Phantom of the Opera

The title 'Phantom of the Opera' has become synonymous with the entire concept of musical theatre. It is the classic, grand-daddy that exemplifies this genre and is so ingrained on the starry streets of Broadway and the West End that if it were a sentient being it would have a blood-line dating back to the French courts at Versailles and be a founding father of the secrets and truths of government. In fact it is so popular that advertisers now lure audiences through nostalgia, 'Remember your first time?"

The musical score is composed by the knighted Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and scripted by the lesser known Charles Hart. It is a love story; it is a tragedy, it's a quest for justice; a ghostly, horror story and violent action adventure in one exquisitely beautiful operetta.

The synopsis follows the innocence and talent of young Christine Daaé who was taken in by the Operatic Parisian Theatre, the Palais Garnier, after her famous violinist father dies but she is a poor, underestimated, orphaned, chorus girl, singing small roles and dancing ballet behind the famous Prima Donnas of the day.

It opens at the end when the, now elderly, Raoul, former Viscount of Chagney and patron of the arts attends an auction for the broken down and tattered remains of the glorious Theatre. A strange, amorphous music box is on offer with a cymbal-clanging monkey accompanying the tune 'Masquerade' as is the shattered, burnt remnants of a grand chandelier and through the nostalgic memories of Raoul the audience and stage are transported into the past when the derelict opera house was the epitome of opalescent and splendour.

The volatile and pompous head liner, Carlotta is throwing another Diva fit with her normal, melodramatic fervour and storms out leaving the show without its star and Christine, a nervous and hesitate chance to take the stage. Her voice is powerful, beautiful and technically brilliant and she gains a standing ovation and the renewed affections of her childhood friend, Raoul, the new owner of the Palais Garnier.

Her father whom she is dearly devoted to even in death used to spin her wonderful tales of the 'Angel of Music' and promised that he would always be with her, guiding and protecting. For some time an unearthly voice has been tutoring her and inspiring the passion and spirit of her voice and dreamily she convinces herself that the only explanation is that she is being visited by this musical angel of her father's lore.

Elsewhere Raoul is being appraised on the more strange and ominous commitments of the old, gothic building. A being who calls himself, OG for 'Opera Ghost' declares that he owns the theatre and permits its use as long as his box seat is saved and he is paid regularly for his generosity. Raoul thinks this is superstitious nonsense until the Phantom's obsession turns to Christine and he demands that she be promoted to stardom. Disobedience comes at the price of a murder, a bewitched Carlotta and a disastrous fire.

The show is full of atmosphere and eerie foreboding with a dalliance into the surreal as the Phantom seduces Christine into his underground layer through the hidden rivers below the city and into a realm where music and madness combine in gothic beauty, with enchanting candles, misty fog and the stunning and haunting tones of the two most famous songs from the musical, "Phantom of the Opera" and "Music of the Night".

There has always been something sinister about the thought of the abandoned backstage of a theatre at night, so much drama and passion treading the boards as to excite the imagination to supernatural elements in the very woodwork. Phantom plays on these feelings and exposes us to the dubious morality of a ghost of a man who was cast out, loathed, feared, abused and manipulated by humanity for a facial disfigurement and who buried himself in the tombs under the theatre when still a young boy. He has had no love, no compassion or mercy and also no knowledge of actual society. He was never exposed to a code of ethics or taught what it is to be human, reverting to an almost territorial animalistic state and coping through the gift of music and masterdom over his individual reality.

The audience can't help but be moved and riveted by his plight and even feel the understanding and compassion that was denied him until he meet the idealistic light of young Christine. His deeds are forged from misunderstood love and devotion but he has 'Passed the Point of No Return' so that human justice demands a blood sacrifice.

The music is thrilling and songs can only be described as epic and charged with emotion. The ensemble pieces are infused with so many parts that knit seamlessly together and the style is contempory opera. The dance of black and white, of the masked figure and the open book of the pure heart of Christine is metaphorical and artistically represented. The luxury of the stage design, costume and the air of romance and undiscovered society and culture of the sect of theatre dwellers is mesmerising and invokes the imagination and forgotten dreams.

Phantom of the Opera is a must see for any lover of musical theatre and a spectacle to behold. The audience gets wrapped up the world of the stage and breaks with a standing ovation to the composition, vocal talents and thought provoking plot. It exaggerates humanity's natural fear of the known, placing it behind an de-humanising, white mask and then asks mankind to reconcile the actions of the characters on a very human and personal level. Like a classical vintage wine it has matured in years and is perhaps even more breathtaking on a second or third visit when the score and impassioned lyrics are more familiar. (Like any production conveyed solely in song, it can be confusing without prior knowledge of the lyrics.)

Phantom is fully recommended as a great night out at Broadway or the West End and an almost baptismal evening for the theatrical enthusiast.

Critic's Star Rating:~ 4 Stars ****

I have brought you to the seat of sweet music's throne ...
to this kingdom where all must pay homage to music ...
music...

You have come here, for one purpose, and one alone ...
I first heard you sing,
I have needed you with me, to serve me, to sing, for my music ...
my music ...

Night-time sharpens, heightens each sensation ...
Darkness stirs and wakes imagination ...
Silently the senses abandon thier defences ...

Slowly, gently night unfurls its splendour ...
Grasp it, sense it - tremulous and tender ...
Turn your face away from the garish light of day,
turn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light -
and listen to the music of the night ...

Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams!
Purge your thoughts of the life you knew before!
Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar!
And you'll live as you've never lived before ...

Softly, deftly, music shall surround you ...
Feel it, hear it, closing in around you ...
Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind,
in this darkness which you know you cannot fight -
the darkness of the music of the night.

Let your mind start a journey through a strange, new world!
Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before!
Let your soul
Take you where you long to be!
Only then can you belong to me ...

Floating, falling, sweet intoxication!
Touch me, trust me, savour each sensation!
Let the dream begin,
let your darker side give in to the power of
the music that I write - the power of the music of the night ...

You alone can make my song take flight -
help me make the music of the night ...

West End - London

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA AT ROYAL ALBERT HALL
Royal Albert Hall
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Lyrics by Charles Hart , based on Gaston Leroux's gothic novel
(01 Oct 2011 - Closing on 02 Oct 2011)
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PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, THE
Her Majesty's Theatre
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Lyrics by Charles Hart , based on Gaston Leroux's gothic novel
(27 Sep 1986 - Booking to 28 Apr 2012)

Broadway - New York

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, THE
Majestic Theatre
Book by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber, Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Lyrics by Charles Hart & Richard Stilgoe
(09 Jan 1988 - Booking to 29 Oct 2011)