Paper faces on parade... (Phantom of the Opera)

Member Name: Critchyboy

Product:	Phantom of the Opera
Date:	28/09/01 (212 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Elaborate sets and costumes, Catchy score and memorable songs

Disadvantages: Be careful where you sit - you could end up behind a pillar.

Phantom is one of the best known musicals in the world. Composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and written by Charles Hart it contains a number on memorable, and more importantly for marketing reasons, hummable tunes. From the title song, through Angel of Music to Say you'll Love Me. Catchy tunes that people remember.

Phantom is based on Gastron Leroux's novel Le Fantome be l'Opera and is set in the Paris Opera House towards the end of nineteenth century. The story revolves around the titular Phantom and his obsession with a young chorus girl called Christine who he has trained to sing. Things turn nasty when Christine's ex turns up and falls back in love with her, while the Phantom lurks in the background waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.

The show looks stunning - from the moment you walk into the theatre the stage is covered in dust sheets, which during the overture are pulled off to show the Paris Opera House in all its glory, the broken chandelier floating up to the highest point in the theatre. The sets are amazing and there are enough special effects within the show to put a Hollywood blockbuster to shame. They are in essence very simple tricks, like use of mirrors and lighting and sound recording, but all the more effect in the live arena. Items of furniture and surroundings float on and off the stage, transforming it's look in an instant. At the beginning of the second half a massive staircase fills the stage, dissappearing into the top of the lights. All credit to the design team there.

The costumes are equally elaborate, especially the Phantom's masqerade Death Mask, and all envoke a feeling of times gone by.

It's easy to be cynical with such a tugging of the heart strings, but you cannot help but be dragged into the feel and the emotion of the piece. For those who have ever known what it is to be scorned by society and ignored by friends, empathy with the Phantom is easy. I, unashamadl
y, fall into that category.

What is it to be loved or accepted? The Phantom finds out and ultimately pays a heavy price.

Give it a go. You never know you might actually enjoy the evening...I dare you!

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