Inject some life into Phantom

The current grosses and reviews for Phantom are disappointing. They need to inject some life back into the show. Either with a new phantom/cast and/or upgrade the stage mechanics, refurbish/restore the sets and lighting. What do you think? When will we see a new phantom? What does the future look like?

I guess you're right. I do like James Barbour and was not aware of the refurbishments/upgrades. How long is his contract for?

atuomala said: "It may also be, in part, because they are competing with the powerhouse that is Hamilton right now."

 

They are?! Can you unpack this further?

hire prince poppycock as a cast

atuomala said: "For me, the show never gets it. It may also be, in part, because they are competing with the powerhouse that is Hamilton right now."  

 

This comment is ridiculous. There is a reason Phantom plays for over 25 years, I think the show is sheer beauty and has magnificent music and singing. It is a triumph of theatre. Most of it's visitors are tourists from all over the world. From countries that have never even heard of the show Hamilton. It might be some kind of temporary hype in the USA, but I think this style of rapping is not very timeless and will fade when the Americans who like to see it have seen it. I truly believe people will get bored of Hamilton because it doesn't hold up. Quality, musically and singing wise.      

 

Especially the lame approach of saying "There was this man, then this happened, his causin committed suicide, his father this, then this happened and everybody said, oh my god, this man is amazing, he is going to be the bomb, and then the man in question says "my name is this, my name is this", and to top it all off the "song" ends with saying his name again. That might be cute in a primary school production with challenged kids, but not in a professional musical. Imagine Phantom started like this, "there was a girl she liked to sing, then she got the opportunity and everybody clapped and said she's the bomb, what's your name girl. My name is Christine. I said my name is Christine. etc. Get out of here. That is no way of story telling. Now if the singing and music were fantastic you could get away with more, but this gets boring.

Updated On: 3/16/16 at 07:56 AM

Phantom is fine, was overhauled recently, everything is kept in good shape. Saw it back in February at a matinee and it was less than 50% full, but it makes up for it on weekends and summer.

James is scheduled to stay on another year.

I can not give you the exact dates, but as Phamtom approached the 20 and 25 year marks, the lighting and sound systems WERE replaced. The sound system was fully upgraded. The lighting design was not changed (it is still the last musical in Broadway and only musical currently running that does not use ANY moving lights), but the lighting console and some of the lighting instruments were replaced and cabling was entensively replaced. Some of the costumes were replaced, as they are periodically. 

That said, Phantom is a relic. An impressive relic to be sure, but a relic nonetheless. It has become a landmark for visitors and a safe option for visitors who do not speak fluent English. I am not calling the show stale, but the theatre and production have become stale and nothing short of closing can change it. Yes, the leads may be strong and cycle in and out - though often recycled - with regularity, but the ensemble has been there for years and it often shows... A few years ago, I saw the show and one of the ballet girls, according to her bio, had toured with the show for 13 years in the ballet chorus before joining the NY cast and she had been there since the tour shuttered. The Majestid is also turning into a moldy pit and can not be renovated while the show is running. It is a beautiful, beautiful house but the wear and tear is taking a roll and it is looking run down and dusty inside, not to mention that painful air conductioning duct in the rotunda...

Wanna inject some life into it? Cut the thing down to its length in Vegas -- 90, 95 minutes -- but leave in the intermission and the chandelier finale to Act One so the tourists feel like they got a real Broadway experience. A shorter show somewhat camouflages the material's many flaws, particularly book-wise.

I liked this thread better when it was about Phantom and not other shows.

If you think the Majestic feels run down (which I don't see when I go) you should go see Her Majesty's in London, the show there looks like it needs an overhaul badly. They had a chandelier running for over a year that was missing pieces. (they only recently fixed it)

Phantom is doing quite well. The grosses are very consistent and the show continues to break house records during the holidays. They have slow periods like all long running shows do. It's still making money every week- why would the creatives want to spend millions on an overhaul? The new tour is a pathetic attempt to re-create the enduring "magic" of this show on a budget, and fails miserably. It would be great to see some of the Vegas-style special effects, but it's cost-prohibitive. The management takes exquisite care to maintain the high standards of casting, costumes, etc. And tourists love it because it reads well even if you don't speak English. This show will be open and making money as long as the producers care to keep it open, there is no real reason to close or spend money updating. Sorry haters!