Re-imagined Phantom Tour coming to the US

[iNick1224]

http://broadwayworld.com/article/Reinvented-THE-PHANTOM-OF-THE-OPERA-to-Launch-US-Tour-in-November-2013-20130226

I knew it! Can't wait to see it!!

[GatorNY]

Has anyone seen this version in the UK? Is this like "New Coke" and "Coca-Cola Classic?"

[jimmycurry01]

From everything that I have read, this is "New Coke." I will still check it out anyway, but not for more than $30.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Excepting Phantom (the old version), I thought the British quasi-operas had seen their day and everyone could move on. Apparently not. The Broadway that I grew up with and loved for many years is simply, sad to say, dead. Guess the Brits are still smarting over losing the American Revolution (and I'm of English extraction) and they are still exacting their belated revenge.

[Princeton Returns]

ive seen it and thought it was good. some changes work for the better, and some not so, but its great to see a new take on it

the real hardcore phans probably wont like it

[LizzieCurry]

Gator, it looks very different: http://www.whatsonstage.com/photos/theatre/london/E8831334158561/

[thespian geek]

Cameron Mackintosh, you need to stop.

[GottaHaveAGimmick]

Ummm.....no, thanks.

[DEClarke]

I'm calling it now, it will panned all over the US. It is hated in the UK, why should we expect anything different here?

[ukpuppetboy]

Ooo. Good call. Did you have all your money on Mitt Romney too? And tell Disney that Newsies will never work on stage. Dont go see it - your closed mind wouldn't fit through the door..

[Wildcard]

I can accept the new sets. What I can't get over is not having the chandelier crash. It's the biggest selling point of the previous incarnation.

[DEClarke]

You're fun, ukpuppetboy! I plan on seeing it. I love PoTO, but I also have seen that fans nad non-fans alike have been highly critical of the new design concepts. Mostly they don't like seeing Maria Bjornsen's name used since they destory most of her creations!

I hope I enjoy it, but I'm also realistic enough to know that if it has been panned in the UK that it will fare just as poorly here. If anything, shows that the US pans have a better track record of being liked and loved by European audiences than shows panned in Europe being hits here.

[LizzieCurry]

There's a thread all about it on a massive Phantom board here: http://desertedphans.forumotion.net/t334-re-staged-phantom-in-2012

Lotsa bellyaching.

[Princeton Returns]

erm it is not hated in the uk! maybe amongst the obsessive phans but they are a small portion of the theatre audience. the general theatregoing public have liked it.

and if a show cant survive the loss of one effect then it cant be a good show in the first place

[TheGingerBreadMan]

I am looking forward to this.

[TheatreKid3]

Just like the reinvention of LES MIS cost us the iconic turntable, the reinvention of PHANTOM costs us the iconic chandelier crash. I'll give them this, they've got guts to change such iconic features of these shows.

[FireFingers]

It isn't hated over here... As has been said, some things work better than the original, some things worse. But anything might change for the US run. Having a falling chandelier would be good. But it is still a good production and will do well in the US.

[HeyMrMusic]

There's no chandelier crash? I'm confused. But why? Isn't that not just a directorial choice but in the script?

[Kad]

"Guess the Brits are still smarting over losing the American Revolution (and I'm of English extraction) and they are still exacting their belated revenge."

Wasn't their revenge burning Washington, D.C.?

[Princeton Returns]

Yes its in the script but it doesnt say you actually have to see it crash. Just know that it happens. The end of Act 1 is very similar to the Albert Hall show, its not as affective but at least the chandelier looks like a proper chandelier unlike the one in the original production and it gets a decent reaction from the audience

I think it affects the start of the show more than the end of act 1 personally as the overture is more of a let down without the rising chandelier.

There is no chandelier drop to make the production cheaper and easier to tour. Some theatres had to have extra support on the last tour and get ins were longer etc.

Some direction/set choices improve on the original, some dont.

[Ed_Mottershead]

"Wasn't their revenge burning Washington, D.C.?"

Another Phantom is far worse revenge.

[OperaBwayLover]

Well...it will be hard to top the magic of the original production, the set and effects. I remember seeing the tour in 1998 and looking around when the Phantom was speaking to the managers. It was like the Phantom was next to me speaking every time! Still one of my favorite theatre memories, even though I know what the trick was.

On the other hand, for those of us who aren't able to go see it in New York, it will be nice to hear the score live again. I hope they cast some really great voices.

[bwayphreak234]

I'm down. Looks pretty awesome to me!

[ukpuppetboy]

Sorry. I'd have written something relevant to the show but my ipad was being annoying.

But glad that i have been backed up by people that have actually seen it. And i agree, there are some improvements and some unnecessary changes. But some of the reinterpretations are absolutely inspired. And the phantoms presence over the opera house is outstanding in the new direction.

Believe me. I was massively critical of the idea. And voiced those criticisms before seeing the show myself. Especially wrt Maria Bjornson's costumes, some of which have been changed from the Hal Prince but as was pointed out using other costumes from her designs and always in collaboration with her original Phantom cohorts.

And speaking as someone who always wanted to see the original Masquerade "disappearance" restored into the show, the end of show new version is a total homage to that - lovingly put there by people who love the show. Which seems, after seeing the show 10 months in (it took ME THAT long to want to see it) to be true across the board. The decent into the lair is both a technological and storytelling giant leap. Whether that be forward or sideways is up to the audience member i guess. But it is definitely well worth taking on it's own merit.

And the chanderlier? Hated the Albert Hall version - but though this is similar is a big improvement from that. True. Nothing can be as magical as having that lift slowly above your heads during the overture on first viewing, but the removal of this does not kill the show. In some perverse way it frees the show a little from being FX burdened. And if that's all phantom is to you, then probably you should be spending your cash at a theme park. But then it's your money.

I hope you enjoy it. I was forced to eat massive humble pie. Mostly. But i can definitely recognise that it wasn't a cheap, money making exercise. This will probably not make money. It's vast to tour and a crazy massive "folly" or labour of love.

[Princeton Returns]

Some audience reviews of a recent visit of the show can be viewed here. and before anyone says anything yes they always post the good and the bad comments

http://www.mayflower.org.uk/event.asp?show=OPERA13&info=comments

[bwayto]

Hang on! What's the original masquerade disappearance?

I saw the show in London during the Olympics and the Tour in Toronto in 06'. Doesn't he disappear at the top of the stairs?

Someone want to clarify, share the story? etc.