Quasimodo: Hunchback No More

A British theater company has changed the name of its adaptation of the classic novel, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," so it won't offend people with the disability.

Oddsocks Productions swapped "hunchback" for "bellringer" because it did not want to upset people with scoliosis, producer Elli Mackenzie said Friday. The condition causes the spine to curve and, in extreme cases, the development of a hunchback.

"We did not want to reinforce any stereotypes about Quasimodo's disability," said Mackenzie.

The name change to "The Bellringer of Notre Dame" has been applauded by London's Scoliosis Association.

"I welcome it because in the past the title has caused some problems with our members in that people use it as derogatory term throwing names and making comments at the possible similarities," said Scoliosis Association spokesperson Libby Biberian, who has scoliosis.

"It's a very delicate thing. People have been rude and hurtful," she said.

Mackenzie said the title of her production was changed after she spoke with a disability adviser.

Quasimodo, the lead character in Victor Hugo's novel, originally published in French under the title "Notre Dame de Paris," has a hunchback and is deaf. He rings the bells of the famous Parisian cathedral.

"This is still very much a play about what is beautiful on the outside and the characters are still not terribly nice to the Quasimodo character — who is played by an able bodied actor," said Mackenzie.

Mackenzie said the company did not use the French title, which was used by a West End production last year, because it was not thought well enough known to attract audiences.

"We felt it was more descriptive to call it the Bellringer of Notre Dame because it would ring bells in people's minds," said Mackenzie.

She said Quasimodo will appear very much as he is described in Victor Hugo's novel, including his hunchback.

The novel was first published in French in 1831, and was later translated into English. In 1923, it was made into a film starring Lon Chaney in the lead role, and a Disney animated feature film in 1996.