I'm in this performance of Phantom! I was the littlest girl that runs onstage. My pappa was also in it at the time, playing Cholet! Richard White's daughter, who is the middle girl, and I would sit in our dressing room and act out all the scenes as we would hear them through the PA system!
Actually, I like them. These changes actually make SENSE. It may be heavily modified, but it was done tastefully, and the story is interesting because of it.
I like Webbers Phantom BUT I LOVE this version. The story is much more compelling and the music is beyond wonderful! I wish someone had the courage to bring this to Broadway so many more could see it.
"Good God, the place really is haunted!" lol One of the best lines for the Phantom ever! Richard White has such a different interpretation of the character compared to Charles Dance -much more sarcastic and menacing- but I love both. I guess I have to get used to the Phantom having a deep voice, too! And it's probably the first time I've liked Carlotta, too - the character is a witch, but you can tell it would be so much fun to play her. Once you get past the static, this is a joy to watch!
@starseeker100 It was actually written before Lloyd Webber's, but Yeston and Kopit were in the process of gathering Broadway backers, and once they heard about Lloyd Webber's version in England, they immediately backed out from Y & K's production. Without money to fund the production, they made a non-musical TV movie of the script in 1990 in the hope someone would want to fund the musical. Finally in 1991 it was performed onstage for the first time, though not on Broadway. (huge Phantom nerd)
I honestly still prefer the ALW version but this one is still awesome. I absolutely love the duet the Phantom and Christine sing together. I think it's You Are Music. In my opinion, it's a very romantic love song and very well written and sung. Another thing. The Phantom and Christine should have been a couple. They..are...SOULMATES! NOT Raoul and Christine! Anywho, I also love how at the very end of the show Christine lays the Phantom's head on her lap, takes off his mask, kisses him (can't remember where though), and then sings part of the song You Are Music. Team Erik (Phantom) forever. I also ship Erik (Phantom) and Christine forever. 😉🤗😋😁😊😍😘❤️💋💕
And the "You're right, I'm sorry. I'm not used to killing people- it's thrown me off a bit!" That whole section after Carlotta starts singing is just gold hahaha
of the performances I can find on here of Yeston/Kopit's Phantom I really love this performance, just wish the sound wasn't so.... well you know. I know it has nothing to do with the poster and I appreciate even being able to see it. I think Richard White's performance is fantastic and it reminds me so much of Charles Dance's portrayal in the miniseries version of this adaptation, probably because of the timing of it I'm sure it was an influence. I'm really trying to figure out a way to make it to the Westchester Broadway production of the show before it closes in November, I'm about 5 hours away but it would be worth it. I saw this live once in the mid 1990s at Lancaster Opera House outside of Buffalo NY but I was too young (about 11-12 I'm guessing) to fully appreciate it. I didn't understand why it wasn't the ALW version, which I had seen several times by then. I kick myself now for being that impertinent tween, as I love this version.
Tip for anyone who's irritated by the buzzing, go into the sound settings on your computer and move the sound balance to the right! The buzzing is mostly on the left, and it helped a lot for me.
Thank you. I thought it was quite few years old, just from the hairstyles and fashion of the principles during their interview. It was still a good looking show. I liked it very much. I like that the role of Eric never showed his face to the audience. I thought that that was a very good decision. Allowed the minds eye to imagine the horrible deformity in his face.
I was in a production of this version of "Phantom" two years ago. I liked it, the experience of doing this was so unique and it made me want to do another show at the place we did it at.
Wow... It is very interesting, the differences between Charles and Richard. Charles is more... humorous and light, whereas Richard, I find, is more... dark and... well, he definatly is a shadow-dweller, I can say that much within the first 20 minutes.
The off-Broadway Texas production of Phantom: The American Musical Sensation with music by Maury Yeston and book by Arthur Kopit. The original cast, too.
@phanofmusic626 I had it for awhile before I thought the same thing you did, "more people need to see this!" I love ALW (stage) version and this one the same, though this one does have a better plot....this one needs far more attention then it's getting, there need to be more whole shows of it than the little snippets people post on here. Long story short, you're welcome! And I can only think of Richard White as Erik...not Gaston, just Erik
I've always found the Yeston/Kopit version to be a little too... earnest, in its cheese. I definitely understand why people like it, but it's just not for me. I'm not a huge Andrew Lloyd Webber fan, either, but there was a sense of mystery/danger in his version that this one lacks, and out goes any of the real interesting tension in the Phantom story with it. (Or so I think.) That said, I love a couple of the songs and the Carlotta is transcendent.
I enjoy the music, love the Erik and Carlotta....the Gerard is BORING. The only thing I dislike is the stagings, particularly the set...there's no umph, i guess I've gotten used to more present day stages that look more realistic and not painted boards.... that's just me being picky though.
@Namia4 I'm trying NOT to watch it so I have something to watch during surgery--and it's SO hard, like trying to quit drugs or somethin lol. Ty for reccommending it and yw!
I will say though...any lover of Phantom will add this version to their collection. it has grown on me. I can now appreciate this musical and its songs like : 'melodie du paris' and 'dressing for the night' and 'opera's been invaded by the phantom' and 'the bistro' and 'music lessons' and 'my true love' and maybe others... so my review of earlier was a little too harsh. this is good. very good compared to ken hill's phantom!-- but not even close to ALW
Unfortunately I do. I really dis like the movie your refraining to the point were if asked to watch it I would only under much disconfert. But I adore this phantom and think Richard is a good acuter and a wonderful singer.
@TheTitanic4 If by "ALW version is still extremely awsome" and you mean the movie, I'd have to disagree. If you mean the Stage show, I wholeheartedly agree!
Well, I haven't seen the whole thing, so I guess I'll have to find out for myself what he's like and comment after (as it would have been smarter to do that! lol)
