The Glitz and Glamour of Broadway
I have seen all sorts of advertisements for The Phantom of the Opera for as long as I can remember. When I was young, I used to be frightened by the show’s renowned, mysterious image of the white mask and rose against a black background. After watching the movie version of The Phantom of the Opera (2004) and falling in love with some of the songs, I had wanted to see the Broadway show live and up close. Well, I did get to see it live, but not exactly up close. Sitting in the rear mezzanine section of the theater, I could barely make out the performers’ faces. Nonetheless, The Phantom of the Opera was a thrilling performance with hauntingly beautiful music, stirringly seductive scenes, and unforgettably remarkable sets.
Although I was disappointed that my eyesight was not good enough to see the performers’ faces from my seat, I was glad that I did not sit in the orchestra section of the theater. Julie Hanson, who played Christine Daaé, sang with such an intense soprano voice, and Howard McGillin, who played the Phantom, sang “The Angel of Music” and “The Phantom of the Opera” so loudly and powerfully that they probably injured some eardrums. In one of the most provocative scenes, the Phantom, dressed in a black cloak, caressed Christine in a slow, graceful, and seductive manner while the couple sang “The Point of No Return,” my favorite song in the show. The duo sang with a lower pitch that made the song soothing to the ears, and with such immense passion that was so captivating that I found myself sitting at the edge of my seat. Even when the song was over, I still heard it echoing through my head.
I think that the sets of The Phantom of the Opera are probably the most complex and incredible of all Broadway shows. As the Phantom was leading Christine into his underground labyrinth, the stage filled up with smoke, and candles rose from the stage floor. The Phantom then rowed Christine around his secret, dark lair in a small boat that moved about so smoothly on the stage. In making the transition between the scene of an opera performance and the scene when Christine kisses Raoul on the roof of the opera house, the stage turned dark and was relit after just a mere ten seconds. Somehow, in those ten seconds, the stage was transformed into a winter rooftop scene, and Christine and Raoul emerged from a staircase in the stage floor that was not there previously. Some of the transitions between scenes utilized flashing a spark, which blinded the audience for about three seconds. I was amazed to see that when I saw clearly again after the flashes, the set has changed. Perhaps the most beautiful set of the show was the one for the masquerade ball. The curtains rose after the intermission to reveal a huge, grand staircase that took up about three-fourths of the stage. The entire cast, dressed in elegant gowns and suits, was on the staircase.
I entered the Majestic Theatre that night expecting the show to be fantastic, and I am glad that my expectations were met. The Broadway performance of The Phantom of the Opera was a lot similar to the movie, but it was a whole different experience to actually hear the voice of the performers, see the extravagant costumes, witness the amazing sets, and be excited by the vivacity of the show. I recommend The Phantom of the Opera to anyone who is dying to watch a Broadway show and wants to be pleasantly surprised and charmed.
October 31st, 2007 at 1:50 pm
Sounds like it was a good experience. I also cant understand how the crew can transform the whole stage in a matter of seconds.