How long will Phantom run???- Page 3

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 7/13/13 at 4:44pm

I think the show's design still looks fantastic, but they could certainly update the chandelier effect. I also think some of the 'jokes' always fall flat in the show, so maybe that could be addressed. All I know is that i LOVE that the show has never resorted to stunt casting (knock on wood).

[all that jazz]

Posted: 7/13/13 at 9:21pm

Phantom was my second Broadway show, and I adored it. And even though it was my favorite musical long before I saw it live and I knew every single word of the score, the show still managed to top all of my expectations. I can't even begin to explain how surreal it felt to watch the gondola enter, with the candles rising from the stage and the smoke coming out during the title number.

The show is an iconic timeless classic, it should run forever as far as I'm concerned. I wish more new Broadway shows would share the same production values and sheer brilliance that Phantom has, not to mention it's soaringly beautiful score.

[Starship]

Posted: 7/13/13 at 9:28pm

They should freshen it up. Maybe Cirque-ify it.

[PTOPhan]

Posted: 7/14/13 at 12:37am

Starship wrote: "They should freshen it up. Maybe Cirque-ify it."

Starship, the Las Vegas version, which I actually enjoyed a lot, was somewhat "Cirque-ified." The multi-part chandelier, which did not fall till the end (more like in the movie) was amazing. I was heartbroken when the Las Vegas production closed.

The chandelier in the new tour doesn't move at all. I hope that the Broadway show does not decide to switch to the touring version -- the rising chandelier after "Gentlemen!" and the bang after the auction always gives me goosebumps.

Starship, I'm curious: What changes would you recommend to "cirque-ify" the show? The Phantom (actually a stunt double) hanging from a rafter over the audience in Las Vegas was quite impressive. Perhaps the angel could move over the audience, although, frankly, I'm not sure that would add to the story. One thing that might be useful would be to have the dummy look more like Christine, as in the movie, although it's hard to do because a live actor plays the dummy. (In the movie, they apparently just shot footage of Emmy Rossum as the dummy).

One thing I'd love to see would be for other versions of the story to run in the same theater, as a double-header: a matinee for the Yeston/Kopit version or Ken Hill's production, with the "standard" ALW show in the evening. Alas, that would never happen.

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 7/14/13 at 12:47am

I sincerely hope the do not change a single thing about the staging of it, including the chandelier. There is something comforting about going back and seeing the same movements, direction, choreography. It's almost like comfort food for the ears and eyes. I would be heartbroken if things were changed at all. It was enough that the updated the sound system in 2008.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 7/14/13 at 12:53am

All I know is that i LOVE that the show has never resorted to stunt casting (knock on wood).

Because it's a show you really can't stunt cast. You need an operatic voice and if your role doesn't have a lot of singing, Meg, then you need to be able to do ballet.

The only stunt casting I can think of in any English production of the show would be Paul Stanley when he did it Toronto and he is the exception to the rule.

Updated On: 7/14/13 at 12:53 AM

[JuanValjean72]

Posted: 7/14/13 at 1:23am

I've seen the show three times, each with a different Christine. What I found the first time I saw it was that Christine and Carlotta sounded WAY too similar when they sang. Christine was overdramatic and Carlotta was too subtle in humor and whatnot. The last two times I saw the show, was with the same Carlotta (Michele McConnell) was fantastic, and the current Piangi (Christian Sebeck) is an actual opera singer and his voice was phenomenal. It was a role that was sort of forgotten 15 minutes after Hannibal, but he was a highlight throughout. Some of the jokes should indeed be tweaked or at least delivered differently because some just fall flat (first time I saw it, the Roma vs Rome joke was not received well). I think the show is going to run for at least another 10 years. I love it, will see it many times more with different casts. I mean it's still making $1 million + a week, it's still a hit.

[Starship]

Posted: 7/14/13 at 1:49am

When I said Cirque-ify...that was sarcasm.

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 7/14/13 at 1:58am

Just got my tix for Monday, August 5th. I agree with what some of you are saying of sometimes the jokes not landing and the line delivery not working. That's one thing I like about seeing it over and over; seeing how different it really can be based on the new actors involved. I personally love when Christine and Carlotta really go at it during the Notes scene. Sometimes, the "how DARE you! You evil woman!" is mumbled by Christine, and other times Christine goes cray-cray and really gets in Carlotta's face about it. Also, when Carlotta says "she's mad" in reference to Christine, sometimes she does it in a way which makes the audience laugh, which is not appropriate for the moment. Other times, she says the line in a way that makes us loathe her even more, which is a better reaction for the line and for the character.

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 7/14/13 at 3:12am

Only 3-5 more years?! It's still nearly sold out all the time with a $90 average ticket price, and no names?! I think this thread can be resurrected in 2033 and they can all laugh at us thinking it would close...

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 7/14/13 at 3:16am

the only changes I would like to see done to the show would be with the Wandering Child sequence and the finale

after watching the finale in Vegas I loved the use of the trap for Raoul instead of the hanging rope... it just looked more terrifying and more suspenseful...

at the end of Wandering Child when the Phantom throws the fireballs... i always thought that looked ridiculously cheesy and not threatening at all... it was just like wtf man... what's going on?!

but whatever....

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 7/14/13 at 5:09am

So we've all established that when the world ends, the only remaining things will be Cockroaches, Madonna and Phantom - maybe all in the same theatre?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/14/13 at 2:08pm

If we're talking about how long shows will run, the current cast of THE FANTASTICKS have had trouble cashing their past two paychecks. If this trend continues, a closing notice will be posted soon.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/15/13 at 2:55pm

to infinity and beyond!

[all that jazz]

Posted: 7/15/13 at 3:45pm

^Amen!

But Dolly, The Fantastiks, although legendary and iconic as well, is not the global sensation that Phantom has become.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/15/13 at 7:14pm

I didn't say it was. I'm just adding that a show with a very long performance history (50+ years) is having problems attracting an audience.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 7/15/13 at 8:05pm

When I said Cirque-ify...that was sarcasm.

I'm sure it was, starship, but when I saw this thread today, my first thought was that it should be combined with the Cirque-du-Soleil-comes-to-Broadway thread.

I think Cirque is the biggest threat to Broadway musical theater since Lord Andrew himself. (I know, I know, Broadway survived that somehow.)

[Idiot]

Posted: 7/15/13 at 8:13pm

Robert Guillaume played the Phantom here in LA... I found that to be a bit stunt-y.... but he was quite good.