Regarding the changes, they're still using the silly wigs, including the side-parted Phantom's wig, but the costumes seem different from before, although they're definitely not the original designs. I think the Phantom is wearing the traditional mask, although he might have been doing so before. The main changes are in the staging and stage business.
During the overture, if I recall correctly, in the old version of the tour, there were people rushing back and forth with ladders and other equipment to show the backstage goings on. Now,while Raoul stands in the middle of the stage, reminiscing, Madame Giry conducts a dance rehearsal. Also, the chandelier did not rise previously during the tour's overture. Instead, it sparked, but it stayed pretty much where it was until it crashed. Now, it rises from its place over the audience. The chandelier's effects are quite spectacular. Also, when the chandelier falls, it used to spew streamers. Now, it throws out plastic pieces that look like glass shards. The people sitting nearby gathered them off the floor and kept them as souvenirs.
One of the things I liked least about the earlier touring version was that Christine actually threatened to jump off the roof, and Raoul grabbed her to stop her, during the AIAOY scene. Now, Raoul goes looking to see if someone (the Phantom) is hiding behind the statues, and Christine gets too close to the edge. I was watching Raoul, so I didn't see if Christine deliberately approached the edge, but it's at least ambiguous, and no longer a definite suicide plan. Now, Raoul shouts, "Christine" and she falls back and collapses.
Another major change is that the Phantom is back to appearing and disappearing without warning. Just before he killed Buquet, he previously pretended to do some kind of backstage work next to Buquet, and then turned and killed him. Now, another character does the backstage work, and then goes offstage. We know it's NOT the Phantom because we see him upstairs at the same time. Then, he disappears and pops onstage immediately to hang Buquet.
Previously, the Phantom was into throwing punches. That has been dramatically scaled back. He also no longer shoves Christine around, although he pulls her roughly into the lair from the boat at the beginning of the Final Lair sequence. One thing I HATED about the previous tour is that the Phantom shoved Christine onto the bed while Raoul was dangling nearby. The Phantom may be lots of bad things, but a rapist isn't one of them. Now, she goes over to Raoul to try to free him, fixing another plot hole that had him nowhere near the Phantom, with Christine near Raoul, and yet, she did nothing to help Raoul. As she's trying to help Raoul, the Phantom grabs her and pulls her away and she falls onto the bed -- a significant difference.
One of the nicest changes is that Derrick Davis sings MOTN, and doesn't "speak-sing" it, Henry Higgins style, which is what Chris Mann did. Why hire a performer who is primarily a singer, and then ruin his main number by not letting him loose? Derrick Davis, who does a fabulous acting job in the role, also has a heckuva voice, with a large vocal range. When he sang MOTN, the audience sat mesmerized, and burst into applause and cheers when he finished. BTW, I saw the Christine alternate, Kaitlyn Davis, apparently no relation to Derrick. She is terrific, too, giving Katie Travis, the main Christine, a run for her money. Since Katie Travis is up there with the best Christines, and surpasses at least one who has gotten fame out of the role (IMO, of course), it's saying a lot that Kaitlyn Davis is up there with Katie Travis. The new Raoul, Jordan Craig, is fabulous, as are former Christine Trista Moldovan as Carlotta. Phumzile Sojola, as Piangi, has an excellent voice and does not play Piangi as a total buffoon, the way his predecessor did. I once got to meet Christian Sebek, whom I think of as THE Piangi. He told me that he believes Piangi tries to be a dignified man. The tour Piangi was previously anything but.
There are other changes, too. That's why I'm curious whether this was a total rewrite of the on-stage action, or whether it developed bit by bit.
Audrey
Audrey, the Phantom Phanatic, who nonetheless would rather be Jean Valjean, who knew how to make lemonade out of lemons.
Since I really do hope to get some information from the numerous experts on this Board, I thought I would give the post its own thread.
, Tim Martin Gleason (on tour in, I think 2010), and James Barbour (Broadway).
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