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Post by scarpia on Jan 16, 2022 16:35:22 GMT
Well I had to search quite far back, past Dear Evan Hansen whatever the f*** that is, to find the Phantom thread. I went back recently, hoping for the best, only to find the worst. The horse was good. In comparison to the rest. But I'd rather have had the proscenium angel, and the darkness. I made it to half-time, at least, but only through being drunk & not wanting to make a scene. Absolutely appalling singing. Orchestra might as well have been an 80s stereo. Probably better if it had been. I sincerely think that many cast members were holding back, so as to not embarrass the principles. Piangi was good, but that's it. Dire otherwise. Unspeakably so. Unbearably dreadful all round, an absolutely disgusting performance. Death on anyone who implies otherwise. A filthy disgrace. The lighting and staging feels new, fresh and cleaner where some (not all, before people feel the need to rip this apart) of the original felt clunky and dated, and I particularly love the lighting during the opera scenes, where some of the candelabra's on the balconies light up dimly to create the vibe of watching an opera. From my perspective, it's about 85% the original production still. I understand what you mean about the lighting (although I prefer the gloomier, less saturated tones of the original; and while dimming the balconies' lighting during the opera scenes is a nice effect, it's anachronistic since they would never have done that in the time the story is set), but I'm curious as to what you mean about the staging having been improved. What difference did you find improved that you previously considered clunky in relation to the staging?
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Post by richey on Jan 29, 2022 23:19:06 GMT
So I managed to grab a last minute ticket for tonight's show after arriving in London at 5.30 this evening and I loved it. Yes there are one or two changes I found particularly jarring namely the extra lighting, particularly the flashes during the overture and in Masquerade which is way too bright. Whilst the reduction of the orchestra is very apparent in certain points (Overture and Masquerade again) I got used to it in the rest of the show. I think the changes in staging work. The show will always be special for me as it was my first West End trip way back in the 80s and the one that started my love of theatre so I was worried that the changes would be detrimental but I was pleasantly surprised and at least it's not been butchered to the extent Les Mis has. All the cast were excellent. Loved Lucy as Christine, her WYWSHA was gorgeous. James Gant was on as Phantom which was a little disappointing as I wanted to see Killian but he gave a great performance nevertheless. All in all a great night out. The theatre looked stunning from up in the circle.
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Post by scarpia on Jan 30, 2022 9:20:28 GMT
So I managed to grab a last minute ticket for tonight's show after arriving in London at 5.30 this evening and I loved it. Yes there are one or two changes I found particularly jarring namely the extra lighting, particularly the flashes during the overture and in Masquerade which is way too bright. Whilst the reduction of the orchestra is very apparent in certain points (Overture and Masquerade again) I got used to it in the rest of the show. I think the changes in staging work. The show will always be special for me as it was my first West End trip way back in the 80s and the one that started my love of theatre so I was worried that the changes would be detrimental but I was pleasantly surprised and at least it's not been butchered to the extent Les Mis has. All the cast were excellent. Loved Lucy as Christine, her WYWSHA was gorgeous. James Gant was on as Phantom which was a little disappointing as I wanted to see Killian but he gave a great performance nevertheless. All in all a great night out. The theatre looked stunning from up in the circle. That's reassuring. From what I understand you will have got a better performance from Gant than from Donnelly in any case (though I've seen neither). I believe that they've finally reintroduced the pyro when the chandelier is first unveiled at the beginning that was missing and the lake finally has the right amount of fog etc after having barely anything for the past year. Now if only we could get a decent proscenium (even if it's without the Angel) rather than the cheap thing they've got now and get rid of that horrid flat cloth, and maybe one or two extra musicians, and I think it wouldn't be too bad (and if they can reintroduce one or two of the old effects that added that extra something, such as the candelabra moving out, then so much the better). At least with Miz they don't make a pretence that this production is the same one as before. Even now they're putting out adverts quoting reviews from the original production (the one that says 'best West End show'), which is characteristic of the whole dishonesty over this. The full production on Broadway is looking pretty amazing at the moment...they filmed their first trailer in years since they can't rely on the London one any more since they're no longer the same:
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Post by newyorkcityboy on Jan 30, 2022 9:29:23 GMT
That trailer looks amazing - can we have an official pro-shot of the whole thing please?! Especially since this version no longer exists in the UK. (Neither the film nor the 25th Anniversary Performance quite managed to captured the magic for me…)
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Post by scarpia on Jan 30, 2022 9:31:15 GMT
That trailer looks amazing - can we have an official pro-shot of the whole thing please?! Especially since this version no longer exists in the UK. (Neither the film nor the 25th Anniversary Performance quite managed to captured the magic for me…) Totally agree. If any production would translate well, this is it. I never watch either the film or the 25th anniversary thing, neither are 'Phantom' for me. It seems bonkers to me that we have pro-shots of things like Diana but not this...!
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Post by sukhavati on Jan 30, 2022 23:07:11 GMT
That trailer looks amazing - can we have an official pro-shot of the whole thing please?! Especially since this version no longer exists in the UK. (Neither the film nor the 25th Anniversary Performance quite managed to captured the magic for me…) Totally agree. If any production would translate well, this is it. I never watch either the film or the 25th anniversary thing, neither are 'Phantom' for me. It seems bonkers to me that we have pro-shots of things like Diana but not this...! Must admit, "Diana" was a painful experience - I think I only lasted about 20 minutes into act 1. Does anyone else find it ironic that the NY version is now the "legendary" edition? lol
Unfortunately, I see a few transfers from the "bigger and better" London edition in the NY trailer, including the generic silver mask on the Mirror Bride, the lack on doubles on the travelator, or coming from the dressing room set, which means that here too, Raoul encounters the ballerinas during the scene transition portion of the title song. From what Meghan Picerno said on her Instagram while she was recovering from Covid trying to get back into show-fit shape to return for her final scheduled weekend, she was going to have to climb ladders, so they've definitely taken the same economies with cast there are they did in London. Granted the show was originally staged with only the first set of doubles to go down into the trapdoor, and come back up again during Magical Lasso, but that one little flash of doubles added just the right amount of veracity to keep you believing in the illusion of being in the Phantom's liminal space.
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Post by longfellowdeeds on Feb 1, 2022 10:35:32 GMT
Hi all,
Quick random q that I have always wanted to know the answer to with Phantom and know someone here will know - but how did the Phantom get to the top of proscenium in the old design? I always thought it was something backstage but when you watch the newer videos of the old set stripped out - there really isn’t any access to it!
Stumbled across Micheal Crawford telling a story in ALW’s This is your life episode about going through the front of house to get to the top - so must have been though the top box or something on a ladder?
About 28 mins in.
Any stories of bumping into a phantom while nipping out to go to the toilet? 😁
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Post by og on Feb 1, 2022 11:44:48 GMT
Access was from the upper boxes of HMT, which were used for PA. In this image from the get out you can see handrail access on both sides from the top boxes up.
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Post by tonylony on Feb 10, 2022 15:54:59 GMT
Any idea how the view is from the new boxes they're now selling?
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Post by alece10 on Feb 18, 2022 10:30:01 GMT
So I have booked to see Phantom next month. The last time I saw Phantom was when Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman were in it - so will be nice to return after such a long time
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Post by daisy24601 on Feb 19, 2022 2:32:17 GMT
So I have booked to see Phantom next month. The last time I saw Phantom was when Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman were in it - so will be nice to return after such a long time Sounds like you're due a revisit!
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Post by raoul on Feb 19, 2022 10:27:34 GMT
Any idea how the view is from the new boxes they're now selling? Sat in Box 3 last weekend however it appears only Boxes 2 & 4 are on sale now. They offer a good view for the money, but having sat on the right hand side in Box 3, I would definitely say the view would be better from the other side in Box 2 or 4. Many scenes happen on stage left so you're looking directly over to them from Box 2 & 4. Great experience though seeing the cast so close up. The boxes are huge and the seats are comfortable and you can easily move them to get the best view. They also have a small table for drinks. Great value and I thoroughly enjoyed the show.
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Post by alwfan on Feb 19, 2022 17:00:22 GMT
So I have booked to see Phantom next month. The last time I saw Phantom was when Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman were in it - so will be nice to return after such a long time Would you please share your memories of them in the roles if possible? All I have heard is that they were both wonderful, and Sarah in particular was one of the best dancers as Christine that there has been.
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Post by tonylony on Feb 19, 2022 17:56:52 GMT
Any idea how the view is from the new boxes they're now selling? Sat in Box 3 last weekend however it appears only Boxes 2 & 4 are on sale now. They offer a good view for the money, but having sat on the right hand side in Box 3, I would definitely say the view would be better from the other side in Box 2 or 4. Many scenes happen on stage left so you're looking directly over to them from Box 2 & 4. Great experience though seeing the cast so close up. The boxes are huge and the seats are comfortable and you can easily move them to get the best view. They also have a small table for drinks. Great value and I thoroughly enjoyed the show. Thank you for that! Would you book a Stalls box or a circle one?
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Post by alece10 on Feb 19, 2022 18:41:05 GMT
So I have booked to see Phantom next month. The last time I saw Phantom was when Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman were in it - so will be nice to return after such a long time Would you please share your memories of them in the roles if possible? All I have heard is that they were both wonderful, and Sarah in particular was one of the best dancers as Christine that there has been. Well it was 36 years ago but I still remember it. Back in those days I didn't have a lot of money so sat up in the balcony. Still remember the spectacle of the chandelier and the sets and costumes. Everyone knew Michael Crawford could sing but had no idea that he had that operatic voice in him. He was amazing and Sarah Brightman had such a beautiful voice. She was really a dancer and used to be in a dance group called Hot Gossip which was a bit raunchy in those days. Tickets were like gold dust when it first opened and it was a real "event". Ticket touts were selling tickets for a fortune. Can't believe it's been 36 years since I've last seen it.
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Post by raoul on Feb 19, 2022 18:43:56 GMT
You get a slightly better view from the Stalls Box, but the Royal Circle box feels more special. I took some photos before the show started but have no idea how you put them on here.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Feb 19, 2022 20:34:18 GMT
My YouTube algorithm just threw this at me.
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Post by daisy24601 on Feb 19, 2022 22:09:01 GMT
Would you please share your memories of them in the roles if possible? All I have heard is that they were both wonderful, and Sarah in particular was one of the best dancers as Christine that there has been. Well it was 36 years ago but I still remember it. Back in those days I didn't have a lot of money so sat up in the balcony. Still remember the spectacle of the chandelier and the sets and costumes. Everyone knew Michael Crawford could sing but had no idea that he had that operatic voice in him. He was amazing and Sarah Brightman had such a beautiful voice. She was really a dancer and used to be in a dance group called Hot Gossip which was a bit raunchy in those days. Tickets were like gold dust when it first opened and it was a real "event". Ticket touts were selling tickets for a fortune. Can't believe it's been 36 years since I've last seen it. I watched a few episodes of Some Mothers Do Ave Em recently and still can't compute that that's the same person I listen to singing POTO.
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Post by inthenose on Feb 20, 2022 0:44:14 GMT
My YouTube algorithm just threw this at me. State of it 🤣
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Post by anthony on Feb 20, 2022 23:01:37 GMT
To be honest, I'd probably only ever book for Phantom through the day seats website now. They rarely sell out and the seats are pretty great - saw stalls row D up recently!
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Post by daisy24601 on Feb 28, 2022 20:45:57 GMT
I have a ticket for sale, posted in the noticeboard.
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cpm
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Post by cpm on Mar 11, 2022 22:10:58 GMT
To think we once lived in a world where a **** might very easily decline the chance to see JOJ + full orchestra + original staging, in London.
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Post by inthenose on Mar 17, 2022 15:45:30 GMT
Finally going to see the new production tonight, snapped up a plum stalls seat for £52.30 via TKTS. Nervous but excited...
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Post by inthenose on Mar 17, 2022 16:01:01 GMT
Now for all the fun and games with Southern Rail... Haven't been this excited about seeing a show in ages!
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Post by alece10 on Mar 17, 2022 16:08:20 GMT
Finally going to see the new production tonight, snapped up a plum stalls seat for £52.30 via TKTS. Nervous but excited... I had tickets to see it a couple of weeks ago but as it was the tube strike rebooked for next week. Last time I saw the show was 1985!!
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Post by inthenose on Mar 17, 2022 16:28:35 GMT
Looks like it's James Gant as Phantom and Holly-Anne Hull as Christine tonight, according to West End Understudies. Happy enough with that!
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Post by inthenose on Mar 17, 2022 20:52:50 GMT
Interval. Soulless.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Mar 17, 2022 21:11:15 GMT
Go home and watch The Apprentice. Will be much more entertaining
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Post by inthenose on Mar 17, 2022 23:02:12 GMT
First (and probably last) visit to the new Phantom of the Opera. Not because it was poor - it wasn't. It was familiar to such an extent that I felt I was watching a below-average performance of the original production. With my favourite bit taken out.
The changes are for the worse. A few line changes, all the same technical shortcomings and dated visual effects. Nothing rubbish about the original has been fixed.
Close up, everything was sparkling and new. The sets, the costumes - it felt like everything was fresh. It looked great in that regard; "Masquerade" earned well deserved gasps from those around me. It was beautiful.
But nothing has changed which could and should have been improved upon. The cheap pyro, the naffness of the player piano, the Phantom's fireballs etc are identical. Perhaps not in timing, but certainly in visual effect. The flashbangs on the chandelier were rubbish. I literally can tell what they bought, from where and how much each bang costs. I don't want that from this show.
It sounds worse musically than before. Some numbers feel seriously underpowered by the reduced orchestra.
The highlight was Masquerade, mainly because it didn't depend on the leads (both first covers) who were underwhelming to put it politely. I had hoped to see Lucy St. Louis, but I knew in advance that I was seeing Holly-Anne Hull. And she was bang average.
Slightly below average was our Phantom, James Gant. I had seen and enjoyed Gant covering Javert previously, this is a step too far. A naturally deep voice, every high note was a battle of will for him and the nerves were palpable. Sadly, those nerves got the better of him tonight with several very duff notes in The Music of the Night and The Point of No Return. Given the role has so little live singing, this isn't what I hoped for. He blew the final note in MotN so badly that the MD went into double time to just end it. Sadly, a few of his band weren't paying attention and a blown note was accompanied by half the band playing one tempo and the rest another. It was uncomfortable.
There was some click-track weirdness at times too. Everything musically was a little off.
But none of that would've mattered if the performances were right, and they weren't. Holly-Anne Hull was shrill and pitchy, understudy Carlotta Lily-de-la-Haye did well with comic moments and has a good enough voice, but absolutely no sense of timing. Gant, with a booming bassy baritone was the voice of the evening, with zero stage presence and some nasty errors.
Key moments fell flat. The horse in the Act I finale is a massive downgrade. It was also very annoying hearing the squeaky casters from 6-7 rows back. It shouldn't happen. WD40 is in your workroom, I know for a fact.
So I am glad to have seen it, it's another Phantom on the list and a new production (technically). I've seen worse but this was not a great evening of theatre.
Like I said at the interval, it felt soulless.
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Post by alece10 on Mar 26, 2022 11:27:51 GMT
I had a very nice visit to see Phantom this week. This is only the 2nd time I have seen the musical. The first being in 1986 with the original cast of Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. I remember seeing the musical but as it was so long ago just a few details remain in my mind so it was almost like seeing it for the first time. I have to say I really enjoyed it as I dont have more recent versions to compare it with. I had forgotten what a mega musical it was at the time and to be honest, still is. It is visually wonderful and can see how it still attracts audiences. Also I think the score is one of ALW's best. There was a slight technical stop at the beginning just after the chandelier rises to the roof. Safety curtain came down and there was about a 10 minute hold. I believe one of the sets got stuck. Great cast, and there are an awful lot of them. We had an understudy on for The Phantom but I forget which one it was, possibly Ashley Stillburn, but whoever it was they were very good indeed. I especially liked the voice of Lucy St Louis as Christine. I am guessing the costumes are fairly new as they looked stunning. For me one of the best numbers is Masquerade which opens the 2nd act as it is a feast for the eyes. The orchestra sounded much bigger than I was expecting because of the reduction in musicians. I presume there was an element of pre-recorded music there. The friend I went with had never seen Phantom before, only the film and she was very impressed. Its definitely a show I would like to revisit again at some point in the near future.
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