'Masquerade' Off-Broadway review — immersive 'Phantom of the Opera' adaptation heightens each sensation
9 / 10
Oh, and that overture? We first hear a version of it in a parlor room, where we’re greeted with flutes of bubbly and a violinist (it’s an Easter egg; Christine’s late father is one in the musical) serenely playing a Phantom medley. I’ll admit, serene wasn’t what I expected upon stepping into such a larger-than-life event. But I should have known — the violin is just the pre-show muzak. When the fully orchestrated overture later exploded alongside a flash of light and a shower of confetti like broken glass, Masquerade instantly had me under its spell. I’d call it the point of no return, except I definitely hope to return.

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