Question about Phantom (Spoilers)

[romain2]

My friend and I are the last 2 people in the world to see Phantom. He really wants to see it. I have problems with gunshots (darn PTSD) and have heard there are at least 2 in Phantom. Where are exactly are they in the show? Give as many details as possible. Spoilers will help in this case.

Thank you so much!

[BroadwayPrincess3]

I might suggest checking out the 25th anniversary filming of Phantom to help you prepare. Once people on this board tell you the parts that might be triggering to you, you can watch the filmed version and know the exact dialogue and staging as well as where the gunshot sound comes from. That way you’re in a controlled space when you initially hear it and can emulate that feeling of control within the theatre.

I’m sure someone else will be better off at describing where the shots occur than I ever could. The one I can think of is in the second act when they plan to lure the phantom out with Christine as bait. The phantom runs off with Christine and the man with the gun fires, to which Rahoul tells them to hold their fire. Of course, someone else will elaborate much better.

[CATSNYrevival]

*spoilers*

One I remember is after the "Wandering Child" graveyard scene in act two. The police chief orders his men to secure all the doors in the theatre. You hear them each close their doors and shout "secure" and then we hear the Phantom's voice and he shouts "I'm here! I'm here!" One of the policemen in the orchestra pit, I believe, fires his gun. It shouldn't be too bad if you mentally prepare yourself once the policemen start securing the doors.

I believe there's another one at the end of "The Point of No Return" again in act two when Christine unmasks the Phantom during a moment of chaos.

[BalconyClub]

In addition to the gunshots, the show also has a dizzying bright white flashpot moment. It has been several years since I've seen the show, but I believe it is near the end of the graveyard scene.

I would always hold up my Playbill over my eyes a split second before the bright flash - except the FIRST viewing one week before Phantom won several Tonys.

After Christine sings Wishing you were Somehow near again - or maybe the lyric is HERE again - the Phantom appears with a scepter that spits out small sparks. The Phantom's ire increases, and soon, the dizzying bright white flash occurs to end the scene.

[romain2]

That’s a great idea Broadway Princess! Thanks!

And thanks so much CATS and BalconyClub.

You all helped tremendously!

[ImAProphet]

BalconyClub said: "In addition to the gunshots, the show also has a dizzying bright white flashpot moment. It has been several years since I've seen the show, but I believe it is near the end of the graveyard scene.

I would always hold up my Playbill over my eyes a split second before the bright flash - except the FIRST viewing one week before Phantom won several Tonys.

After Christine sings Wishing you were Somehow near again - or maybe the lyric is HERE again - the Phantom appears with a septre that spits out small sparks. The Phantom's ire increases, and soon, the dizzying bright white flash occurs to end the scene."

This is definitely worth noting. The Phantom's line "Now let it be war upon you both!" would be your cue to cover your eyes.

[PatrickDC]

When reading this thread I was thinking about the cemetery scene that BalconyClub mentioned. The first time I saw POTO was the tour at Seattle's Fifth Avenue. My sister got us front row center seats, and all these years later I can still see the flashpoints spitting out from the scepter, and at the very end several jets of fire shooting up from the stage (or maybe the crypt on which the Phantom is standing). We all commented later that we nearly got heatstroke from those. I'm not usually spooked at the theater by gunshots and what not, but those flames really got me. 

(Another memory: Given our seat location we felt a major breeze when the chandelier flew by us at the end of Act 1. I saw the show again in San Francisco, NYC, and London, and I don't recall the chandelier falling with the speed it did in Seattle.) 

[saxpower]

How close to the stage are you sitting?  The chandelier fall may be a bit triggering if you are too close and unprepared (though closing your eyes for a few moments will take care of it if thats an issue)

[Fosse76]

saxpower said: "How close to the stage are you sitting? The chandelier fall may be a bit triggering if you are too close and unprepared (though closing your eyes for a few moments will take care of it if thats an issue)"

I don't know about the tour, but in the original production there's an "explosion" right before the chandelier ascends, before the start of the overture.

[fashionguru_23]

Was just watching a comparison video of the "unmasking", and there is definatly a gun shot at that moment as the Phantom starts to run.


Romain, never see "The Bodyguard" musical, FYI. Not just because its not that good, but the opening gunshot in particular are very startling. 

[Phantom4ever]

Harold Prince directed the show so that there is a SURPRISE in every single scene. So you should be aware that in every scene, there will be something that will jostle you/shock you/surprise you/make you jump etc. 

The two places where you can physically see audience members jump in their seats is definitely the two gunshots that have been mentioned before. However, the second gunshot, as Phantom is running off the stage with Christine at the end of Don Juan, elicits far more jumps because it is such a chaotic scene. With the first one, the marksman is in the pit and everyone finds that so hilarious, and then doors start slamming shut and he keeps pointing the gun everywhere, so by the time he fires it, it is pretty much expected. 

[CT2NYC]

Phantom4ever said: "Harold Prince directed the show so that there is a SURPRISE in every single scene. So you should be aware that in every scene, there will be something that will jostle you/shock you/surprise you/make you jump etc."

Every single scene? That's just inaccurate. The OP said that he/she has PTSD, so why would you add to his/her concerns by saying something like that?

[Lot666]

CT2NYC said: "Phantom4ever said: "Harold Prince directed the show so that there is a SURPRISE in every single scene. So you should be aware that in every scene, there will be something that will jostle you/shock you/surprise you/make you jump etc."

Every single scene? That's just inaccurate. The OP said that he/she has PTSD, so why would you add to his/her concerns by saying something like that?"

Agreed. Just off the top of my head, absolutely nothing happens during "Think of Me" or "All I Ask of You" that jostles/shocks/surprises/makes the audience jump.

[Phantom4ever]

All right take it easy everybody. I said jostle you/shock you/SURPRISE you/make you jump.  No not every single scene will make the audience jump out of their seats obviously.  But my comment about Prince's direction still stands. And the OP asked, and I gave him an honest answer. 

From playbill:

"From that prologue through all of Phantom, which has many settings in its storytelling, each sequence must deliver a surprise, often a shock. The lighting is timed so that in some scenes the stage goes dark before the dialogue has finished, and in others the dialogue precedes the lighting."

http://www.playbill.com/article/exclusive-harold-prince-reveals-the-creation-of-the-phantom-of-the-opera-in-this-exclusive-excerpt-from-his-latest-memoir

and from this interview with the Huffington Post:

"What were you trying to accomplish with the staging?

Every scene in “Phantom” contains a surprise and that was very important to me — a piece of scenery almost hits someone or flames come out of a piece you don’t expect or a piano plays itself or the Phantom’s voice appears disembodied from someplace."

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/30/hal-prince-phantom-of-the-opera_n_987167.html

If you don't think there are surprises in All I Ask of You or Think of Me, I encourage to revisit the production and look for the surprises : )

 

[romain2]

Thanks for your info and the links!

And thank you everyone again for the preparation.

[PatrickDC]

romain2 said: "Thanks for your info and the links!

And thank you everyone again for the preparation."

Most of all, enjoy the show! Yeah, Phantom (and ALW in general) has its detractors, but it is a marvelous piece of stagecraft in my opinion. From what I've read here and on All That Chat, POTO is kept in excellent tip-top shape and the quality hasn't gone downhill long many long-runs. I think I've read Mr. Prince makes regular visits to ensure it stays that way. I've seen if 4 or maybe 5 times now. Been a very long time, but reading this thread I was thinking I might pop in again to see it if I have a free spot on my next Theater Binge Weekend to NYC.

[Lot666]

Phantom4ever said: "If you don't think there are surprises in All I Ask of You or Think of Me, I encourage to revisit the production and look for the surprises : )"

I've seen this show more than fifty times at The Majestic alone, and based on your original reference to things that "jostle/shock/surprise/make the audience jump", there's nothing like that during Christine's performance of "Think of Me" or during Christine and Raoul's performance of "All I Ask of You".

[Phantom4ever]

All right.  Harold Prince is wrong.  You are right.   Case closed!  

[Elfuhbuh]

Phantom4ever, please point out the “surprises” in either of those numbers that would be relevant to the issue the OP is asking about. If you can’t think of any, then maybe cut the unnecessary snark.

[Phantom of London]

If this might help you, I hate gunshots too and get very nervous and clammy If I know they’re coming, so I can feel for you.

Firstly the gunshots aren’t that loud, the ones in Les Mis are much louder and secondly you see the gunshots coming, so you have opportunity to cover your ears, which I used to do, but now except the Phantom aren’t too loud, if you feel you need to cover your ears still this is fine.

The gunshot are in the second half and are close together as they’re in the same scene.

All what remains to say is go and enjoy the show, if I can help you anymore please drop me a line.

 

[Fan123]

I think the posts above cover it, but just in case it's helpful, the 'Complete Phantom of the Opera' book might be available at your local library. It contains the show's libretto, including basic stage directions. I don't think it covers absolutely every special effect, and there may have been minor changes to the production since the book's publication; but reading it could be a good 'hands-off' way of getting a sense of when various things are going to occur.