One of the reasons Agape Theater Company chose The Hunchback of Notre Dame is because it is based on a classic piece of literature. We have produced Oliver and Scrooge (which are both based on Dickens' novels), Shakespeare, and Victor Hugo's Les Misérables. Part of our mission at Agape is to provide our performers with rigorous training in the performing arts. Exposing our students and patrons to the universal themes and powerful character from these significant stories is a part of who we are.
I'll be very transparent - when I first heard about a stage production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, I didn't have a very positive view of the production because I thought it was anti-Christian. The more I learned about the show, the more my views changed.
The agent of change in Victor Hugo's Les Misérables is the Bishop who offers Jean Val Jean kindness and a second chance at life when everyone around Val Jean treats him like an outcast. The Bishop embodies Christ's teachings as he offers love to everyone around him, unconditionally and sacrificially. The agent of change in Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a priest who lusts after a young woman and who plots her downfall when she won't succumb to him.
The world hasn't changed between these two novels. There were lecherous clergy during the time of Les Misérables, but we need to remind ourselves that there are also countless priests like the Bishop during the time of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Dom Claude Frollo is not representative of the clergy. His prayer in Act I begins, "Beata Maria, you know I am a righteous man. Of my virtue I am justly proud." This reminds is of the prayer of the Pharisee (Luke 18:11) in the New Testament, which Jesus condemns as the prayer of a hypocrite (Luke 18:15).
So, if the Archdeacon is a lecherous hypocrite, where is the hope in this story? We hear it echoed around us in Latin (so it may escape our notice). When Frollo sings, "It's not my fault. I'm not to blame. It is the Gypsy girl, the witch who sent this flame," the Choir responds: "Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa." This is the prayer from the beginning of the Catholic Mass where each person confesses his or her sin, admitting: "my fault, my fault, my most grievous fault" before asking for prayer that they may become more righteous.
Frollo tries to stir up racism and discontent and the Choir echoes: "Dona nobis pacem" (God, give us peace) and "Kyrie Eleison" (God, give us mercy). The Choir reminds us of the true message of the Church (as Frollo tramples upon it).
The terrible reality is that there has been sin in the clergy since Aaron cast the golden calf statue and encouraged the Children of Israel to worship it while Moses was receiving the 10 Commandments (Exodus 32: 1-5).
Judas exists, but there are always eleven other virtuous disciples who will stand in the breach and right his wrong.
Tragically, people like Dom Claude Frollo are a part of the world, but his hypocrisy is far overshadowed by the countless clergy like the Bishop in Les Misérables. That should give us all hope.
Dr. Kathy Phipps
Artistic Director, The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Founder of Agape Theater Company
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