Is Patti Cohenour the Only Blonde Christine?

#1

Is Patti Cohenour the Only Blonde Christine?

Posted: 9/24/09 at 12:23pm

Just a question. But in all these years, I can't remember seeing any promo shots of any actress as Christine in "Phantom of the Opera" wearing a blonde wig, with the exception of Patti Cohenour, the original cast alternate and who (I think) took over the role when Sarah Brightman left.

I also think that it's her in the picture of Christine and the Phantom in the boat, that's been on the side of the Majestic Theatre all these years (the one where her back is turned).

What do we think? :)

#2

re: Is Patti Cohenour the Only Blonde Christine?

Posted: 9/24/09 at 12:42pm

Well, Patti Cohenour's wig wasn't really blonde, it was sort of a light reddish brown that was closer to Sarah Brightman's wig (which matched her actual hair color). Claire Moore also wore something similar. But It looked terrible with the costume palette,and all of the other Christines since have been wigged as a dark brunette.

#3

re: Is Patti Cohenour the Only Blonde Christine?

Posted: 9/24/09 at 1:00pm

Looks to have been rather dark in 1988, but then lighter in 1991:

http://web.me.com/patticohenour/Patti_Cohenour/Photos/Pages/Career.html

#4

re: Is Patti Cohenour the Only Blonde Christine?

Posted: 9/24/09 at 1:00pm

I keep reading this thread title as "Is Patti Cohenour the Only Blonde Christian?"

that answer is obviously no.

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When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad

#5

re: Is Patti Cohenour the Only Blonde Christine?

Posted: 9/24/09 at 1:14pm

I have no clue, but there must have been some since they wear a wig. I am happy to read the names of these 2 wonderful DIVAS on the board. Patti is a brilliant performer and so is Sarah.

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"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one". -Felicia Finley-

#6

re: Is Patti Cohenour the Only Blonde Christine?

Posted: 9/24/09 at 1:19pm

Some Christines in the Budapest production (which uses different costuming, sets and direction) have been blonde.

#7

re: Is Patti Cohenour the Only Blonde Christine?

Posted: 9/24/09 at 1:32pm

It's always bothered me how ALW Christine is not blonde, haha.

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#8

re: Is Patti Cohenour the Only Blonde Christine?

Posted: 9/24/09 at 1:37pm

And simply because this thread exists:

Just want to throw some Patti Cohenour love out there...

Had they cast a little bit older, she'd have made an outstanding Desiree (or Desiree understudy)

#9

re: Is Patti Cohenour the Only Blonde Christine?

Posted: 9/24/09 at 1:39pm

As much as I hate to admit it, I saw Phantom in NYC over 20 years ago (OUCH!) - with Rebecca Luker. She's certainly a blonde, but was she wigged brunette? I don't remember.

#10

re: Is Patti Cohenour the Only Blonde Christine?

Posted: 9/24/09 at 1:54pm

"And simply because this thread exists:

Just want to throw some Patti Cohenour love out there...

Had they cast a little bit older, she'd have made an outstanding Desiree (or Desiree understudy)"

Yes, I agree, by the way, I still have the amazing recording of her you sent me! So thanks again!

X

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"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one". -Felicia Finley-

#11

re: Is Patti Cohenour the Only Blonde Christine?

Posted: 9/24/09 at 1:57pm

It's along the same vein as a blond Cosette, I've only seen one of those too (in regard to the original staging for Broadway/West End etc). Regan Thiel; who played opposite Tim Hower's Marius and Sutton Foster's Eponine, I believe.





" >

Updated On: 9/24/09 at 01:57 PM

#12

re: Is Patti Cohenour the Only Blonde Christine?

Posted: 9/24/09 at 1:58pm

Yea, she was an incredible Margaret in 'Light in the Piazza" and they were fools not to hire to headline the tour.

#13

re: Is Patti Cohenour the Only Blonde Christine?

Posted: 9/24/09 at 2:00pm

hmm... i remember seeing Sarah Pfisterer on the national tour waaay back in 1996... I remember her being dark blonde...

#14

re: Is Patti Cohenour the Only Blonde Christine?

Posted: 9/24/09 at 2:01pm

I think that she was asked to do the Piazza Tour, but she is from Seattle and wanted to move back there or something?

By the way, Sarah B wore blonde extensions on some of the clips promoting her latest CD "Symphony"
and also Josefina Scaglione was going to be the Christine of the Buenos Aires version of Phantom, but then she got the offer to do West Side Story and left the production during rehearsals if I'm not mistaken. Her hair is light brown/blonde-ish.

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"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one". -Felicia Finley-

#15

re: Is Patti Cohenour the Only Blonde Christine?

Posted: 9/24/09 at 2:12pm

As per what she told me at the closing performance stage door:

"Bart" had not offered her Margaret on the tour yet, and an offer of only Sgn. Nacarelli/Margaret cover was not compelling enough for her not to return to her native Seattle where she is consistently employed (primarily by the 5th Avenue Theater) in larger roles.

Seeing as she did return to Seattle after LitP makes me logically assume that she was not offered Margaret.

#16

re: Is Patti Cohenour the Only Blonde Christine?

Posted: 9/24/09 at 2:26pm

What's up with the slightly different colored wigs for different Christines?




How is that decided? Is it just what looks good on them?

I have real life Christine hair. It's hard to brush.

Updated On: 9/24/09 at 02:26 PM

#17

re: Is Patti Cohenour the Only Blonde Christine?

Posted: 9/24/09 at 2:31pm

Doesn't Christine have the same hair as the ballet dancers?

Perhaps it has something to do with having a wig that can double as ensemble AND swing/understudy/cover/alternate Christine...

That's just a wild shot in the dark though.

#18

re: Is Patti Cohenour the Only Blonde Christine?

Posted: 9/24/09 at 2:42pm

That's a good point, but I was really asking more what makes THIS Christine have lighter brown hair, and THAT Christine have more reddish brown hair, etc.

#19

re: Is Patti Cohenour the Only Blonde Christine?

Posted: 9/24/09 at 2:43pm

I have real life Christine hair. It's hard to brush.

bb girl, don't brush curly hair.


I personally think the darker brown wig looks better, but it makes sense if they tweak a little for a fairer actress.

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When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad

#20

re: Is Patti Cohenour the Only Blonde Christine?

Posted: 9/24/09 at 2:48pm

"How is that decided? Is it just what looks good on them?"

I would assume it is just whatever looks good on them.

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"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611

#21

re: Is Patti Cohenour the Only Blonde Christine?

Posted: 9/24/09 at 2:50pm

LOL, okay, I lied. I don't brush it, but I comb it when I condition it in the shower, and just that is annoying enough.

On the rare occasion that I brush it for whatever reason, it looks a little something like:



Only brown.

Updated On: 9/24/09 at 02:50 PM

#22

re: Is Patti Cohenour the Only Blonde Christine?

Posted: 9/24/09 at 3:22pm

Patti Cohenour's hair is backlit here, but she's definitely a brunette as Christine.

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"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

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#23

re: Is Patti Cohenour the Only Blonde Christine?

Posted: 9/24/09 at 3:33pm

"That's a good point, but I was really asking more what makes THIS Christine have lighter brown hair, and THAT Christine have more reddish brown hair, etc."

Well if my guess has any validity, and the other actress in that photo is in the ensemble but covers Christine they wouldn't want to have two identical wigs on the stage: One on the performing Christine and the other on the ensemble swing.

Or is one of those two a "double" they use in the Phantom of the Opera scene as Christine is led down to the lair for the first time? So an exact match is not required?

#24

re: Is Patti Cohenour the Only Blonde Christine?

Posted: 9/24/09 at 3:38pm

Has there ever been an ethnic woman (non-caucasian) in the role of Christine? Just curious : )

#25

re: Is Patti Cohenour the Only Blonde Christine?

Posted: 9/24/09 at 3:40pm

It's Robyn North and Leila Benn Harris, both main Christines from the West End production a few years ago. I know Robyn started before Leila, as an alternate, and then Leila came in as a main, and then at one point they shared the role, each doing four shows a week. I don't know what the situation was when this photo was taken.

Robyn might have the lighter wig because she began as an alternate, and never got a dark wig.


... Or it could just be that it looks good on her. Who knows?



Has there ever been an ethnic woman (non-caucasian) in the role of Christine? Just curious : )



There have been a bajillion Asian ones, in the Asian productions.

Updated On: 9/24/09 at 03:40 PM