Robert Johanson
The Man Who Laughs
Detail Info
Author/Direction
Robert Johanson
Composer
Frank Wildhorn
Lyrics
Jack Murphy
I conceived The Man Who Laughs while on a return flight from Korea
They were showing the French film L’homme Qui Rit based on Victor Hugo’s novel. I watched it to pass the time – 14 hour flight – and was immediately captivated as I realized this story would make a great musical. I called Frank Wildhorn the minute I landed (he was still in Korea) and told him to watch the film. We had been looking for a new project to do together having had great success with Monte Cristo and Rudolf. By the time he landed he had watched the film three times and composed five songs
The Story
A child has been deformed by the Comprachicos who ‘make monsters for the rich – to laugh at’. The boy is abandoned and finds a blind baby in the snow – Dea – and they both are taken in by a grumpy medicine man named Ursus. He soon has the two children starring in his freak show. It is an unlikely trio. Dea is blind so she cannot see Gwynpliane’s deformity and Gwnplaine is her eyes and describes the world to her as beautiful. Complications arise when they bring their show to London and captivate the wealthy Lady Josiana who is the bastard sister to Queen Anne. Gwynplaine becomes torn between his simple love for Dea and the possibility of riches and fame with Josiana.The turning point in the story is when Gwynplaine discovers that he is the missing son of a Lord – kidnapped as a baby by the Comprachicos.
It has been a truly magical experience.
