Phantom... not great

Oh dear! sorry to hear that, I think you're about 20 years too late tho. In its original days it was something special but now you've been spoiled by the likes of 'Desperately Seeking Susan' havent ya?

i have to agree, ive seen this years ago and thought it was OK, but i watched it recently and its just very very dated, from orchestrations to sets.

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I've always thought that "Phantom" is a very ordinary show musically and was only made something special by Hal Prince's brilliant direction. So the show's not likely to have become better with age lol. But the current Phantom, Ramin Karimloo, is really fantastic.

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Yes, mama - Ramin is a Canadian of Iranian ancestry. Before he took over as Phantom, his previous credits include Enjolras in Les Mis and Chris in the UK tour of Miss Saigon. He's an awesome singer and a really lovely guy.

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Updated On: 1/28/09 at 12:58 PM

Ah, I have some fond memories of this show. At least on Broadway considering that I never saw it anywhere else.

At first this was a show that I had sworn I would never ever see. For what reason, I don't know. But, then one day out of the blue I was craving it. I knew some of the songs and I had seen the movie. At that time, I didn't like the movie and for some reason was having trouble following along. Eventually, I went and saw the show. This was maybe a couple of years ago if not a bit earlier. When I was in high school I would get out on Wednesdays just in time to get a ticket for an afternoon show. I got one for Phantom, sat down, and saw it. But, because I was tired and not because of the show, I ended up nodding off around the title song. I got so angry with myself that I up and left at intermission.

Needless to say, I have seen it 13 times. It has become a show that I thought that I would never like and thus refused to see. And, quickly became theatre comfort food.

I met and became friends with the set designer for the Broadway production and she took me to the show and took me backstage both before the show and at intermission. She told me that the Chandelier on Broadway moves VERY slow because they have only had one in place for 21 years. One of the stage managers believes that if they got rid of it and replaced it with a new one (theuy have one sitting in a warehouse in Jersy, new parts and all) that the show would close.

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