Favourite Christine?

[Phan#24601]

Just out of curiousity, which female actress did the best Christine, in your opinions? I really liked Sierra Boggess and Rebecca Caine, who was undoubtably the highlight of the Original Canadian Cast recording.

[dreaming]

Jennifer Hope Wills and Sierra Boggess (haven't seen her live-YET-I plan on catching her when she comes to Broadway in the winter-but I've seen her in the 25th Anniversary London production via film and she was amazing).

[LizzieCurry]

Best and favorite are two different things.

My favorites are Lisa Vroman and Jennifer Hope Wills. I only count ones I've seen in person. :)

[After Eight]

Maureen O'Hara.

In "Christine." :)

[MusicalBoy]

It's noteworthy that Rebecca Caine can still sing a wonderful 'Think of me' with the original WEST END cadenza!

[ClapYo'Hands]

I think Rebecca Caine is the best, though I haven't seen her.

Katy Treharne is my favourite closely followed by Anna O'Byrne.

[NoName3]

Rebecca Luker, many years ago. Her singing was glorious, her performance skilled and subtle and visually she was luminous. She looked like an incandescent vision who had just stepped out of a pre-Raphaelite painting. I know that all sounds a bit over the top but it was one of the memorable performances I have ever seen in a musical, far transcending the material.

[Phillytheatreguy10]

Agree with the Lisa Vroman pick! Yet another actress I wish worked more!

[Dave19]

Andrew Lloyd Webber said that the Dutch Christine, Joke de Kruijf was the best he had ever heard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocT3j8NJt-c

[RainbowJude]

My favourite Christine on a major English-language commercial recording of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is Rebecca Caine. Although her voice sounds - perhaps - a shade too mature for the role, she delivers a marvellously acted and sung performance on the recording that by all accounts is a good record of the way she performed the role in the theatre. The way that Caine took the operetta cliché that is the stuff of Christine’s character and moulds it into something more complex has been a blueprint for approaching the role that many actresses who have subsequently played the role. People widely praise Sierra Boggess's take on the role, but Boggess is standing on the shoulders of giants like Caine.

[newintown]

[gasp!] My gorgeous photos! Gone!

[EponineAmneris]

Sarah Brightman (if only for nostalgia), Sierra Boggess and Lisa Vroman.

[zepka102]

There's a montage of live clips of Rebecca Caine on youtube that are extremely clear. She sounds so much better here than on the Canadian recording. Too bad they couldn't have done that one live!

[Wildcard]

My favorites are Lisa Vroman and Sierra Boggess.

[Idiot]

Saw several, Dale Kristien was hands down the best of the bunch.

[PTOPhan]

My "favorite" Christines (as you can see, I'm across the pond from the original poster)are Trista Moldovan; Sierra Boggess, whom I believe grew into the role between the time I saw her in Las Vegas when the show opened and the time she played it in the 25th anniversary video; Samantha Hill, the new Broadway alternate, whom I saw at her third or fourth performance; and, please don't razz me, Emmy Rossum, from the 2004 movie. Based on her "Love Never Dies" performance, I suspect I would also like Anna O'Byrne. The reason I enjoy their performances so much more than the performances of other Christines that I've seen is that they play Christine with spirit, as an intelligent young woman who is trying to do the right thing, instead of as a scared ninny who refuses to take charge of her own life. They also have incredible voices.

I won't post the names of the ones whom I believe play Christine as a scared ninny, but I've seen too many of those!

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Sierra Boggess. Saw her in the 25th London anniversary film and plan to see her when she returns to Broadway.

[eatlasagna]

I loved Sarah Pfisterer when I saw the tour a loooooong time ago...

I also really enjoyed Sofia Escobar when I saw her last September in London... she had a gorgeous Think of Me...

and I find Marni Raab to have a unique voice for a role like Christine Daae... I found it interesting and I enjoyed her performance (on tour in LA and on Broadway)

and just because... I HATED Meagan Star-Levitt... OY!

[zepka102]

I completely forgot about Megan Star-Levitt! She was my second Christine, and I sat VERY far away. I've seen so many since, I don't remember her much. What didn't you like about her?

[Jordan Catalano]

Sarah Brightman. Hands down.

[eatlasagna]

Zepka... I found Megan's voice to be quite irritating... almost like rake on a chalkboard! it was so unpleasant and very harsh sounding... I was NOT a fan the first time I got her as an understudy... and then AGAIN years later as the alternate!

[MCfan2]

Of those I've seen playing it live, I'm partial to Teri Bibb.

[FindingNamo]

Varla Jean Merman in The Phantom of the Oprah. By FAR.

[ajh]

The three London replacements for Brightman -Claire Moore, Rebecca Caine and Jan Hartley- were all absolutely terrific: all three acted it beautifully and sang it thrillingly. Caine's performance on the Canadian cast CD makes it a must-have.