Phantom at HCT

I have seen Andrew Lloyd Webber's Tony Award winning musical The Phantom of the Opera dozens of times but I have never seen Phantom, the Yeston and Kopit version of Gaston Leroux's story, before. As a huge fan of the former I didn't know what to expect when I went to see Hale Centre Theatre's production of the latter last night. I needn't have worried because I absolutely loved it!  Erik (Austin Smith) has lived most of his life in the catacombs under the Paris Opera House because he is horribly disfigured. Gerard Carrierre (John Philpott), the general manager of the opera house, has kept Erik's secret all of these years but he is fired by the new owner Alain Cholet (Patrick Kinz) and can no longer protect him. The wife of the owner, La Carlotta (Mandi Barrus), becomes the company's new diva but Erik cannot abide her terrible voice and begins haunting the opera house. Count Philippe de Chandon (Stephen Faulk), an important opera patron, hears Christine Daae (Jennifer Neff) singing on the street and falls in love with her. He arranges for her to have singing lessons at the opera house but, in her jealousy, Carlotta employs her in the costume department instead. Erik, who wears a mask, hears Christine sing and secretly begins giving her lessons while wreaking havoc on Carlotta's performances (in some amusing scenes). Christine is eventually given a lead role but Carlotta sabotages her debut. Erik takes his revenge on Carlotta and brings Christine to his lair. Carriere attempts to warn Christine about Erik by telling her his story but she chooses to stay with him until he removes his mask. Brokenhearted, he chases her with tragic results. This show may not be the spectacle that The Phantom of the Opera is (there is still a dramatic chandelier crash at the end of the first act), but the characterization of the Phantom is much more in-depth and much more emotional (I had tears in my eyes during the final scene). I always sympathize with the Phantom and this version of the story gives me a reason to. I also think the music is every bit as powerful as Lloyd Webber's version and I especially loved the songs "Home," which is sung by Christine when she is given a job at the opera house and then echoed by Erik when he hears her sing, and "My True Love," which Christine sings to convince Erik to remove his mask. Neff and Smith have incredibly beautiful voices as the two leads and Barrus is hilarious as Carlotta. I loved the sets, especially Erik's lair in the catacombs, the catwalk above the stage in the opera house, and the elaborate chandelier. I also really liked all of the opera posters hanging throughout the theater. Even if you are a huge fan of the Broadway version, give Phantom a chance because you might be pleasantly surprised by how much you also love this production.  It plays on the Young Living Stage through November 9 (go here for tickets).

Note:  Don't forget about the creepy and kooky production of The Addams Family on the Jewel Box Stage through November 16 (go here for tickets).