This time last week

[litlover12]

. . . I was on my way to Phantom.



And truthfully, if I got the chance, I'd go again tonight! I never get tired of Phantom. It's like rereading that fairy tale that enthralled you as a child, that still has the power to enthrall you again years later.

And praise be, I also finally, finally got to see the wonderful Mystery of Edwin Drood. Photos and report on that over here!

Comments

[ever-maedhros.livejournal.com]

Your description of the enchanting power of PotO is perfect. :D

*sigh* That Drood performance sounds amazing!

[msantimacassar.livejournal.com]

Oh my gosh, how fabulous!

It sounds like you had a very fascinating time at MoED. I am still kind of confused as to what exactly the whole thing is about but picking the ending sounds super fun! And anything Dickens, of course, has to be entertaining! ;)

[litlover12.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I guess that was a little muddled. :-) "Edwin Drood" is a murder mystery that was never finished, as Dickens died while he was writing it. We don't know for sure who Edwin's attacker was, whether Edwin really did die, and what the true identity is of a mysterious detective who suddenly pops up out of nowhere, calling himself "Datchery." So these are a couple of things that the audience votes on!

[msantimacassar.livejournal.com]

Oh, I didn't mean confused about that. I've read the book and loved it. The lack of an ending almost made me tear my hair out! I'm just a bit confused about the musical itself and how they adapted it. From some of the pictures I've seen it looked quite bawdy and almost more tongue-in-cheek than a real adaption. And the musical bits seem odd too. I've just never had anyone explain what the musical is like!

[litlover12.livejournal.com]

Oh, I see what you mean! Yes, it's a VERY loose adaptation -- they really do it as a show-within-a-show. The actors come out at the start and basically explain that they're members of an English music hall troupe, and they're going to solve the hitherto-unsolved mystery of Edwin Drood for us. (So each actor is really playing two roles -- a music hall actor, and an "Edwin Drood" character.)

Clear as mud? :-)

[charleygirl.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear you had a good time! Every time I see Phantom I always leave the theatre wanting to turn round and go back in again. :)

[litlover12.livejournal.com]

Hee hee, I knew you'd understand. :-D You know wanderingchild on Tumblr, right? We ended up being at the same performance on Friday night -- sitting in the same row! Not that we realized it at the time -- just when we compared notes later on. It was the performance where understudies went on for both the Phantom and Raoul. Fortunately, Samantha Hill was there, because I'd really been wanting to see her. Her Christine was adorable. A little like a very young, excitable puppy. :-)

[charleygirl.livejournal.com]

I am aware of wanderingchild, yes. I peruse her Tumblr every so often. What a co-oincidence! :) I wondered if you'd seen the understudies; I think they were chopping and changing all weekend from what I've been reading. Glad you got to see Samantha; I've been hearing lots of good things about her. :)

[litlover12.livejournal.com]

Yes, it was Paul Schaefer as the Phantom and Jeremy Stolle as Raoul. Schaefer plays it very deranged, and -- have you ever watched the show "Once Upon a Time"? Because he often comes across very like Robert Carlyle's Rumpelstiltskin on that show -- very sarcastic and crisp and sharp, and the same way of holding himself and tilting his head. There were moments, especially in the graveyard trio and again in the final lair, when I could have sworn he was channeling Carlyle.

Stolle's Raoul was a little melodramatic and very upright. The Dudley Do-Right of the Paris Opera. :-)

Whoever played Buquet was particularly worthy of note -- he made something really special and memorable out of that small part!

Everybody's voices were fantastic.

[charleygirl.livejournal.com]

Now I keep imagining Raoul dressed as a Mountie... :D

I'm always interested to hear about different Phantoms. I never have seen Once Upon A Time. It's one of those things I've thought I'd like to watch but never got round to because I hardly ever turn on the TV these days.

[modmerseygirl.livejournal.com]

Awww, yay! What a cute photo! :)

[digne.livejournal.com]

Drood and Phantom -- How awesome!