25th anniversary celebrations

I saw that and went off on an epic rant to some friends at a private forum...then had a rather epic nightmare about a really mixed-up performance in which (among other things) the Broadway production started using the movie's MOTN as a pre-recorded track.

The Hidden Plotters were wondering if this angel proscenium statue is a copy of some work of art or created for the show...and complaining they can't find a credit to the designer (and that if the designer isn't credit, oooh, copyright violation).

I guess they're just so busy counting the candles to see if the number of flames divided by the number of letters in the name GERARD BUTLER and added to the number of cards in a Tarot deck that's been washed in iced tea and multiplied by the number scenes in which Emmy is barefoot to determine that THE PHANTOM IS AN ANGEL AND THE ANGEL IS A MAN AND THE MAN IS THE SACRED KING OF MUSIC.

Raphael wrote:

Scorp wrote:I would also like to join the toast for articulate and intelligent discussion, informed opinions substantiated with examples, well-constructed arguments, mature behaviour and non-fanaticism and an avoidance of unadulterated, unqualified and non-credible fawning adulation.

As long as I can still salivate over Apple!Porn and call Fraser's Raoul a *expletive deleted* *expletive deleted* *expletive deleted* who can suck a *expletive deleted* *expletive deleted* *expletive deleted* while Gerard Butler *expletive deleted* a *expletive deleted* *expletive deleted* on a donkey, then I'll be sound as a pound

Yeah, I think you can get away with that. Feel free to call Joel Schumacher and Ben Elton *expletive deleted* *expletive deleted* pieces of *expletive deleted* *expletive deleted* *expletive deleted* who should preferably *expletive deleted* *expletive deleted* themselves while *expletive deleted* *expletive deleted* on a *expletive deleted* *expletive deleted* too.

As for the batsh!t crazy virus, surely the fact that ALW threw the design of London's Paint Never Dries under a bus is enough to destroy their whole theory? Didn't they use that design as part of their theory?

Scorp wrote:
Yeah, I think you can get away with that. Feel free to call Joel Schumacher and Ben Elton *expletive deleted* *expletive deleted* pieces of *expletive deleted* *expletive deleted* *expletive deleted* who should preferably *expletive deleted* *expletive deleted* themselves while *expletive deleted* *expletive deleted* on a *expletive deleted* *expletive deleted* too.

Schumacher and Elton? How could I have forgotten them? OF COURSE they're welcome to the *expletive deleted* party

As for the batsh!t crazy virus, surely the fact that ALW threw the design of London's Paint Never Dries under a bus is enough to destroy their whole theory? Didn't they use that design as part of their theory?

No, you see, ALW throwing LND's design under the bus is actually a part of their theory - they just didn't realize it until it happened.

Stuff like this make me really want to get to work on my "The De Chagny Code" fan film.

TAFKaR

I was the one who (lol) brought that to their attention over there.

That PhantomGerry forum is one of the scariest places I have *ever* had my eyes gloss over.

ML6 wrote:I was the one who (lol) brought that to their attention over there.

That PhantomGerry forum is one of the scariest places I have *ever* had my eyes gloss over.

Gah! I went there - I went to that strange place, and I thought - will I ever get out of here? Coming back here is almost oasis-like.....and much funnier. Now to blitz it out of my memory - hmmm, stick my finger in a socket or something....

It's refreshing to see that other people of sound mind find the hidden plotters as idiotic as I do. Their ringleader and chief-finder-of-abstruse- evidence to support their incredible theories invaded Phantomoftheopera.com once for a few weeks, and it got interesting. At first, some of the regulars tried to be polite, but eventually I think everyone realized that that the hidden plot involved an elaborate and intricate collection of "evidence" that made no sense at all to anyone who had good sense and who also was not a completely mad E/C shipper.

I noticed some blue light streaks in one of the videos of parts of the 25th concert. I don't remember what the blue light was supposed to represent in their scheme, but I believe it was something IMPORTANT

I would try looking it up, but I'm too busy studying the "spirit globes" in some of my digital photographs.

Bric wrote:I noticed some blue light streaks in one of the videos of parts of the 25th concert. I don't remember what the blue light was supposed to represent in their scheme, but I believe it was something IMPORTANT

Isn't blue the sign of pregnancy?



Ahem... Just wanted to share my geeky joy over having spotted Aussie Hannibal slavegirl costumes in the Hannibal scene of the concert. Believe it or not, it made my day.

Can someone tell me why the Carlotta who was originally supposed to be in the concert couldn't do it? I totally forgot that it wasn't meant to be Wendy up until now.

Viscountess wrote:Can someone tell me why the Carlotta who was originally supposed to be in the concert couldn't do it? I totally forgot that it wasn't meant to be Wendy up until now.

She came down with a throat infection. Wendy Ferguson started rehearsals two days before the concert, but there was no public announcements until either the day before the first concert, or the same day (can't remember right now). So it seems Duffy hoped for the longest time she would be able to sing.

I just heard from someone who has the brochure that there's a picture of Duffy in Carlotta costume in the souvenir brochure. I can't believe no-one has scanned that yet! Anyone? Pretty please?

operafantomet wrote:

Bric wrote:I noticed some blue light streaks in one of the videos of parts of the 25th concert. I don't remember what the blue light was supposed to represent in their scheme, but I believe it was something IMPORTANT

Isn't blue the sign of pregnancy?

Oh, in their scheme of things, it was a lot more:

"and that is where the blue light shows. Through his spirit and her head (mind, perhaps also could mean voice, but he sang into her mind, so that makes more sense.)

The blue light in actual symbolism means "truth" and "divinity"- and I think this is just one way they used to show the "truth" of who E & C were - Music. ...Below, erratic lines of blue light run through his middle (his spirit, where the blue lines always show on him). His emotions are in turmoil — and as he walks a row of blue bubbles follows him at the end of those blue lines of light. In actual symbolism of light we learned that bubbles are symbolic of “negative energy”— and we think they did this to show his spirit is deeply wounded. "

---Made me want to tear my hair out.

Bric wrote:

operafantomet wrote:

Bric wrote:I noticed some blue light streaks in one of the videos of parts of the 25th concert. I don't remember what the blue light was supposed to represent in their scheme, but I believe it was something IMPORTANT

Isn't blue the sign of pregnancy?

Oh, in their scheme of things, it was a lot more:

"and that is where the blue light shows. Through his spirit and her head (mind, perhaps also could mean voice, but he sang into her mind, so that makes more sense.)

The blue light in actual symbolism means "truth" and "divinity"- and I think this is just one way they used to show the "truth" of who E & C were - Music. ...Below, erratic lines of blue light run through his middle (his spirit, where the blue lines always show on him). His emotions are in turmoil — and as he walks a row of blue bubbles follows him at the end of those blue lines of light. In actual symbolism of light we learned that bubbles are symbolic of “negative energy”— and we think they did this to show his spirit is deeply wounded. "

---Made me want to tear my hair out.

Bric, I was one of the people who slammed the hell out of her in that post. The best bit of my summer last year, I kid you not. She just needed to go down.

operafantomet wrote:
Ahem... Just wanted to share my geeky joy over having spotted Aussie Hannibal slavegirl costumes in the Hannibal scene of the concert. Believe it or not, it made my day.

I saw them too! Along with many a German costume! German princess and Soldier costumes up close.. costume heaven. And I think its weird they used West End Wigs with the Aussie costumes.

operafantomet wrote:

Viscountess wrote:Can someone tell me why the Carlotta who was originally supposed to be in the concert couldn't do it? I totally forgot that it wasn't meant to be Wendy up until now.

She came down with a throat infection. Wendy Ferguson started rehearsals two days before the concert, but there was no public announcements until either the day before the first concert, or the same day (can't remember right now). So it seems Duffy hoped for the longest time she would be able to sing.

I just heard from someone who has the brochure that there's a picture of Duffy in Carlotta costume in the souvenir brochure. I can't believe no-one has scanned that yet! Anyone? Pretty please?

It's on a slip they added in at the last minute, not in the actual brochure itself. You'll see it when you get it.

The picture is in the brochure. They've used old pictures for Ramin, et al but new ones for HF, Duffy and LR. When I get my scanner up and running again, I'll post 'em if you like?

Any other requests? Anyone want anything from the boxset hardback book?

operafantomet wrote:

Viscountess wrote:Can someone tell me why the Carlotta who was originally supposed to be in the concert couldn't do it? I totally forgot that it wasn't meant to be Wendy up until now.

She came down with a throat infection. Wendy Ferguson started rehearsals two days before the concert, but there was no public announcements until either the day before the first concert, or the same day (can't remember right now). So it seems Duffy hoped for the longest time she would be able to sing.

I just heard from someone who has the brochure that there's a picture of Duffy in Carlotta costume in the souvenir brochure. I can't believe no-one has scanned that yet! Anyone? Pretty please?

Ah, I see. Thanks!

Also, any particular reason Sierra was missing her Star Princess sleeves?

Found an interesting article about the whole process and technology behind the projection screens and shots used in the RAH performance:

http://www.techietalk.co.uk/news/xl-video-phantom-opera-25th-anniversary-gala-event/

A particularly noteworthy line:

The overall creative brief was to keep the show’s look and feel faithful to the late Maria Björnson’s original Phantom design which is hugely loved and respected worldwide.

~Madame~

I can't decide if this is cool or bizarre, or maybe both.



http://www.motor-mouse.net/ItemDetails.aspx?ItemId=45

It's official and was "exclusively commissioned by The Really Useful Group to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the world famous West End show".

(Forgive me if this has been posted already.)

If the mask was nice, I would like it. But the mask looks so... lumpy. So it ends up in my "no" files...

I think someone posted that in the eBay thread, and as someone mentioned, it can't be good for you ergonomically. I can imagine cramping and carpel tunnel kicking in quickly.

Yeah, my mouse hand winced in pain just looking at that thing.

~LCD

LadyCDaae wrote:Yeah, my mouse hand winced in pain just looking at that thing.

~LCD

Mine too. Got a psychosomatic cramp in that muscle on the side of my right palm that joins up near the pinkie knuckle.

The new artwork for the CD is out...can't say I'm really thrilled about it. Seems too busy...



I'll bet the DVD ones will change too then...

Well, the design is not BAD... It's just very average. A bit busy, as PhantomsGhost wrote. The Phantom mask inside the big mask eye, for example. Also, the Masquerade set was the least impressive one, sad to see that featured. But it looks festive, if nothing else.

PhantomsGhost wrote:The new artwork for the CD is out...can't say I'm really thrilled about it..

Could be worse... http://shop.thephantomoftheopera.com/Store/DII-2944-8-the+phantom+of+the+opera+movie+soundtrack+cd.html



~Madame~

Madame Giry wrote:

PhantomsGhost wrote:The new artwork for the CD is out...can't say I'm really thrilled about it..

Could be worse... http://shop.thephantomoftheopera.com/Store/DII-2944-8-the+phantom+of+the+opera+movie+soundtrack+cd.html



~Madame~

I was wondering whether I should Amazon/eBay off my copy of that. It's not as if I ever listen to it or even like to know it exists. But then, at the same time, I like having all the cast recordings...although I did refuse to buy the Polish one because I thought it was horrendous. What should I do with my soundtrack I wonder?

It's not that I don't like the design, but it's just so different from any Phantom artcover I remember. They are usually very minimalistic, and as you all said, there is a lot going on here.

I prefer the one with the tiny RAH under the mask.

I actually always liked the "Phantom's face emerging from the darkness" in the movie poster.

So looking here at the tracklist/runtimes, who is smart enough to figure out what cuts (if any) there will be to the CD. I enjoyed the Finale in the moment & doubtless will on the DVD, but in terms of re-listenability I'd rather have an official Seal My Fate etc.

SenorSwanky wrote:I actually always liked the "Phantom's face emerging from the darkness" in the movie poster.

It's not so much that I disliked the movie poster wholeheartedly as much as I hated the odd silver and dull pink color blocking scheme of the limited edition of the movie soundtrack that I linked to above. I believe that they later re-released the movie soundtrack with a revamped cover design utilizing the same poster, but included a gold picture frame border and white on black text. Big improvement.

~Madame~

PMB1034 wrote:So looking here at the tracklist/runtimes, who is smart enough to figure out what cuts (if any) there will be to the CD. I enjoyed the Finale in the moment & doubtless will on the DVD, but in terms of re-listenability I'd rather have an official Seal My Fate etc.

If my math is right, Act I is 72:01, Act II is 60:59 without the grand finale, and Act II with grand finale is 78:16

Full show of the DVD is around 2 hours 13 minutes no finale

Act I and Act II CD version (no finale) combined is 2 hours 21 minutes. (again, if my math is right)

Looks like this CD set will be the full show. (well, you know, if my math is right lol)