Phantom of the Opera
Saw Phantom of the Opera last night. Almost died. I think I'd set myself up for... not a disappointment, but I wasn't expecting spectacularness after the setbacks I found in Miss Saigon and Pirates. But there was! Spectacularness!
This is without a doubt the best role I've ever seen Anthony Warlow in. He just gives it his all, and it comes across. *sigh* I love him. I want one.
The costumes were great, the singing was great, the sound was great. Occasionally there was a slight imbalance of singers and orchestra, but meh. I warmed towards Christine in the second act, but it took a while. Mind you, I've never found her a particularly relatable character - I mean, she faints at a doll that looks like her. Voice was amazing, though.
I liked Meg, Firmin, Andre... Madame Giry was a BIT overdone - bit too dramatic, you know - and Raoul was slightly nasal except on quite extended notes, don't know what that was about.
CHANDALIER FELL IN THE RIGHT PLACE. Could have KISSED them. Raoul was cut out of the graveyard scene as he was in the film, but I think that was included in the revision of the score, like some of the word changes, etc, so I could live with it. Still, that song is a litle empty without his contribution.
Loved the ending - no one is allowed to spoil it for me by explaining away that awesome disappearance :) I don't think I ever realised how much time he spends without the mask on... think I always figured it was just a couple of minutes, both times? As opposed to all of Down Once More. It works though. Pretty much everything else was just like I imagined it... though I'm not sure what was achieved by the walking around in circles during Notes.
This is without a doubt the best role I've ever seen Anthony Warlow in. He just gives it his all, and it comes across. *sigh* I love him. I want one.
The costumes were great, the singing was great, the sound was great. Occasionally there was a slight imbalance of singers and orchestra, but meh. I warmed towards Christine in the second act, but it took a while. Mind you, I've never found her a particularly relatable character - I mean, she faints at a doll that looks like her. Voice was amazing, though.
I liked Meg, Firmin, Andre... Madame Giry was a BIT overdone - bit too dramatic, you know - and Raoul was slightly nasal except on quite extended notes, don't know what that was about.
CHANDALIER FELL IN THE RIGHT PLACE. Could have KISSED them. Raoul was cut out of the graveyard scene as he was in the film, but I think that was included in the revision of the score, like some of the word changes, etc, so I could live with it. Still, that song is a litle empty without his contribution.
Loved the ending - no one is allowed to spoil it for me by explaining away that awesome disappearance :) I don't think I ever realised how much time he spends without the mask on... think I always figured it was just a couple of minutes, both times? As opposed to all of Down Once More. It works though. Pretty much everything else was just like I imagined it... though I'm not sure what was achieved by the walking around in circles during Notes.