Phantom in Hong Kong review (with Brad Little)

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 8/15/06 at 11:28pm

Thanks to my friend, yesterday I have a free ticket to go and watch 'Phantom Of The Opera'. It's an extremely beautiful seat... middle of the stalls and very upclose. Since I was doing volunteer work beforehand, I was late and missed the auction.


Brad Litte (Phantom): I think I might've expected too much from him since there are all the raves and all. He has a great voice. His low notes are wonderful and I LOVE it! But when he reaches the high notes... he squeaks and its nearly painful to hear. For this performance, Brad's voice seemed tired and I guess he needs to give his voice some rest! And I didn't like his approuch to the character. Onstage, what I see of Phantom is a man who's extremely childish and kills people for attention. On the other hand, I also find him amusing during the scene of 'Point Of No Return'. He seems like he has diareah (sp?)!!!!! Not very impressed with him but I didn't feel he's too bad a Phantom compared to what John Owen-Jones offered me. [7/10]

Ana Marine (alternate Christine): I was very happy when I saw her in the chorus as most friends who saw the show with Marni didn't like her. Ana was definitely sufficient as Christine. Her voice is elegant and clear. Even though her low notes were nothing very special, her high notes is just thrilling. But overall, her voice doesn't have much significent edge to it which catches me. But man is she pretty onstage! She also fell straight to the ground after MOTN and has to rush up to the bed during blackout [8/10]

John Bowles (Raoul): Once again I was expecting too much from this man. His voice is thin... great to listen to at times, but mostly he's just covered up by his fellow castmates which is a shame as Raoul isn't such a big character already! Anyway, his acting was near nil but his looks definitely did save him! He is in NO comparison with Ramin Karimloo. [5/10]

Monsieur Andre/Firmin: They were quite good and I was SO happy that one of them was John O'May!!! I never really cared about these characters or liked them actually. But they did a decent job to get a few laughs. [7/10]

Carlotta: I think she was the best in the show. And she gives a very sharp and clear performance with alot of funny moments. [8/10]

Piangi: Did not even realise he was there [3/10]

Mdm Giry: I did not like her in Act 1. Her acting was bad as hell then... she totally missed all the great little moments she cud've had - she was like a wood onstage... no expression or anything..just floats around the stage. But in Act 2, she's definitely improved and I actually really liked her there. [6/10]

Meg Giry: She looks like a doll onstage who ONLY knows how to smile and giggle. There are moments in the show when she's supposed to be serious, but she's happy and jolly and.. blonde all the way through. Her acting is worse than nothing but her dancing was quite good. And to be honest, having a Korean Meg... I didn't even actually realise that Meg and Mdm Giry were daughter/mother! That connection was totally lost.. not that it was important or matters. [2/10]

Ensemble: This was a great ensemble. Very gd, they're very energetic and seem to be enjoying their stay and tour. [7/10]

The set: It's pretty much the same except for the main red curtain which is obviously made by cheap cloth and printed patterns on. It looked cheap. And the fireballs from the wand... WHAT THE HECK?? It shoots less than 10 cm of distance and disappears midair! I remember when I was in Ldn, it reached the ground and looked actually cool. This time it just looked ridiculous cuz Raoul cud easily go up to him and say 'you'll never get me, you'll never get me' and make faces at him! Tat scene was totally ridiculous. The Chandeliar, ok, I've ALWAYS been disappointed but in HK, it's even MORE disappointing... its even slower. I remember in the Ldn show when it hits the ground, there are so kind of small fireworks, but in HK, there's nothing, nothing.

Show: Even though it's a free ticket, I would still call it a waste of my time as the cast was particularly great nor the sets, well and don't start me with the extraoridinarily bad book and boring music. I nearly fell asleep in the show. At the stagedoor, the cast were all friendly but all rushing their ways out as they need to catch a bus to go to hotel haha! Ana and John are extremely gorgeous real life and no wonder they have so many fans! [4/10]

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/15/06 at 11:37pm

Brad squeaked? Uh oh. I've seen him at his best (Phantom) and at his most vocally fatigued (Pimpernel) and I'd have to agree then, with you -- he needs a rest. That's what understudies are for, Brad!

So what was he doing during PoNR that made you think of The Runs?

P.S. You're the only person I've ever seen online who consistently abbreviates "London." It's rather strange.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 12:28am

This made me sad

I adore Brad and thought his Phantom spectacular... but... it sure sounds as if he may need a rest. He's been at it for a very long time now.

Sounds as if you caught them on a bad day.

Updated On: 8/16/06 at 12:28 AM

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 12:33am

^Agreed.

I hope he takes a rest if this is consitent.

[BJC899]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 12:34am

Ah you're so lucky!

When I was in Hong Kong last week I tried to get tickets! The concierge said they only had last row seats and they weren't together (i wanted 2 tix).

THEN when I was in Shanghai later in the week I didn't have time to see the lion king there. A bad theater week for me.

Great reivew btw

[Radioactiveduck]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 2:17am

That's too bad, cuz Brad Little used to be magic in the forrest. But I agree with what's been said, he's been at it for a LONG time now. I saw him almost 4 years ago in Los Angeles, and he'd been on the tour for a while before then.

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 3:48am

yeah... I am sure he was very gd as I can hear that he's been well trained and gets a great voice but he does needs a rest... he seems to be in the show for like forever!
And also, I forgot to say.... you know in the scene of the title song? They used stunts as usual and tat's why they were playing the pre-recorded tape of the leads singing. But shudnt it be the leads ACTUALLY singing when they come out in the boat??? It sounded very strange then I saw Ana's mouth doesn't really match the sound (as I was sitting quite close). Is the title song normally precorded whole??? Cuz I was disappointed when I saw both lipsync thru wat's prob the only song I like in the show.
LizzieCurry, Brad was sitting there with his legs open and he's rubbing his thighs in a fist and then also his head moving around... without seeing his face, he gives me an impression that he really needs the loo rather than he's high with Christine....

[ChristineAngel]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 4:00am

He plays Point of no return, nervous.

Brad is really great.
how many phantom's have you even seen? really?

JOJ is awesome too, he is currently my favorite.

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 8/16/06 at 4:22am

I've seen the show in Ldn twice and only seen one Phantom who's apparently the best and I believe so - John Owen Jones... three years in the Ldn show and still fresh every time I see him!
JOJ is the best Phantom, he's divine. Sorry guys that I might be negative with the HK performance as the previous I've seen had such GREAT cast!