Phantom of the Opera: 25th Anniversary Concert, UK, (2011)
Directed by Harold Prince
Cast: Sierra Boggess and Ramin Karimloo
Spectacular. Thrilling. Compelling.
It was one cathartic night. After seeing The Phantom 25th anniversary concert, and when I got out of the theater, I felt so alive. It's one of those inexplicable moments when certain things such as motion picture + music give you a certain high. Indeed, there was no drug needed; it was overwhelmingly uplifting.
I have to admit, I am not a child who grew up adoring musicals or stage plays to begin with. But you don't have to be accustomed to such things to enjoy and relish a feeling that's common among all of us- momentary bliss or euphoria, perhaps- when you've come across something as grandiose and lavish as this. The cast was enormous. The company listing on the show's official website cited that there were 138 cast members: 99 ensemble members, 20 dancers and 19 principles. The costumes and the props were vibrant, detailed and embellished with various adornments. The choreography was equally enthralling and eye-catching. Moreover, instead of using the customary set design of the stage play, gigantic LED monitors projected the appropriate backdrops to change the mood and to easily swap intended locations/settings.
Having LED is useful in stage productions. You can easily project anything in a touch of a finger or swiftly vary a mood in a just a blink of an eye. But unless it's 3d, the employment of actual props is unparalleled. Well, to give it a second thought, even if it's 3d, nothing beats decorating the stage with the actual materials. It gives you a more realistic, and true to its description, three-dimensional feel.
Apparently, I've also read that the Company had to adjust to some limitations because The Royal Albert Hall stage was small, especially if adorned with enormous and extravagant props intended for this production. Obviously, they managed this constraint well (e.g. use of LED, the strategic placement of gantry, orchestra, among others) They may even have used it to their advantage. But one thing disappointed the live audience - (and in the cinema, me too), the Chandelier scene! Obviously, it dangled above the audience but it did not fall down and crash, which was supposedly a highlight in the show.
Aside from the timeless musical masterpieces of Andrew Lloyd Webber that are showcased in Phantom, the real revelation are the actors. It's good to note that I'm not familiar with any of the members of the cast, so I may have probably pushed my biases aside, easier. But with that, I digress. Sierra Boggess as Christine is utterly mesmerizing. Oh those eyes! Those killer eyes and captivating voice. Usually, the beauty outshines the talent, that's what they say, but in here, Sierra exudes an enchanting vibe that treads the fine line of a mysterious charmer as well as childlike innocence. She's a wonderful thing to look at- ogle at (? anyone?) And even an endearing voice to listen to. Ramin Karimloo's Phantom is a joy to watch. One minute he's fierce and intense, the next he's fragile and vulnerable. It's that seemingly effortless way to switch masks and body language to exude a variety of emotions- all in one show, mind you- which differentiates a great actor from a good one. And Ramin may have probably been the former.
I had an epiphany about television/ taped-as-live productions while seeing this. It made me all the more appreciate the value of hard work, effort and practice as well as craftsmanship, teamwork and attentiveness during these times. When I was at school - in college specifically- it was more of a hearsay/ assumption kind of thing when it comes to the overview of television production. It's not that people were pretending to know or merely guessing about it, I guess everyone had a general idea of it but they never really got the chance to see it, and experience it for themselves. And 'presuming', 'imagining' and actually 'experiencing' are not exactly the same thing. Well, I guess, it has to do with the fact that you'll never really know until you get there.
Just like the Phantom.
You might have probably listened to his voice, heard what the company said about him, or read his story in the paper. Alas, you think you know, but actually, you have no idea.
It must have been the Angel of Music, after all.
Notes:
Great to watch the documentary part before the production proper.
Please do watch this in a 'surround-sound' method
Glad to have seen it in Trinoma.
Directed by Harold Prince
Cast: Sierra Boggess and Ramin Karimloo
It was one cathartic night. After seeing The Phantom 25th anniversary concert, and when I got out of the theater, I felt so alive. It's one of those inexplicable moments when certain things such as motion picture + music give you a certain high. Indeed, there was no drug needed; it was overwhelmingly uplifting.
I have to admit, I am not a child who grew up adoring musicals or stage plays to begin with. But you don't have to be accustomed to such things to enjoy and relish a feeling that's common among all of us- momentary bliss or euphoria, perhaps- when you've come across something as grandiose and lavish as this. The cast was enormous. The company listing on the show's official website cited that there were 138 cast members: 99 ensemble members, 20 dancers and 19 principles. The costumes and the props were vibrant, detailed and embellished with various adornments. The choreography was equally enthralling and eye-catching. Moreover, instead of using the customary set design of the stage play, gigantic LED monitors projected the appropriate backdrops to change the mood and to easily swap intended locations/settings.
Having LED is useful in stage productions. You can easily project anything in a touch of a finger or swiftly vary a mood in a just a blink of an eye. But unless it's 3d, the employment of actual props is unparalleled. Well, to give it a second thought, even if it's 3d, nothing beats decorating the stage with the actual materials. It gives you a more realistic, and true to its description, three-dimensional feel.
Apparently, I've also read that the Company had to adjust to some limitations because The Royal Albert Hall stage was small, especially if adorned with enormous and extravagant props intended for this production. Obviously, they managed this constraint well (e.g. use of LED, the strategic placement of gantry, orchestra, among others) They may even have used it to their advantage. But one thing disappointed the live audience - (and in the cinema, me too), the Chandelier scene! Obviously, it dangled above the audience but it did not fall down and crash, which was supposedly a highlight in the show.
Aside from the timeless musical masterpieces of Andrew Lloyd Webber that are showcased in Phantom, the real revelation are the actors. It's good to note that I'm not familiar with any of the members of the cast, so I may have probably pushed my biases aside, easier. But with that, I digress. Sierra Boggess as Christine is utterly mesmerizing. Oh those eyes! Those killer eyes and captivating voice. Usually, the beauty outshines the talent, that's what they say, but in here, Sierra exudes an enchanting vibe that treads the fine line of a mysterious charmer as well as childlike innocence. She's a wonderful thing to look at- ogle at (? anyone?) And even an endearing voice to listen to. Ramin Karimloo's Phantom is a joy to watch. One minute he's fierce and intense, the next he's fragile and vulnerable. It's that seemingly effortless way to switch masks and body language to exude a variety of emotions- all in one show, mind you- which differentiates a great actor from a good one. And Ramin may have probably been the former.
I had an epiphany about television/ taped-as-live productions while seeing this. It made me all the more appreciate the value of hard work, effort and practice as well as craftsmanship, teamwork and attentiveness during these times. When I was at school - in college specifically- it was more of a hearsay/ assumption kind of thing when it comes to the overview of television production. It's not that people were pretending to know or merely guessing about it, I guess everyone had a general idea of it but they never really got the chance to see it, and experience it for themselves. And 'presuming', 'imagining' and actually 'experiencing' are not exactly the same thing. Well, I guess, it has to do with the fact that you'll never really know until you get there.
Just like the Phantom.
You might have probably listened to his voice, heard what the company said about him, or read his story in the paper. Alas, you think you know, but actually, you have no idea.
It must have been the Angel of Music, after all.
Notes:
Great to watch the documentary part before the production proper.
Please do watch this in a 'surround-sound' method
Glad to have seen it in Trinoma.
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