Phantom vs. Phantom of the Opera

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/27/18 at 10:27pm

So, I've been delving into Yeston's Phantom having loved Grand Hotel and Titanic (and December Songs), and just curious about what you all like or dislike about his version vs. Webber's. Obviously one is more widely known, but I don't love Yeston's music. And I really do love his music in other shows. None of the Phantom's songs truly stick, but I do love some of Christine's. I also notice that the Phantom in Yeston's version has more book scenes and speaks more, and is more of an actual person than in Webber's where, I'm not even sure if he has any "book" scenes. 

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/27/18 at 10:55pm

I think some of the music in Yeston's Phantom is beautiful. The biggest issue I have with it is the book and some of the more comedic moments. There's a scene where the Phantom overhears Carlotta singing and says something to the effect of "Her voice is worse than my face." At that point I realized I was in for a much more lighthearted approach to the material and that's just fine, but I think Webber was right to keep his Phantom singing as much as possible. Webber's version has some beautiful music too, but ultimately what I like about the Webber version so much is the design. Maria Björnson's scenery and costumes together with Gillian Lynne's choreography and Hal Prince's direction is what makes the show so brilliant. Their work elevated the material. The current tour made that all the more obvious to me.

[Marway44]

Posted: 8/28/18 at 7:08am

Phantom is going to be at the Westchester Broadway Theatre beginning September 13th.  It always sells out because people think they're seeing POTO.

I've seen both versions many times and Phantom delves into the Phantom's past.  There is some very good music in Phantom and a different ending.  I enjoy Phantom every time it comes back because it's a different approach but the story lines are similar including the chandelier, plus there is more comedy.

There are some very touching numbers to and it will jerk a tear at the end as well.  If you've never seen it, I highly recommend it.  The Westchester Broadway borrows the tour set, so it's not a cheap regional theatre set.

Updated On: 8/28/18 at 07:08 AM

[carolinaguy]

Posted: 8/28/18 at 8:57am

I always think of ALW's version as a gothic romance, while Yeston's is more of a character study of the Phantom. Some of the book parts and most of the crowd numbers don't really work in the latter, but I think some of the solos and duets surpass anything in ALW's: "Home" is sensational, and I really love the long, sweeping melody lines in the Phantom's tour de force "My Mother Bore Me". "You Are Music" and "My True Love" are also gorgeous.

[Lot666]

Posted: 8/28/18 at 9:43am

CATSNYrevival said: "Maria Björnson's scenery and costumes together with Gillian Lynne's choreography and Hal Prince's direction is what makes the show so brilliant. Their work elevated the material. The current tour made that all the more obvious to me."

Indeed! The current touring version looks so sad to me.

[thirtythirtyninety]

Posted: 8/28/18 at 9:55am

the lyrics in ALW's POTO are not so great, but this...

"Melody, melody

Melody, melody

Sung so melodiously..."  is brutal.  ugh.

 

[labellaragazza1]

Posted: 8/28/18 at 10:24am

Some of the music in the Yeston/Kopit version is beautiful, "You Are Music" and "Home" being particular favorites of mine. I'm a particular phan of the ALW version, but I did see a spectacular production of Phantom in  South Korea. PotO will always be my favorite, but I thoroughly enjoy Phantom. 

As far as stories go, I've found that, while Phantom delves more into the humanity and 'backstory' of Erik, Phantom of the Opera is actually much more faithful to the source material of the Leroux novel. Phantom is missing a lot of key scenes and taking lots more liberties with the plot -I really enjoy the novel though, so that may be why I am partial to ALW.

I'm a particular fan of Erik having traveled the world (PotO), not having been under the opera house for his whole life (Phantom). They humanize him more and his relationship with Christine begins without much pretense and happens more naturally than her thinking he is an angel, but I do enjoy the air of mystery he has in PotO. I also don't know if it was specific to the South Korean production or if it is standard, but I'm never a huge fan of the "Christine looks like Erik's mother" plot point.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 8/28/18 at 10:51am

labellaragazza1 said: "I also don't know if it was specific to the South Korean production or if it is standard, but I'm never a huge fan of the "Christine looks like Erik's mother" plot point."

That idea is written into the show so you'll find it in all productions of it. 

The funny thing is when I saw it many years ago (a college production) the director had a lengthy "Notes from the Director" in their program where he tried to claim that the script was more faithful to the novel than the Webber version. By the end of the show I was sure the director was just trying to deflect from the fact that many people probably bought tickets thinking it would be the Webber version, because Kopit and Yeston definitely took some far greater liberties with Leroux's novel than Webber did when adapting it.

I could also do without some of the cringe inducing attempts at humor.

(Upon discovering Joseph Buquet's body)

Carlotta: My costume man! I sent him down below.

Inspector who's name I can't remember: Well someone has sent him back up!

[Marway44]

Posted: 8/28/18 at 11:11am

i feel it should be required that it is made clear that this is not the ALW version when buying tickets and seeing the show. Like I said, almost everyone thinks they're seeing POTO.

 

[sbflyfan]

Posted: 8/28/18 at 12:09pm

Andrew Lloyd Webber, Julian Lloyd Webber, Imogen Lloyd Webber.  It really is crazy how the "Webber" family all have the same middle name...

[labellaragazza1]

Posted: 8/28/18 at 12:17pm

AEA AGMA SM said: I could also do without some of the cringe inducing attempts at humor.

(Upon discovering Joseph Buquet's body)

Carlotta: My costume man!I sent him down below.

Inspector who's name I can't remember: Well someone has sent him back up!"

Yeaaaah... I know people like to bash PotO for being overblown but I found Phantom to be much campier... 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/28/18 at 12:44pm

I'm surprised by how campy it is. And that they call the Phantom "Erik." It's a lot less "scary" and "mysterious" than POTO. What's funny is that when the casting notice went up for Westchester's Phantom it said "Phantom of the Opera." ha. 

[Marway44]

Posted: 8/28/18 at 12:48pm

That's really bad the casting call was for POTO when it's 2 different shows.

I do agree it is more campy but still an interesting story.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/28/18 at 1:12pm

What tour set are you referring to? When was the last tour? Has to have been awhile. 

[Marway44]

Posted: 8/29/18 at 1:52pm

The tour set is kept in stock for rentals from the licensing company. It is an older set but it doesn’t need updating as it needs that period look. Plus, the shows set is really impressive with the lair, the boat and the chandelier.

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 8/29/18 at 2:02pm

Yeston/Kopit’s Phantom worked much better as a TV miniseries without the music. The musical’s score is very bland in most places, and I found that the songs didn’t really add much to the story and only served to slow the action down to stretch out the musical’s runtime. Say what you want about ALW’s score, but most of the songs are there to push the narrative along and keep the audience invested in what’s happening. The Y/K version mostly feels more like, “Hey, we haven’t had a song in a while. This is a musical, right? Put a song here!”

Updated On: 8/29/18 at 02:02 PM

[haterobics]

Posted: 8/29/18 at 2:05pm

sbflyfan said: "Andrew Lloyd Webber, Julian Lloyd Webber, Imogen Lloyd Webber. It really is crazy how the "Webber" family all have the same middle name... "

What are their middle names?

[singerunlimited]

Posted: 8/29/18 at 3:00pm

There was an outstanding production of Phantom at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre in Bridgeport, CT, last fall. I had seen this musical several times before, but this production managed to bring new life to the material that was very exciting for this audience member. Also, I happened to be there the night that Maury Yeston himself was in the audience. He spoke to the cast (and a few of the audience members that stuck around to listen) after the performance, where he stated that this production was in his Top 10 of over 25 years' worth of productions he's seen. Check out his speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OK468A1RDEE

[faceleg]

Posted: 8/29/18 at 7:00pm

Off topic, but can I just say that I'm still upset that due to ALW's version I may never get to realize my dream of playing Beef in a stage adaptation of The Phantom of the Paradise?

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/29/18 at 8:28pm

The biggest difference is that in the ALW version, he is both scary and sympathetic. In the Yeston/Kopit version he’s just a whiny b*tch.

[chernjam]

Posted: 9/1/18 at 1:02am

Its interesting - this thread made me remember seeing Phantom at the Paper Mill Playhouse.  I do remember liking it (and know that I purchased the CD which is somewhere) which I wouldn't have done had I not enjoyed it.  That being said, I couldn't sing a bar of it right now.