Phantom of the Opera soars

Musical gets makeover

Phantom of the Opera soars

Most people know of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera. It’s an iconic musical that speaks of the power of love, the incredible vocal range hidden in mysterious and unexpected packages, and reminds us that creepy stalkers, though sometimes romantic and grandiose, are still creepy. Regardless, if you try not to overthink the plot, the new production of Phantom is definitely a treat. The sets are intricate and amazing, the voices superb, and pure energy and fun the cast brings to the table is evident in everything they do.

The Phantom of the Opera is the tale of Christine Daae’s journey to fame in the French Opera House, the Opera Populaire, and her choice of the mysterious Phantom of the Opera, or her childhood sweetheart, the Vicomte Raoul de Chagny. Despite the underlying creep factor the Phantom always carries with him, it’s easy to forget how disturbing his obsession with Christine is during the course of the show. The cast’s energy really sucks you into the world of the Opera Populaire. The problems seem real, the humour is gut-splitting, and the characters antics really become dear to you.

But of course, what is an opera without an amazing score? The cast, from chorus girl to Carlotta, was a vocal powerhouse. Christine and Carlotta soared through the musical staff into the stratosphere, picking high notes out of the air like it was nothing. The Phantom, despite sounding vocally tired, navigated the score with ease and power, hitting notes and phrases well enough to make you breathless.

Finally, the set. Dear, sweet God, the set. I’m not a technical person. I have little to no patience for building, and if you put a power tool in my hand, it will become a weapon of mass destruction, but even with my lack of experience, I could tell that the set of this show was a marvel. Stairs that magically slid out of the wall, rooms within rooms within rooms, and a stage within a stage? Even if I had hated the show and everything about it, I would have gone again just to try to understand the architectural wonder of a design. And even with the complexities of the set, the actors navigated the stage with confidence and ease.

In conclusion, The Phantom of the Opera is a worthy investment and a guaranteed good time. The show runs from December 13th to January 5th, and is worth every penny you spend on it.