Phantom - West End or Broadway?

[AngusN]

Posted: 12/6/16 at 12:44pm

So, my partner and I are travelling to NYC for Christmas and he really wants to see Phantom, however, I believe it will be better to see in the West End. Any recommendations? Preferences? 

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 12/6/16 at 12:50pm

Why not see it both places? It can be interesting to compare productions. Most people on here will tell you to see the newest thing and nothing else. 

[ukpuppetboy]

Posted: 12/6/16 at 1:06pm

It's been years since I've seen Phantom at the Majestic but the productions themselves should be pretty much identical (Phantom catching Christine when she faints and the "Mausoleum Trio" variation aside). Her Majesty's is the nicer (more intimate) theatre (so long as you're in the Stalls/Dress Circle) and the current cast and production is in great shape having just hosted the 30th Anniversary party in October - though I hear great things about James Barbour as well.

The deciding factor for me would be what other shows would seeing Phantom rob me of catching. In London currently that would be pretty much nothing - whereas New York over the last few years has a host of interesting new work on and off broadway. So I'd say go in London..

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/6/16 at 1:07pm

The physical productions are pretty much identical. I'd say to go with the cast you want to see the most. For me personally I'd rather see Ben Forster's Phantom in the West End over James Barbour on Broadway.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 12/6/16 at 1:07pm

James Barbour is fantastic, but I wasn't a fan of Ali Ewoldt's Christine whatsoever. Given ukpuppetboy's review, I'd go for London.

[broadwayguy91]

Posted: 12/6/16 at 8:05pm

West End. the cast is usually fresher.

[Justin D]

Posted: 12/7/16 at 7:48am

I think too cost would be a factor, generally speaking west end tickets are cheaper and the theatre is smaller so you would get a better view. etc. The cheaper tickets at the Majestic up at the back are very far far away.

That being said, personally, I prefer the Broadway version because everything is just a little bit bigger and breathes better in the Majestic where as in London it can feel rather crammed in at Her Majesty's.

I also think (IMO) that the Broadway cast is usually better (vocally)

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 12/7/16 at 12:05pm

I haven't posted on here in AGES, but felt compelled to respond with my own taste.

The differences between the two productions are vast-I have seen in NY 10 times, and 7 in London. The reasons Justin D prefers Broadway are some of the reasons I, personally, do not prefer it.

It's worth mentioning that the productions' costumes and wigs are built rather differently... you are seeing productions managed and run in different countries.

The West End production is in a much smaller space (*), and the actors are "turned in" rather than "turned out;"; one will notice a significant more amount of ad-libbing, liberties (within reason), and experimentation down to the ensemble. These are quantifiable observations. Think of it this way- 30 particles in a small bottle has a lot more pressure than 30 particles in one double the size.

So, in NYC, you're getting a big "show business" show. Big, turned out. In London, you're having an intimate experience. Space affects actor intentions and executions.

(*) There are articles in the NY Times from 1986 and 1987 stating a desire to use the Martin Beck because it was as intimate/similar to Her Majesty's. Here is one, for example. Ultimately, as Michael Crawford states in this video, it was about selling more seats at the Majestic... whatever the Shuberts offered to get them to change their mind 4 months later, it must have been financially impassable.

Updated On: 12/7/16 at 12:05 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/7/16 at 12:40pm

I would say West End simply because it is a smaller theatre and it is the "original" production (including the comic-book flashing lightning bolts in the set design that were wisely cut from the Broadway production).  One word of caution...Her Majesty's Theatre has LOADS of obstructed view seats.  We purchased tickets from TKTS in the rear center stalls (orchestra) and could not see the top of the proscenium, so everything that happened up there, including ALL of the Phantom's appearance at the end of the first act, we could not see and the seats were not designated as obstructed.

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 12/7/16 at 12:48pm

CATSNYrevival said: "The physical productions are pretty much identical. I'd say to go with the cast you want to see the most. For me personally I'd rather see Ben Forster's Phantom in the West End over James Barbour on Broadway."

<<============ Ben Forster!! :)