The Phantom of the Opera
Broadway Touring Company
I was on a mission. My 13 year old daughter needed NEEDED to see PHANTOM on stage. She had seen the movie and lived through her mother's embarrassing sighs but she had to see the PHANTOM on stage. My older two had seen it already. And I had seen it twice before but nearly ten years ago. It was time to introduce her to the delights of the Phantom of Broadway.
Okay, so we were in Atlanta, not New York, at the Fabulous Fox Theatre but that was close enough. The Fox is truly a fabulous place, almost demolished and then saved by a grassroots effort. Today, it is wonderful venue to see a show and worth the drive to Atlanta.
We went up on Saturday and stayed with Mark's brother, Steve, and his wife, Wrennie...my God, they have as many animals as we do...and one is the most adorable black pug...oh, I digress...but, honestly, talk about cute...anyway, we went to Stone Mountain that night for the laser show very cool even though some foreign guy literally fell on top of me. Jeez...if he had only had a Scottish accent...
So, PHANTOM. At the Fox. Ten years had not dimmed my excitement for this play. Nor had the film extravaganza in fact, there was something special about seeing PHANTOM on stage after seeing the movie version. I have to say that, since it had been ten years, there were a lot of things I had forgotten were even in the stage version. I kept thinking oh, they did that in the movie...oh, yeah...I remember that...In truth, of course, it was the movie that copied the stage version. And that's quite all right. And, the dialogue was nearly the same as well go figure. Lord, has my mind gone to mush? Yes, it has. And I blame Gerry Butler entirely. Okay, not entirely, life, in general, has mushed me quite well. Mr. Butler has just been the icing on the cake. And I love icing.
Anyway, I won't go into a full-scale review here everyone knows the story of the Phantom and Christine. I will say, though, that the stage version paints a more sympathetic Phantom than the movie does. He doesn't come across as quite so maniacal on stage although I still sit there and think, through either one, Christine, are you CRAZY!? Dump the sweet one and take the nutcase! Okay, maybe I wouldn't actually do that in real life but it's a thought, ain't it?
I was surprised that the stage phantom (played by Gary Mauer) had such a horrible looking face under the mask I am probably just not remembering but I don't remember it being that way in the previous stage shows that I have seen. It was very reminiscent of the movie version, actually half-scarred, half-handsome, stringy hair...but, hell, when the phantom is in that red get-up...who cares? Bring it on. Christine, go ahead with Raoul...I'll handle Mr. Phantom myself...I'll let you know how it turns out for us...
I have to tell you, though, what was the best part of the show...a total aberration...after the curtain call...the Phantom actually addressed the audience...I had never seen that happen before...he was quite funny said that he hoped that we would now enjoy their presentation of HELLO, DOLLY!! Anyway, what it was all about was the organization called Broadway Cares -- this is a fundraising arm of the Broadway theaters and their touring companies. Because of Hurricane Katrina, they were collecting money after each show and he asked us to give generously...they had some of the cast members stationed outside the doors as we left, with buckets, and people dropped their donations in them...I thought that was very nice. Anyway, when the Phantom asks you to give...what are you going to do? You give, that's what!!
During intermission, my daughter had to have a t-shirt and a keychain. Well, then, I had to have something, too, so I got myself a keychain and a mug. Then, afterwards, she said that she must have the other t-shirt that she couldn't decide between before. Ah, what the hell it's Phantom. The child was entranced. And that's not a bad thing, is it? We loves our Phantom, we does...no matter who's behind the mask. Although, I could wax poetic on that certain someone...that Scottish fella...have I mentioned him before?
We left Atlanta on a Phantom and Java Monkey cheesecake and latte high. I didn't think I'd ever go to sleep. That music playing in my head. Visions of Gerry Butler playing the Michael Crawford role in HELLO DOLLY. Yes, Michael Crawford was in the movie version of HELLO, DOLLY I wonder if he took the role from some Broadway star that people thought should have gotten the part...
Lord, I make myself laugh sometimes wondering about such nonsense...anyway, if you ever get a chance to see the stage show of PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, do it! You won't be sorry. And you might just find another reason to fall in love with the angel of music...
Broadway Touring Company
I was on a mission. My 13 year old daughter needed NEEDED to see PHANTOM on stage. She had seen the movie and lived through her mother's embarrassing sighs but she had to see the PHANTOM on stage. My older two had seen it already. And I had seen it twice before but nearly ten years ago. It was time to introduce her to the delights of the Phantom of Broadway.
Okay, so we were in Atlanta, not New York, at the Fabulous Fox Theatre but that was close enough. The Fox is truly a fabulous place, almost demolished and then saved by a grassroots effort. Today, it is wonderful venue to see a show and worth the drive to Atlanta.
We went up on Saturday and stayed with Mark's brother, Steve, and his wife, Wrennie...my God, they have as many animals as we do...and one is the most adorable black pug...oh, I digress...but, honestly, talk about cute...anyway, we went to Stone Mountain that night for the laser show very cool even though some foreign guy literally fell on top of me. Jeez...if he had only had a Scottish accent...
So, PHANTOM. At the Fox. Ten years had not dimmed my excitement for this play. Nor had the film extravaganza in fact, there was something special about seeing PHANTOM on stage after seeing the movie version. I have to say that, since it had been ten years, there were a lot of things I had forgotten were even in the stage version. I kept thinking oh, they did that in the movie...oh, yeah...I remember that...In truth, of course, it was the movie that copied the stage version. And that's quite all right. And, the dialogue was nearly the same as well go figure. Lord, has my mind gone to mush? Yes, it has. And I blame Gerry Butler entirely. Okay, not entirely, life, in general, has mushed me quite well. Mr. Butler has just been the icing on the cake. And I love icing.
Anyway, I won't go into a full-scale review here everyone knows the story of the Phantom and Christine. I will say, though, that the stage version paints a more sympathetic Phantom than the movie does. He doesn't come across as quite so maniacal on stage although I still sit there and think, through either one, Christine, are you CRAZY!? Dump the sweet one and take the nutcase! Okay, maybe I wouldn't actually do that in real life but it's a thought, ain't it?
I was surprised that the stage phantom (played by Gary Mauer) had such a horrible looking face under the mask I am probably just not remembering but I don't remember it being that way in the previous stage shows that I have seen. It was very reminiscent of the movie version, actually half-scarred, half-handsome, stringy hair...but, hell, when the phantom is in that red get-up...who cares? Bring it on. Christine, go ahead with Raoul...I'll handle Mr. Phantom myself...I'll let you know how it turns out for us...
I have to tell you, though, what was the best part of the show...a total aberration...after the curtain call...the Phantom actually addressed the audience...I had never seen that happen before...he was quite funny said that he hoped that we would now enjoy their presentation of HELLO, DOLLY!! Anyway, what it was all about was the organization called Broadway Cares -- this is a fundraising arm of the Broadway theaters and their touring companies. Because of Hurricane Katrina, they were collecting money after each show and he asked us to give generously...they had some of the cast members stationed outside the doors as we left, with buckets, and people dropped their donations in them...I thought that was very nice. Anyway, when the Phantom asks you to give...what are you going to do? You give, that's what!!
During intermission, my daughter had to have a t-shirt and a keychain. Well, then, I had to have something, too, so I got myself a keychain and a mug. Then, afterwards, she said that she must have the other t-shirt that she couldn't decide between before. Ah, what the hell it's Phantom. The child was entranced. And that's not a bad thing, is it? We loves our Phantom, we does...no matter who's behind the mask. Although, I could wax poetic on that certain someone...that Scottish fella...have I mentioned him before?
We left Atlanta on a Phantom and Java Monkey cheesecake and latte high. I didn't think I'd ever go to sleep. That music playing in my head. Visions of Gerry Butler playing the Michael Crawford role in HELLO DOLLY. Yes, Michael Crawford was in the movie version of HELLO, DOLLY I wonder if he took the role from some Broadway star that people thought should have gotten the part...
Lord, I make myself laugh sometimes wondering about such nonsense...anyway, if you ever get a chance to see the stage show of PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, do it! You won't be sorry. And you might just find another reason to fall in love with the angel of music...
