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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 23, 2019 13:33:10 GMT
I suppose it’s a bit of a visual shock when the doll gets revealed, and shows the audience that he’s obsessed with her. It is a bit random though I agree. Maybe it was referenced in one of the earlier versions of the book but got written out.
The audience reaction has been a bit funny on occasions that I’ve seen the show, sometimes there’s a bit of laughter at the doll because it’s not very convincing 🙂
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2019 13:36:56 GMT
The audience reaction has been a bit funny on occasions that I’ve seen the show, sometimes there’s a bit of laughter at the doll because it’s not very convincing 🙂 Although its more convincing than the lightning bolt at the start of the Overture - I'm not sure if that is now just left in for 1986 throwback comedy effect as it is TERRIBLE! |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 23, 2019 13:39:49 GMT
And what about those fireballs that the Phantom chucks at Raoul in the graveyard fight 😂
Paul Daniels has much to answer for!
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Post by distantcousin on Apr 23, 2019 14:00:25 GMT
Thanks for all the seat advice everyone! Much appreciated. I'll try and forget the spoilers before I see it in a few weeks  So I saw the show the other day - sat in stalls O4 as advised, and had a perfect view! I very rarely sit in the stalls but I'm glad I did. Loved the show - the costumes and sets were stunning. The overture and the scene where they go in the boat was incredible, really spine-tingling stuff for someone who hasn't seen it before! One question though; what was with the random robot doll thing of Christine(?) that the Phantom had in his lair at one point? Obviously showing his lust for her, but there was no reference to it that I can recall (may be wrong, not being very familiar with the show) and it just seemed a bit random and made him seem more predatory when I got the impression the story was ultimately trying to elicit sympathy for him.
Funnily enough, I went recently with 2 first timers (and only semi-regular theatre-goers) and the doll/automaton confused them too.
Another thought the body that was hung was Carlotta! I must admit when actually having to explain it as Buquet, it comes across as rather lame and inconsequential! (doing away with a barely featured character who's probably not registered with most of the audience)
One friend also speculated about how The Phantom could have posssibly learned all these skills living separated from society with no access to schooling, mentoring etc...
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Post by distantcousin on Apr 23, 2019 14:01:41 GMT
And what about those fireballs that the Phantom chucks at Raoul in the graveyard fight 😂 Paul Daniels has much to answer for!
Although the bit with the flames at the end of the Masquerade scene is enough to singe yer eyebrows if you're in the first few rows like we were!!!!!
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Post by distantcousin on Apr 23, 2019 14:02:32 GMT
Does anyone know if David Thaxton a) does all performances? b) has any holiday coming up? No massive desire to see Phantom again but would like to just for Thaxton - loved him in Les Mis and JCS! Thaxters was absolutely SUPERB - highly, highly recommended. He has it all! |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2019 14:02:34 GMT
I do wonder if eventually Phantom will have a compete overhaul. Given all the recent chit chat re Les Mis original not being iconic enough to keep going according to Cam Mac.
I don't think it would ever change to the touring version as it just simply isn't as good as the Les Mis version so is no contest for the original.
Surely they should do SOMETHING just to update it a bit though. It needs it IMO.
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Post by distantcousin on Apr 23, 2019 14:05:28 GMT
I do wonder if eventually Phantom will have a compete overhaul. Given all the recent chit chat re Les Mis original not being iconic enough to keep going according to Cam Mac. I don't think it would ever change to the touring version as it just simply isn't as good as the Les Mis version so is no contest for the original. Surely they should do SOMETHING just to update it a bit though. It needs it IMO. Perhaps they'll only wait until after Hal Prince carks?! |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2019 14:38:44 GMT
Thanks for all the seat advice everyone! Much appreciated. I'll try and forget the spoilers before I see it in a few weeks So I saw the show the other day - sat in stalls O4 as advised, and had a perfect view! I very rarely sit in the stalls but I'm glad I did. Loved the show - the costumes and sets were stunning. The overture and the scene where they go in the boat was incredible, really spine-tingling stuff for someone who hasn't seen it before! One question though; what was with the random robot doll thing of Christine(?) that the Phantom had in his lair at one point? Obviously showing his lust for her, but there was no reference to it that I can recall (may be wrong, not being very familiar with the show) and it just seemed a bit random and made him seem more predatory when I got the impression the story was ultimately trying to elicit sympathy for him. 'It' appears twice, technically. Firstly in Music of the Night, where Phantom walks Christine up to the mirror, she thinks she see's her reflection and then the doll crashes forward towards her causing her to faint into the Phantoms arms. Then in the Final Lair when Phantom is a moody pants, throwing his toys around, the doll gets the brunt of it. I say 'it' because in the Music of the Night scene the doll is played by a cast member not a dummy. |
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Post by hitmewithurbethshot on Apr 23, 2019 20:35:09 GMT
David's run ends 11th May from what I know and he doesn't have an alternate. He's well worth seeing, I saw him twice and his Final Lair scene blew me away!
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Post by longinthetooth on Apr 23, 2019 21:14:46 GMT
David's run ends 11th May from what I know and he doesn't have an alternate. He's well worth seeing, I saw him twice and his Final Lair scene blew me away! Couldn't agree more. The Final Lair scene reduced me to tears, a feat other Phantom has achieved (and I've seen a few!). |
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Post by stageyninja83 on Apr 23, 2019 23:40:08 GMT
Does anyone know if David Thaxton a) does all performances? b) has any holiday coming up? No massive desire to see Phantom again but would like to just for Thaxton - loved him in Les Mis and JCS! He does all shows and although his last date was due to be 11th May he has holiday 10th & 11th May so will be finishing on 9th. I think he may have one further day off (working it out from his music of the night countdown on twitter) but not sure when it is. |
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Post by distantcousin on Apr 24, 2019 9:37:10 GMT
David's run ends 11th May from what I know and he doesn't have an alternate. He's well worth seeing, I saw him twice and his Final Lair scene blew me away! Couldn't agree more. The Final Lair scene reduced me to tears, a feat other Phantom has achieved (and I've seen a few!).
There were little touches in that final scene that were, for me reminscent of Jack Nicholson as The Joker 
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Post by indis on Apr 24, 2019 10:31:41 GMT
anything known about cc of Phantom in september, anything about new Christines
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2019 10:34:41 GMT
Echo above ^^
What are the chances of Thaxton reprising the role once Tim's contract ends?
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Post by kimbahorel on Apr 24, 2019 10:44:45 GMT
Echo above ^^ What are the chances of Thaxton reprising the role once Tim's contract ends? I hope so I have really enjoyed Thaxton as Phantom. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2019 18:41:35 GMT
I do wonder if eventually Phantom will have a compete overhaul. Given all the recent chit chat re Les Mis original not being iconic enough to keep going according to Cam Mac. I don't think it would ever change to the touring version as it just simply isn't as good as the Les Mis version so is no contest for the original. Surely they should do SOMETHING just to update it a bit though. It needs it IMO. Realistically at some point soon they're going to have to re-light the show to replace the bulk of the incandescent fixtures with LED. I wonder if they'll take that opportunity to tighten things up production-wise. Part of Phantom's success is the underlying simplicity in Bjornson's design. As you say, the touring re-style wasn't as popular and the Vegas re-style, whilst truer to the original, didn't make the overall impression intended. For these reasons I think (and hope) they'd choose to just tweak and tighten it up rather than commission a new design for the show. Also requirements of a new production may interfere with (or be restricted by) the existing sub-stage manually driven victorian equipment, still in use currently. Whilst Lloyd-Webber has recently demonstrated this is not an issue for his ideas, the Theatre Trust may be less accommodating to a proposal to tear out another of the the last remaining working examples of historical importance. |
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Post by Dawnstar on Apr 24, 2019 18:54:33 GMT
Also requirements of a new production may interfere with (or be restricted by) the existing sub-stage manually driven victorian equipment, still in use currently. Whilst Lloyd-Webber has recently demonstrated this is not an issue for his ideas, the Theatre Trust may be less accommodating to a proposal to tear out another of the the last remaining working examples of historical importance. I hope they don't remove it. It's amazing to see.
I didn't realise David Thatxton was leaving so soon. Drat, that's the 2nd recent Phantom I meant to see then didn't get round to doing so. (I can't manage to see the show too often as I need time to forget about how annoying the audience behaviour is between each visit!)
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Post by theatre241 on Apr 25, 2019 6:52:11 GMT
This is off topic but has anyone heard of phantom touring the uk anytime soon because my Am Dram was going to do it however they said it is going on tour but it’s not been announced
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2019 6:57:57 GMT
This is off topic but has anyone heard of phantom touring the uk anytime soon because my Am Dram was going to do it however they said it is going on tour but it’s not been announced I know someone who works for the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh, and they said there were rumours of Phantom visiting their theatre some point in 2020. They usually get the big Mackintosh musicals in January/February but this period is already booked for other shows there. |
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Post by danb on Apr 25, 2019 7:02:21 GMT
This is off topic but has anyone heard of phantom touring the uk anytime soon because my Am Dram was going to do it however they said it is going on tour but it’s not been announced I don’t think that ALW’s Phantom is available for amateur performance. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 25, 2019 7:07:55 GMT
There’s a youth version that can be done.
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Post by danb on Apr 25, 2019 7:30:31 GMT
There’s a youth version that can be done. Wow, is that not just a bit ‘odd’? The youth ‘Les Mis’ just about works but aren’t the themes just a touch adult? What sort of parent wants to see that? 😳😂 |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2019 7:55:54 GMT
There are rumours of the original production doing the rounds 2020, which excites me highly.
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Post by longinthetooth on Apr 25, 2019 13:52:32 GMT
There’s a youth version that can be done. Wow, is that not just a bit ‘odd’? The youth ‘Les Mis’ just about works but aren’t the themes just a touch adult? What sort of parent wants to see that? 😳😂 I saw a school's version of Miss Saigon once, performed by a local theatre school. Lots of embarrassed teenage girls in bikinis, and we won't even mention the helicopter ... |
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