PHANTOM Current Tour vs Original — Page 2

^When the current tour was in Philly a few months ago, the first few days the chandelier didn't drop due to safety concerns but they eventually got it up and running and I was able to see it fall. The drop is very quick and I can definitely see why they would want to make sure nothing goes wrong because it does get VERY close to the audience below it.

^That's because as I mentioned in my post below you during the first week they were trying to make sure everything was secure. I talked to one of the merchandise people and that's what they told me about why it hadn't fallen.

tourboi said: "Did you see the tour in the UK or US? In the UK the rigging was completely different, and it didn't fall there."

I'm assuming this question was directed at me. I saw it in the U.S.

tourboi said: "But the fact is... the chandelier does indeed drop, very fast, and does 'shatter' over the audience. It's a remarkable effect."

Can confirm it did this in Philadelphia as well when I saw it.

I am taking my daughter to see the show for the first time in San Francisco this weekend. I didn't notice this addressed in the thread, but does anyone know if the title song is still partially prerecorded in the new tour? Since the descent into the lair has been changed, I'm hoping it was simplified such that the actors can actually sing the song now.

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I just got home from the 2:00 p.m. matinee and everything about this new production is wrong. I felt like I was watching a high school production. I can't believe I paid a $150 and had front row (cast seats) but everything that made it magical is all gone now.

Here are some mentions:

1. Phantom is controlling, brooding and violent.

2. The 1st dress christine wore. No more white snow princess. No sparkles. Some red vampy dress. Christines innocence is gone.

3. The chandelier is ok. Just shook and sparked.

4. That amazing staircase scene gone

5. The trippy dreamlike elaborate lair boat scene is gone.

6. The office scenes are confusing.

7. The wedding dress mirror scene is gone.

8. The gorgeous Phantom / Skull masquerade costume is gone.

9. The staircase during masquerade is gone. Was NOT ready for that.

10. The costumes were pretty toned down.

11. No monkey costume during masquerade;(

12. Cemetary scene super boring.

13. A very slutty Christine during PTPONR.

14. No hand at the level of your eyes. Gone.

15. When christine retirns at the end he never sees her. She leaves with Raoul hand in hand. She clearly never cared for him even the tiniest bit. I always felt Christine sympathetically cared and may have been mildly conflicted. No more.

I was very very confused except that I recognized the music because But I was watching an entirely different show today totally unrecognizable in comparison to older tour and NY production.

My God has Raoul always been this angry and annoying? Christine actually smacks him.

I am so depressed i am watching the 2004 movie remake but loving on David Benoit the only good thing in that production. He is really amazing.

Cant figure out how to post images so heres a link.

https://imgur.com/a/93cx1zN

Thanks!

Updated On: 10/12/18 at 07:35 PM

2. The 1st dress christine wore. No more white snow princess. No sparkles. Some red vampy dress. Christines innocence is gone.

Stacey954 said: "No the dress in her first performance think of me"

I think the “white princess dress” was only in the movie. Christine always wore the red Hannibal costume during that song in the show

Justin D said: "2. The 1st dress christine wore. No more white snow princess. No sparkles. Some red vampy dress. Christines innocence is gone.

There are a few comments she made that also seem unclear.

"That amazing staircase scene gone"

I thought she meant Masquerade, but she mentions that one specifically a few points later, and there is no other "staircase scene" in the show.

"The trippy dreamlike elaborate lair boat scene is gone."

I would never refer to that sequence in the original production as "trippy." That more describes the film than the original staging.

"The office scenes are confusing."

If there is no major change in the score, I'm not sure why it would be confusing.

"Cemetary scene super boring."

Again, if there is no major change in the score, I'm not sure what would make this scene any less boring than the original. The fireballs in the original don't offer all that much and really aren't that exciting, though the final flames are impressive. But the scene overall is mostly dull, and actually when I think about it seem out of place and unnecessary.

"No hand at the level of your eyes. Gone."

Did they remove this lyric? Or the gesture?

The gesture isnt as prevalent since the entire set is different. Check it out. Its on tour! My opinion. No need to take it apart. My review was meant for someone who has seen the older tour production and ny as i. Peace.

Updated On: 10/12/18 at 09:14 PM

I saw the Phantom tour in SF last month too and I was disappointed as well. I understand that changes have to be made for tours, but it felt like some of the choices they made had nothing to do with that. For example, Christine's dress in Masquerade was just a pink and purple satin corset with a skirt. It's similar to what's used in the current Broadway version but without any rhinestones, stars, or other adornment. So many of the other costumes in the production are blinged out to the max so it made no sense to me why Christine's costume was so plain for this song.

Christine slapping Raoul is apparently a tour thing. I saw some comments about it on Instagram by one of the actresses who played Christine on tour last year and she said that it would never be allowed in the Broadway version.

The change I hated the most was when Christine returns to give back the ring, the Phantom doesn't turn around and see her so she just puts the ring on his desk and leaves.

ETA: I never saw the original Broadway production, but I saw the LA production with David Gaines in 1993. I was up on the nosebleeds at the Ahmanson.

Updated On: 10/13/18 at 06:43 AM