Phantom of the Opera

   

Sing for Me!

    Hello you crazy cats! I'm back with another review. This time we'll be discussing Phantom of the Opera. This musical is one of the most famous of all times, and I'm so exited to write out my thoughts! Phantom of the Opera tells the tale of Christine Daaé, a young performer in France, whose theatre is haunted by the mysterious Phantom. I will be reviewing the film version, because it is more accessible to many fans and will hopefully be inclusive for those who have not had the opportunity to view the performance in person. Without further ado, let's get right into the critique!

 

Phantom of the Opera (2004)

Phantom of the Opera (2004)

History

    Phantom of the Opera (henceforth known as Phantom) is a musical based off of a book of the same name. It was first produced in 1986, and has been performing on London's West End and Broadway ever since. Since it's first production, it has been performed in over 27 countries worldwide. A film adaptation debuted in 2004. 

Who's in the Cast?

    Emmy Rossum took on the leading role of Christine Daaé. Actor Gerard Butler portrayed the famous Phantom of the Opera. Patrick Wilson took on the role of Raoul, a young man in love with Christine. Other characters of importance include Carlotta, played by Minnie Driver, Madame Giry, played by Miranda Richardson, and Meg Giry, played by Jennifer Ellison. 

Overview

    Phantom of the Opera begins in black-and-white filmography, and we witness an elderly man at an auction in a now-abandoned theatre. One of the items for sale is a broken chandelier from a theater disaster many years before. Another object, a music box with a monkey figurine on top, triggers a reaction in the man's memory. The lights in the theatre fly on, and color is brought into the film as we travel back in time (Overture). On the same stage as the auction, an acting troupe is rehearsing an opera called Hannibal. Carlotta, a diva soprano, leads the singing. Meg and Christine are two friends who perform as dancers in the opera (Hannibal Comes). The theatre manager announces he is retiring, and has sold the theater to Richard Firmin and Gilles André. The new owners ignore the threats of the supposed "Opera Ghost," and refuse to pay him to leave the theater alone, which prompts Carlotta to quit. Madame Giry, Meg's mother and the ballet instructor of the opera, suggests that Christine take Carlotta's place as lead soprano in the performance. Christine takes her place in the show, and performs very well (Think of Me). Raoul, the Vicomte de Chagny and new patron of the theater, witnesses Christine's performance and recognizes her as his childhood friend. 

    After her successful performance, Christine confesses to Meg that she has been receiving singing lessons from a mysterious "Angel of Music," whom she has never seen before, although Meg believes Christine must be imagining things (Angel of Music). Christine returns to her dressing room and discovers a single rose with a black ribbon attached, but no name. Raoul comes to congratulate Christine after her performance, and they reconnect. Raoul leaves, and a mysterious voice sings out to Christine (The Mirror (Angel of Music)). She follows the voice through a mirror, and is greeted by the Phantom, who leads her through the sewers below the opera house to his lair. The Phantom announces he has chosen Christine to be the singer of his own musical compositions (The Phantom of the Opera). He confesses his love to Christine, and shows her a wax figure of herself in a wedding dress, which causes her to faint. The Phantom lays her to rest on his bed (Music of the Night). 

    Meg enters Christine's dressing room, looking for her, and discovers the passage behind the mirror. Her mother catches her, and returns her to the dancers' room, where a theater employee is telling scary stories about the Phantom hanging his victims. Meanwhile, Christine awakens from her sleep after hearing a music box with a monkey figuring playing the cymbals softly. She recounts her adventure, and watches the Phantom play his organ. She removes his mask out of curiosity, and he explodes in anger. She returns his mask to him, and he promises to bring her back to the theater safely (I Remember/Stranger Than You Dreamt It). 

    The movie returns to the "modern" time with the man at the auction, who enters a carriage and leaves the theater, before returning to color and continuing with the story. Firmin and André are worried about how to put on their show with both Carlotta and Christine missing, but are thrilled that their show is being sold out repeatedly. They have both received letters (from someone initialed "OG," which they conclude stands for "Opera Ghost."): André's is very complimentary of the opera, while Firmin's is a threat that they must pay the Phantom his "salary" to leave the theater alone. They agree that the Phantom's demands are ridiculous. Raoul enters an accuses the men of sending him a letter instructing him to stay away from Christine, which is signed by The Angel of Music. Finally, Carlotta and fellow actor Piangi enter, Carlotta having received a letter and claiming Raoul sent it to her. Her letter is a threat to her safety should she perform again instead of Christine. Madame Giry enters, informing them all that Christine has returned safely and is resting, and that she too, has a note. This note is also from the Phantom, and he demands the opera house perform the show II Muto, with Christine performing as The Countess and Carlotta performing as the Pageboy, a silent role. He also demands that Box 5 be left empty for him to observe the show, and if his demands are ignored, he will bring disaster to the theater. Firmin and André choose to ignore his threats, and tell Carlotta she shall have the lead role, and Christine will play the Pageboy. Madame Giry warns them that this is not wise, but they ignore her (Prima Donna). 

    Raoul decides to sit in Box 5, and the performance takes place as Firmin and André decided. All goes well, until the Phantom tampers with Carlotta's voice spray, causing her voice to screech and crack. The curtains fall rapidly, and Firmin and André announce to the audience that Christine will take over the role of The Countess, and bring on the dance troupe to entertain the crowd momentarily. However, the Phantom is not appeased, and, up in the rafters above the stage, strangles the stagehand who joked about Phantom hanging his victims earlier. The Phantom ties a noose around his neck and drops him onto the stage, mid-show, hanging him in front of the audience. Raoul and Christine flee to the roof of the theater, looking for safety. Christine tells Raoul about her encounter with the Phantom, and he promises to love and protect her, and she returns his sentiments (All I Ask of You). The Phantom witnesses their exchange, and laments that her heart belongs to Raoul, while swearing revenge (All I Ask of You (Reprise)). He finds the rose with the black ribbon on the roof, and rips it to shreds. 

    Another flash to the present shows the old man witnessing a young couple sharing a kiss, which prompts him to recall a kiss between a young Christine and Raoul. Again, the movie takes us back to color. Months have passed, and Christine and Raoul are attending a masquerade ball hosted at the opera house (Masquerade). They are secretly engaged. The Phantom crashes the ball, and announces that he has written a musical entitled Don Juan Triumphant, and that Christine must perform as the lead, again threatening the theater with destruction if they fail to meet his demands. He notices Christine's engagement ring on a necklace and snatches it, telling her that she belongs to him. 

    Raoul attempts to follow the Phantom as he makes his escape but is unsuccessful. Madame Giry tells Raoul that the Phantom is actually incredibly talented and intelligent, but due to a facial deformity, he has been shunned by everyone since his birth. Madame Giry is the one who gave him a home underneath the opera house. In the present, the old man rides his carriage out of the city. 

    The next day, Christine decides to visit her father's grave, and has as stable worker take her by carriage out to the cemetery. Unknown to her, the Phantom incapacitates the stable man and takes his place. Raoul notices Christine is missing and follows her on horseback. At the cemetery, Christine misses her father and wishes for his guidance (Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again). The Phantom pretends to be the spirit of her father, trying to gain her love once again. Raoul intervenes, and he swordfights with the Phantom. Raoul has the opportunity to kill the Phantom, but Christine won't allow him, and the two leave the cemetery together. 

    Raoul wants the opera house to perform Don Juan Triumphant as the Phantom demanded, hoping to use the performance as a trap and catch him, and Christine reveals she is frightened. Piangi was to play to lead role opposite Christine, but during the performance, the Phantom takes his place, and Carlotta discovers Piangi's dead body backstage. Christine and the Phantom perform together, and she rips off his mask in-front of the crowd, exposing him (The Point of No Return). With the audience in a frenzy and the police charging the stage, the Phantom cuts the rope holding the great chandelier aloft, grabs Christine, and plunges into the sewers beneath the stage. The chandelier falls and sets fire to the opera house. The Phantom drags Christine back to his lair, and an angry mob attempts to follow the two into the sewers. Madame Giry takes Raoul to the sewers a different way, and although he faces challenges, he succeeds in reaching the Phantom's lair much more swiftly than the mob. 

    Christine confronts the Phantom about his obsession with her and the torment he has brought to many. The Phantom tells her she has no choice but to spend her days with him, and forces her into the wedding dress from the wax figure, as well as returns her engagement ring. Raoul runs in, and Christine tells him to run before it's too late. Raoul refuses to leave without Christine. The Phantom traps Raoul and begins to strangle him with rope. He tells Christine the only way to free Raoul is to "buy his freedom with her love," and spend her days with him the lair. Christine laments ever trusting him. She kisses the Phantom out of pity; it is the first display of compassion the Phantom has ever received. The Phantom realizes he cannot force someone to love him, and feeling hopeless, lets Christine and Raoul leave before the mob arrives. Christine gives him her ring, and the lovers flee.

    Back in the present, the old man has arrived at a cemetery. It is revealed to be the elderly Raoul visiting Christine's grave, as she passed before him. When he arrives, he sees a rose with a black ribbon and the ring attached; the Phantom's undying love for Christine. 

Thoughts

    Phantom has a lot going on. The first thing I'm going to say is that I am definitely Team Raoul. Apparently there are a lot of fans who ship (pair together) Christine and the Phantom, but to me, that's an extremely toxic relationship (if you know Love Never Dies, disregard that for now). The Phantom is obsessed with Christine, and not in a good way, while Raoul actually loved Christine and wanted to be with her romantically. I'm just saying, Christine and Raoul as a couple is much healthier than Christine and the Phantom. This cat stands firm in his decision. 

    Okay, now that I've got that out of the way, let's get into the details. The plot mostly revolves around Christine and her talent, as well as the love triangle between her, Raoul, and the Phantom. However, there are several other issues, including Carlotta's drama and the destruction the Phantom brings to the theater. Now, I've seen the film version many, many times, and yet I am pleasantly never bored of the somewhat bland love triangle. I can totally understand how some viewers might find the plot slow-moving or boring, but I can also see the appeal and why Phantom has had the incredible success that it's achieved. Although it's not the most dramatic, driven, or heart-wrenching plot, there's just something about the timeless appeal of the characters, their passion, and the classic trials of love. 

    Not to be forgotten, Carlotta adds a fresh plot of drama to the story, preventing it from completely becoming a basic love-triangle story. Minnie Driver adds the perfect amount of hilarity to the pompous performer, which is greatly appreciated in a somewhat solemn musical. 

    And we HAVE to talk about the destruction that the Phantom causes. I'm kinda just reiterating my point about the Phantom being a toxic character. Sure, the show is literally named after him (or vice versa? Hmm), but that doesn't mean he is a good charter or deserves praise. Hanging a man, setting a theater on fire, and attempting to drown and then strangle Raoul? All on my list of traits that make up a bad person. However, it is completely acceptable to hate the character and love the actor, which is exactly what we must do for this film. Gerard Butler does a great job as the Phantom. We have to give him credit, considering he had never sung in film productions prior to taking on the massive role of the Phantom. In my personal opinion, I feel as though musical theatre actors should take preference for roles such as this, but Butler did an adequate job considering his limited musical background. 

    A small complaint is the lack of motion. To me, most of the acting feels very static, so it's fortunate that the plot is so iconic. This is just another reason to see the show in person: you witness actors who perform live as a career, and the experience is much more authentic. Some movie adaptations of musicals have been very successful and believable as films, such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, but Phantom unfortunately missed the mark. Still, the film was nonetheless an enjoyable production to witness, and will definitely provide an experience to fans who aren't able to witness a live production of the show. 

    This show is definitely for a more mature audience; I don't recommend showing this film to your kids or kittens. There are a few depictions of violence, and some weird stuff in general. However, if you're of age or can handle it, I definitely recommend watching the film or live production. Phantom of the Opera is one of the most iconic musicals of all time, and that's not for lack of reason. 

    Alas, I have to give this show 1 star on the cat rating scale. No cats! Disappointed but not surprised, I'm not even sure how I would incorporate a cat or two into this plot. 

Ratings

Find the rating scale here.

Soundtrack          ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Acting                  ⭐⭐⭐

Lighting               ⭐⭐⭐

Set                        ⭐⭐⭐

Overall                 ⭐⭐⭐

Cat rating             ⭐

Best song: The Point of No Return 

Best actor: Gerard Butler

Best set: The Phantom's Cave

Fun Facts!

• Emmy Rossum was 16 years old when she took on the challenging role of Christine Daaé!
• Director Joel Schumacher wanted the fire in the theater to look real, so they actually lit parts of the theater on fire to destroy it. 
• Michael Jackson wanted to star as the Phantom in 1988, but composer Andrew Lloyd Webber felt it was too soon for a film version to transpire (NerdiPop).
• The opera the actors are rehearsing at the beginning of the movie, "Hannibal," is not a real opera. Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote it specifically for the movie. 
• The audience reaction sounds in the movie during the chandelier crash were recorded at an actual theater performance of Phantom of the Opera in early 2004. 
• He goes by the Phantom, but his name is Erik.

Works Cited

NerdiPop. “32 Fun Facts about the 2004 Movie 'The Phantom of the Opera'.” NerdiPop, 12 Jan. 2017, nerdipop.co.za/32-fun-facts-about-the-2004-movie-the-phantom-of-the-opera/.

“The Phantom of the Opera (1986 Musical).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Oct. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Phantom_of_the_Opera_(1986_musical).