Phantom before Halloween

Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation . . . Darkness stirs and wakes imagination . . .Silently the senses abandon their defenses . . .

Like a gracious host that invites his guests, like a temptress that seduces her object, like a magnet that attracts steel, the theater has enticed, beguiled, intrigued, drawn people of all demographics.

Regardless of gender, age, nationality, religion, and the varied classifications of human beings, we sit for a couple of hours, focused on stage yet unmindful of happenings beyond it, relaxed yet anxious to see what will happen in the next act, amused at the frolics of the hero and annoyed at the antics of the villain. The opportunity to experience different sensations in one encounter somehow whets anybody’s appetite.

Unlike the movies that we view on a flat screen, the theater is a three-dimensional form of entertainment. The characters are real, alive; the rest is larger-than-life. Voices are projected and directed to the last row of the house. Facial expressions are exaggerated. Movements are magnified. Imagination is required.

Everything is happening live. There is margin for human error. And because of the fact of life that once a second has gone by, it is gone forever, no two performances are alike. Each night is different. We focus to the point of avoiding a blink.

It can stand behind art as its shield. There is freedom of expression yet it demands very strict discipline. That is the appeal of the theater.

Slowly, gently, night unfurls its splendor . . . Grasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender

Turn your face away from the garish light of day… Turn your face away from the cold unfeeling light… And listen to the music of the night…

The appeal of the all-time classic, The Phantom of the Opera, is the figure of a mysterious music lover who is enamored by an opera singer. He haunts the story from start to end.

The setting of the story is the Paris Opera House. The House, considered as one of the most beautiful buildings in Paris, seats 2,000 and has a total of 17 stories. Seven of them are below the ground. And then there is the famous lake that is used in the play. It is said that this lake was unintentionally sprung when one of the workers accidentally hit an underground pipe.

The last quarter of the 19th century in which author Gaston Leroux set The Phantom of the Opera saw this remarkable opera house. The huge buildings were designed by then unknown architect Charles Garnier. Along with 110 architects, they took 15 years to finish the Paris Opera House, from 1861 to 1875. It is said that when work was done, one of the architects begged Garnier to allow him to stay on. He hid from the sunlight and lived under the ground until he died. Could this have been the inspiration for The Phantom of the Opera?

Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams . . . Leave all thoughts of the life you knew before . . . Close your eyes . . . Let your spirit start to soar... And you’ll live as you’ve never lived before . . .

Curtains open with the auction of opera memorabilia at the Paris Opera House. Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny, successfully bids for a musical box that seems to hold a special meaning for him. But it’s not the only thing that refreshes his memory. Also auctioned is the chandelier that once stood in splendor from the ceiling of the Opera House.

As we are transported to Raoul’s younger days, the story begins. The chandelier is raised to the dome of the theater as the unmistakable Phantom scoring commences.

Occurring are unexplainable incidents that point to a mystery man who calls himself the Phantom. He demands a lot of things, gives directions as to how the plays should be directed, and more importantly, chooses who should play the lead role in the productions. He only has one woman in mind, Christine Daaé.

He explains to her that he is a composer and she has been his inspiration. He wants to teach her so she could sing his music. He gives her voice lessons regularly, but at what price? The innocent student would soon find out.

Softly, deftly, music shall caress you . . . Hear it, feel it, secretly possess you.

Open up your mind. Let your fantasies unwind . . . In this darkness which you know you cannot fight . . . The darkness of the music of the night.

The song is the Phantom’s proposal to Christine. He has fallen in love with her. But she has grown fond of a childhood friend with whom she was reunited one night after a splendid performance at the Opera House, Raoul. The dilemma starts here.

This is a story that transcends all limitations, a plot that unites all divisions, written in a language understood by all: love – its fulfillment and realization, its rejection.

Let your mind start a journey through a strange, new world . . . Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before . . .Let your soul take you where you long to be. Only then can you belong to me . . .

It was an offer we could not resist: 50 percent off on tickets for the first two Thursday matinees of The Phantom of the Opera at the Ahmanson Theater.

Given the fact that LA is the home of the film industry, it comes as no surprise that the city is also home to a wide range of thriving cultural scenes. The leading venue is the Performing Arts Center (PAC), a complex of three theaters known as the Music Center, which is located at 135 North Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles.

The Ahmanson Theater at the PAC stages large classical productions such as Miss Saigon and Les Miserables. A semi-circle theater, the Mark Taper Forum, houses smaller and more adventurous productions.

There is a parking establishment within the complex. Parking is easy, though at a price – $8. Most of the parking spaces in other areas of LA are free. But downtown LA is a different story.

By 1:30 p.m., we were already lined up by the call window in front of the theater. Purchasing tickets here is uncomplicated. One could call the office directly and buy his tickets by phone, or surf the Net and get tickets online. Tickets usually cost $80 but since there was a promo, $40 took us to row Z of the center aisle.

Entertainment is not cheap. But it’s definitely worth it.

Floating, falling, sweet intoxication . . . Touch me, trust me, savor each sensation

Let the dream begin. Let your darker side give in . . . To the harmony which dreams alone can write . . . The power of the music of the night.

For two hours or so, we forgot the world outside. We forgot ourselves and only cared about three people – Christine, Raoul, and the Phantom. The story consumed our attention. Our own problems were no more. There was only Christine’s dilemma. Who would she choose? How would the Phantom accept her decision?

The stage design was beautiful. The costumes were perfect. The effects were astounding. During one act, the candles that sprouted from the floor, together with the thick fog that filled the stage completely created the illusion of the lake.

The music is spellbinding. It was not Michael Crawford, the original Phantom, but Brad Little, a native Californian, who gave an excellent performance.

For those who are planning to travel to LA anytime soon, this should be in your itinerary. Phantom of the Opera will run at the Ahmanson Theater until December 6.