The Phantom of the Opera

[b-waygirl]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 6:47pm

I just wanted to know what everyone thinks of the phantom. Most of the stuff that's been written on this board (that i've read) about the phantom were negative. I actually enjoyed the show(mainly out of habit~my mothers been playing phantom soundtracks since i was 2). So, just post your opinions here, cos i just wanted to know who liked it and who hated it.

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 7:14pm

I haven't been to see it in many years, but I loved it when I saw it. Visually, it's thrilling, if only for the underground/gondola by candlelight scene. It's a classic and a crowd pleaser that I came away from *knowing* that I'd seen a Broadway show. I've meant to go back because Phantom was something I'd seen fairly early in my theater-going obsession, and t might seem very different to me now. That was the case with Les Miz...

[MyQueenPattiLupone]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 7:55pm

As a Webber fan, I definitely like Phantom although I don't think I would say it is one of my favorite shows (or his best show). It has some beautiful songs and an impressive set but I just have to be in the mood to listen to my OBC recording. As far as the negative comments that you've read on the board I think many people stand by the fact that often times a flashy production hides a flawed show and that most shows lose their luster after a very long run.

[Phantess]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 8:57pm

I'm just a tad bit obsessed about it.
Phantom on Broadway

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 8:59pm

I like Phantom well enough, but I think it's highly overrated. It's not an amazing show, simply a good one.

[Dramamama321]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 9:12pm

Phantom was the first show I saw on Broadway, over 10 years ago. After I started seeing shows more regularly, I went back to see Phantom again and it wasn't the same for me. I didn't dislike it, it just paled after seeing so many other shows.

I am looking forward to seeing what they do with the movie.

T

[BroadwayDiva]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 9:16pm

I liked Phantom a lot. I thought it was visually stunning, the music is great, and the cast was fantastic. It is definately a classic. Well, that's what I thought when I was 8, so I don't know what it's like now.

[BudFrump23]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 9:21pm

I'm planning on seeing Phantom this weekend. I have put it off for a long time, because it just didn't seem all that interesting to me. But now, finally, I have put aside some money to go and see it.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 9:32pm

I think the core material (the songs and moments based on the main triangle of characters) is effective. But I think the show labors with the manager scenes and gives Christine a lot of stage time where she isn't necessarily doing anything constructive to her character. I also think there are many, many directorial missteps in the show, especially in the static staging of the last couple scenes and the comical oversights in concept in the finale (why is the entire town climbing into the labyrinth? How can they get there without taking the boat? Does The Phantom not know to just climb the fence down to his lair? That sort of thing.)

I think it's a solid splashy musical, no, the lyrics don't say much but the basic sentiment is brought forth. It's a simple story told melodramatically.

Although that stupid pop title track should be long gone.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 9:33pm

ALW's PAHNTOM is a piece of garbage. The script leaves the viewer with many questions: How did the Phantom get so deformed? Where did he get his occult powers? Why does everyone have to shiled their eyes as they climb down those stairs? Who lights all the candles that float on the underground lake? Where does the lake end and the bedroom begin?
Is the Phanotm's bed in the lake?

The music is a rip-off of Puccini and Lerner& Loewe. The lyrics could have been written by ninth graders.

The sets and costumes are gorgeous, but the same can be said of many attractions that are playing in DisneyWorld. That's probably where PHANTOM belongs.

Still, the show is running....

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 9:46pm

It is 10 times better than "Cats" which was absolute dreck. Watching Cats was like having a cat pee on your leg for 2 1/2 hours. POTO was very enjoyable & I loved the music

[wickedfan]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 9:55pm

the thing about 'phantom' is that it is a real visual show. So many things go on at once that some people don't even pay attention to the show. That's how my friend was when we went to go see it. 'Phantom' is a crowd pleaser, it's a touching love story with a score that is very pleasing and sometimes very beautiful. Not my personal favorite, but I wouldn't say it was bad. It's a very nice show, I would reccommend it. Although Llyodd Webber is sometimes a bit too complicated for some people's taste (go figure).

[ChristineDaae]

Posted: 1/1/04 at 11:42pm

I LOVE Phantom!!! It's my favorite show! Seen it 9 times!! I just love the music and everything about POTO! The actors (I think) do a great job!

Budfrump- I think you'll like Phantom. When I first was going to see the show- I wasn't excited, I didn't know what to expect. I had no idea of what the story was about, but in the end I just loved it.

[Musetta1957]

Posted: 1/2/04 at 5:51am

PoTO is a highly flawed, inconsistent piece of theatre. Many of its lyrics are clunky, the musical motifs make sense to a point (and at that point they become repetitious), the characters aren't written with a whole lot of depth, and it's highly dependent on the set and visual effects.

That said, I've seen it over a dozen times since 1995.

It's a lot of fun. And with a good cast, it can be even more fun, plus thrilling, moving, and exciting. With all these things protecting the flimsy center, it's easier to overlook the problems.

With an awful cast -- and I've really only disliked one performance -- the entire thing falls apart.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 1/2/04 at 11:22am

I enjoyed Phantom very much but I agree with whomever said that Christine gets way to much stage time. ALW was probably thinking about not sleeping on the couch that night when Sarah Brightman was practicing her lines. I believe that Phantom "phans" have this image in their head that Phantom is a big splashy authentic old fashioned Broadway show. It really isn't. Besides better music, it is on the same level as The Lion King. The Producers or 42nd Street for example are real Broadway style shows. Phantom is a Brit-Megamusical spectacle and people have to realize that.

[Broadwaylilhead]

Posted: 1/2/04 at 11:25am

It still bugs me that the title song is all lip synced but I try and overlook that. I have seen 4 different Phantom's and would say Hugh is prob my favorite. He actually made me cry. A lot of people love Davis Gaines but I didn't like his protrayal. I thought his Phantom was going to rape Christine on stage. He definitely plays the angry bitter soul much more than the hurt broken hearted masked man. I'm seeing the show again the end of the month and it should be interesting since the last time I saw it on Broadway was 11 years ago.

[Phantess]

Posted: 1/2/04 at 5:08pm

Hugh is probably the best Phantom i've seen. He really does a great job with the character. More than McGillin had ever done.

The title song isn't completely synced. The last part for most of the time is performed live. I know the current Alternate, Julie Hanson, does it live.

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 1/2/04 at 5:38pm

I agree with everything Mr Roxy said.

[Phantom05]

Posted: 1/2/04 at 6:26pm

Broadwaylilhead, I don't know where you got the impression that the title song is entirely lip-synced?!?!? I recently saw Phantom on Broadway, and the actress playing Christine was really sick. She sounded painfully raspy throughout the entire song, and when she tried to hit the final "E" at the end of POTO, she cracked instead actually hitting the note. She left the show after the first act, and her understudy replaced her for the second act.....It really was painful to hear her sing because she was obviously so sick...I thought it was interesting that she even decided to go on! Oh well, Phantom is a great show, and the current Broadway cast is phenominal! Hugh Panaro is an amazing Phantom, and Sandra Joseph is an equally wonderful Christine. The current ensemble is probably one of the best in the past couple of years! Go see it!

See Ya!

Phantom05

Updated On: 1/2/04 at 06:26 PM

[Broadwaylilhead]

Posted: 1/2/04 at 6:35pm

I was at Chatterbox recently with Howard McGillim (sp?), who played Phantom for 6 years and he spoke in depth about the title song and about it being completely lip synced. Supposedly, it was originally done to "protect" Sarah Brightman who did not want to do the scale at the end.

[ChristineDaae]

Posted: 1/2/04 at 7:15pm

I really don't think they would make the entire title song lip synced.
So far, Howard McGillin is my favorite Phantom. I've seen Hugh.. but I saw him last April and I don't think he did a good job as the Phantom because he just started then. But I HAVE to see the show sometime soon! There have been so many cast changes! I'm hearing from friends that Julie Hanson is REALLY good.

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 1/2/04 at 7:22pm

I'm not a huge fan of Phantom, but I also wouldn't turn down tickets. I think it has some spine-tingling moments and some sucky moments.

[b-waygirl]

Posted: 1/2/04 at 8:34pm

i actually only saw it once. but there were tall people sitting in front of me. so i was debating over whether or not to agree with my family to see it again. thx for ur comments.

[Broadwaylilhead]

Posted: 1/2/04 at 8:56pm

you can usually find tix at TKTS so try there before paying full price.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 1/2/04 at 9:00pm

The title track is lip synched. This is not heresay nor rumor. It's stone-cold fact.