musicaltintin - Tumblr blog

[musicaltintin]

Canadian actor Frayne McCarthy as Capitaine Haddock singing “L’Empire des Riches” in “Tintin - Le Temple du Soleil” in Charleroi, 2002. In my opinion, he is the only actor to ever assume the role in any adaptation of Tintin who got Haddock completely right. When most actors play Haddock, they tend to focus on the character as the over-the-top, garrulous comic foil to the more cerebral, reserved, but cheerful Tintin. Additionally, when characterizing Haddock, most actors begin with the Captain’s fondness for whisky and base their portrayal around that. Frayne tapped into the deep compassion and inherent kindness of Hergé’s character and played the Captain with the correct balance of humor and emotional sensitivity. McCarthy also remains among the youngest actors to play Haddock, being only in his 30s during production. This might be one of the other reasons I enjoy his Haddock so much. While Hergé never specified Haddock or Tintin’s ages in the books upon which the show was based, I always interpreted Tintin as being between 20-25 and Haddock about 15 years older than him at any given time. This was more or less the age difference between McCarthy and Vincent Heden, the actor who played Tintin opposite him. Most adaptations of Tintin portray Haddock as a guardian figure, reluctantly bumbling after Tintin on his adventures to make sure he doesn’t hurt himself. But this undermines the friendship between the characters. Casting a younger man as Captain Haddock makes more sense to me because it makes the friendship between Tintin (wise beyond his years) and Haddock (more youthful than he appears) more believable. This translated well on stage. Shockingly, when the production was scheduled to move to Paris in 2003 (another post on that later), Frayne was replaced for reasons unknown by the much older French actor Patrick Rocca. Among the four actors to have taken up this role in the production--Henk Poort, Karl Deruwe, and Patrick Rocca being the other three--Frayne holds a special place in my heart and is the standard to which this Tintinolgist holds all Capitaine Haddocks.

Photo from Simonè di Fato’s open website. 

[musicaltintin]

Tintin (Vincent Heden) carrying Milou (Zohra or Zina) to safety in “Milou et Moi.”

Charleroi, Belgium, 2002.

[musicaltintin]

Tintin (Vincent Heden), Milou (Zohra/Zina), Abdullah (Simone di Fato), Fleur (Charlotte Campion), and company in “Tintin et Milou” from the 2002 Charleroi production of “Tintin - Le Temple du Soleil.” Photograph is from Simonè di Fato’s open website.

[musicaltintin]

The Charleroi company of “Tintin - Le Temple du Soleil” in “Tintin et Milou,” 2002. With Vincent Heden as Tintin and Simone di Fato as Abdullah. Photo is from Simonè di Fato’s open website and does not belong to me.

[musicaltintin]

Another view of the finale from “Tintin –Le Temple du Soleil” from the 2002 Charleroi production. I love how Captain Haddock (Frayne McCarthy) is carrying Zorrino (Simone di Fato). It’s a very tender touch to this musical. Photo is property of Moulinsart and is not mine.

[musicaltintin]

Tintin (Vincent Heden), Milou (Zohra or Zina), Mme. Clairmont (Khemi Ferrey), Fleur Clairmont (Charlotte Campion), Abdullah (Simone di Fato), and company in “Tintin et Milou” from “Tintin- Le Temple du Soleil.” Charleroi, Belgium, 2002. Photo is from Simonè di Fato’s open website. 

[musicaltintin]

Captain Haddock (Frayne McCarthy) and Tintin (Vincent Heden) comfort Zorrino a little Peruvian boy, in “Tintin le Temple du Soleil,” Charleroi, Belgium, 2002. 

[musicaltintin]

Tintin (Vincent Heden), Milou (Zohra), and company in “Tintin et Milou,” from the 2002 production “Tintin - Le Temple du Soleil” in Charleroi, Belgium. The photo belongs to Moulinsart. Years ago, it was offered as a free downloadable wallpaper on the now-defunct musical website.