BWW Reviews: PHANTOM Haunts The CM Performing Arts Center on Long Island

When you present a production of "Phantom", you have to get it right. Noel Ruizs' incarnation at the CM Performing Arts Center in Oakdale, Long Island marvelously delivers the classic tale of the Phantom and Christine Daae.

Christina D'Orta and James M. Lotito, Jr. lead the wonderful cast as Christine and the Phantom. Playing up her confidence and at the same time naive nature, Christina was superb as Christine Daae'. James wonderfully portrayed the Phantoms' demons and frustration walking about the stage frantically and the tense tone in his voice. Their rendition of "You Are Music" was fantastic and with great chemistry. Particularly refreshing was that Christina and James actually sang in operatic voices.

Carlotta and Cholet are also integral parts of the show. Maria Weir-Fischer plays the feisty and controlling diva Carlotta and Angelo Granauro plays the loyal Cholet. Her "This Place Is Mine" was ever so commanding as she is the new owner of the Opera House. Also fantastic was her sing off with Christine. The way they both played off each other was intense, yet comical.

Brilliantly done was a scene that came in Act II. Gerard Carrierre, played by John Tighe, with a light dim and fog surrounding him, goes into a powerful story that is simultaneously personified with Lotito and D'Orta playing a younger Gerard and Erik's mother.

"You Are My Own" was also done very well by Gerard and the Phantom. They are father and son and the devoted tone by both gentlemen was realistic. Gerard protected the Phantom from people seeing him even as the Phantom terrorized the Paris Opera House when Gerard was owner.

It was Confucius that said "Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it" and this is the timeless message that "Phantom" has and what the great production at CM PAC fully delivers.

Based on the novel "The Phantom of the Opera" by Gaston Leroux. Book by Arthur Kopitt; Music and Lyrics by Maury Yeston; Produced and Directed by Noel Ruiz; Musical Direction by Dan Arberg; Stage Manager Barbara Thernan; Lighting Direction by Joseph Naftal; Sound Design by Don Hanna; Costumes by Jonathan Reilly and Ronald Green III. "Phantom" continues November 9th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 16th, 18th and 19th at the CM Performing Arts Center in Oakdale, NY. Visit cmpac.com for tickets and more information.