The London production 2

Happy Birthday PHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Happy Birthday!!!

And John Owen-Jones has all of his holidays listed on his website. johnowenjones.com

Thanks!

Happy 25th London production!

I'm usually not one to call out something like this, but at this very moment on the London production's Facebook page, there is a fellow named Geoffrey who is in a spirited debate about the love triangle and how the changes made to PotO at the 25th Anniversary "enhances" LND. Typically, I'd leave this sort of thing alone or poke my head in to make a short statement myself, but then the guy said this:

The way one views LND depends fully on how they saw Phantom. I guess I saw it as it was intended.

and

See the funny thing about opinions. Unless they are my opinion they are completely wrong. LOL

So for any of you on Facebook, I call on you to set this guy straight by replying to that thread. As it is with this forum, try to keep it logical, well-researched, and civil. I'll post something myself when I have the opportunity.

TAFKaR

Hi, can anyone tell me who the current London Phantom understudy (aka 2nd cover) is please. I know it was Brian McCann but as he left the cast i wondered who had replaced him?

I would help but I cannot seem to find it, where exactly is it Raphael?

London-Phan wrote:Hi, can anyone tell me who the current London Phantom understudy (aka 2nd cover) is please. I know it was Brian McCann but as he left the cast i wondered who had replaced him?

It's Simon Shorten.

Miss von Krolock wrote:

London-Phan wrote:Hi, can anyone tell me who the current London Phantom understudy (aka 2nd cover) is please. I know it was Brian McCann but as he left the cast i wondered who had replaced him?

It's Simon Shorten.

Thankyou. Has he be on yet as the Phantom do you know?

London-Phan wrote:

Miss von Krolock wrote:

London-Phan wrote:Hi, can anyone tell me who the current London Phantom understudy (aka 2nd cover) is please. I know it was Brian McCann but as he left the cast i wondered who had replaced him?

It's Simon Shorten.

Thankyou. Has he be on yet as the Phantom do you know?

No, as far as I know he hasn't been on yet.

Happy 25th birthday to the London production! Here's to many more.

Happy b'day to the phantastic original. (Sad we have to use the word "original.")

SenorSwanky wrote:Happy b'day to the phantastic original. (Sad we have to use the word "original.")

Or as the London posters say 'Brilliant Original'

(I so love that that's on the posters...)

Yeah, couldn't remember the adjective they used. I hate it. It's derogatory and insulting. It is the ONLY Phantom, not the original. That other schlock is just some half-baked and insulting fanfic someone poured money down the tubes putting on stage. And I hate fanfic and shipping and all that crap.

SenorSwanky wrote:Yeah, couldn't remember the adjective they used. I hate it. It's derogatory and insulting. It is the ONLY Phantom, not the original. That other schlock is just some half-baked and insulting fanfic someone poured money down the tubes putting on stage. And I hate fanfic and shipping and all that crap.

But really, Dustin, tell us how you truly feel.

Personally I like the use of 'The Brilliant Original' as a marketing tool for the show. It distinguishes the legendary production from its (admittedly ill-conceived) offspring and recognizes its well-deserved success and renown.

Think of it as less a mark of shame and more a badge of honor.

~Madame~

They've used the tagline before, I think it was around the time the filmthatshallnotbenamed came out in 2004. To be honest, you could interpret "the brilliant original" as referring to the fact that it's the original production rather than seeing it as a way to distinguish between the show and...lesser forms of entertainment.

BTW, re Swanky's point on fanfic and shipping etc... Snap! I don't "ship" anyone. I just have respect for the story. I don't object to LND because I'm a "R/C shipper" or whatever. I'm neither "E/C" nor "R/C" nor "E/M" nor "R/M" (nor "C/M", though that would be interesting, as would "E/R" ). Those sorts of labels sound horribly childish to me and reek of Twilight-type fandoms. I object to it because it's a deformation of the story and its characters.

If this has been posted in this thread before, my apologies. I went back through the last few pages and didn't see it.

Someone on DeviantArt posted this picture of a Limited Edition London poster (500 printed) that collects the 9 posters used for the London Production over the years.

http://waggers124.deviantart.com/art/Limited-Edition-Phantom-poster-262481415

Which reminds me, I still need to get my hands on one of those Red Death Phantastic posters. And, whoa, I've never seen that 22 Years poster before. Does anyone have a picture of that in a a larger size?

Also, does anyone know where you can order one of those limited posters?

~Madame~

The limited poster comes with the 25th anniversary box set:
http://shop.thephantomoftheopera.com/Store/DII-8832-8-the+phantom+of+the+opera+25th+anniversary+box+set.html

I ordered one. Can't wait till it arrives.

Deleting review- I can't take back what I said, but I realize tonight that I would like to review the shows less in public domain, and to respect the feelings of the artists. I should not write positive or negative reviews in a quick go... it's not fair to the artists' integrity or feelings.

I thought I'd throw this out here. London Phantom tonight. John Owen-Jones and Killian Donnelly are having a tweet-off. Starts when the overture starts, which I 'd guess is about now...? (or in a half hour?)

https://twitter.com/#!/johnowenjones
https://twitter.com/#!/killiandonnelly
https://twitter.com/search?q=#johnvskillian

So far it's been quite amusing.

(Trying to amuse myself at work while I'm waiting for stuff to come in to do...)

Came home to that, and found it quite funny!

Scorp wrote:BTW, re Swanky's point on fanfic and shipping etc... Snap! I don't "ship" anyone. I just have respect for the story. I don't object to LND because I'm a "R/C shipper" or whatever. I'm neither "E/C" nor "R/C" nor "E/M" nor "R/M" (nor "C/M", though that would be interesting, as would "E/R" ). Those sorts of labels sound horribly childish to me and reek of Twilight-type fandoms. I object to it because it's a deformation of the story and its characters.

Amen.

OK, for the first time in ages I have an itch to see Phantom again. Seeing the RAH event made me appreciate the original at Her Majesty's all the more, and since I'm now apprehensive about what the new tour is going to look like, I want to get some full-fat original into my veins. Anyone want to go any time soon? I'd like to catch JOJ a couple of times before we get Jöback in...

Scorp wrote:OK, for the first time in ages I have an itch to see Phantom again. Seeing the RAH event made me appreciate the original at Her Majesty's all the more, and since I'm now apprehensive about what the new tour is going to look like, I want to get some full-fat original into my veins. Anyone want to go any time soon? I'd like to catch JOJ a couple of times before we get Jöback in...

I WANT I WANT I WANT

(but I can't I can't I cant.... )

operafantomet wrote:

Scorp wrote:OK, for the first time in ages I have an itch to see Phantom again. Seeing the RAH event made me appreciate the original at Her Majesty's all the more, and since I'm now apprehensive about what the new tour is going to look like, I want to get some full-fat original into my veins. Anyone want to go any time soon? I'd like to catch JOJ a couple of times before we get Jöback in...

I WANT I WANT I WANT

(but I can't I can't I cant.... )

Aw, can you make it at all to London before the end of the year?

So, on another board, I just saw Scott Davies being referred to as seeming too old for the role of The Phantom. This makes me very sad. It would seem these days anyone who is not young is unsuitable for the role. That is all.

starryeyed wrote:So, on another board, I just saw Scott Davies being referred to as seeming too old for the role of The Phantom. This makes me very sad. It would seem these days anyone who is not young is unsuitable for the role. That is all.

Too old? Isn't he in his forty's? Michael Crawford was 46 when he originated the role. Scott is not too old, although the average age of actors playing the phantom seems to be early to mid thirty's.

starryeyed wrote:So, on another board, I just saw Scott Davies being referred to as seeming too old for the role of The Phantom. This makes me very sad. It would seem these days anyone who is not young is unsuitable for the role. That is all.

Wow. Too old? I guess they have not read the novel and realized around how old Erik really is suppose to be. I wonder what these folks would think if Peter Karrie was in the new UK Tour as originally planned?

I assume these are the same people who think the age issue between Christine and the Phantom is creepy especially since they're meant to end up together for eternity.

Guess what? The age issue between them IS creepy. Their whole relationship IS creepy, if you look at it objectively. I can very well understand how it all appears better if the Phantom is 30-something and handsome. But that's kinda... another musical, ya know?

/bitchy and bitter

As for Scott Davies, I could understand the "too old" argument if he didn't have the voice anymore, or showed signs of being tired. But he still sings the role incredibly well, and gives it all on acting. Whether one like his interpretation or not is up to one's preferences, but it's not age related.

I believe Scott is 50 and I most definitely agree with everyones replies. Yes if he seemed tired I would say perhaps he is getting too old for playing the role, but I would only apply that to him. I wouldn't say he was too old because of his age, too old just because he seemed tired.

Also, not naming names but he seems to have a lot more stamina than certain ex (younger) Phantom's. I was at a performance where he badly injured his ankle on the trap door and he continued to the end (albeit limping) and did a further week of performances as The Phantom on an extremely bad ankle injury. The same couldn't be said of most!

my 2 cents, totally agree, I much prefer an older phantom, thats why I loved McGillin so much in the role. He is SUPPOSED to have a long history back in Pursia and all that, how can someone in their late 20's early 30's do all that. And I love the whole creepy vibe of him being old enough to be her father, and living such a long life shunned.