Miss Esmeralda

Complete libretto. Hailed as "The Prince of Comedy and Burlesque," Fred Leslie (pseudonym "A. C. Torr") was one of the 19th century's most celebrated writers of Victorian burlesques. Originally produced at London's Gaiety Theatre, "Miss Esmeralda" was the pinnacle of musical burlesques. A re-imagining of Victor Hugo's "Hunchback of Notre Dame," the Gaiety's production was bawdy and sensationalized. The story centers around the gypsy Esmeralda and her love interest Captain Phoebus, but Claude Forllo is smitten with her and when he can't have her, he frames her for murder. It is up to Quasimodo to prove her innocent and save her. The burlesque marks the first time a score was specially written for a Gaiety production, instead of borrowing from popular songs of the day.