Spotlight: #PhantomManila back after 7 years

Back in 2012, I watched Phantom in the Opera while working on my undergraduate thesis with a mentor that worked at CCP. My groupmates and I would head over to CCP and hear them rehearse. There was even a time that we were eating at the nearby Harbour Square and three of the cast were also eating at the same place.

Fast forward to last year when I was jumping with utter joy when Jonathan Roxmouth announced on his Twitter and Facebook pages that he was returning to Manila, playing the talented and yet terrifying Phantom.

Last February 23, I got my second chance of watching this incredible music come alive. Like my spotlight on Mamma Mia, I won't go into the details of the plot. [There is the movie and the book if you want a more in depth look into the story.] I'll be going straight to my thoughts on this tour.

THOUGHTS

I need to get this out first, the Phantom I watched was Ian Jon Bourg and HE WAS AMAZING! Yes, most people would watch this expecting the main cast but there are instances wherein we get the alternates. But just because they are the alternates, doesn't mean they are nothing short of brilliant. [Fingers crossed I'll be seeing Jonatahn Roxmouth's concert on April 13th.] Looking back at the souvenir programs I've collected over the years, Ian Jon Bourg was the Auctioneer/Lefevre in the show I watched and I'm glad I was able to watch him as the Phantom. His vocal control was perfection, case in point, Music of the Night! Enough said.

The thing about seeing a musical on its second run in the country, one tends to compare it to the one seen before. The one key difference between the production now and the one back in 2012 was the set. Don't get me wrong, the set is beautiful. It literally transforms you to a French Opera House in the 1800s. The things is, the Theater at Solaire is a bit cramped as compared to that of CCP. Nevertheless, the Phantom's Lair and the performance of "Phantom of the Opera" was executed beautifully. But, if you were expecting to play find the Phantom during "Poor Fool, He Makes Me Laugh" (if you saw the 2012 production you'll know what I mean), you'll be disappointed. Given the tight space, the usually cat and mouse game the Phantom played during that number was reduced to just a voice over.

But the production made do with the space they had and it paid off quite remarkably. The execution of "Masquerade" was electrifying and was a standout. With most of the cast in eccentric costumes, the audience was mesmerized which played a huge part in making the entrance of the Phantom all the more intense.

A musical like Phantom relies heavily on the vocal capabilities of its cast and here is where the cast of Phantom really stands out. Songs like "Notes" and "Prima Donna" have casts singing over one another and even if one can hardly make out their words, their voices blending together to tell a story is quite a treat to watch and hear.

Meghan Picerno was such a powerful Christine. She captivated the audience with her take on "Think of  Me" and "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again". Her duets with Matt Leisy (Raoul) and Ian Jon Bourg took my breathe away and I still couldn't decide who I wanted Christine to choose.

In the end of course, Christine and Raoul got their happy ending and our hearts breaking with the Phantom as he sang, "It's over now, the music of the night..."

OVERALL:

If you're a big fan of musicals, the Phantom of the Opera is not something you want to miss. As much as it is dark, the beauty of the arts shines so brightly in its production that one will lose himself or herself with the beauty of the songs and its story. A story of love, a story of perseverance in a cruel world and finally a story of compassion--that even in darkness, there will be a light and as Christine sang, "God give me courage to show you, you are not alone..."

Because let's face it, we can all relate to the story of the Phantom. There was a time that we too were mocked and ridiculed by society. We too felt abandoned and unloved.

Christine was felt alone with her father's death and didn't really believed in her own ability as a singer. The Phantom felt alone for many reasons, stemming from his own childhood. They had a perfect little world where they had each other. They held on to one another because they found someone who they could relate too. Someone who understood. But their greatest trial wasn't that of finding an out to their feeling of loneliness, but in living a life without the person who gave them strength.

Christine found love and the Phantom (Eric to most people who have read the book) finally felt compassion which leads up to one of the most emotional scenes on the stage.

Behind the lavish set design and the powerful musical numbers, the Phantom of the Opera tells us a story. A story wherein one must look beyond what is presented. To see beyond the mask that hides the true nature of the world. This was a story of tragedy but upon closer inspection, it was a story of hope. A kindred spirit masked in darkness...that only longed to be loved.


Details:

The Phantom of the Opera, World Tour will be performing in The Theatre at Solaire until April 7. Get your tickets now from TicketWorld!

Run time: Close to 2.5 hours with a 20 minute intermission number.
Souvenir Program priced at 1000, other souvenir programs like shirts, accessories, pens and masks available.
Disclaimer: It's pretty safe to bring children to watch the show. There are dark themes to it [murder being one and maybe kidnapping to a degree] just be ready to explain a few things if they ask.