Old Hunchback of Notre Dame Pre-Show

[JibberJabberer]

I’ve only been to Disney World once so far, back in September of 1999. At the time, they still had the Hunchback of Notre Dame show at MGM which I loved. I was disappointed to see that it’s no longer there.

When I first saw the show, I got there a bit early and they had a pre-show. It was just one man, a juggler, who never said a single word but had me and most of the rest of the audience in stitches throughout the entire thing. One recurring part of the show was that he would thump a cane on the stage a certain number of times or in a certain pattern, and the audience was expected to clap back in the same pattern. Sometimes he would pretend to mess up in his juggling, then he’d look annoyed and start thumping his cane again as if to say, “Well, at least I know this works!” and everybody would start laughing and clap back. I loved the Hunchback show, but I think I enjoyed the pre-show even more. I dragged my family (who hadn’t been with me the first time I saw it) back to see the show with me a couple days later and made sure we got there early enough to see the pre-show, but they had a different person doing it. He did some juggling too, but he told reaaally corny jokes the whole time and wasn’t anywhere near as funny.

I don’t know how to explain it in words; you pretty much had to see it to understand why it was so funny. But I was wondering if anybody else saw this? Does anybody know if this cast member, or a similar type of pre-show, has turned up anywhere else in Disney World since Hunchback was closed? Between this pre-show and the actual Hunchback show, the time I spent in that theater was probably my favorite time during the entire trip.

 

[BriansPyxie042]

I remember that show! He kept a little whistle inside his mouth tucked into his cheek, & would use that instead of speaking. He was a hoot! I wish that they had more pre-shows like that. And, it would be great to see him again.

 

[notnothin]

I remember that show! He kept a little whistle inside his mouth tucked into his cheek, & would use that instead of speaking. He was a hoot! I wish that they had more pre-shows like that. And, it would be great to see him again.

I never saw either the Hunchback show and/or the pre-show, but do you think this may be the same juggler that performs at night on the Boardwalk? He had some kind of whistle or bird call in his mouth and 'talked' using it. He did all kinds of crazy juggling tricks. It was a real treat!

 

[BroadwayGirl]

Well, I know there was Matt, the Juggler for the HoND preshow for quite a while. But he spoke, and in fact, in the last show ever, most the the audience was reciting his schtick along with him.

I think there was also a juggler named Randy but I don't recall ever seeing his act. He might be the one you are thinking of.

After Hunchback closed, Matt and Randy had a Streetmosphere act down at the end of Sunset near the entrance to Rock N Rollercoaster.

 

[DebbieTN]

Oh, I loved Matt. One of my favorite parts was when he was doing one trick that involved putting a put a stick in his mouth and he would say that he wouldn't be able to speak for several minutes. The audience would clap and he would get a Super Soaker out and say "Don't make me use this on you." I miss 'both' of those shows so much. I don't know why they couldn't have just moved it to the Sound Stage theater since nothing has been there since Doug (another show I miss) left.

 

[JibberJabberer]

I remember that show! He kept a little whistle inside his mouth tucked into his cheek, & would use that instead of speaking. He was a hoot! I wish that they had more pre-shows like that. And, it would be great to see him again.

Yes, that's the one! I'd nearly forgotten about the whistle. Usually I find jugglers mildly entertaining but not a really big deal, but his show was hilarious. I loved the way he had everybody in stitches without ever uttering a word.

I'll have to keep my eye out for a familiar looking juggler with a whistle, in case he's still out there performing somewhere!