The Phantom of the Opera

It's about time I had a phantom-post! It being my favourite musical of all time, and all that.

Well, I first fell in love with it (as I have undoubtedly blogged before, but oh well) in April 2010 when I went with my school on a Music GCSE trip to London to see it. I had, of course, heard of the story before, but although already being a musicals geek, I hadn't seen it because I was a little unsure of exactly how operatic it would be. Of course, I love Opera now, and that isn't a problem! But in reality, I would only call Carlotta's parts leaning towards the operatic more than musical, and it's not a problem!

I have seen two Christine's before, Robyn North in April 2010, and Gina Beck in August 2010, both brilliant actors and singers. I could ramble on for pages about them, but this particular blog is for Sofia Escobar, whom I was lucky enough to see a few weeks ago.

Her Majesty's Theatre, Haymarket is my absolute favourite place in London, maybe even the world (not wanting to sound over-dramatic or anything...). It's just beautiful - a tall, imposing and intricate structure on the outside, and beautifully decorated inside.

Gina Beck having been the last Christine I saw, I was apprehensive as to how I would like Sofia Escobar. However, it's like she was made for the role! Her voice is strong and rich with a strong operatic vibrato, but also soft and sweet, perfect for those 'frightened Christine' moments.

As always, it took only until the famous Think Of Me cadenza and I was won over! The show went off without a hitch, which always surprises me, especially with such a technically-difficult show such as Phantom.

One slight disappointment was that John Owen-Jones (current Phantom) was off on holiday, as I really wanted to see him, but his understudy Scott Davies was excellent! So no problems there. The way he acted obsessed and slightly out of his mind was great for the character of the Phantom, and there was just the right mixture of hate and self-pity to make you love him :)

High points were definitely every time the beautiful Sofia Escobar was on stage ;) But especially the rooftop scene with Raoul and All I Ask Of You, Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again, and Point Of No Return, which, since I last saw it, has improved even more! The stuggle between Christine and the Phantom when she realises it is him is hair-raising, and the end still makes me cry!

I am definitely booking tickets to see her again in action, this time, hopefully with the (apparantly) phenomenal JOJ.

Favourite musical ever!

The Kissing Dance

Yep - this is definitely a theatre blog. Whatever. It's not my fault that the most important events in my life are the shows I go to see! Well, it is actually. But I am unashamedly a theatre geek, so I don't care.

Well this time - as I may or may not have mentioned in my previous post - it was The Kissing Dance, a (relatively) new musical by Howard Goodall, lyrics by Charles Hart (lyricist for Phantom of the Opera and Love Never Dies amongst others!). Relatively new, because it was first performed by the National Youth Music Theatre in 1998, a production in which coincidently, starred Gina Beck in the role of Kate Hardcastle, which she is currently reprising at the Jermyn Street Theater in the professional debut of the musical.

Although excited (anyone who knows me/follows me on twitter/has read my blog will know that Gina is my all-time favourite actress/singer!) I was also quite apprehensive as I walked into the theatre. Seating only 70 people and the stage a mere 8x4 metres, it seemed a world away from the magnificent and spacious West End venues, though situated only round the corner from Her Majesty's Theatre, home to Phantom of the Opera. However, this only lends to it's quirky charm.

Although my favourite musicals are, and will continue to be Phantom, Love Never Dies and Les Miserables, it was refreshing to see a musical comedy. The Kissing Dance is hilarious - I don't remember a scene in which I didn't laugh, and I was particularly impressed with the ease at which humour and romance were entwined to deliver a beautifully sweet and witty musical.

Warning - Spoilers!

The plot revolves around the country house of Nonesuch, where Mr and Mrs Hardcastle are frantically preparing for the arrival of a suitor for their daughter Kate. The girlish glee of Kate and her cousin Constance is infectious as they sing about their beau's - for Constance is romantically linked with Kate's suitor's friend, and hopes for a proposal from him - "my dear cousin, we shall be ... friends in law!" However, while Kate's suitor, Marlow, is said to be handsome and brave, he also possesses a terrible shyness around women of his own class - a trait which Kate fears will prevent them from getting to know each other. To add a little conflict, Constance has been left a substantial dowry of jewels from her late parents - a dowry which Mrs Hardcastle intends for her half-witted son to have! She believes them to be all but betrothed, when really Constance has her heart set on her beloved George Hastings, and Kate's brother Tony is in love with the local barmaid! And everything is further twisted when, upon inquiring the whereabouts of Nonesuch at the local pub, Marlow and Hastings are led to believe that their destination is some way off - Tony's idea of a practical joke. They believe the Hardcastle's home to be an inn at which they intend to rest before continuing on their journey. And cue a hilarious mix-up in which Marlow manages to greatly offend his future father-in-law, a man who he believes to be landlord of the inn. George and Constance bump into each other, but upon learning the truth, Hastings decides not to tell Marlow that they really are at Nonesuch, for his nerves could not handle such a revelation! Instead, he leads his friend to believe that some lucky twist of fate has caused Kate and Constance to be staying at that very inn. Lets just say that the meeting between Kate and Marlow is little short of excruciatingly painful, and forces Kate to resort to desperate measures to win her man! If that is not enough, Tony agrees to steal Constance's jewels from Mrs Hardcastle so Constance and George can run away together, and he is free to marry his barmaid. And after five minutes of knowing Tony's character, you'll realise that this is not the best idea ...

If you enjoy mad plot-twists, witty humour and romance, this is the perfect show to see! Gina Beck is beautiful, funny and charming as the pretty Kate Hardcastle, but even I have to admit that it was Beverley Klein, who plays Mrs Hardcastle, who stole the show. With her perfect comic timing and complete over-dramatic-ness , she brought a whole new level to comedy. Her outrageous costume itself is a reason to visit! Among others who stood out (though I would like to mention them all!) was Gemma Sutton, who plays Constance. I really loved the scene where she had to pretend to have a 'midnight tryst' with Tony to keep up the pretense that they were in love! Ian Virgo (who played Tony in the NYMT 1998 production) and Dylan Turner made a wonderful duo as Marlow and Hastings. Dylan, I would like to say, is really quite handsome (as well as having a good voice ... I think ... :P) and Ian played up his character's opposites - excruciatingly nervous in the presence of Kate, yet devilishly flirtatious to common 'maids'. Jack Shalloo is hilarious as the half-witted Tony, yet lovably so, and he manages to single-handedly wreck the lovers plans, then bring them back together!

I could mention everyone, but just one more goes to Lila Clements for combining acting, dancing, singing and playing the flute! All of which I love :)

The set and costumes were perfect for the tiny space, and the original music a refreshing change from the well-known (and still well-loved!) popular west-end shows. The Kissing Dance runs only until April 23rd, so get your tickets now!

<3

Love Never Dies Original Cast ...

... are Amazing! Teehee.

And F.Y.I. they deserve to win a lot of awards. So if you are reading this, I'm sure they would be very grateful if you headed on over to the Whats On Stage website and voted for them in their respective categories. Such talent cannot go unrecognised! (I sound like an advertisment ... Or their PR, haha) Voting closes on February 20th I think, so hurry! (Like anyone's reading this, LOL)

And I'd just like to mention that I have booked tickets to see the very last performance they will ever do together, on March 5th at 7.30pm. I'm so excited! I'm sure it will be just as amazing as last time, although sad that they are leaving :(

Anyway, here's the cast list, and pictures, just 'cause I feel like it ... And CERTAIN people wish to see if the hype I have made about certain other people is correct ...

The Phantom - Ramin Karimloo

Christine Daae - Sierra Boggess

Meg Giry - Summer Strallen

Raoul - Joseph Millson

Fleck - Niamh Perry

And that's as far as I dare go. Phew, adding pictures is stressful! This has taken me ages. Just a few now of the actual production, 'cause it's so amazing, then I'm done.

And Ramin and Sierra, 'cause they're so good together :)

I'm sure I made that a lot more complicated than it needed to be ...

Love Never Dies at the Adelphi Theatre

Warning - contains spoilers.

Okay, I know it's been a few weeks, but I decided that my next post would be a review of Andrew Lloyd Webber's (relatively) new musical, Love Never Dies (which I have just seen today) , the sequel to the famous Phantom of the Opera.

I first saw Phantom of the Opera last April on a music trip with my school. I remember not knowing much about it, except that it was the story of a mysterious masked man obsessed with a beautiful young soprano. Since I am a huge fan of romantic stories, I was quite interested. I wasn't however, looking forward to the 'Opera' part of it. Little did I know that Andrew Lloyd Webber had done a fantastic job of combining dramatic Operatic aria's, traditional musical chorus numbers and an enthralling storyline with the slightest hint of rock to it. In short, it was the best thing I had ever seen, and I have been just a little bit (or a lot) obsessed with it ever since.

When I heard about the sequel not too long after, I was sceptical. Phantom is a brilliant original, and everyone knows that musical sequels don't have a history of doing well. I researched the storyline, and was even less impressed. Christine dies? Shocking. A terrible end to the 'greatest love story ever told'. Then I listened to some of the songs. One especially stood out - the Phantom's spine-tingling Till I Hear You Sing.

I confess, the main motivation for my seeing the musical was the man (and his voice) behind that beautiful song, Mr Ramin Karimloo (@raminkarimloo on twitter, of course i'm following him). Not only does he have that elusive power to send shivers all through you when he opens his mouth, but he also happens to be very attractive. Which goes well with a tuxedo and a white mask, let me tell you! Anyway, he did not disappoint. With the new changes Andrew Lloyd Webber made, Till I Hear You Sing is now the opening song. And what an opening it gives! There you are, sitting in your seat, waiting for the thing to start, and this 'Christine' doll appears on stage, shortly followed by the Phantom, who immediately delivers his heart-breaking song. I was literally on the edge on my seat.

The big musical numbers are as follows:

Act 1.

Till I Hear You Sing - The Phantom

Heaven By The Sea - Ensemble

Only For Him/Only For You - Meg Giry

What A Dreadful Town! - Raoul, Christine and Gustave

Look With Your Heart - Christine and Gustave

Beneath A Moonless Sky - The Phantom and Christine

Once Upon Another Time - The Phantom and Christine

Dear Old Friend - Christine, Raoul, Meg Giry and Madame Giry

Beautiful - The Phantom and Gustave

The Beauty Underneath - The Phantom and Gustave

Act 2.

Why Does She Love Me? - Raoul

Devil Take the Hindmost - The Phantom and Raoul

Bathing Beauty - Meg Giry and Ensemble

Devil Take the Hindmost (reprise) - The Phantom, Raoul, Madame Giry

Love Never Dies - Christine

Ah, Christine - The Phantom

Please Miss Giry, I Want To Go Back! - Gustave, Meg, the Phantom, Christine, Madame Giry

For me, the best songs were Till I hear you sing, Beneath a moonless sky, The beauty underneath and Love Never Dies.

I didn't see the principal Christine, Sierra Boggess (@sierra_boggess on twitter) perform, I saw Celia Graham (who doesn't have twitter) instead, who was amazing! She had a great voice, really soft but strong at the same time. Perfect for Christine.

I can't write this blog without mentioning Gustave who (except for the Phantom) stole the show! He was so cute, and so professional! He got one of the biggest cheers at the end.

Anyway, the plot revolves around the idea that 10 years after Phantom was set, the Phantom is in America, and running a 'freak show' at Coney Island, New York. His life is cold and empty without Christine, so sends an anonymous request for her to perform, offering a huge amount of money. Christine and Raoul accept, being in serious debt due to Raoul's drinking and gambolling addictions. They arrive, and the Phantom visits Christine in her hotel room, much to her surprise. During Beneath A Moonless Sky, we learn that the night before her wedding, Christine had sought out the Phantom to say a final goodbye. One thing led to another and ... they spent the night together. The Phantom woke and left before Christine knew, ashamed of his disfiguerments. Christine married Raoul. Later in Act 1, the Phantom discovers Gustave's exceptional musical talents, and the fact that he is very much similar to himself. He confronts Christine, who breaks down and admits that she kept the secret. Gustave is the Phantom's son. To make up for the pain she caused, Christine swears to sing once more for the Phantom. Madame Giry is furious when the Phantom declares that everything he owns will go to Gustave. She and Meg feel cheated, after all they helped him do. End of Act 1.

Act 2 begins with Raoul drowning his sorrows in the bar, and lamenting on his relationship with Christine, Why Does She Love Me? It is very moving, but a somewhat chilling look into his soul.  In Devil Take the Hindmost the Phantom makes a bet with Raoul. If Christine sings for him, Raoul has to leave, alone. If she doesn't, they leave together with all their debts paid off. Raoul questions his right to Gustave. Meg performs her revealing Bathing Beauty, at the end of which she practially strips off and parades around naked, wrapped only in a towel. She is devastated to learn that the Phantom wasn't watching. Christine is in her dressing room, preparing for the performance. Raoul comes in and tries to persuade her not to sing. She is in the process of leaving after him when the Phantom enters. His persuasion is much stronger (and thrilling!) than Raouls, presenting her with a beautiful necklace with huge diamonds, and the promise of everlasting love filled with the joys of music. (I would choose him in a heartbeat!) Christine has a dilemma. The staging for the aria Love Never Dies is done brilliantly, with Christine on the 'stage' and the Phantom and Raoul on either side in the 'wings'. Her mind is still unmade, but looks at the Phantom and goes on to sing. Raoul leaves in the middle of the performance. Afterwards, she receives a goodbye letter from him. Gustave is found to be missing. They find him on the pier with a very disturbed Meg, catching her attempting to drown him. The Phantom grabs Gustave, but then Meg pulls out a gun, which she points at her own head. Christine shields Gustave while the Phantom talks (or rather, sings) Meg out of it. She then points the gun at him instead. He makes the mistake of mentioning Christine. "We can't all be like Christine" Meg, enraged, gestures the gun at Christine, accidentally firing. She and Madame Giry escape, while the Phantom holds the dying Christine. Gustave runs off when Christine tells him that Raoul is not his father. The Phantom and Christine share a heart-breaking melodic goodbye, including a last kiss! The Phantom holds Christine and Gustave comes back in with Raoul. Raoul moves to say goodbye to his dead wife, while Gustave tentatively hugs the Phantom, his real father. Ahhh. Truly emotional.

I recommend this musical to everyone, especially those who enjoy dramatic, moving stories. The Phantom's character appeals to everyone, as the shunned young genius who dares to love a beautiful girl. Although she dies, in the end he has finally won her.

The bet bits were every time Ramin ( The Phantom) was on stage. He has an amazing presence. It's worth every penny! The acrobatics are brilliant, and the costumes amazing. I hope that it goes on for a very long time. If I had to find a flaw, it would the that the character's of Meg and Raoul and very different (and much more vindictive) than in the original. But in the context of the story (and with the new changes) it does kind of make sense.

The cast I saw were as follows:

The Phantom - Ramin Karimloo
Christine Daae - Celia Graham
Raoul, vicomte de Chagney - Joseph Millson
Meg Giry - Jessica Kirton
Madame Giry - Liz Robertson
Fleck - Niamh Perry
Squelch - Adam Pearce
Gangle - Jami Reid-Quarrel