((warning)) I did not proofread this so pardon the errors ha.. !
I SAW PHANTOM OF THE OPERA TONIGHT ON JULY 8TH!!!
It was such a great night. But I was almost late so I ran and had differcult breathing throughout the musical. But I saw in the front row of center orch, the best seats in the majestic theatre! I love it very much, you get to look down at the orchestra and ah I noticed there are some new musicians. Also a harp in the middle of it which I've never seen it before. Which was quite interesting and I love harp very much! Then I noticed the hannibal slave master, Eric Otte *giggles* made some weird dance moves which I've never seen before. But wow what a body!! <3 Also the hannibal costumes look different now... hmmm. Wow I realized there are alot of changes in this musical.
Prologue
I noticed that the gorgeous chandelier's light bulbs went on and off for a few moments during this scene, I have never seen that before. It was a good scene, is exciting to see the chandelier again...
In the Hannibal scene, I realized I am looking at a new Carlotta, thank god! I mean like I strongly dislike the previous Carlotta ha... The current Carlotta is Julie Schmidt. She's skinny... very skinny. But she has a nice voice. But she's such a cry baby and whiny too. She is not funny like
Rebecca Eichenberger. I missed her very much, she's great! As I mentioned before some Hannibal costumes were different. Sandrea Joseph was very dramatic I mean this is the first time as Christine. She was a bit dramatic for my taste but mostly her actings were good. It was funny how her mouth/jaw moved or jiggled when she's singing and at the end of the song "Think of Me", her eyes grew so wide during vocalizing is quite frightening.
Then in the phantom of the opera scene, I knew that the ppl that are walking down the stairs are not Hugh and Sandra so I looked closely at Christine's face and I was right heh. But it was a cool scene. Then came the music of the night, Hugh Panaro mastered it. I enjoy that scene very much. Erik looked so desirable when he was touching or rather caressing himself. Sandra Joseph did a good job in this scene too, she looked "high" lol. I mean like she actually "feel it" when Phantom is singing and that is an important part. Because it is so dull just to stand there and look at Erik the other side. I love the motn scene very much.
In beyond the lake, Hugh loooves to spit lol. You can see him spit whenever he's angry. I love to see Hugh composing by the organ. He looked sooo into it is quite amusing. In the manager office scene, well I like George and Jeff as always. ;) What a good and funny pair. In the performance of "Il Muto", I like Carlotta's croak unlike that previouis Carlotta. I do not like Gregory Emanuel Rahming as Don Attilio, I missed the old one again! I have no comment in "All I Ask Of You", just that I don't like how the audience would applaud when Raoul and Christine kiss. I just shoke my head because well I am an Erik lover. <3 I don't see anyone applauding when Christine and Erik kiss. =/
15 min intermission
Masquerade scene was phantastic as always. You gotta love full company singing a very catchy song like that ;D Sandra Joseph did a great job in this scene. The manager office scene was pretty intense, Sandra and Julie did well. In wywsha, one thing I want to mention is that Sandra put the red scarf against her face before singing that song. It can only mean that she was thinking of Raoul and the past at the moment. I like Sandra's voice, such a lovely voice, powerful too. But I think Lisa Vroman has a much more powerful voice than her but Sandra was great in wywsha. I like it when she clasped her hand together at the end of the song. Also Hugh did a great job in wonderchild, he sang it very softly.
In Don Juan Triumphant, there were defintely something erotic going on, Sandra looked aroused and it wasn't like a porn scene. It was a great scene and sadly no Hugh was not "touching" himself sensually. Hugh sort of hovered over Sandra's breasts but no inappropiate actions or any kind. It's such a great song. Then when Erik is pleading to Christine, "Say you'll share with me.." it was moving and I enjoy Hugh singing it everytime. I always think Hugh is better than Howard and love him as the Phantom from the begining.
In finale, I admit Hugh is aggressive and making Erik look like a crazy monster who wants nothing but Christine. But there was tension between the three of them and tension is always good. But after Erik let them go, he's into the soft side which I love very much. I love it sooooo much the way he sang the song beside the music box. It was soft and by the time he sing "hide your face so the world will never find you", he extended the hand and covered the monkey's face. The time Christine went back to Erik, you can see that Erik's eyes went wide and sort of happy thinking she is coming after him. But in fact she's just returning the ring, Hugh's face quickly went from happy to sad. I forgot if other actors do that but Hugh did it brillantly. The line "I loooooove you" was just too much for me and Hugh sang it passionately.
His final line "you alone can make my song take flight, it's over now the music of the night" was very powerful that mark the end of show.
Hugh Panaro and Sandra Joseph
I love Hugh with no doubts but this is the first time I see Sandra. From what I have heard, you either really like her or you simply just hate her as Christine. I think there is a reason for that. Because in the musical, she has her good and bad parts.
The bad parts are that Sandra moves/wobble/quaver her mouth when she sings. Sometimes she's a bit over dramatic and often widden her eyes.
The good parts are that she has a lovely powerful voice. She is also very into it in motn and ponr scene. She looked "high" or rather ecstatic in motn and aroused in ponr.
