Phantom of the Opera (spoilers)
After watching Phantom of the Opera for the second time and having some time to collect my thoughts about what I think of the play, I have some comments and questions.
Overall, I liked the play. Watching it a second time allowed me to understand it a lot more... or maybe because I've listened to the CD so many times. I picked up a lot more of the comical parts of the play, it's interesting they placed so much more emphasis on the comedic element of the play than last time. I think about the summary of the play, however, and I realize just how wrong it is. To sum up the play, it was basically the Phantom falling in love with Christine, and then falling apart when he realizes that Christine does not love him back. women are scary...:\ As my mother said, "Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre were much more romantic." although I don't exactly agree with her.
My favorite scene in the play has moved from the introduction when the chandelier was restored to the scene where they sang "Phantom of the Opera." It is the only scene that I makes me regret not being able to watch the play over and over again. The rest of the play I can just relive through my CD... but not the Phantom of the Opera.
It's really a shame that the Phantom was subbed in my second viewing. Although Ray Gabbard moved better onstage, his singing was really nothing compared with Brad Little. Now I realize what a big difference a good singer makes for the enjoyment of the play. And I regret using the binoculars to look at the Phantom's face... damn, I used to think the Phantom was so cool.
I am glad the stagehand was murdered by the Phantom. The stagehand represents all that I hate about a gossip-er.
Hmm... since I put a favorite scene, I must put in a worst scene. Honestly, I kinda think the ending sucked. It really felt like they were just looking for some way for the play to end. The Phantom had Raoul and Christine on the ropes (literally) but let them off because a simple kiss. I realize that is a shallow way of looking at it, but that's just what it felt like. I loved the final scene though, the Phantom disappears and the light shines on the mask. :) And then the standing ovation... it wasn't as long as last time though, I guess people agreed with me that this performance was not as great as it could have been.
Now for questions...
Overall, I liked the play. Watching it a second time allowed me to understand it a lot more... or maybe because I've listened to the CD so many times. I picked up a lot more of the comical parts of the play, it's interesting they placed so much more emphasis on the comedic element of the play than last time. I think about the summary of the play, however, and I realize just how wrong it is. To sum up the play, it was basically the Phantom falling in love with Christine, and then falling apart when he realizes that Christine does not love him back. women are scary...:\ As my mother said, "Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre were much more romantic." although I don't exactly agree with her.
My favorite scene in the play has moved from the introduction when the chandelier was restored to the scene where they sang "Phantom of the Opera." It is the only scene that I makes me regret not being able to watch the play over and over again. The rest of the play I can just relive through my CD... but not the Phantom of the Opera.
It's really a shame that the Phantom was subbed in my second viewing. Although Ray Gabbard moved better onstage, his singing was really nothing compared with Brad Little. Now I realize what a big difference a good singer makes for the enjoyment of the play. And I regret using the binoculars to look at the Phantom's face... damn, I used to think the Phantom was so cool.
I am glad the stagehand was murdered by the Phantom. The stagehand represents all that I hate about a gossip-er.
Hmm... since I put a favorite scene, I must put in a worst scene. Honestly, I kinda think the ending sucked. It really felt like they were just looking for some way for the play to end. The Phantom had Raoul and Christine on the ropes (literally) but let them off because a simple kiss. I realize that is a shallow way of looking at it, but that's just what it felt like. I loved the final scene though, the Phantom disappears and the light shines on the mask. :) And then the standing ovation... it wasn't as long as last time though, I guess people agreed with me that this performance was not as great as it could have been.
Now for questions...
- How come the Phantom did not have a name?
- Was the Phantom really a ghost? He had special powers... making Carlotta a toad, making the chandelier crash, and then disappearing at the end. And yet he looked so helpless at the end.
- Was the Phantom hundreds of years old or was he about the same age as Raoul and Christine?