Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversary

When the 25th Anniversary DVD of Phantom of the Opera was announced, I was really excited. I had seen Phantom on Broadway and it was one of the best experiences I've ever had. The 2004 film didn't even come close to capturing how amazing the musical is. Phantom 25 was going to be a recording of a live stage performance, so it had to be great...Right?

The DVD was released in Europe before it was released in America, and someone was nice enough to upload the show (in parts) in November. I watched most of it, except for the very end of the Final Lair sequence. With the exception of a few minor details, everything seemed to be fine and I was happy enough with it.

 

That all changed when it arrived in the mail and I finally watched the ending. But let's save that for later. I want to give Phantom 25 praise before I get into what I disliked about it.

 

Sierra Boggess (Christine) and Hadley Fraser (Raoul) were wonderful. Ramin Karimloo wasn't bad, either, but his Phantom was a bit too angry for my taste, and I'm not a fan of his voice. He isn't a bad Phantom, but he's not Hugh Panaro and I didn't feel the same sympathy for him that I felt for Hugh's Phantom. I think it's Hugh's voice...I didn't feel one way or another about the Phantom until I saw Hugh playing the part on Broadway. I know he is technically the villain, he kills people, he threatens to kill Raoul if Christine doesn't choose to be with him. But listening to Hugh sing, I can almost see why Christine would love him, regardless of all the terrible things he's done. He has the most beautiful voice I have ever heard. Ramin plays the role differently and it changed the entire show for me.

"Masquerade" (Click to enlarge, if possible)

The costumes for Phantom 25 were gorgeous. Especially during the "Masquerade" sequence. It's impossible to take your eyes off the screen during that song. It may be my favorite part of the entire show (since they ruined my other favorite). It was well choreographed, everything about it was perfect. Every time I watch that scene, and the Phantom comes out as Red Death and throws the score for Don Juan Triumphant, I wonder if anyone has ever not caught it. I don't know why, but I'm always amazed at the ease with which they seem to catch it. What if the person playing the Phantom makes a bad throw? I'm getting sidetracked.

 

The very end of the show, after it was all over, was spectacular. I don't want to ruin it for anyone who hasn't seen it yet, but it actually brought tears to my eyes. It was incredible.

 

Most of the things I didn't like about this production are minor. I love Sierra as Christine, but she makes me wonder if maybe the Phantom isn't the only one with some sort of mental illness and I constantly found myself wishing she would stand up straight because she's always hunched over. I was really disappointed that they removed the chandelier rising from the stage during the Overture, because that's one of the most incredible moments to witness during the stage production. And then...There's the stairs.

 

The stairs during the Final Lair sequence make no sense whatsoever. And here's why.

 

"Christine, Christine...Let me see her..."

 

Just WALK DOWN THE STAIRS, Raoul. It's not like there's a gate in your way this time. Why are you asking the Phantom to let you see her? She's right there. There's nothing to stop you. I know most people probably aren't bothered by something so insignificant, but for me, this is the second worst part of the entire show. I actually despise those stairs.

 

So if that's the second worst part, what's the first?

 

The ending. It's awful. I'm happy I didn't see it before I ordered Phantom 25 for myself. I now understand why people were saying they set it up to lead into Love Never Dies. I have to ask...Who does that? Who changes the original to fit in with the sequel? That should never, ever happen.

(This is not my gif, I found it in a Google image search.)

Phantom 25 ends with Christine hesitating to leave the Phantom. She then begins singing "All I Ask of You" to him (instead of Raoul) and Raoul has to walk down the stairs AGAIN to get her. I hated it, As someone who has seen Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and thought it was perfect, I felt betrayed by this change. Especially since this is the first time I've actually liked Raoul. I had always wanted Christine to choose the Phantom, until I actually saw it happen here.

 

I really enjoyed Phantom 25 for the most part. It's a huge step up from the 2004 film, and I'll watch it over and over again because it was very well done. I just wish that they would have ended it the way Andrew Lloyd Webber had originally written it, instead of trying to make it fit in with the story from Love Never Dies.