Maury Yeston's "Phantom"

[Andreas]

According to www.kultur-channel.at and to her official website, Marjan Shaki will play the mother of the Phantom in Maury Yeston's "Phantom" in Japan. The musical will be only in Japanese!
Marjan is the first European musical actor playing in a Japanese production.

I thinkwe know the reason now, why she went to Japan with Elisabeth.
Does anyone have more information about the musical?

[Valjean87]

The musical is basically their own version of the Leroux story but more tame than ALW version, the ending is sorrowful too, here is the complete synopsis:

takarazuka-revue.net/takawiki/tiki-index.php?page=Phantom+%28Cosmos+2004%29


I don't want to feel like a traitor to ALW's brilliant masterpiece, but I love them both because both of them have interesting songs and sets. I recommend getting the DVD or Cast Recording of Yeston/Kopits "Phantom" but the only ones available is Takarazuka(for the complete DVD and Cast Recording) and the English Studio Cast(highlights).

There is also a movie based on this version starring Charles Dance as Erik and Terri Polo as Christine. Its interesting but tame.

[RunawayRose]

I just read that Lukas will be in this also. He will be playing Philippe.

[Valancy]

Hmm. That's so strange. At what point have they gone and learnt Japanese? Not saying that they couldn't have done that, just that I understand it's a pretty difficult language, and don't they have enough musical actors in Japan anyway? Why do they need European ones? Some sort of a cultural exchange / international cooperation thing between the theatres?

That being said, good for Marjan and Lukas for getting such varied opportunities for acting, but I still would prefer to see them remain in Europe, for perfectly selfish reasons as I can't travel to Japan.

[Valjean87]

This is interesting ;D. The European actors are going to Japan. Also I don't find it difficult to learn, I have trouble learning Kanji and thats it .