Review: What drama and tragedy at All Saints’ church in Leamington

What drama, what tragedy at All Saints’ Church as Quasimodo pours molten lead on those in the rabble-filled streets in front of ‘Notre Dame’.

The drama is entirely due to the massive efforts by David Mackenzie, playing a Viscount organ, as he accompanies the 1923 silent movie of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Remarkably fresh from his Friday night exploits at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh with the same movie, David provides a very moving improvisation as the Parisian street story develops. The ‘baddies’, Jehan and Clopin, are eventually exposed as manipulative rabble-rousers. Esmeralda saves the indestructible Phoebus and Quasimodo thwarts the rabble before finally rescuing the gypsy -raised heroine. The final scene depicts the Quasimodo corpse beneath the great bell swinging silently above him.

David uses music by Bizet, Poulenc and, if I’m not mistaken, a bit of Saint-Saëns, to create his clever improvisation. He very successfully manages to capture the drama of the riotous street scenes, the restfulness of the sanctuary, the brutality of Phoebus’ stabbing and the sad demise of Quasimodo. Well done All Saints - a wonderful event - and credit, too, to those who mounted the striking art exhibition which included works by local artists, notably Jan Rawnsley, Elizabeth Marsh and Jane Williams.

Clive Peacock