Okay, well...I got back a little while ago but just finished reading the special playbill and program.
I mean, like others before me, can't really add more about the performance or night--though I probably will repeat stuff because I like to write too much, but yeah...it was just amazing. I got there a bit before 6:30, would have liked to be earlier, but even going in, there were paparazzi outside w/ lots of cameras, though of course no one cared about me lol, it still felt cool to walk past them going in.
The show...just...wow. I've seen this whole cast before but really enjoyed them. What a feeling to be surrounded by the enthusiastic audience, everyone mentioned them cheering and it all felt so special. I put on my mask during Masquerade a bit and also noticed with the exception of a couple at the very top of the stairs, they had people, no dummies. After reading the playbill, I believe, though not positive, that they were the entire company of the current National Tour of Phantom, the playbill says...in the first note under the big 7,486 that begins welcome to a very special evening..."We acknowledge the thousands of people that worked on the three national tours in every capacity, all of whom are represented here tonight by the current cast of The Musix Box Company, joining us direct from the road." So I read that, and thought it made sense for them to be the Masqueraders.
As mentioned, the cast was obviously very inspired by the night and audience to put so much effort and energy into the show, and it showed. I felt like it was the funniest performance I've ever seen, in that the comedic parts were just really comedic and well done. Howard McGillin was wonderful as expected, and his last "music of the night" in the show was simply eargasmic.
After the show, obviously as soon as the ensemble came out, everyone was standing, very nice to see. The masqueraders/tour cast came out last in the back. Then...the Cats event happened before everyone came out right? Or maybe not. Well either before or after the Cats thing, first all of the past Raouls came out, then all of the Christines, then all of the Phantoms each donning their own custom-made mask from when they did the show, and then other assorted past actors dressed as different characters they played. So like people said with the Cats thing, Howard as the Phantom went over to down stage left and stood with a light on him, and we were just left with the ballet dancers, who danced a little to reveal...the Cat! She danced a little to the Cats theme...the instrumental end of Memory basically...and then she danced over from center to stage to the Phantom and like stated they kind of did a dance, and then he made some kind of shoo motion and she began to walk/dance away, and with each step away, the Phantom and the whole company came forward to watch her leave, and then she motioned to them, passing the torch. It was very well done I thought.
And then yeah, the speeches. None were really two long, Cameron mentioned being very grateful for his profitable relationship w/ Andrew...and yeah, Michael was last and got very choked up...thanked everyone who had spoke before him for giving him the part that changed his life. And then confetti and balloons fell. I was in rear mezz so nothing fell on me, though I was even w/ the balloons and saw them released, that was kind of cool. I went down to the orchestra before I left and grabbed a couple of souvenir confetti, pretty long pieces and a Phantom balloon
Okay and now for recognizable people there...::paging Beacon:: Beacs, I think you somehow possessed me tonight. Well not quite, since I wouldn't go up to anyone I saw talking in the lobby, feel totally out of place, so just watched but still...as soon as I walked in, the lobby was pretty scarce, show was almost starting, but immediately I was into look-for-famous-people mode...and Mr. Wilson was right there in front of me, first person I spotted! For the record, I mentioned I thought he was tall but being so short everyone is tall, but now I could verify he is actually quite tall, was easy to spot b/c his head rose above the people he was talking to. Anyway, so that was cool, then intermission, I came back down to the orchestra lobby...again, Patrick was the first person I saw/recognized...stood there a couple of minutes, then went down the stairs to the bathroom...and again...Mr. Wilson, first person I see on that level...was still there and first person I saw when I came out of the bathroom. Think I saw him one more time w/ a crowd going back into the theatre. So yes. You told me I should look out for him, and...I barely had to look
Other recognizable faces...John Lithgow, Maria Friedman, Simon Woods(Mr. Bingley from the recent P&P film), Erin Dilly, Jeff Marx & Robert Lopez, and a host of others who basically...he/she looks so familiar, they've been in something, god what is it?? Hopefully will see some of them in pictures tomorrow.
So yeah. Pretty much amazing night. I'm so glad I was such a nag and kept checking telecharge to get the tickets. The view from the rear mezz was fine. And nice meeting some of you lurkers at the stage door. Actually, if any of you have sns, PM me, I have a question for you.
"If there was a Mount Rushmore for Broadway scores, "West Side Story" would be front and center. It snaps, it crackles it pops! It surges with a roar, its energy and sheer life undiminished by the years" - NYPost reviewer Elisabeth Vincentelli
Updated On: 1/10/06 at 03:01 AM
