The Phantom commands your presence

Masquerade, paper faces on parade...” The soundtrack still echoes in my head. no matter how many times I have seen

Phantom

onstage, each time, it haunts you in a different way. It still gives you the chills, you sing along the songs in your head, and you still get shocked when the chandelier falls.

Pardon the spoilers but any musical theater aficionado knows how it goes. The audience knows at least one song by heart. The mask is as iconic as a country’s flag. In a way, The Phantom of the Opera is one of the landmarks of musical theater. A classic that you can watch again and again, and each time it is presented, the show feels, looks, and sounds Like Andrew Lloyd Webber just created it yesterday.

A select Philippine media delegation was sent to Johannesburg, South Africa to be able to witness ad experience the show, and amid safaris and touring the city, we were feted to the South African cast, a cast whose majority we’ll be seeing on the CCP stage when the show opens today. Needless to say, the Philippine delegation made waves, with Tessa Prieto-Valdes wearing a blog own bigger than the stage come opening night. “How dare you upstage us in our own country?” said the show’s costume manager, in jest. Other members of the Philippine delegation were The Star Entertainment’s Nathalie Tomada, Pepper Teehankee and Inquirer Super’s Pam Pastor.

“This touring production of The Phantom of the Opera is as fine as any version you might see on the West End or Broadway--it is the same superb design, and we invest a great deal to ensure it is of the highest standards.” producer Tim McFarlane, managing director of the Really Useful Company Asia Pacific, said. I cannot agree more. Jonathan Roxmouth as the Phantom eats the entire stage with his bare hands and haunting voice. He makes for a very sexy Phantom, and he doesn’t have any qualms seducing his Christine. Anthony Downing’s Raoul is perfect as a romantic lead, his gallant ways winning the love of the lady in his life. In other shows, it is clear who the girl should choose. With the performances and the sexuality tendered by both actors, you’d have doubts who Christine should go for. Team Phantom or Team Raoul? Shades of Twilight, yes. But hey, Phantom came way, way ahead.

Stellar Cast, Awesome Show

“Our stellar cast involves assembling the industry’s best performers with members coming from the UK, USA, Australia and South Africa to join forces.” Chief executive of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions James Cundall, who found a great partner in the Philippines via the Concertus people — that’s Francis Lumen and Bambi Verzo — proudly  declared “To bring the world’s most popular musical to such a musically gifted nation such as the Philippines has been a long-term dream.”

We were given a backstage tour of the show and saw how the costumes were being made and re-made every night, what with the intricate embellishments and other details that form part of The Phantom spectacle.

The gondola that glides through the stage, the “Masquerade” mannequins that open Act 2, the infamous chandelier, even the proscenium are being flown in to Manila just to provide the most authentic Phantom experience we can ever get. I even got to try on Phantom’s costume, Tessa, of course, tinkered with the wigs and Pepper the headgear that the cast was gonna wear that night of the show.

Come show time, we were in a collective gasp as scene by scene it was played out. The Phantom sang and his hands were so big (you’ll know what I’m talking about when you see the show), the suspense still grips and the songs more than enchant. I have seen Phantom countless times (including the movie) but each time I see it, a goosebump-inducing ride ensues. Watching it in our shores should even be a more enthralling experience.

From the same people who brought to Manila productions such as Cats, Stomp and Mamma Mia, I have been privy to the producers’ plans of bringing these world-class productions here to Manila. And as an avid — nope, obsessed musical theater fan myself, I cannot be happier. I assure you, there are more to come. But for now, let us celebrate the arrival of The Phantom.

“The Phantom is a superb show which epitomizes all that is great about musical theater — unbelievable music, a powerful moving story, lavish sets and costumes and most importantly, superb audience entertainment. It is a worldwide sensation which will take Philippine audiences on an unforgettable musical theater journey.” 

Go on, indulge The Phantom. That’s all I ask of you. Cue music.

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