Music of the Night...

Music that touches my heart and soul always makes me feel like crying. When i watched Notre Dame de Paris last fri, i felt like that. The acrobatics and dance extravaganza aside, it was really the emotions and angst portrayed by the singers that roused and ravaged the innermost feelings in me. Yes, i am one emotional creature. The musical wasn't superb, but it definitely topped my list alongside Les Miserables as the best. My heart almost died after the near-fatal afflictions of sore disppointment showered by Phantom of the Opera, Chicago, Miss Saigon and Mama Mia. But a disclaimer though: the musical contains histronics and theatrics that might feel over-the-top for pragmatics who are ingrained with the notion that romantic love is but a myth. Then the whole show would seem laughable and stupid. But i'm a hopeless romantic, so...
Another disclaimer: the show does not have live orchestra, something that i silently griped about in my heart when it first started.
Another disclaimer: you might suffer from the constant-shuttling-of-eyes syndrome after the show as you try to juggle to pay attention to the translation on the screen (the musical is in French), the singing, dancing and acrobatics on the stage all at once. It was a wild jamboree at times.
With so many disclaimers later, can i still say that the musical is a good production? Hell, yes. It was a whiff of fresh air when you compare it with other musicals. The dances could mean as much or as little to the audience, depending on how much the metaphorical aspects are interpreted. But ultimately, a musical is nothin when its music is not primed to steal your heart. And this one got me at all the right places.