Post by ilovegrayshaw on Jul 23, 2009 4:20:37 GMT -5
Alternative Title (would not fit): The driest throat will reach the highest note in search of perfect opera.
The Phantom of the Opera
Tuesday 21st July at 2:30pm
Royal Circle Row B Seat 18
Her Majesty’s Theatre, London
On the train down to London I sat by a wonderful lady and we spoke about her daughter and about the West End. It was a great conversation. She was really friendly. At the theatre I spoke to Nikki and Jackie (two fellow theatre addicts – who I didn’t know beforehand) and they were amazing. We kept comparing notes on shows seen and telling each other what our favourite musicals were. Nikki tapped my shoulder during the Overture because she could see that I was loving it as much as she always has. I quite liked my seat. It made the chandelier crash so amazing. It seemed to fall quicker and came right down in front of me. That is what I wanted to see. I also loved the perfect view we had of the descent to the lair, the Phantom in the angel – who was right in front of me [with sitting in the very centre seat], and also seeing the Phantom when he was walking across the top of the proscenium. One criticism with the seat is it was not the front row. I had to keep leaning from side to side to get a full view of the stage. It didn’t matter, with me knowing the show so well, but it would have caused problems if you didn’t know about it. I had heard a rumour that a rose falls out of Box 5 at the end of Think of Me. I looked and it is not true. Mostly because nobody is looking there anyway so it’s a waste of time.
On the train home I met an amazing man called Nick. He works as a director at RBS bank. He commutes to London twice a week on business and saw Phantom years ago. He was very good at telling me about what I should do in terms of getting prepared for the world of work. He told me lots about where he worked and the life of an adult. It sounded rather dull. He also sat there winking at me when I kept mentioning all the shows I had seen and was going to see. Hahahaha. Such a legend. He was really friendly and we spoke most of the way home. He also told me about living in London – not the place to raise a family – and I thoroughly enjoyed our chats. We spoke for most of the journey.
The Ballerinas:
Last time I saw Phantom I was watching the dressing room action. This time I was looking solely at the ballerinas from the start of their rehearsal to the end of it. I thought they were amazing, especially when they all pulled their legs extremely high in the air. I think the whole routine is very well choreographed so the eyes move from one dancer to the next. It is also very period.
I spent the entirety of Think of Me looking into the Manager’s box to see the action going on there. Basically Andre arrives, followed by Firmin who attempts to open a bottle of champagne but is stopped by Andre. He places it in the bucket. They then watch the opera.
Ramin Karimloo as The Phantom:
On arriving at the theatre I saw Ramin standing by stage door being accosted by fangirls. He was wearing a white t-shirt. This being only half an hour before the show I feared that he would not be performing. Obviously they have managed to reduce the time it takes to apply the make-up. This made the prosthetics rather weak and feeble compared to the original design. They didn’t have the same Picasso feel to them which I had loved when seeing the show before.
I thought Ramin was great. He sang the role flawlessly, especially Music of the Night. One of the things that I felt he could have improved would have been in his acting. He wasn’t menacing enough for me. That is why my favourite Phantom is still Hugh Panaro. Hugh has a unique way of delivering the lines in a really mocking way. I also didn’t like the way Ramin said “imagAnation” instead of “imagInation”. This is something that should have been spotted or corrected. Ramin is a great Phantom, make no mistake, but I felt that he could have done a bit more with the role. He really does need to be more menacing.
Gina Beck as Christine:
I really liked her. She’s such a cutie pie, especially during bows when she stormed to the front. She seemed to be having lots of fun and that made me smile. I think she is a darling. Definitely one of the performers to see. Her “Think of Me” was quite disappointing and didn’t have the effortlessness of other Christine’s. I thought her “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” was the best I have ever heard it. Truly stunning. She made it a bit less operatic and a lot more listenable. I assume she was cast due to her version of this great number. I thought she was also very alluring and sexually charged during “Point of No Return” especially when she ran the apple down her dress. So erotic. She is the master of funny faces too. I would love to see Gina again.
Simon Bailey as Raoul:
I don’t know if it was due to Ramin’s lack of menace as the Phantom, but for once I questioned why Christine chooses Raoul. The Phantom seemed to have so much more going for him. Simon was O.K. as Raoul’s go. I thought All I Ask of You was hilarious. Simon and Gina were singing the song like an argument. It made me laugh. “LOVE ME!!!!!!!”. Hahahaha. So funny. And credit to both of them, for once I didn’t think Act One should end when Buquet dies. I usually find the whole rooftop scene a bit excessive and a bit too long for the act. But it worked really well. The best part of Simon’s performance was when he was in the noose – hanging – during the final lair scene. His acting was perfect. I couldn’t stop looking at him. I again thought he could have been a little more menacing especially when addressing the Phantom.
Nicola Rutherford (2nd cover) as Carlotta:
For a second cover I thought Nicola did a great job. I found her really funny. She was great. She could have added a little more to the role – like been a bit more stereotypically the opera diva. Her “you’ve been here five minutes, what do you know!” could not have been said better.
Barry James as Monsieur Firmin:
Just hearing Barry say the words is enough to make you roar with laughter. He has perfect delivery and a really great accent too. He’s my favourite Thenardier of all time and so I was really pleased when he was performing. I thought his voice complimented the Andre very well.
Gareth Snook as Monsieur Andre:
Gareth was really good. Not much I can say really. I thought he played well alongside Barry and really acted the role. These are not parts that can be commented on in detail really.
Heather Jackson as Madam Giry:
Heather is amazing. I remember not liking her last time I saw the show but I thought she was brilliant this time. She is a great singer and also quite menacing. She really brings out the mystery and evil surrounding the character. I thought she was perfect.
Rohan Rickell as Piangi:
I really don’t like Rohan. The audience seemed to find him funny but I just didn’t. I thought his delivery was weird and his singing was just not up to par with the others. He needs replacing at the next cast change. Definitely the weak link in the chain.
Philip Griffiths as the Auctioneer:
This man needs to learn how to be dramatic. He just wasn’t. I didn’t like him in the role. I feel the auctioneer needs to be great because he is the first person the audience see.
A Final Note:
Hats off to Maria Bjornson whose sets are just the amazing things I have ever seen in my life. I love them every time I see the show. They are just so magnificent. I could go just to gawp at the sets. I really could. I think they are dazzlingly beautiful and spectacular.
The Phantom of the Opera
Tuesday 21st July at 2:30pm
Royal Circle Row B Seat 18
Her Majesty’s Theatre, London
On the train down to London I sat by a wonderful lady and we spoke about her daughter and about the West End. It was a great conversation. She was really friendly. At the theatre I spoke to Nikki and Jackie (two fellow theatre addicts – who I didn’t know beforehand) and they were amazing. We kept comparing notes on shows seen and telling each other what our favourite musicals were. Nikki tapped my shoulder during the Overture because she could see that I was loving it as much as she always has. I quite liked my seat. It made the chandelier crash so amazing. It seemed to fall quicker and came right down in front of me. That is what I wanted to see. I also loved the perfect view we had of the descent to the lair, the Phantom in the angel – who was right in front of me [with sitting in the very centre seat], and also seeing the Phantom when he was walking across the top of the proscenium. One criticism with the seat is it was not the front row. I had to keep leaning from side to side to get a full view of the stage. It didn’t matter, with me knowing the show so well, but it would have caused problems if you didn’t know about it. I had heard a rumour that a rose falls out of Box 5 at the end of Think of Me. I looked and it is not true. Mostly because nobody is looking there anyway so it’s a waste of time.
On the train home I met an amazing man called Nick. He works as a director at RBS bank. He commutes to London twice a week on business and saw Phantom years ago. He was very good at telling me about what I should do in terms of getting prepared for the world of work. He told me lots about where he worked and the life of an adult. It sounded rather dull. He also sat there winking at me when I kept mentioning all the shows I had seen and was going to see. Hahahaha. Such a legend. He was really friendly and we spoke most of the way home. He also told me about living in London – not the place to raise a family – and I thoroughly enjoyed our chats. We spoke for most of the journey.
The Ballerinas:
Last time I saw Phantom I was watching the dressing room action. This time I was looking solely at the ballerinas from the start of their rehearsal to the end of it. I thought they were amazing, especially when they all pulled their legs extremely high in the air. I think the whole routine is very well choreographed so the eyes move from one dancer to the next. It is also very period.
I spent the entirety of Think of Me looking into the Manager’s box to see the action going on there. Basically Andre arrives, followed by Firmin who attempts to open a bottle of champagne but is stopped by Andre. He places it in the bucket. They then watch the opera.
Ramin Karimloo as The Phantom:
On arriving at the theatre I saw Ramin standing by stage door being accosted by fangirls. He was wearing a white t-shirt. This being only half an hour before the show I feared that he would not be performing. Obviously they have managed to reduce the time it takes to apply the make-up. This made the prosthetics rather weak and feeble compared to the original design. They didn’t have the same Picasso feel to them which I had loved when seeing the show before.
I thought Ramin was great. He sang the role flawlessly, especially Music of the Night. One of the things that I felt he could have improved would have been in his acting. He wasn’t menacing enough for me. That is why my favourite Phantom is still Hugh Panaro. Hugh has a unique way of delivering the lines in a really mocking way. I also didn’t like the way Ramin said “imagAnation” instead of “imagInation”. This is something that should have been spotted or corrected. Ramin is a great Phantom, make no mistake, but I felt that he could have done a bit more with the role. He really does need to be more menacing.
Gina Beck as Christine:
I really liked her. She’s such a cutie pie, especially during bows when she stormed to the front. She seemed to be having lots of fun and that made me smile. I think she is a darling. Definitely one of the performers to see. Her “Think of Me” was quite disappointing and didn’t have the effortlessness of other Christine’s. I thought her “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” was the best I have ever heard it. Truly stunning. She made it a bit less operatic and a lot more listenable. I assume she was cast due to her version of this great number. I thought she was also very alluring and sexually charged during “Point of No Return” especially when she ran the apple down her dress. So erotic. She is the master of funny faces too. I would love to see Gina again.
Simon Bailey as Raoul:
I don’t know if it was due to Ramin’s lack of menace as the Phantom, but for once I questioned why Christine chooses Raoul. The Phantom seemed to have so much more going for him. Simon was O.K. as Raoul’s go. I thought All I Ask of You was hilarious. Simon and Gina were singing the song like an argument. It made me laugh. “LOVE ME!!!!!!!”. Hahahaha. So funny. And credit to both of them, for once I didn’t think Act One should end when Buquet dies. I usually find the whole rooftop scene a bit excessive and a bit too long for the act. But it worked really well. The best part of Simon’s performance was when he was in the noose – hanging – during the final lair scene. His acting was perfect. I couldn’t stop looking at him. I again thought he could have been a little more menacing especially when addressing the Phantom.
Nicola Rutherford (2nd cover) as Carlotta:
For a second cover I thought Nicola did a great job. I found her really funny. She was great. She could have added a little more to the role – like been a bit more stereotypically the opera diva. Her “you’ve been here five minutes, what do you know!” could not have been said better.
Barry James as Monsieur Firmin:
Just hearing Barry say the words is enough to make you roar with laughter. He has perfect delivery and a really great accent too. He’s my favourite Thenardier of all time and so I was really pleased when he was performing. I thought his voice complimented the Andre very well.
Gareth Snook as Monsieur Andre:
Gareth was really good. Not much I can say really. I thought he played well alongside Barry and really acted the role. These are not parts that can be commented on in detail really.
Heather Jackson as Madam Giry:
Heather is amazing. I remember not liking her last time I saw the show but I thought she was brilliant this time. She is a great singer and also quite menacing. She really brings out the mystery and evil surrounding the character. I thought she was perfect.
Rohan Rickell as Piangi:
I really don’t like Rohan. The audience seemed to find him funny but I just didn’t. I thought his delivery was weird and his singing was just not up to par with the others. He needs replacing at the next cast change. Definitely the weak link in the chain.
Philip Griffiths as the Auctioneer:
This man needs to learn how to be dramatic. He just wasn’t. I didn’t like him in the role. I feel the auctioneer needs to be great because he is the first person the audience see.
A Final Note:
Hats off to Maria Bjornson whose sets are just the amazing things I have ever seen in my life. I love them every time I see the show. They are just so magnificent. I could go just to gawp at the sets. I really could. I think they are dazzlingly beautiful and spectacular.
