PHANTOM Q

[mad4music]

Posted: 1/28/06 at 9:46pm

I was a huge fan of the movie and have loved the CD for the past year... and I just bought tickets to the show in March.

However, I am wondering if I (having seen the movie and memorized the amazing soundtrack) will be a bit dissapointed with the live production.

I mean, I am only assuming the 100 piece orchestra, hugely gigantic chorus, and perfect studio voices won't be there on stage for the real thing.

Anyone seen the movie first then the show? How do they compare? And will I still love it just the same? (or *cross my fingers* more???)

any comments greatly appreciated!

[BSoBW3]

Posted: 1/28/06 at 9:48pm

Well, if you think the movie voices are perfect - you will be pleasantly surprised with the show. Besides, most of the show is pre-recorded.

Just kidding.

[Broadway_Boy]

Posted: 1/28/06 at 9:49pm

I saw the movie about three days before seeing the show and the show was so much better. You will definately enjoy it more, especially because you love it so much.

Updated On: 1/28/06 at 09:49 PM

[guitargeek0624]

Posted: 1/28/06 at 9:50pm

After having seen the show, I now can't stand the movie. On stage, it's a real spectacle. Especially if you see Howard McGillin as the Phantom - he's amazing! I caught the movie on HBO a few weeks ago and had to turn it off. Maybe it's because it's such a poor representation of the stage show, but then again, maybe it's because I've seen it 40 times already...

[MusicAndPassion]

Posted: 1/28/06 at 9:52pm

I saw the movie about three months before I saw the show. The movie was better for me, and I enjoy the movie a lot more. I do like some voices better in on the cast recording, but for me the movie was a grade A when the stage musical was a grade C.

But it all depends on how you like it.

[greeneyed_one]

Posted: 1/28/06 at 10:53pm

I became obsessed with the movie and when I finally saw the show I was somewhat disappointed. Gerard Butler's voice is completely different than the typical phantom's voice and I feel like the movie got me more emotional attached. i really appreciated the show and enjoyed it for what it was but it did not move me the way the movie did. Hopefully you'll enjoy both!

PS. When I saw the thread title I thought you were going to discuss an idea to mix Phantom and Avenue Q into one musical. lol

[mad4music]

Posted: 1/28/06 at 11:16pm

...lol... I think we would all agree that'd be a HORRIBLE mix! :S

...how are most Christine's compared to Emmy Rossum's voice? I get the feeling that the brdwyers are a bit more operatic... true? (i could be way off here)

thanx 4 the posts!

[Radioactiveduck]

Posted: 1/28/06 at 11:30pm

Yes, especially the current Christine, Sandra Joseph. You probably wont like her as much as Emmy, cuz Sandra's vibratto is REALLY annoying.

I LOVE the stage show, like, A LOT. I've seen it 6 times, and it always amazes me. Being such a fan, the movie was kinda disappointing, mainly because of Gerry as the Phantom. I haven't seen Howard McGillin as the Phantom, but he gets great reviews from everyone I know who's seen him.

Just do me favor and dont start critiquing the stage show with "That wasn't in the movie.", cuz it the most irritating thing to me as a show fan. You'll really enjoy it.

[AnotherDay46]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 12:26am

If you see it with Susan Owen or Rebecca Pitcher you will like them better then Emmy probably. I personally hate the movie, but am obsessed with the stage production.

[Madhatter]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 12:38am

I really like both of them, but the stage version is by far the better od the two IMO. I was disappointed by the chandiler though, only because I saw the movie first,it was very fast and a big moment. The stage version, still a big moment, it's much slower and I was a bit disappointed when it fell.

[ShiningStar]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 12:44am

I feel the stage show is waaay better than the movie. Especially if you are lucky enough to see it with Howard McGillan as the Phantom! I find Gerard Butler's voice to be...well...quite terrible. Maybe because I have seen the stage show and am in love with Howard and Hugh. Though, I've liked the Christines I've seen much better than Emmy Rossum as well. I guess you'll just have to decide for yourself when you see it. But Howard Mcgillan is amazing, so you should by far enjoy it!

[DefyingEDCT]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 1:16am

I thought the stage version sucked, Theres was no energy from the prefrormers what so ever, it seems like they have just been doing it for way way too long, the production has become shoddy. There were so many lights that were burnt out. You could see a "the manequin bride" scracthing her head under the cloth. It was a waste of money. Out of the 20 people I went with, I think half fell asleap because it just overall sucked. So I say take your money and go see something else.

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 1:24am

The show is breathtaking and blows the movie away.

[Radioactiveduck]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 2:26am

Defying EDTC - Perhaps you should do individual performance critiques, rather than calling a show a total suckfest cuz you saw it on a bad day. But maybe that's just me.
Updated On: 1/29/06 at 02:26 AM

[DefyingEDCT]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 2:28am

He asked what people thought of it. And so I told him. So. No.

[collins]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 9:06am

The movie is good for those of us who cannot see the show often, and in my opinion would have been perfect if not for Gerard's non-singing and Emmy's better but not a convincing opera diva singing. With 2 different leading actors, it could have been magic.

Like BSoBW3 said, if you thought the singing was good in the movie....you'll REALLY love the show. And of course, nothing beats the thrill of watching live theater anyway. Go and enjoy!

[Phantomerik15]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 10:06am

I saw the stage show first then the movie...I didn't really like the movie very much. Butler's voice was quite horrible. The stage actors have more of a smoother voice. I've never seen Howard McGillin but from what i hear-he's a great Phantom. Sandra Joseph as Christine...well, she was ok. i preffered Susan Owen though. Tim Martin Gleason...i don't like him. he's got no emotion at all at times.

[guitargeek0624]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 11:46am

Sandra Joseph is just...ick. I didn't like her at all. Her voice really bothered me. I've heard that the other Christine, Rebecca Pitcher, is better than her. If I see Phantom again soon, I'll try to get tickets when Rebecca is Christine...

I think I saw the standby for Raoul, and I liked his voice. His acting wasn't that great, but his voice was great. I forgot his name, so I'll try to dig up the playbill and post it later.

[Becky2]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 1:53pm

You will love the stage version. I find the movie to be awful in comparision to the stage version. I thought Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum's voices were abysmal. They needed to have professional and trained vocalist sing these parts. The Phantom's voice is supposed to be hypnotizing, but Gerard Butler's is more like a rock voice. And Emmy, being an alto, should not have been cast in a soprano part. Her voice was a bit screechy at times and they had to lower some notes for her.

Not to mention they cut out some great moments in the movie and twisted the story line around more than they should have.

The 100-piece orchestra was great, but other aspects of the stage version more than compensate for it.

[greeneyed_one]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 2:31pm

I think it really has to do with which one you saw first. I saw the movie first and was so used to it that the stageshow seemed odd to me. Some friends of mine who have only seen the movie version of RENT told me they think Daphne sounds horrible on the OBCR simply because they are used to hearing Rosario. I imagine something like this happened to me. I was so used to Gerry's rock voice that the Phantom's smooth one sounded weird to me.

[My Strongest Suit]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 2:53pm

I just saw Phantom in NY a 2 weeks ago and I was hugely disappointed. I did not care for the cast at all. Not Christine, not Raul, not Phantom. It was sad. Also the abundance of picture flashes going off in the theater throughout the entire show was very distracting and very annoying. I am also a huge fan of the movie and unlike many people I really enjoyed Gerard Butler's performance as Phantom. Everyone in the movie was good. I hope you enjoy this but don't expect the amazing voices you're used to.

[DefyingEDCT]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 3:32pm

THANK YOU, at least someone else knows what im talking about.

[phenom]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 4:08pm

My two cents...

If you love the score to the show, you'll absolutely love the stage version. If your interest is purely based on the film, then you might not. Simply because the movie is fairly different than the show.

I believe I'm one of the few who love both the stage and film versions. Just don't go in expecting to see the movie put on stage, because it has a much different look and feel.

I think certain parts of the film actually surpass the stage, but all in all, the stage show beats it out. There's a true excitement to seeing The Phantom on stage. The show has a lot of just beautiful "classic" moments that make it truly magical.

So wipe your mind clear of the film before heading into the show and you'll really enjoy it. Remember, Schumacher (who I thought did a great job with the film) took a lot of liberty with the look and tone of the show when putting it on film, especially concerning the Phantom himself.

Hope you enjoy it, as I'm sure you will. Keep an open mind and have a great time.

[Sant]

Posted: 1/30/06 at 10:12am

The film has it's strong moments but the stage version just works a lot better as a whole musical.

I saw the stage version several times before the film, and I really didn't like the added material - especially the Mme Giry saving the Phantom from the Circus. An unnecessary and totally pointless addition.

The opening scene (rehearsal of Hannibal) works better in the film, it is a lot clearer but most of the scenes - like the title number - are just SO much better on stage.

If you like the film, I'm sure you'll love the stage version.

[??]

Posted: 1/30/06 at 10:24am

I think I'll just say it.

Gerard Butler sucks, he can't sing. I wish I could get away with yelling and scooping all my lines.

I think you'll appreciate the show seeing someone who sings the role 8 times a week awesomely as opposed to someone who sang it once, lip synched it for the filming and was bad at both.




And I don't even like Phantom.