Zeitoujo, I've wondered for 20 years why people go to this show for honeymoons and numerous anniversaries - it astounds me.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/27/05
Most well known and sympathetic character in literature? The novel's a thriller slash detective piece and hardly a masterpiece. I like it and all, but come on.
Yes, Erik's pretty well-developed and sympathetic to some extent, but he is still has psychopathic tendencies. Marry me or I'll blow up Paris? That's actually abusive behavior towards Christine.
Broadway Star Joined: 9/8/04
I have never figured out why so many want Christine with him.
The romantic aspect is, for me, Christine and Raoul.
Christine and Raoul's relationship is not romantic - they meet again by chance and he feels obligated to protect her from the psychopath only because he has money and position - he wants to rule Christine just like the Phantom does.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/27/05
Got any evidence for that claim?
RAOUL:
let me lead you from you solitude.
Say you need me with you, here beside you,
anywhere you go, let me go too,
that's all I ask of you.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/27/05
Not quite seeing how that shows that Raoul wants to completely control Christine.
I only have the Movie to go by but once he recognizes Christine is his childhood sweetheart, he immediately wants so meet her and take her out. I mean, sure in those days guys were taught to take care of Women. Raoul is urging Christine to go on stage though for Carlotta when the Phantom snakes her voice. She is the one running away trying to escape the Phantom who she is afraid will kill Raoul and kidnap her away. That is where his protective nature comes in. Yet he isn't telling her to run away from the show and stay with him. Instead, he sleeps outside of her door to protect her and allow her, her limelight in the Opera.
In the Movie, it is fairly early established that they both still have very fond memories of each other. I understand how that seems less romantic. We don't see the behind scenes completely but they are flirting at the Masqurade. We get the idea that he took her out to find an engagement ring. She is only afraid to wear it because it may enrage the Phantom more against Raoul.
She is terrified to go on stage for Don Juan because of what the Phantom has planned for them. Raoul also gallops recklessly to try and protect Christine from the Phantom at the Graveyard. It is only Christine's pleading that stops Raoul from killing Erik right then and there. She is only trying to stop more bloodshed.
That doesn't seem the actions of a Man who is not in love. What obligation does he have to her? Being in love with Christine is putting his life in danger. Yet he is willing to defy that to win her love.
We also see in flashbacks Raoul visiting Christine's gravesite. He is clearly upset and missing her terribly. He leaves the music box because she mentioned it to him once before that she liked it. A way of going back into the past when times where turbulent but you won something also very precious to you.
I only have the Movie to go by
You should've stopped there.
Sorry Lizzie but I didn't want to drive that far to see a story I already knew well from books and television.
Featured Actor Joined: 3/17/06
"Christine and Raoul's relationship is not romantic - they meet again by chance and he feels obligated to protect her from the psychopath only because he has money and position - he wants to rule Christine just like the Phantom does."
I don't see this at all. It's his old childhood friend and he's crazy about her. In the book, Raoul sacrifices absolutely everything for Christine.
Erik might be sympathetic on some levels, but he's also a violent stalker, and one doesn't really cancel out the other. The world abused him, but he's become abusive in return. And in the book, Erik is even more of a psycho, really...there are scenes where Christine is saying she doesn't want to go to him, but is worried about what he will do. Perhaps part of the tragedy of the story is that Erik had the potential to do great things, but was undermined by both the world's reaction to him and his own behavior.
Updated On: 10/15/07 at 03:06 AM
Tk2Ride:
You should really see The Phantom of the Opera on stage. Regardless of how well you know the story/music. It’s the longest running Broadway show and the most successful piece of theater in history. It’s not the greatest show ever written and it is way over rated, but it’s worth seeing at least once. How can you be a Broadway fan having never seen this show?
I’m sorry if I’m coming off as a jerk, but seriously everyone has seen this show. How can a theater patron not see it?
Can anyone please answer for me why it seemed like christine was really into the phantom during and at the end of 'Point of no return' ?
Broadway Star Joined: 11/13/05
Because no one was really thinking it out the whole way through?
Sorry Lizzie but I didn't want to drive that far to see a story I already knew well from books and television.
That's cute.
"Sorry Lizzie but I didn't want to drive that far to see a story I already knew well from books and television."
So now it's painfully clear that you post things you know nothing about. Oh, except for seeing the movie.
Phantom has toured EXTENSIVLY for MANY, MANY years. You haven’t seen ONE of those productions?
Featured Actor Joined: 3/17/06
"Can anyone please answer for me why it seemed like christine was really into the phantom during and at the end of 'Point of no return' ?"
She's acting a role and she doesn't realize the other actor is the Phantom until the very end of the song. The Phantom's in a robe and posing as Piangi. There's a moment there where she touches his head, realizes who he really is, panics and tries to run offstage, only to be dragged back to finish the song.
Broadway Star Joined: 11/13/05
That's always such a lame reasoning, book wise.
Piangi is this fat little Italian guy. The Phantom is a thin guy wearing a hood with flowing robes. Am I really supposed to believe she can't tell the difference?
So now it's painfully clear that you post things you know nothing about.
Wait, only NOW?
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/27/05
Well, musical!Christine isn't the brightest star in the galaxy by any means.
"So now it's painfully clear that you post things you know nothing about.
Wait, only NOW?"
I mean, I have been wondering about his posts for the longest time, but this one that really put the cherry on the sundae, so to speak.
I love people who come to chat boards and just post whatever pops into their heads, even if it has a point or not.
Broadway Star Joined: 11/13/05
True, but come on. The average three-year-old can tell the difference. I'm all for suspension of disbelief, but really.
Featured Actor Joined: 3/17/06
"Well, musical!Christine isn't the brightest star in the galaxy by any means."
So true. This is the same person who spends hours talking to people in her mirror and randomly walking around in cemeteries in the middle of the night. This isn't really a stretch for her.
Has anyone seen the film out of Beijing called "The Phantom Lover (ye ban ge sheng)"? It is an interpretation of the Phantom of the Opera. It is visually beautiful. Not a musical although this one song is sung over and over. If you like Phantom and have not seen this movie, I reccommend it. I got it on Netflix. If you rent it, use the subtitles. The English translation is not always accurate.
"(ye ban ge sheng)"Is that the follow up to "She Bangs"?
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