Non-Replica Phantom

So I’m in Sweden to see a non-replica production of The Phantom of the Opera, the original ive seen so many times in countless countries I’ve lost count. I have also seen the new tour but let’s not talk about that.

I was looking forward to seeing this with the ‘opera’ treatment. On the whole it was a let down, the acting just wasn’t there, and the performers failed to create an really tension. I have to say the worst was the Phantom, who forget his lines and failed to keep time with the music, even repeating lines. I was fairly disgusted. This production opened in September 2017 and there’s two phantoms (one is max from the recent sunset revival but I don’t think I saw him).

Some of the set pieces like the graveyard and the roof of the opera house were beautiful, likewise the decent to the lair but the costumes were terrible. I couldn’t get a sense of vision for the time and place of the piece.

The production was in English but when Christine visited the grave she sang the opening of Wishing you were somehow here again in Swedish which was rather poignant.

While I was very excited by the scale of the musical I think this totally detracted from the story or my perception from the intimacy of Her Majesty’s Theatre London.

Anyway, thought I’d share my experience, has anyone else been disappointed with an actor forgetting lines in a major production or anyone have any experience of non replica professional productions.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AaWMbtcqgjE

I’m not sure how recent but Sweden definitely has a history with Phantom but original and non-replica.

I think the cookie cutter argument I’ve heard from many drama professionals over the years is such a fallacy. You cannot compare Boggess to Schoenmaker, the latter who I saw in London phantom most recently. She was fantastic, she had such life and wasn’t such a Disneyfied passive Christine like Boggess who I saw live twice and just didn’t like.



Youre so so right it’s great that there’s more freedom nowadays with phantom 30 years later haha. And with that will come the ups and the downs.

I worship at the alter of Maria also and such beautiful visionary tragically taken too soon.

I like you believe original Phantom is the perfect show. I love introducing new people to it who are always amazed.

This phantom by the way cut all magic, the phantom just walked on and off stage which reduced the tension for sure.