Phantom to change to "re-staged" production in flagship productions? — Page 16

FANtomFollies said: "LOT666 - Can I ask why you don't like sitting in the Mezz for Phantom? I've sat in the Mezz once but was very far back, but I always imagined that sitting in the first row or 2 of of front Mezz would be spectacular?"

I've been upstairs three times and have never had a positive experience from those seats. Fortunately, I didn't have to pay for those tickets; one was a service recovery comp from management (long story) and the other two were promotional comps for the 25th and 30th anniversary celebrations. 

To me, the upstairs seats at The Majestic feel extremely removed, like I'm watching the show through a window from across the street. Also, the trap doors on the stage are too visible when you're looking down at it. I feel that it detracts from the magic.

JayElle said: "Lot666 said, in part,: "I was online and clicking refresh beginning at 8:45 a.m. This was one of the most frustrating on-sale events I've ever experienced; it gave me flashbacks to the 4:00 a.m. on-sale for the 25th anniversary at the Royal Albert Hall.........Telecharge graciously refunded my first two orders via email and left me with the premium seats. Although I've seen this show more than 75 times now, this will be my first performance in premium seats. All's well that ends well.

Did you really see it 75 times? As a patron or as a theater worker? Amazing. They should give you an award. I thought the woman next to me who saw Great Comet 49 times was a lot."

Yes, I have seen Phantom more than 75 times now, including the Broadway and London resident productions, numerous U.S. touring productions, and the Royal Albert Hall 25th anniversary production in London (which I attended on two consecutive evenings). The only performances at which I was not a paying customer were the Broadway 25th and 30th celebrations. 

And I agree, they should give me an award. 

 

Phantom4ever said: "The UK theater board has a post about the original chandelier being loaded back into Her Majesty's, along with rumors that CM has been listening to the social media complaints and has supposedly gone back on his plan to change the chandelier. Since so many of the other changes are part of that new proscenium, I doubt any of the other original aspects will be back as well.

https://twitter.com/ShaunTossell/status/1412814568338952194/photo/1"

An interesting turn of events, although I'm not sure this means the chandelier will once again ascend/descend. Did you see any indication that he won't just wrap this one in a sheet and hang it from the ceiling? Also, would using the original chandelier mean he'd have to pay Maria's estate?

Updated On: 7/8/21 at 07:58 AM

Phantom4ever said: "I finally got to visit the city again for the first time since February 2020. It was sad to see Times Square so empty but I tried to go around and spend money at as many local businesses as I could in the short time i was there. I don't think I'll be returning until Broadway is reopened though.

Late last night, I decided to take a longer stroll through Times Sq, and as I peered west down 44th St, I thought it was odd that I could see the marquees for the Broadhurst, Shubert, St. James, and the Hayes but curiously.........not the Majestic?

I thought perhaps they turned the sign off since it was around 11:30pm. But even with the signs off I should have been able to see something. I walked down to see. The Shubert Organization had a nice video titled "Broadway will be back" playing on the screens above the Broadhurst and between the Broadhurst and Majestic. And then I saw it. The Majestic is COVERED in scaffolding! I thought everybody on this board reassured a Phanatic like me that no work was being done on the building! Then I saw that all of the artwork/advertising along 44th was still in place, including the Angel picture on the 44th St auditorium door. Ominously, the lobby windows have been covered up in paper, and there are work permits on the doors. I read through the work permits and they were all for terra cotta work on the exterior, and nothing was mentioned about the interior, so that's a good sign so far at least. And I suppose this is a good time to renovate the front of the theater which I'm sure needed some TLC after all these years, and since the work does have to complete shroud the marquee, this is a good time to do it. I have a few more pictures but BWW seems to replace each picture I post with the new picture instead of posting them all.

 

I was able to find some of the construction permit docs online (through the city's "building information search", which is publicly assessible) and the drawings, etc. specifically state no interior work is included.   As Phantom4ever said, its just routine maintenance, etc. that's likely harder to do when the theatre is operating- fixing cracks in the façade, repointing bricks, and repairing/replacing finials (the pointy ornaments at the top of the façade, and "replacing" them with lookalikes).  They are also replacing one of the supports for the vertical "Majestic" sign.. probably good to avoid falling lighting fixtures NOT part of the play!   Its a 94 year old building so no surprise it needs a little work. 

Completely ruined if you ask me. 

I'm just thankful they didn't switch to the godawful redesigned touring production.

You can always go to the source here:

https://theatreboard.co.uk/thread/150/phantom-opera?page=159

They couldn't even manage to hang the dust covers properly so they cover the entire false proscenium. What a sad, lazy and cheap imitation of Maria Bjornson's original design. Probably the saddest part is most audience members either won't notice or care.

bwayphreak234 said: "I was referring to the Lawerence Connor directed tour. So no, that's not what this IS. For those who think THIS is bad... just be grateful you didn't see the COMPLETELY redesigned and reimagined production that toured the US extensively for about 4 years."

Right, that was really bad.  In some ways this is worse because it's in Her Majesty's and it's like they broke the original and tried to put it back together.  

 

The orchestra pit looks much smaller. How many musicians nowadays?

morosco said: "The orchestra pit looks much smaller. How many musicians nowadays?"

14. Easily the worst change IMO