The Phantom of the Opera US Tour

[RW3]

Posted: 11/28/13 at 4:51am

Did anyone go? How was it?

[bethyd]

Posted: 12/1/13 at 1:12pm

I saw it opening night and thought it was fantastic. However, it was my first time seeing Phantom so I know little about the changes made. I'd love to hear how it compares to the Broadway version.

[The Scorpion]

Posted: 12/1/13 at 2:39pm

I saw it opening night and thought it was fantastic. However, it was my first time seeing Phantom so I know little about the changes made. I'd love to hear how it compares to the Broadway version.


If it's anything like its UK incarnation of the tour, then the answer to that is BADLY.

[Justin D]

Posted: 12/3/13 at 5:53pm

word is the chandelier now does a vegas style rapid drop and shoots bits of plastic about, knowing Americans, this sounds like a law suit waiting to happen

[bethyd]

Posted: 12/3/13 at 7:51pm

It did kinda fall vertically and stopped just over the orchestra in the pit. There were sparks, but I was too far away to notice any plastic.

[JenM9]

Posted: 12/3/13 at 11:11pm

I saw the tour as well and really enjoyed it. It was my first time seeing Phantom so I can't compare it to the Broadway version, but I was very close to the chandelier and it does do a vertical drop and shoot sparks, but there were no bits of plastic or anything else as far as I could tell.

Updated On: 12/3/13 at 11:11 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/3/13 at 11:20pm

I would ask for my money back if there were no bits of plastic.

[ashleybrod]

Posted: 12/3/13 at 11:27pm

if i never saw it on broadway would it be a good idea or bad to see this tour?

[Sally]

Posted: 12/4/13 at 7:10am

I would be interested in hearing what someone familiar with the original production thinks of the changes (I know from past posts what Scorp thinks)---but also the opinions of the "uninitiated."

Ashleybrod, if you can see it on Broadway, that's the first choice, but a lot of people in the UK liked the tour--why not have a look?

[The Scorpion]

Posted: 12/4/13 at 6:21pm

Word is that they have made a few changes since the UK tour as the reception to it from the UK audiences -- and especially fans -- who are familiar with the original was not particularly favourable, so my view on the tour may be slightly out-of-date. I would say definitely try and see the Broadway production if you can -- it's an iconic piece of theatre in its own right and has become legendary for its staging with good reason. Hal Prince is one of the greats. Laurence Connor (who?)...isn't. I think first-timers to the show will enjoy the tour a lot more than anyone who knows how the show has been done until this point, because the production feels like a come-down. Hal Prince once said revivals should only happen if they are at least equal to or superior to the original production in terms of quality, and this is a good example of why.

What remains unacceptable, though, is the false claim by this production that they have retained Maria Björnson's costumes. They haven't. What you see are in many cases butchered versions of her costumes or costumes that are alien to her design. Particularly dreadful is the Phantom's outfit as the Red Death -- which makes him look more like Napoleon than anything else. Updated On: 12/4/13 at 06:21 PM

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 12/4/13 at 9:19pm

Still...looking forward to covering the Philly stop in March, though I don't get the purpose of re-inventing shows like POTO and Les Miserables. Last re-make to make me shudder was Wildhorn's Jekyll & Hyde. Flying plastic pieces? really?

[philly03]

Posted: 12/4/13 at 10:16pm

I wish it was the original rolling through Philly as well. EVITA suffered the same fate (also coming to Philly this Spring), but Jekyll is adaptable.

Just saw a few commercials for it tonight and it doesn't even get here til March!

[JBradshaw]

Posted: 12/4/13 at 10:21pm

They're showing commercials cause single tickets are on sale and giving tickets is the perfect Xmas or Hanukkah gift for theatre lovers in philly

[bdboston]

Posted: 12/5/13 at 8:54am

The Providence Journal has its review online; in all quite positive, with many accolades for the set/staging. The critic admits to never having seen the show before, and so did not make comparisons to the original B'way production. And yes, is seems the chandelier does indeed sprinkle fake shards of glass onto the audience.
Providence Journal POTO Review

[tourboi]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 12:59am

MOST of the costumes are Maria's. From what I can see it's really only Masquerade that's been resigned costume wise. Certainly most of the Phantom/Christine's costumes remain intact. Except for the Phantom's new wig. That's just odd.

Updated On: 12/6/13 at 12:59 AM

[ravnquest1]

Posted: 12/6/13 at 8:59am

Updated On: 6/17/17 at 08:59 AM