The Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera is one of the world’s most successful musicals and the highest grossing entertainment event of all time. Written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, the original London and Broadway productions continue to run at their respective original theatres, where the Broadway production is the longest running show in New York. The London production is second only to Les Miserables, who is a year ahead, opening in 1985. Based on the famous French novel, a mysterious ghost falls in love with a young ballet dancer and trains her up to be an opera star. The haunting story along with impressive stage designs and a soaring score make this one of the biggest shows of all time.

The-Phantom-of-the-Opera-Broadway-Poster

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Richard Stilgoe

Richard Stilgoe

From the novel "Le Fantôme de L'Opéra" by Gaston Leroux;

The Really Useful Group

Hal Prince

Gillian Lynne

Productions
Phantom Her Majesty's 1986

Original London Production

Her Majesty's Theatre - Opened 27 Sep 1986, closed 26 Oct 2013

Cast: Sarah Brightman, Michael Crawford, Steve Barton, Rosemary Ashe all starred in the original London production at the Her Majesty’s Theatre, where the show continues to play into its 27th year, remaining as London’s second longest running musical behind ‘Les Miserables’. 

Phantom Majestic 1987

Original Broadway Production

Majestic Theatre - Opened 26 Jan 1988, closed 29 Jun 2013

Cast: Sarah Brightman, Michael Crawford starred in the original Broadway cast, reprising their roles from London. The show is currently still running at the Majestic Theatre where it is about to enter its 25th year. 



What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

The show begins with a Prologue on the stage of the Paris Opera House in 1905. An auction is underway of theatre props used by the company as an elderly Raoul buys a music box in the shape of a monkey. The final lot is the pieces of the shattered chandelier that featured in the ‘famous disaster’ and as the dust sheet is taken off, the years roll back and the show begins with its famous Overture.

We are taken to 1881 as a dress rehearsal for the Opera House’s production of ‘Hannibal’ is underway. Carlotta, the resident Prima Donna threatens to walk out as a piece of scenery falls from the flies and the ballet girls talk of the phantom that haunts the theatre. At the same time new owners of the venue are introduced as Monsieur Firmin and Andre, and they try to detract attention away from the incident. As Carlotta walks, their only option is to let Christine Daae, a ballet girl, to attempt the role and sing.

Christine brings down the house and is noticed by childhood friend Raoul who instantly falls in love with her. Backstage, Christine’s friend Meg asks her about her vocal training and she confesses to taking lessons from an ‘Angel of Music’ who Christine believes is the spirit of her dead father. Raoul visits Christine and they bond over their past. Alone in her dressing room, Christine is visited by The Phantom who takes her through the mirror into his secret lair beneath the Opera House. He serenades her and she sees a mannequin of herself in a wedding dress and faints, and the Phantom puts her to rest. As she wakes up she hears him composing music and removes the mask, seeing his distorted face. He is angry at her curiosity and takes her back to the Opera House.

Onstage the stage hand Joseph Buquet is scaring the chorus girls with tales of the mysterious Phantom. Madame Giry, the ballet mistress reprimands him and tells him not to speak about what he knows. Andre and Firmin have receieved a series of notes from the Phantom telling them how to run his theatre, mainly saying that Carlotta must be taught to act and given the silent role in the next production. Carlotta is furious and as Christine returns she threatens to walk, instigating the managers to shower her with praise to win her back.

Every ignores the Phantom’s instructions and Carlotta is given a leading role over Christine. During the production she looses her voice and the dead corpse of Joseph Buquet falls from the flies. The opera is thrown into disarray and Raoul drags Christine to the roof where they confirm their love for one another. The Phantom overlooks their plans to escape and vows revenge, sending the venue’s impressive chandelier falling from the sky to crash onto the stage.

The second act opens six months later with a masquerade ball. The Phantom appears towards the end with his new opera in which he instructs Christine must play the lead. Raoul is furious and demands information from Madame Giry. The company begin to rehearse the opera as Raoul and the managers plan to trap the Phantom once and for all. Christine is led to the gravestone of her father where the Phantom appears and challenges Raoul once again.

Onstage the opera is underway and the police station themselves ready to capture the ghost. The Phantom takes over one of the roles in the show, and ends up singing with Christine before taking her down once more to his lair, escaping the trap. The Phantom forces Christine into a wedding dress and as Raoul arrives to save her he traps him with his magical lasso. He tells Christine that Raoul will only live if she agrees to live with him forever. Christine is shocked and tells him that is his personality that is ugly rather than his face, and as she kisses him the Phantom experiences compassion and kindness, setting them both free. As the police storm the lair the Phantom escapes under his cape, leaving only his mask behind him.

Songs

Act I

  • A Rehearsal for Hannibal:
    • “Hannibal Comes!” – Carlotta, Piangi, Chorus and Ballet Girls
    • “Think of Me” – Carlotta, Ballet Girls, André and Buquet
  • “Think of Me” – Christine and Raoul
  • “Angel of Music” – Meg and Christine
  • “Little Lotte” – Christine and Raoul
  • “The Mirror (Angel of Music)” – Christine, Raoul and Phantom
  • “The Phantom of the Opera” – Phantom and Christine
  • “The Music of the Night” – Phantom
  • “I Remember…/Stranger than You Dreamt It”  – Christine and Phantom
  • “Magical Lasso” – Buquet, Meg, Madame Giry, and Ballet Girls
  • “Notes” – Firmin, André, Raoul, Carlotta, Madame Giry, Meg, Piangi, and Phantom
  • “Prima Donna” – Firmin, André, Raoul, Carlotta, Madame Giry, Meg, Piangi, and Phantom
  • Il Muto: “Poor Fool, He Makes Me Laugh” – Carlotta, Piangi and Company
  • “Why Have You Brought Us Here?/Raoul, I’ve Been There”  – Raoul and Christine
  • “All I Ask of You” – Raoul and Christine
  • Act I Finale: 
    • “I Gave You My Music” – Phantom
    • “All I Ask of You (Reprise)” – Raoul, Christine, and Phantom
    • “Chandelier Crash” – Phantom
Act II
  • “Entr’acte”
  • “Masquerade” – Chorus
  • “Why So Silent” – Phantom
  • “Notes II” – Firmin, André, Carlotta, Piangi, Raoul, Christine, Madame Giry, and Phantom
  • “We Have All Been Blind/Twisted Every Way” – Raoul, Firmin, André, and Christine
  • A Rehearsal for Don Juan Triumphant – Carlotta, Piangi, Christine and Chorus
  • The Graveyard:
    • “The Phantom of the Opera (Reprise)” – Christine
    • “Little Lotte (Reprise)” – Christine
    • “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” – Christine
    • “Wandering Child/Bravo, Monsieur!” – Phantom, Christine, and Raoul
  • Première of Don Juan Triumphant:
    • Music from Don Juan Triumphant – Piangi, Carlotta, Christine and Cast
    • “The Point of No Return” – Phantom and Christine
    • “All I Ask of You (Phantom’s Reprise)” – Phantom
  • Act II Finale: 
    • “Down Once More/Track Down This Murderer”  – Phantom, Christine, Raoul, and Company
    • “Be My Guest, Sir/The Point of No Return (Reprise)”  – Phantom, Christine, and Raoul
    • “Track Down This Murderer (Reprise)” – Phantom and Company
    • “Masquerade (Reprise)” – Phantom
    • “All I Ask of You (Final Reprise)” – Christine and Raoul
    • “The Music of the Night (Reprise)” – Phantom
Awards

2004 Tony Awards: Best Actress in a Musical (Idina Menzel), Best Costume Design, Best Scenic Design

2010 Olivier Awards: Most Popular Show

Licensing

UK: Really Useful Group

USA: Really Useful Group

 

 

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