Phantom & Christine Doubles- Page 2

[thedrybandit]

Posted: 4/23/20 at 3:27pm

LizzieCurry said: "I was a performance of the tour (the third national, not the current) around 2003 when the overture itself was delayed. The spark went off on the chandelier after "GENTLEMEN!", but the drapery got a bit tangled and the chandelier rose in SILENCE. Or, at least, without an overture. You could hear the motor inside.It made me wonder if the entire organ part is recorded, or maybe most of the beginning, and the entanglement triggered something? I can't even remember how much of the overture ended up being played. It was super awkward but also fascinating."

The first 75 seconds are recorded. The orchestra comes in at that point, when strings are introduced. In the linked clip, they start at 1:17.
https://youtu.be/NhttZz9lmpk?t=78

 

"Not sure who plays the body double after, I think it might be one of the Phantom understudies"

It's one of the male dancers, either the slave master or the il muto dancer, whichever one hands out the drinks to the leads during Masquerade. He crosses the stage, hands out drinks, and then goes behind the stairs to change.

[saxpower]

Posted: 4/23/20 at 4:19pm

I remember hearing somewhere that the reason for using the tape, at least at the beginning, is that with all the machinery necessary to do the scene change from Christine's dressing room to the Phantom's lair, the body mikes were picking it up. 

It  occurred to me though- this means they need to have tapes for every potential combination of Christine and the Phantom-  One for Phantom with the primary Christine, one for Phantom with alternate Christine, one   for Phantom with each Christine understudy, and separate ones for all the potential combinations of understudies. Someone has to keep all that straight and make sure they know which tape to pull.   They're professionals, of course but still... another thing to keep straight. 

[saxpower]

Posted: 4/23/20 at 4:19pm

Sorry, double post

Updated On: 4/23/20 at 04:19 PM

[Wysandria]

Posted: 4/23/20 at 4:41pm

Helloooo. I did the show and will tell you all for a fact that there are two ensemble members who double as Christine. I was one of them. I understudied Carlotta and the other was the Christine cover. The phantom double is the understudy for the slave master. And yes, the Entire song is taped from the very beginning to end!

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 4/23/20 at 4:41pm

Nowadays I would assume it's all digital and can be layered in individually by each track as opposed to attempting to create all the various permutations that could exist. So part of the top of show presets would be the A1 or the conductor (depending on who has control of the playback) swapping files in and out based on the In/Out sheet they receive from stage management for each performance.

[imeldasturn]

Posted: 4/23/20 at 4:45pm

No, each track is recorded singularly by every lead, alternate and understudy. They are separate so it's easier to mix them depending on the cast on stage

[thedrybandit]

Posted: 4/23/20 at 5:02pm

AEA AGMA SM said: "Nowadays I would assume it's all digital and can be layered in individually by each track as opposed to attempting to create all the various permutations that could exist. So part of the top of show presets would be the A1 or the conductor (depending on who has control of the playback) swapping files in and out based on the In/Out sheet they receive from stage management for each performance."

Totally correct. At the Majestic at least, it's the A1 that swaps in the tracks based on who is on for that show.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 4/24/20 at 5:49pm

It should be noted that originally, none of the vocals were prerecorded. It was eventually prerecorded to accommodate Sarah Brightman's inability to perform 6 shows per week without ruining her voice. The Phantom's off-stage vocals were also performed live, but I'm not sure if it was standard or if each Phantom was initially allowed to chose for himself. There was a West End Phantom who flubbed one of his off-stage vocals so badly that the "new" lyrics were framed and given to him. 

Also, Dale Kristien and Davis Gaines performed the title song live in the original LA production. When the alternate Christine left the show, Kristien performed all 8 shows. For two years.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 4/24/20 at 6:17pm

I have not worked on Phantom, but I know / have worked with many who have.

I am going from recollection, so please forgive me.

Re: Christine alternates: As I recall being told, there was significant debate from AEA about a Christina alternate since Brightman was coming over for the UK and ensuring that the alternate role would be for an American actress as a condition of Brightman's employment. Once a show is open, you can NOT reduce the number of AEA contracts on the show (Unless you halt performances / close long enough to negate contracts)... Hypothetically, they could turn the Christina alternate track into a stand-by track or a swing track, but once something is set, you often don't want to.

Re: Pre-recorded vocals and off-stage vocals: Yes, the recorded tracks are individual and are set as part of the show's pre-set, and there absolutely have been times where the wrong performer's track has been played. With doubles, racing to places backstage, and yes, VERY loud stage mechanics on Phantom, singing live off-stage is not always possible because the sound will be compromised. Can some Christine's hit the Money Note 6-8x a week? ABSOLUTELY, but again, *that* changes the job for a lot of other people during a performance, so you don't. You do that show as set.

Re: The Red Death costume: It is physically impossible to sing in that costume, and the actor has VERY limited vision and their ability to hear is somewhat compromised as well. Even IF the actor could sing in that costume, it would be near impossible to mic cleanly.

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 4/26/20 at 3:32pm

While it is true, there have been many actresses on Broadway who have played Christine, and said that they could easily do the show eight times a week instead of six. However, I'm sure, at the same time, they aren't going to say no to two paid days off either. 

As for the pre recording, AEA has a rule stating that, if there is a pre recorded part of the show, it has to be a recording of the person playing the role that particular performance. So, for Phantom, that would be the lead, alternate and understudy. But, Phantom is not the only show on Broadway that has to do that. When we hear Nessarose in Wicked moan after As Long as Your Mine, it's a recording of the actress playing the role that performance. They cannot just have a general track. 

[greensgreens]

Posted: 4/26/20 at 4:56pm

Dale Kristien is still the only Christine that lobbied to do the 8 show a week schedule and was approved by ALW himself. I was lucky enough to catch her with Michael Crawford in LA and was spellbound. Great acting choices and a beautiful voice almost equally matched. I think she’s still my favorite.

[RemlapLBC]

Posted: 4/27/20 at 12:53am

Thanks for everyone that replied, I learned a few things about my favorite show I didn't know before. 

I originally saw the London production in 1989, saw the Los Angeles production more times then I can count, and I agree with all of the comment about Dale Kristen, who was amazing, as of course the three main Phantoms we had in LA.  2nd and 3rd National Tours. Las Vegas production a few times, and I'm sorry to say, "Cameron Macintosh's All New production."   25 years later, I finally saw it on Broadway (the trip I call the "Purging the all new production" Phantom.   2018 arrived in London to see Harry Potter, and bought tickets to see Phantom the evening we arrived about 2 minutes before curtain to bring it all full circle.

[Stellasteve]

Posted: 4/27/20 at 2:51am

Islander_fan said: "But, Phantom is not the only show on Broadway that has to do that. When we hear Nessarose in Wicked moan after As Long as Your Mine, it's a recording of the actress playing the role that performance. They cannot just have a general track."

The “rewind ... I remember that night” portion of Satisfied in Hamilton is also a recording that changes based on who goes on as Angelica each night. I read that on the Hamilton app once in one of those features where cast/crew are interviewed.

[imeldasturn]

Posted: 4/27/20 at 4:55am

Islander_fan said: "As for the pre recording, AEA has a rule stating that, if there is a pre recorded part of the show, it has to be a recording of the person playing the role that particular performance."

That's interesting! In London the West End production of Les Misérables used Linzy Hateley's recorded scream as Eponine in the robbery sequence for almost 30 years. I wondered what they did in the original Broadway production.

 

[MlleDaae]

Posted: 4/28/20 at 8:19pm

Broadwayguy2 to the rescue!!