I FINALLY GOT PHANTOM TICKETS- Page 2

[KQuill]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 12:22pm

Evadiva - you are absolutly spot on. My thoughts exactly.

Screw this place.

Enjoy the show!

[coolkid11776]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 12:25pm

I'm seeing it in New York so London doesn't help
Thanks anyway though

[The White Half-Mask]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 12:47pm

Enjoy the show, coolkid11776! Howard McGillin is a Phantastic Phantom!

[lightguy06222]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 12:55pm

haha your amazing for searching for all his bs threads

[MaronaDavies]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 1:17pm

Coolkid, Row H should be fine for Phantom. You'll be well close enough to see everything, and IIRC all of row H is indeed full view.

And don't worry about the naysayers...go to see the shows you like, enjoy them, and don't let anyone take that from you. Have fun!

[Piercemn]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 1:32pm

I am not a snotty theatre dork with no life. I am a middle-aged man, who's a lifelong theatregoer, not to mention a director, playwright, reviewer and teacher. You can read my pieces about Minneapolis gay theatre if you google On the Purple Circuit.

I do have a life. In addition to my work in the theatre, I'm a journalist, am a published author and have a Master's Degree in Education.

My attitude toward Phantom doesn't have anything to do with the fact that it's run almost two decades, it has to do with the fact that Lloyd Webber is overrated and, as far as I'm concerned, a mediocre talent.

When I attended the New York City Opera production of Fanculla del West two years ago, I heard the love duet, and realized that he'd openly stolen the melody for Puccini's love duet and turned it into "The Music of the Night." While others have done similar work, it finally explained for me why I dislike his music. The only show he's written that I can stand is Evita.

When I saw Sunset Blvd on Broadway, even though Betty Buckley was brilliant, I realized, shortly after the show started, that it belongs on the screen. They used footage from the movie, and the show is, after all, about a woman who gives up her career when sound comes in, but she can sing? That's pointless.

It's okay if the kid got tickets for Phantom. I just think with the availability of that lousy movie version (I lasted 20 minutes and sent the dvd back to netflix) there are other musicals to see. I, for one, am planning to be in NYC in April for three operas at the Met, but plan to see Grey Gardens. A kid should be more excited about Avenue Q, Wicked, Hairspray or even Rent (another show I hated). I would recommend Mary Poppins, which I loved when I saw it in London.

I for one am not sad to see Beauty and the Beast closing, because when I saw it on Broadway a few years ago, it was awful. I'd seen the touring production here in Minneapolis and had loved it, but now it's turned into a theme park attraction. It was a valuable lesson. I now give a show about a 3 year limitation if I see it in NYC.
(On tour it's a different story). 19 years is a long run and I seriously doubt that Harold Prince has the time to police the production, attending rehearsals and making sure that the ensemble hasn't thrown a lot of nonsense into his original staging.

I appreciate the opportunity to comment on this board, and would recommend that this kid pick another show besides Phantom to see what the excitement of Broadway is all about.

[Jellylorum]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 2:34pm

I don't see what's wrong with Coolkid's choice. It's going to be his first time seeing the show. Also, just because most people here didn't like it doesn't mean he won't.

If someone has seen Rent, Wicked, Phantom, Les Miz, etc. twenty times each and refuses to open up their minds to other shows, that's a different story. If some people were to ask me what I think is a good show, I could rave about Grey Gardens until I'm blue in the face but they would still turn around and buy a ticket to see Wicked for the gazillionth time.

Updated On: 1/28/07 at 02:34 PM

[tourboi]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 3:13pm

Actually it is still running because it's still making money. Lots of it. Not because of ALW's ego.

-TourBoi, who loves PHANTOM.

[tourboi]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 3:16pm

If you're sitting in row H orchestra you should have a fine view, even on the sides. Unless you're against the wall...then you might miss a LITTLE bit. But not much.

Enjoy!

[Mark_E]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 3:28pm

"I sat in the 4th tier balcony in London.
The view was actually pretty good..."

I must say they were not THAT bad view BUT we were in row A and had the smallest ammount of leg room you could imagine. Had bad legs for the rest of the day.

[Dibbledl01]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 4:05pm

first of all, piercemn, who the hell asked you about how you felt about sunset blvd. and beauty and the beast? this kid was simply asking about his seats and all he got was some rants about "alw sucks" and "he stole this from that show" and "omg! what a terrible show! go see some cult musicals instead!" second, NEVER, and I say, NEVER compare the movie version of Phantom to the Broadway show. it's a big NO NO.
third, "Phantom" is still running on Broadway because a HUGE amount of people still love it and it is filling more than 90% of the theater each week. Not bad for a 19 year old, eh? so, unless any of you have a legitimate answer for this kid who simply asked about his tickets, SHUT UP!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 5:40pm

I'm truly plotzing.

[KQuill]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 5:48pm

ahh i love it lol

[D2]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 8:25pm

Piercemn: it's Fanciulla del West.

[burntplains]

Posted: 1/28/07 at 10:20pm

I saw Phantom about two years ago. Front Row Center!! I enjoyed it and had a lot of fun.

[livelife]

Posted: 1/29/07 at 12:45pm

I saw Phantom in NYC Christmas 2005. Im from across the pond, my parents and I picked the show over everything else that was constantly shoved in our faces, i sat row I (one row behind you) it was a fantastic view, the show was amazing, the music is gorgeous, you will have a great time.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/29/07 at 2:14pm

coolkid got great tickets to a show he/she has always wanted to see. Why ruin it for them simply because it is a show you don't like or disapprove of? It certainly doesn't make you appear respectable in any way. It serves no purpose other than to be nasty. If Phantom is what someone is dying to see, then they have every right to be excited they got good seats. Good for them! And if someone else get good seats for something they like, then good for them, too. But nobody should be put down for attending (much less enjoying) a show that others deem inferior. Maybe someday the inferior shows will have shorter runs than the lofty elitist shows, but until then, I see no justification to the fact that Phantom or Beauty and the Beast or any of the shows that have become international hits should close unless people stop attending and they stop making money. Anyone who doesn't want to see them can simply not buy tickets. But why deny the happiness to someone like coolkid who is actually attending something they want to see? Other than out of spite and bitterness, I mean.

[cello_dude]

Posted: 1/29/07 at 2:27pm

Ah! now i get it... you're not a snotty theater dork Piercemn, just a bitchy old theater queen

[Fosse76]

Posted: 1/29/07 at 3:24pm

"4. As someone who spent time heckling people on there way into phantom when I was standing in line getting ready to go to Les Miz with my brother. I feel sorry for you espically cus you payed 100 bucks for three hours of SH*T."

Made me laugh. Laughing at people going to Phantom while you yourself were going to see the even more ridiculous Les Miz. While it certainly has better music than Phantom, Les Miz is one of the most ridulously staged musicals I have ever seen. And personally I think Phantom is a much better show (and I dislike it).

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 1/29/07 at 4:36pm

Piercemn:

For your information, Harold Prince revisits the Broadway production almost every 3-4 months and puts the cast into rehearsals if he is not impressed with what he sees. He also visits the London and Touring productions every 6 months (I imagine he does the same thing with Vegas). In addition, adequate resident directors are hired for some maintaining services. He is actually quite famous for doing this, and it frustrates him when he sees other directors not visit their work and make sure everything is going smoothly following opening.

Updated On: 1/29/07 at 04:36 PM

[KQuill]

Posted: 1/29/07 at 4:46pm

Multi-paragraph rants work best when the author is well informed on the subject. Had I been able to bare reading his entire post, I would have been able to inform him immediatly of how wrong he is, so thanks for pointing that out ThankstoPhantom.

Stop discouraging people from seeing shows they want to see for the purpose of promoting your own agenda.

[Dibbledl01]

Posted: 1/29/07 at 5:25pm

AMEN LADYS AND GENTLEMEN!

[Kalimba]

Posted: 1/29/07 at 5:31pm

Why is it that when I read piercemn's post I couldn't help but hear Charlie Brown's teacher: waa waa waa waa waa waa waa.....

[Dibbledl01]

Posted: 1/29/07 at 5:33pm

Kalimba, you made my day :hug:

[Kalimba]

Posted: 1/29/07 at 5:34pm

Glad you liked it.