Of the long-running musicals or recent revivals, every show has its advocates and detractors. It wasn't my first choice, but I saw Phantom of the Opera on a Monday evening last month. because my wife wanted to see it again (after 27 years) and my daughter had never seen it.
We certainly had much better seats than we did the first time, when it was the Hamilton of its time. James Barbour is the Phantom, and he brings a commanding stage presence to the role. I wasn't a fan of his singing voice, although my wife was more impressed. Ali Ewoldt is fine as Christine. I liked the very youthful Rodney Ingram as Raoul. He brings a refreshing enthusiasm and a powerful singing voice.
There are three arguments for seeing Phantom on Broadway. First, it's got the biggest orchestra this side of Sunset Boulevard, and that's not something you're going to get when it comes on tour. The audience at the show I saw applauded the orchestra before the second act, and as much as that made me chuckle, they did deserve it. The tour version of Phantom is apparently a cheaper version, and I've never wanted to see it for that reason. A song like "Masquerade," with all the costumes, really does work at the Majestic. So that's reason #2.
And then there's the best reason. For all of its silliness, and the show is both ponderous and ridiculous to me, it does have a few fantastic songs. Seeing the show again in person, with a full orchestra, does remind you of that, especially "All I Ask of You." At the end of the first act, I leaned over to my daughter and said, "We will probably see other shows we like better on this trip, but I doubt we will hear a more beautiful song." That proved to be true.
And if you don't like it, you can ponder why this show remains so popular after all these years.
