The review is based on a performance in August, although the cast is still the same.
As a surprise, I treated Best Friend to an evening performance. He had never seen the show, although we have both caterwauled and massacred Think of Me countless times whilst inebriated.
Phantom is of course an old warhorse that keeps going and going...a permanent fixture in the West End. But for sheer scale, overblown melodrama, soaring aria-lites, volume of fabric, and a funkylicious dum-dum-dum-dum 80s drum-synth ala Sylvester Cat chasing Tweety Bird, you cannot beat Phantom.
But this was extra special. Only good things have been said about Ramin Karimloo, the current disfigured resident of the Opera House. And you can see why. Said to only be on stage for less than 30 minutes, the Phantom's presence needs to be all meanacing and all pervading. The show stands or falls with the man. And WOW, he was absolutely blooming phantastic (*groan*). Best Friend was sobbing throughout Music of the Night. And when he (Phantom, not Best Friend) made that last plaintive cry of "Chriiiiistiiine...", I think it's safe to say there was no bump ungoosed.
It's really no wonder that Mr Karimloo is going to be the Phantom in next year's sequel.
I have seen this production probably in the double digits in the last 20 years but this was the best cast. Gina Beck made a beguiling Christine, all girlish innocence in the beginning, which melts into horrific realisation in the end. Without exception, the acting was superb across the board - even Raoul, one of the drippiest hero parts in musical history was made believable by the rather wonderful Simon Bailey, whose Final Lair scene was truly memorable (complete with unexpected spitting).
Of course sitting in the middle of Row D in the stalls helped; as did the chandelier falling right above our heads; as did the overpriced wine before the show; as did being able to see their faces IN CLOSE UP. But the abiding memory of this show will be the final scene - 3 protagonists, a fury of emotions, and an ending to make the hardest heart yield just a little.
As the Phantom kinda said, I truly made my friend's night and I had a blast. Highly recommended with the caveat that you catch this cast. Truly memorable.
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Sep 29th, 2009
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