What is so amazing about the Andrew Lloyd Weber's The Phantom of the Opera? Well considering it wasn’t all that long ago that I was seeing it for the first time in San Francisco, I was more than happy to be returning to the legendary Orpheum theater to see it for the second time.
If you’re unfamiliar with the story, “The Phantom of the Opera” is set in late 19th century Paris and follows singer Christine Daae (Eva Tavares), a promising young opera singer who has won the affections of the titular character (Quentin Oliver Lee) after he privately tutors her to sing. When Christine is reunited with her childhood love, Raoul (Jordan Craig), heartbreak and trouble ensue.
This is truly a story that stands the test of the time and is always more exciting and enticing then the last. This current production, in particular, not only includes a gorgeous new scenic design by Paul Brown, brilliant lighting design by Tony Award winner Paule Constable, brand new choreography by Scott Ambler, and new staging by director Laurence Connor. But with a cast and orchestra of 52 people performing, this is the largest production of Phantom. Of course as tradition, the show is using the same costume patterns (most of which have been used in almost every production of the musical) that theater designer Maria Bjornson created for the original West End debut of Phantom.
But what this production stand out to me personally? Quentin Oliver Lee’s haunting portrayal of the Phantom himself. Each word, each note, each movement Lee made on stage was not just haunting, but full of passion and pain and intensity. It was hard to to notice anything else happening on stage during any scene he was in.
If you are looking for a night of magic and haunting music to get you in the mood for the Halloween season, you can see Phantom of the Opera through September 30th at San Francisco’s Orpheum Theater. From there the tour will continue criss-crossing North America late into summer 2019 – find a date near you on the website.
