The Phantom of the Opera Play Review

On Wednesday March 16, 2016, the publications staff of Tompkins High School attended a performance of The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber at the Majestic Theatre in New York City.

The plot follows the story of new theatre prodigy Christine Daaé (played by Julia Udine) who, after taking on the role of Signora Carlotta Giudicelli (played by Michele McConnell) decided to quit the Paris Opéra House with the replacement of the chairman. Upon her first performance, Christine is reunited with her past lover Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny (played by Jeremy Hays). However, as the couple attempts to see other again, Christine encounters the Phantom of the Opera (played by James Barbour) who claims having given Daaé her gift of singing and possesses feelings for the women. As Christine is conflicted between the feelings of both men, the Phantom is enraged and threatens the whole theatre. Then a series of tragic events unfold that conclude by the foreclosure of the theatre.

James Barbour, Julia Udine and Jeremy Hays performed their roles to close perfection. Their powerful vocals portrayed the emotions of the characters perfectly. The movements on stage were all conveying the action of the moment. The ballet chorus, consisting of Giselle Alvarez, Jessica Bishop, Gianna Loungway, Aubrey Morgan, Jessica Radetsky and Carly Blake Sebouhian, were in sync and naturally flowed across the stage.

Using various colors of drapes to frame the stage allowed for a dark and rich mood on the entire set design. Moveable pieces of the set played a large role to the development of the setting and the plot with costumes and makeup were true to the 1910s and also supported the characters’ personalities, and their role in the play. Music performed by the orchestra contributed to the mood of the more intense scenes without overpowering the vocals of the actors.

Overall, the entire performance was a wonderful success. The plot kept the audience captivated and the orchestra allowed for a specific mood to set in. The Phantom of the Opera, despite its long run time, is definitely a majestic piece worth watching.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars