THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Theatre Cast And Review

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Plays at Her Majesty’s Theatre until 30 September 2023

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Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic musical

What’s the story of The Phantom of the Opera?

Beneath the beauty of the Paris Opera House lurks a mysterious masked figure. A genius recluse, the Phantom falls madly in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine, and devotes himself to creating a new star.

When a handsome young suitor from Christine’s past enters the picture and threatens to steal her away from him. Is his love enough to forgive the unthinkable acts he has committed? Will Christine be able to resist her ‘Angel of music’?

From Monday 3 April 2023, Jon Robyns will play ‘The Phantom’. Holly-Anne Hull will play ‘Christine Daae’ from Monday 23 January, having been the production’s alternate Christine Daaé since 2021, and Paige Blankson who joins the production as alternate ‘Christine Daaé’ from Monday 13 February, playing the role at certain performances.

From Monday 13 February to Saturday 1 April, Earl Carpenter will reprise his role as ‘The Phantom’.

They join Matt Blaker as Raoul and Kelly Glyptis as Carlotta, Matt Harrop as Monsieur Firmin, Adam Linstead as Monsieur André, Greg Castiglioni as Ubaldo Piangi, Francesca Ellis as Madame Giry and Ellie Young as Meg Giry.

The cast is completed by Hollie Aires, Connor Carson, Corina Clark, Michelle Cornelius, Edward Court, Lily De-La-Haye, Hywel Dowsell, Serina Faull, James Gant, Eilish Harmon-Beglan, Emma Harris, Yukina Hasebe, Thomas Holdsworth, Olivia Holland-Rose, Jacob Hughes, Grace Hume, James Hume, Tim Morgan, Michael Robert-Lowe, Eve Shanu-Wilson, Tim Southgate, Anouk Van Laake, Jasmine Wallis, Ralph Watts, Skye Weiss, Simon Whitaker, Lizzie Wofford and Andrew York.

REVIEW:

One of the most famous and successful musicals of all time, The Phantom of the Opera is a jaw-dropping spectacle featuring a beautiful score, extraordinary scenery and effects, and a timeless tragic love story.

Now celebrating its 35th year in London’s West End. Since the musical opened at Her Majesty’s Theatre on 9 October 1986 starring Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman, the show has travelled the world and entertained millions of people. Experience this extraordinary reimagined production at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London.

‘The Brilliant Original’ have been words associated with the West End production of The Phantom Of The Opera for almost forty years. But now that accolade has gone after the production was closed due to coronavirus and producers decided it was time for a little freshening up of the show.

I don’t know the musical well enough to comment on all of the differences between this new production and the original and unless you are a die hard ‘phan’ of the show, you probably won’t notice too much has changed either. But one question I can answer is ‘does it still send adrenaline coursing through your veins when the overture starts and the famous chandelier rises’?

For me, sadly not. The whole thing just feels flat. Yes, we all know that the live orchestra has been hugely cut in numbers and replaced with some pre-recorded instruments but is that something you would notice as an audience member if you didn’t know? I doubt it. So what has changed to make the show lose its magic? I couldn’t put my finger on it.

The cast were all wonderful with Killian Donnelly showing his diverse acting and singing talent in the role of the Phantom. Every show I have seen him in from The Commitments to Memphis and Kinky Boots, he has never been typecast as one particular character and is wonderfully versatile. Lucy St Louis is a wonderfully vulnerable Christine and Rhys Whitfield is a very likeable Raoul. Saori Oda steals the show for me as Carlotta, bringing huge amounts of fun to the role and Francesca Ellis, as Madame Giry, also stands out for her performance.

The Phantom of the Opera tells the story of a man who haunts an old Paris theatre and lives in a lair underneath the building. So long as the theatre owners pay him what he asks each month and obeys any orders he gives, then all will be fine. But when new owners take over, they are less than enthusiastic about pandering to the demands of the Phantom and things start to go wrong. In the meantime, the Phantom has taken a young performer, Christine, under his wing and tutors her in singing. He becomes obsessed with her and wants them to be together, leaving her in a love triangle and having to make a very big decision.

The Phantom of the Opera is an Andrew Lloyd Webber classic that is sure to continue to appeal to tourists visiting London but whilst I have always enjoyed going to experience the live stage show every couple of years, something has changed for me and I didn’t get those spine tingling feelings I used to. I think I’ll stick to watching the 25th Anniversary show on TV in future.

★★★