It looks like this version is movie inspired: younger cast, swordfight, showing movie clips on billboard, ect. But lets give it a chance, it all depends on the cast!
Yeah...no it doesn't. As someone else mentioned on POL it depends very much on the director and the other details of the show. The ridiculous swordfighting and the bits of costume and masks that I've seen so far look like crap. I despise non-replica productions (and for the record I think the Hungarian version looks totally amateur, too).
But at the very least it looks like they're having fun whacking each other with swords.
You all actually think that that footage is actually being shown on the billboard during the day? That's just clever TV editing for the news segment, It is just a regular scrim banner in the building.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27199361@N08/ Phantom at the Royal Empire Theatre
Doesn't he look cute in that paper plate mask and Dracula cape...
Seriously though, the 2004 movie doesn't need to be recreated on stage. It's been done, and it was terrible. I don't care particularly for the Hungarian production's design, but at least it's original.
What's with the lake monsters moving the candelabras on stage? http://youtube.com/watch?v=-0R_yrLdGQY It's just so reminiscent of one of the recent school pilot productions that had black clad people holding the candelabras, and not in a good way. Updated On: 3/9/08 at 10:31 AM
Seriously though, the 2004 movie doesn't need to be recreated on stage. It's been done, and it was terrible. ________________________________________________________________ SPEAK for YOURSELF! For one thing - it was NOT much different (if anything, more passionate). I LOVE the movie (possibly just a tinch more than the play). It just made the whole story more realistic for me; I found there to be more at stake.
George:
Rubbing alcohol for you, Martha?
Martha: Never mix, never worry!
How you perceive "more passionate" out of that horrible debacle is beyond me, but more power to you. I just can't get past the singing and Schumacher's vision to enjoy it at all.