For 25 years the Phantom has been entertaining, enthralling and wowing audiences in the West End and around the world.
On Thursday August 7th, the matinee was sold out and I was thrilled to asked to see the latest cast of this adored Andrew Lloyd Webber spectacular.
So what is the reason for this musicals success? Well, it’s a love story – it’s actually a love / hate story – even better. Who will get the girl?
It has remarkable tunes, a captivating set and a sensational cast who bring this creepy, emotional, moving & powerful story to life.
The greatness of Phantom is that as a character he is hideous on every level, however, you cannot help but feel sorry for him by the end and wish him well.
Unrequited love is never easy and seldom runs smoothly – ask the chandelier……
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Currently headlining this record-breaking musical is Gerónimo Rauch who masterfully captivates audiences with his wonderful interpretation of this classic role.
Gerónimo recently finished a three-year run playing Jean Valjean in Les Misérables at the Queen’s Theatre. He clearly understands pathos, drama and making audience have empathy to his characters.
His voice was truly remarkable, powerful and brilliantly menacing yet touching as the Phantom deals with unhealthy obsession of Christine.
What a lot of people forget about Phantom Of The Opera is that as well as being dark and at times depressing, it’s also wonderfully witty and has clever sarcasm and mockery throughout.
Despite being the original production the set is still spectacular throughout and some of the illusions are breath-taking by 2014 standards. This show was certainly before its time.
I have to give high praise also to Harriet Jones who more or less stole the show with her performance, voice and beauty as Christine.
Having seen Phantom 100’s of times around the world, I genuinely feel Ms. Jones has one of the strongest vocal performances I’ve seen. Her tone and pitch is truly remarkable.
There is no surprise that Harriet was a Scholar at the Royal College of music, London, graduating with a 1st Class Honours degree in classical voice. She has since worked around the world in opera…..
Sean Palmer also did a great job stealing hearts as Raoul. He was perfectly cast as the man to steal Christine from the Phantom.
It’s so rare that a show comes along that is timeless. Phantom has everything audiences crave – drama, spectacle and now legendary songs that they know and love.
Who could be unmoved by ‘The Music Of The Night’, ‘Angel Of Music’, ‘Think Of Me’ and ‘All I Ask Of You’.
The musical opened at Her Majesty’s Theatre on 9 October 1986 with Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman in the leading roles, and there have been dozens of productions worldwide since then.
Now in its 26th record-breaking year, The Phantom of the Opera continues to captivate audiences at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London’s West End, after more than 10,000 performances.
Don’t miss Phantom Of The Opera at Her Majesty’s, in the heart of the West End. This show is as popular and timeless today as it was the week it opened.
Review by Alex Belfield August 7th 2014 for www. celebrityradio.alexbelfield.com
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