Act I

In Paris, in the year 1482, a company of actors emerges, intoning a Latin chant with the onstage Choir (Olim). The Congregation begins to recount a story (The Bells of Notre Dame): Dom Claude Frollo and his beloved brother Jehan were taken in as orphans by the priests of Notre Dame Cathedral. While Frollo thrived under the rules of the Church, fun-loving Jehan took up with Gypsies (Roma) and was expelled. Many years passed until one day now-Archdeacon Frollo was summoned to his estranged brother’s deathbed. Jehan’s dying wish was for his brother to care for his Romani baby. Grief-stricken, Frollo agreed and kept the child, whom he named “Quasimodo” for his non-normative features, secluded in the cathedral bell tower for many years...

Now grown, Quasimodo is the lonely bell-ringer at Notre Dame, physically strong but partially deaf from the bells, and staunchly obedient to Frollo, his uncle and master. Frollo continues to offer him safety within the cathedral (Sanctuary), but Quasimodo longs to be part of the world (Out There). Encouraged by his inner voices – his “friends,” Notre Dame’s stone Statues and Gargoyles – Quasimodo sneaks out of the tower to attend the Feast of Fools, a day when all of Paris indulges in debauched celebration. In the square, Clopin, King of the Gypsies, leads the festivities (Topsy Turvy – Part 1). Captain Phoebus

de Martin arrives from the battlefront to take command of the Cathedral Guard – after a little holiday (Rest and Recreation) – but he runs into Frollo and finds himself assuming his new positon earlier than expected. Both men are instantly captivated by the dancing Esmeralda, a young Romani woman, as is Quasimodo, peering at her from the shadows (Rhythm of the Tambourine). The crowd then gathers to select and crown the King of Fools, the ugliest person in Paris. After her initial shock at his appearance, Esmeralda warmly encourages Quasimodo to step up for the honor (Topsy Turvy – Part 2). But the drunken crowd brutally abuses Quasimodo while Frollo looks on in cold silence. Esmeralda alone shows kindness to the bell-ringer and rescues him before she disappears from the enraged mob in a flash of smoke. Frollo then steps forward to chasten Quasimodo, who promises he will never again leave the bell tower (Sanctuary II).

Concerned for Quasimodo, Esmeralda ventures into the cathedral (The Bells of Notre Dame – Reprise), offering a different prayer from the other Parishioners (God Help the Outcasts). Phoebus happens upon her, and there is a palpable spark between them. Then, Esmeralda sees Quasimodo and follows him to the bell tower (Transition to the Bell Tower). Quasimodo shows Esmeralda his view of Paris (Top of the World) while his “friends” attempt to deal with her presence. Frollo arrives and discovers them. Taken with Esmeralda, he offers her sanctuary in the cathedral under his tutelage and protection, but she refuses.

As his obsession with Esmeralda grows, Frollo begins prowling the streets at night, until he comes upon a tavern where the Gypsies spiritedly sing and dance (Tavern Song – Thai Mol Piyas). He sees Phoebus with Esmeralda, and watches in turmoil as their flirtation escalates to a kiss. Back in the bell tower, Quasimodo remains infatuated by Esmeralda’s kindness (Heaven’s Light). Meanwhile, Frollo convinces himself that Esmeralda is a demon sent to tempt his very soul (Hellfire).

The next morning, Frollo convinces King Louis XI to put out a warrant for Esmeralda’s arrest, and a search commences. Frollo targets a brothel known to harbor Gypsies (Esmeralda – Act 1 Finale). When Phoebus refuses a direct order to burn it down, Frollo has him arrested. Esmeralda appears to try to save Phoebus, and in the ensuing confusion, Frollo stabs Phoebus and blames her. Esmeralda and Phoebus escape, and Frollo continues the hunt while an increasingly distraught Quasimodo watches the burning chaos from above.

 

Act II

The Choir opens with a Latin Entr’acte. In the bell tower, Esmeralda implores Quasimodo to hide the wounded Phoebus until he regains his strength (Agnus Dei). Quasimodo agrees, and she offers him an amulet that will lead him to where she hides – the Gypsies’ mysterious Court of Miracles. Prompted by an encounter with a statue of Saint Aphrodisius, Quasimodo envisions himself as Esmeralda’s protector (Flight into Egypt). But Frollo arrives to tell Quasimodo that he knows the location of the Roma’s hideaway and that his soldiers will attack at dawn (Esmeralda – Reprise). Quasimodo and the injured Phoebus use the amulet to find Esmeralda before Frollo does (Rest and Recreation – Reprise).

Arriving at the secret lair, Phoebus and Quasimodo are captured by Clopin and the Gypsies, who sentence them to death (The Court of Miracles). Esmeralda intervenes, and the two men warn of Frollo’s impending attack. As the Gypsies prepare to flee, Phoebus decides to go with Esmeralda. She consents and matches his commitment to a life together while Quasimodo watches, heartbroken (In a Place of Miracles). Having tricked Quasimodo into leading him to Esmeralda, Frollo storms in with his soldiers, arrests Esmeralda and Phoebus, and sends his ward back to the bell tower (The Bells of Notre Dame – Reprise II).

In the prison, Frollo confesses his love to Esmeralda and forces himself on her (The Assault). When Esmeralda fights him off, Frollo threatens Phoebus’s life unless she yields to him, and he has Phoebus brought into her cell as an inducement. Esmeralda and Phoebus spend their final doomed night together hoping for a better world (Someday).

Meanwhile, a devastated Quasimodo, now bound in the bell tower (While the City Slumbered), refuses the entreaties of his “friends” to save Esmeralda (Made of Stone).

In the square the next morning, a captive Phoebus watches as Esmeralda is tied to a wooden stake (Judex Crederis, Kyrie Eleison). Frollo again offers to save her if she will be his. Esmeralda spits in his face, and enraged, Frollo lights the pyre himself. Witnessing the horror from above, Quasimodo is galvanized into action; breaking free of his bonds, he swoops down to free Esmeralda, claiming “Sanctuary!” for her. He bars the doors of Notre Dame and returns her to safety in his tower. Violence breaks out in the square

as Clopin frees Phoebus and together they rally the crowd against Frollo. When the soldiers break down the doors and are about to enter, Quasimodo pours molten lead down on them. Quasimodo returns
to Esmeralda, thinking he has saved her, but she dies in his arms (Top of the World – Reprise). Frollo enters and tries to persuade the grieving bell ringer that they can now return to the way they were, but Quasimodo finally sees the archdeacon for the monster he has become and throws him from the tower to his death (Esmeralda – Frollo Reprise). Phoebus arrives and collapses on Esmeralda’s body in grief. Quasimodo comforts him then picks up Esmeralda and carries her into the square, where the crowd, gathered to mourn, sees the bell-ringer in a new light (Finale Ultimo).

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