoebus, causing Esmeralda to faint on the spot. Quasimodo is concerned that Frollo murdered Esmeralda, but is relieved to discover that she is still alive. Frollo guilts Quasimodo into assisting him into hiding Phoebus' body.

Clopin and other gypsies enter the room to find Esmeralda, distraught. Then, Captain Earnest and his soldiers enter to investigate. Earnest wonders how this happened, and Frollo provides an alibi. Captain Earnest promises to avenge his dead friend, and arrests Esmeralda, and Clopin and the gypsies attempt to stop them.

The dungeon

Later, Frollo comes to visit Gringoire, who tells him of his married life. Gringoire is forced by Coucou to do the work in the relationship, and Coucou is occasionally abusive.

Frollo visits Esmeralda while she is in her prison cell. She is horrified by him. He tells her that she is responsible for his psychological breakdown because he has become obsessed with her. He offers to save her from execution if she'll say she loves him. Remembering that he murdered her beloved Phoebus, she says rejects his advances.

The guards enter Esmeralda's cell. Frollo offers her again, but she says no to the wicked monk.

The day of Esmeralda's execution arrives. Quasimodo observes the area from the heights of Notre Dame. He monologues about how he wishes to save Esmeralda from death and from Frollo, but doesn't want to break his oath. Quasimodo decides that, in spite of his internal dilemma, he'll save her anyway.

Down below Gudule begs to see Esmeralda die. Locals are disturbed, as Gudule is a "christian woman." The gypsies weep for Esmeralda as she brought to the executioner. Even Gudule feels some pity for the unfortunate girl. As it turns out, Esmeralda is Gudule's long lost child, and Gudule is Esmeralda's long lost mother. Their reunion is short lived, as Esmeralda is dragged closer to the scaffold.

Before Esmeralda can be beheaded by a man carrying an ax, Frollo asks her to love him once more. As Phoebus is dead, she considers herself to be.

Quasimodo approaches the scaffold and pulls the ax from the executioner's hand wielding it above his head. He declares that Esmeralda "is innocent and shall not die" and brings her "to the sanctuary" and out of harm's way.

Quasimodo rescues Esmeralda from death

The people, delighted, shout "Quasimodo" over and over again.

In the sanctuary, Quasimodo tells Esmeralda that she is safe. She wishes that she were dead, but Quasimodo assures her that she has much to live for, like love. Quasimodo explains that Phoebus is actually alive still, and that he will find him. Once found, he can testify on Esmeralda's behalf. Unfortunately, while the sanctuary may keep Esmeralda safe from the law, he knows it will not protect her from Claude Frollo. He decides that she'd be safe within a secret tomb, near the alter of Notre Dame. Esmeralda admits to no longer fearing the hunchback.

Phoebus was hidden away in the ferry house. He discovers a paper, which was slipped under the door. It was from Gringoire, who explains that Esmeralda will be executed that night unless he can prevent it. Phoebus cannot leave the house, as he is locked inside. To open the door, Gringoire uses firecrackers to cause an explosion. Clopin and the gypsies arrive, furious at the commotion, and threaten to hang Gringoire. Phoebus comes to his defense. Just in time, Captain Earnest and the other soldiers arrive on the scene.

Gringoire takes the opportunity to divorce himself from Coucou.

Quasimodo comes to visit Esmeralda, who is hidden in the tomb. He brings food to her, and tells her that he sent Captain Earnest to rescue Phoebus. He cannot speak for long, as Frollo approaches. He is searching for Esmeralda, and asks Quasimodo where to find her. Quasimodo refuses to tell him, as Frollo has a false perception of love. Frollo and Quasimodo struggle, and the hunchback is stabbed by his master.

Phoebus arrives, and Esmeralda pops out from the tomb to see him. Seeing Esmeralda, Frollo pounces to attack her. Quasimodo pursues Frollo and "dashes him over the balustrade." Quasimodo grieves over the death of his master.

Quasimodo shows Phoebus where Esmeralda is hidden.

Phoebus, Esmeralda, and Gudule reunite. It seems the entire populace has gathered here. Quasimodo is dying. As a gesture of gratitude, Esmeralda allows Quasimodo to kiss her hand. He hears the bells of Notre Dame, welcoming him. He dies.

Next: Characters

Introduction: Esmeralda; or The Deformed of Notre Dame

Illustrated cover art

Esmeralda; or The Deformed of Notre Dame, was a stage drama written by Edward Fitzball. It was first preformed around 1834, though some sources say 1836 or 1837. Fitzball wrote many plays during his career and was very popular in his time. He often dealt with macabre themes, which earned him the nickname of "The Terrible Fitzball."

He wrote Esmeralda after his wife encouraged him to read Hugo's Notre Dame de Paris. She had read it in its original language. He was "weary of writing" at the time, and the novel inspired him to write this play. The play was accepted immediately and it was a big success on the stage, and was preformed all around the world for many years.

Later on in his career, Fitzball wrote another adaptation of the book. That one had the exact opposite title of this one: Quasimodo; or The Gipsy Girl of Notre Dame.

Next: The Plot