The longest-running Broadway show The Phantom of the Opera is not only a New York musical masterpiece, but a global phenomenon. The Tony Award winning production, which continues to reign at the Majestic Theatre of Times Square, has been performed well over 10,000 times and the afternoon show I attended emulated just that: a perfect articulation of one of the most revered pieces to have ever been written. The orchestration, under the direction of David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber, was a pure musical delight. The cast was dynamic, filled with both charisma and very, very powerful lungs. The costume design was rhythmic, colorful, and enchanting. The most wonderful part of the whole musical, though, had to be the changing sets, and more specifically, the effects that fed into the performance’s mysterious aura. The lighting, intertwined with the sound effects and prop movement, took the musical over-the-top, and made it perhaps, the most inspiring, exhilarating, and well-developed performance I have ever experienced in my life.
As a novel, The Phantom of the Opera is itself an incredible piece; however, as a musical, it’s even more of a delight. The orchestra pit, comprised of a diverse array of instrumentation including, but not limited to: violins, harps, drums, cellos, flutes, clarinets, oboes, bass, bassoon, French horns, and the occasional keyboard, was a collaborative, decadent ensemble that cut through the all-black attire of the musicians. Although the audience was not posed on eye-level with the orchestra, the music itself was felt vibrantly through the massive speakers that decked each crack of the theatre. The room was filled with such power that it simply could not be contained; people were moving their feet and swaying their hands in an almost spiritual sense, overcome by the medley of classical tempos, hard-rock elements, and operatic styling. Out of all the elegant ensembles, I felt the leading piece, “The Phantom of the Opera” was indefinitely the crowd pleaser. The importance of the song, having been named after the musical itself, was celebrated so beautifully and concentrated with such strong instrumentation that I was left extremely overwhelmed, in complete awe and admiration. It was in the piece I felt the musical really come to life.
The cast of The Phantom of the Opera was second to none in terms of both acting and singing. I had not expected the whole musical to have been in song, and to my surprise, it not only contributed to the story stylistically, but elevated the plot and characters beyond expectation. The cast members continuously delivered in stage presence, each with a unique, compelling voice that distinguished one’s role from the other. The spotlight which shone on each individual actor for every solo glorified the pristine voice that echoed throughout the theatre. In this, the center spot lighting took effect; however, it is important to note that even in the dimness, especially the instances in which the Phantom arose, the musical styling was even more powerful because it was the only true element the audience was physically exposed to. Having the performance as a technical “show within a show,” this contrast in lighting added to the binary between realism and fantasy. However, the fantasy ultimately trumped with both shadowy elements, the magical quality of the cast’s voices, and the idea of the phantom as a personified, alienated ghost. The use of bright gold as well as shadowed hues in both upstage and downstage instances added to the actors’ presence and ultimate purpose throughout the performance.
Under the same line, a personal favorite actor was James Barbour who portrayed The Phantom. In terms of aesthetics, Barbour’s stark features made him “The Phantom;” his light complexion paired with finely combed black hair emulated the image that one envisions of a phantom-like archetype. His powerful voice had a hold over the audience, as its stable, harmonious tone kept audience members in a trance. In fact, as expected, Barbour garnered the longest standing ovation from the crowd post credit. His convincing, well- revered stage presence, coupled with his dynamic voice talent, earned him well deserved spotlight throughout the show, deserving of his leading role in the play.
The costumes of the show were a spectacle in and of themselves. A medley of bright yellows, oranges, greens, and blues illuminated the characters, symbolizing the boldness of their voices upon each expression. The Phantom of the Opera’s masculine, Zoro-like, all-black hued costume with a draped cape, emulated mystery, a bold contrast to the bright white mask, a symbol of his concealment.
The most captivating aspect of the whole performance, however, was by far the effects. The opera house’s magnificently large chandelier hung over the audience and swayed back and forth over spectators as the sound of the Phantom pierced through the surround system. The lights flickered on and off each time the Phantom appeared and flashes of shadows and smoke encapsulated the entire theatre. The movement of the Phantom was felt on every side of the room, as he walked to and fro haunting the opera house, at times, making me wonder if he was right next to me. If that is not enough, the stage then transformed into a rooftop, upon which skyscrapers stood and veracious gargoyles hung over the orchestra seats. On top of these gargoyles was no one other than the Phantom, whose bewitching presence was taken to new heights, both figuratively and literally, as he hung above the crowd. This was the grand spectacle that I had been awaiting throughout, and to see it come to life was purely magnificent. The fact that the director used not only the stage floors, but the actual area space to present the musical was an absolute genius move that added dramatic fantasy to the performance as a whole. In the end, I did not merely watch; I experienced.
The Phantom of the Opera is a true masterpiece that I would recommend as many as 10,000 times, the same count as it has been performed. Although the musical comes with the Broadway price, it is a performance I could not even quantify with a price tag. The music, actors, set, and costumes were dynamic elements that interwove to give the musical its pristine position as an absolute classic. The Phantom of the Opera (character) put on a top-notch performance that was indisputably brilliant. Its mysterious aura was captivating and electrifying, as were the sets which pulled the audience members in. If you are looking for mystery, enchantment, and a worthwhile musical experience, I advise that you head to the Majestic Theatre and splurge on The Phantom of the Opera.
