The London production 1

operafantomet wrote:
I think it's a pity they've skipped Christine from the dance. It might be a small detail, but it adds a lot to the role. And although most who's done the role after Sarah Brightman has lacked her dancing skills, there HAS been some talented dancers in between, many even dancing en pointe. And I'm thinking that if they can dance en pointe, they can surely dance the whole thing? It's cute enough that she joins towards the end, and I bet the general audience never notice she's lacking/blends in later. But... I like the idea of capable Christines dancing the whole thing.

(if I've understood it correctly, the Vegas Christine joins the dancers from the beginning, and they also dance en pointe... but much of the choreography is skipped there, so that's a different story)

I *think* the first two Vegas Christines (Boggess and Loyacano) danced en pointe, since they were trained dancers. But apparently cutting most of Christine's Hannibal dancing is standard in the US since Loyacano still didn't perform the whole routine when she was transferred to the Broadway company.

London question: I've been curious to know if those of you who have been watching Ramin for awhile have noticed any differences in his interpretation of the Phantom since he was cast in the musical that shall remain nameless. Just wondering if his Classic Phantom is being influenced by this new character he's been rehearsing.

R.

Just back from HM.

First time I've been in a couple of months, hadn't realised until the Stalls manager reminded me that tonight is Ramin's final performance before moving onto The Love that Dare Not Speak its Name.

New cast, at first glance, excellent.

Carlotta exceptional. If it's not an oxymoron, she's a very arch, patrician diva; crisp and precise and insistant. Such a relief to have a Carlotta with perfect diction. A female Tickell? Despite being Ramin's last performance, she stole the show for me. She and Rohan Tickell alone are worth the price of an A-class stalls seat.

I thought both Gina Beck and Ramin were fantastic. Gina much more subtle than I'd seen before; and Ramin technically perfect. Some shockingly poignant moments in his final Phantom.

And a VERY lingering "last" kiss between Phantom and Christine- AFTER she'd returned the ring- perhaps rather telling.

I'm so hyped about seeing POTO in West End again! It's been soooooo long.

I hope I get to see both Christines, other than that I have no preferences. Any snazzy souvenirs there now?

I assume no one's seen David Shannon yet. Looking forward to hearing what people think of his Phantom.

How much would the most expensive tickets in the Royal Circle coast in US dollars??

Callie Daae wrote:How much would the most expensive tickets in the Royal Circle coast in US dollars??

Currency converter: http://www.xe.com/ucc/.

By the way, one question mark always suffices. More makes you look really excitable and urgent.

SenorSwanky wrote:

Callie Daae wrote:How much would the most expensive tickets in the Royal Circle coast in US dollars??

Currency converter: http://www.xe.com/ucc/.

By the way, one question mark always suffices. More makes you look really excitable and urgent.

I am excitable and urgent. What's it to ya?

Callie Daae wrote:

SenorSwanky wrote:

Callie Daae wrote:How much would the most expensive tickets in the Royal Circle coast in US dollars??

By the way, one question mark always suffices. More makes you look really excitable and urgent.

I am excitable and urgent. What's it to ya?

Tee-hee-hee.

Callie Daae wrote:How much would the most expensive tickets in the Royal Circle coast in US dollars??

With the service fee they are around $105-110US depending on the exchange rate for the day.

operafantomet wrote:I'm so hyped about seeing POTO in West End again! It's been soooooo long.

I hope I get to see both Christines, other than that I have no preferences. Any snazzy souvenirs there now?

Enjoy it! I'm going next month. I should see Tabitha Webb play Christine, as it's a Thursday I'm going. I've not seen her before, so I'm looking forward to seeing what she's like. Hopefully David Shannon will be on too. Not sure about snazzy souvenirs, I didn't have time to have a good look last time I was there.

operafantomet wrote:I'm so hyped about seeing POTO in West End again! It's been soooooo long.

I hope I get to see both Christines, other than that I have no preferences. Any snazzy souvenirs there now?

If I remember the dates you are going correctly then you should get both Christines and an understudy for Carlotta (I would assume Melanie Gowie as she is first cover.)

Snazzy souvenirs? Not really, better than last year I'd say though. There are masks (but in my opinion they look pretty cheap) charm bracelets (if you want to wear it be prepared to have to put it on a crazy way like i do so it doesn't slide off...) bags and the usual t-shirts, key chains etc. Oh there is a rose I really like that says "Think of Me" on the ribbon but I don't have it yet as I've been hinting at someone to get me it since about April/ May or something... it hasn't worked! Off the top of my head I can't really remember anything else but I'm sure I'll probably have forgotten something. Oh and by then the new souvenir brochure will be out so there is always that.

Yay about the cast, meeeh about the souvenirs. But looking forward to the new brochure, I hope it's similar to the current one. Loved the unusual angles and clear pictures.

Thank you for replying!

Scorp, are we stagedooring? I know you feel as awkward as me there, but on the other hand I would love some goofy pictures... And of course, to stalk Ellen Jackson.... Ha-ha.

operafantomet wrote:Scorp, are we stagedooring? I know you feel as awkward as me there, but on the other hand I would love some goofy pictures... And of course, to stalk Ellen Jackson.... Ha-ha.

Yep. Why not?

Brilliant!

Any other from this forum who's going to be there on December 10th and/or 11th? Come join!

I was so close to booking for the 10th! I'm going the following week instead.

operafantomet wrote:Brilliant!

Any other from this forum who's going to be there on December 10th and/or 11th? Come join!

Count me in for the 10th! Thursday is my day off, so I'll have plenty of time. But I need someone to hold my hand at the stage-door. I've never dared go there before.

Quick question: I was looking at pics of Ramin as the Phantom and is it just me or does the London mask look more silver than white?

Callie Daae wrote:Quick question: I was looking at pics of Ramin as the Phantom and is it just me or does the London mask look more silver than white?

I think it's the highlighting, with grey shades being sprayed on to certain areas, that creates that effect. But I also think the UK masks are made of another plastic than the US ones? Not sure about the latter, but the structure looks a tad different.

operafantomet wrote:

Callie Daae wrote:Quick question: I was looking at pics of Ramin as the Phantom and is it just me or does the London mask look more silver than white?

I think it's the highlighting, with grey shades being sprayed on to certain areas, that creates that effect. But I also think the UK masks are made of another plastic than the US ones? Not sure about the latter, but the structure looks a tad different.

If I'm not mistaken, the London masks ARE silver instead of white. I think I remember JOJ saying that back in 2002 on the Week in the West End documentary. IIRC the masks used in the Japanese productions are silver too.

Caught a glimpse of the new Phantom Christmas poster today on London Underground. It's like the Les Mis one, so I assume Cameron Mackintosh commissioned it. Features the mask framed by a giant snowflake. Anyone got a pic?

Oh, interesting, I didn't know. Is it silver/grey plastic, or shading?

Sorry Scorp had meant to take a picture on the way home on Saturday night but didn't get one! You are right, it's identical to the Les Mis one despite the obvious.

I'm not sure how much I really like the Happy Christmas on either of the posters though, Phantom I think can just about get away with it but when I see Happy Christmas on a Les Mis poster I just think... depressing more like lol!

Josephine wrote:

operafantomet wrote:Brilliant!

Any other from this forum who's going to be there on December 10th and/or 11th? Come join!

Count me in for the 10th! Thursday is my day off, so I'll have plenty of time. But I need someone to hold my hand at the stage-door. I've never dared go there before.

Forgot to give a reply on this, but that's great news! When do the show start on Thursday? I'm trying to get an appointment at the V&A, but it seems they have limited time slots. Don't want it to crash with POTO, but if I must choose I'm afraid I will have to give the V&A first priority. THEY GOT BJØRNSON STUFF THERE!

But... it's a regular evening performance, right? 18:30?

They got Björnson stuff at Phantom too .

ETA: What Björnson stuff do they have at the V&A?

Phantomlove wrote:They got Björnson stuff at Phantom too .

Ha-ha-ha! Best answer evvah! *snorts*

But... V&A has got Bjørnson stuff I haven't seen before...:
http://potocostumes.webs.com/notes/graveyard.html

And also the sketch for Carlotta's "Masquerade" costume (with exciting info), plus some other Masquerade figures. And also a sketch for the First Lair scene, with dressing gown details. From the description I got, anyway. I'm super hyped about this, and the art historian in me is itching to write something fun and groundbreaking on Bjørnson's costume design. Just need lots of time and unlimited access to the design.... Yeah, sure...

That sounds like great things to go and watch. I hope you can take some pics. Trying my best not to be jealous... hm... it's going so so :geek: . Do you know if her stuff is exhibited permanently or is it just temporarily?

Why not try to do the article? You are an art historian after all and museums are also supposed to give access to people who do write articles and books and things like that.

operafantomet wrote:Forgot to give a reply on this, but that's great news! When do the show start on Thursday? I'm trying to get an appointment at the V&A, but it seems they have limited time slots. Don't want it to crash with POTO, but if I must choose I'm afraid I will have to give the V&A first priority. THEY GOT BJØRNSON STUFF THERE!

But... it's a regular evening performance, right? 18:30?

That would be 19:30.

operafantomet wrote:
Forgot to give a reply on this, but that's great news! When do the show start on Thursday? I'm trying to get an appointment at the V&A, but it seems they have limited time slots. Don't want it to crash with POTO, but if I must choose I'm afraid I will have to give the V&A first priority. THEY GOT BJØRNSON STUFF THERE!

But... it's a regular evening performance, right? 18:30?

That sounds so interesting. I haven't been to the V&A for at least half a year, but now I really want to go there again to see all that stuff. I think you should be able to go to the V&A and see POTO. The performance is not until 7.30.

19:30? Even better!

Alas the part of V&A I wanted to visit is by appointment only, and they only have a time slot on Friday (closed on Thursdays). Crap. I'll be in Italy on Friday. I'll still visit the V&A, but not the study room where they have the Bjørnson sketches. Guess I'll have to go there some other time.

Buuut.... looking forward to London!

And Josefine: I'll definitely write a Bjørnson article sometime, but I don't think it'll be so grand-scale as I see it right now...

OK, to make sure I've gotten it right:

Scorp, we're meeting on December 9th, seeing Phantom in the evening (YAY!), and we're doing some Phantom nerding, both before and after, oui? When and where? We must buy tickets.

Josephine, we're meeting on December 10th, also for the evening performance? When and where? I'll be in London all day, my only plan is to visit the National Gallery, and it's not particularly far from Her Majesty's Theatre... I'll hold your hand at the stage door! I always feel awkward at the stage door, so I'll probably be overly jolly and chatty... He-he.