Howard McGillin & POTO?

[ChristineDaae]

Posted: 12/23/05 at 4:34pm

How has POTO been lately? Anyone see Howard McGillin as Phantom since hes been back?? I know Howard is an awesome Phantom...any pictures of his first night back?

[freelancer]

Posted: 12/23/05 at 8:12pm

I saw him three weeks ago, and he was fantastic as usual. I've seen him twice now, and he's brought his A-game both times. Sandra Joseph, on the other hand, was obviously fighting a cold. She was flat during "Think of Me", which had obviously been lowered. Her voice cracked during "Angel of Music". "All I Ask of You" has been lowered as well, and the new guy playing Raoul kept over-shooting his notes, because he wasn't used to the new key. She was much better during the second half, but there's not too much for Christine after intermission. So, after that thread jack, Howard McGillin was great.

Updated On: 12/23/05 at 08:12 PM

[guitargeek0624]

Posted: 12/23/05 at 8:17pm

I saw Howard as the Phantom back in November. I must say, he was incredible. His performance was excellent, and he has such a wonderful voice! The only bad thing about the show was Sandra Joseph. I really didn't like her as Christine, but that's a discussion for another day.

[ALWrules]

Posted: 12/23/05 at 8:21pm

I saw him the second weekend after he came back. He acted the role better than any Phantom I had ever seen, and his singing was great too. I am going to see him again on the 29th, and am looking forward to being emotionally torn apart again!

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 12/23/05 at 8:50pm

quote:
Her voice cracked during "Angel of Music". "All I Ask of You" has been lowered as well, and the new guy playing Marius kept over-shooting his notes, because he wasn't used to the new key.

I assume you mean Raoul. (Don't worry I made a similar mistake on another board recently, lol) Is it not Tim Martin-Gleason anymore? I must say he has never impressed me as Raoul (now his Phantom, that's a different story) but some of the understudies are wonderful. I have yet to see Howard but I really want to. Hopefully during January I will go again.

Updated On: 12/23/05 at 08:50 PM

[Gingersnap]

Posted: 12/23/05 at 9:28pm

quote:
Her voice cracked during "Angel of Music". "All I Ask of You" has been lowered as well, and the new guy playing Marius kept over-shooting his notes, because he wasn't used to the new key.

***

I assume you mean Raoul. (Don't worry I made a similar mistake on another board recently, lol)

****

You realize I'm having a very nice laugh now.

So, who WAS playing Raoul?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/23/05 at 9:34pm

Current Broadway Cast

[Gingersnap]

Posted: 12/23/05 at 9:40pm

Thanks for the link...trouble is the list there isn't always updated quickly...especially if it's a very recent change.

[Joshua488]

Posted: 12/23/05 at 10:31pm

I am seeing The Phantom of the Opera on Thursday. I'm really hoping that Howard is in because I am dying to see him as the Phantom.

And I'm kind of hoping that Sandra is out because I am dying to see anyone but her.

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 12/23/05 at 10:43pm

quote:
And I'm kind of hoping that Sandra is out because I am dying to see anyone but her.
ha, yeah. I much preferred her understudies Susan Owen & Kris Koop.

[Born2cthelightsofbway]

Posted: 12/23/05 at 10:47pm

I saw Mr. McGillin on his opening night back, and as usual, he was amazing. If you want to see POTO, now is definitley the time!!

[BwayStar]

Posted: 12/23/05 at 10:59pm

The keys have not been lowered.

[freelancer]

Posted: 12/23/05 at 11:04pm

Yeah, I meant Raoul. I'm too young to have senior moments. And yes, it was Tim Martin Gleason. I couldn't remember the order of his names!

The keys might not be lowered all the times, but they certainly were that night. I'm not a professional singer, but I'm trained enough to be able to tell, especially with a work that I'm very familiar. But no matter what, I wasn't impressed.

Updated On: 12/23/05 at 11:04 PM

[BwayStar]

Posted: 12/23/05 at 11:09pm

The keys are not lowered any night.

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 12/24/05 at 1:27am

i am not a fan of tim martin gleason. after seeing michael shawn lewis, tmg did nothing for me. any replacements soon?

[timote316]

Posted: 12/24/05 at 1:33am

TMG started somewhat recently... early summer maybe? I saw him in Boston (his last tour stop) - to put it bluntly, he bored me to death with his acting, but vocally was decent.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/24/05 at 10:34am

The Christine alternate, Rebecca Pitcher, blows Sandra Joseph out of the water. Try to see it with her if you can.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/24/05 at 10:45am

I love Howard McGillin, but not as the Phantom. I saw him in it a couple of years ago... and he gave an "efficient" performance, but lacked ANY real spark or personality. Having seen Michael Crawford in it twice, though, I'm not surprised that I was disappointed. I still think I could see someone else and love them in this part. Howard didn't do it for me.

I did love him (twice) in Edwin Drood years ago, and I think he's an enormous talent.

Updated On: 12/24/05 at 10:45 AM

[Joshua488]

Posted: 12/24/05 at 10:50am

This is a slight threadjack, but whatever.

Does anyone know which performances the alternate Christine (Rebecca Pitcher) goes on? I know it's twice a week, but the schedule changes every so often and I would like to know if I am more likely to see Sandra or Rebecca. Thanks!

[Born2cthelightsofbway]

Posted: 12/24/05 at 11:22am

They have had the notes lowered, I know this for a fact, because when I went to see it, I went backstage (My friend is in the show) and I asked if Sandra Joseph had a cold and he said "Oh yeah, the poor thing, they had to lower some of the notes for her." But the notes have not been permanatley lowered.

Posted: 12/24/05 at 11:31am

Does anyone else detect a slight speech impediment with Howard McGillin's "S"'s? I saw him in Phantom about 3 or 4 times and I noticed it each time---especialy with "Music of the Night". Maybe it's just me----(but I never noticed it with any other Phantom).

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 11:29am

"Does anyone know which performances the alternate Christine (Rebecca Pitcher) goes on? I know it's twice a week, but the schedule changes every so often and I would like to know if I am more likely to see Sandra or Rebecca. Thanks! "

The last time I saw the show, the Playbill indicated that the alternate performed on Wednesday evenings and Saturday matinees. This may have changed, however.

[Joshua488]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 3:58pm

That's just lame. If the actress is sick enough that you need to lower the notes for her to be able to sing the songs, don't you think calling the understudy would be appropriate?

Thank you, adamgreer. If that schedule is still correct, I'll probably be seeing Sandra Joseph for the third time. Boo...

Posted: 12/26/05 at 10:13pm

but if she called out sick people will complain that she misses too many shows. she is trying to do her JOB...riiieeeght??! never mind, thats another thread....anyway....
the SONGS have not been lowered as far as the KEY of the entire song being changed...its alternate notes i believe.

[ChristineDaae]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 10:04pm

wow thanks for the reviews you guys!!
aw Howard is so great! Hopefully I will see POTO soon!! I can't belive how everyone is trashing Sandra Joseph. I saw her once a while ago...I don't think she was THAT bad. but oh well..I'm not really fan of hers anyway.
geez they permanently lowerd the notes?? I haven't heard anything about that till now! Thats crazy.