 The side of the Pantages, again! 🙂 |
When I found out how long it had been since Alison had seen the show, I decided we needed to do something about it. 🙂 So we went! Now, the cast was supposed to be Peter Karrie, Elizabeth de Grazia and Kip Wilborn. However, that didn’t quite work out. 🙂 Peter ended up being on vacation, so Kip was playing the Phantom, and Brian Duÿn was Raoul. Plus, it being a Saturday matinee, we had the Christine alternate…Glenda Balkan! This was the third time I’d seen her, and I knew it was her right away, even though there was no insert in the playbill to say she’d be doing the role. 🙂 |
My main concern with all the understudies was Kip as the Phantom…I had seen him as Raoul before (see Sixth Experience), and hadn’t really cared much for his Raoul, so the thought of him as Erik scared me more than a little. However, he totally proved me wrong!! I loved most of his performance. Music of the Night was just lovely, and he did this beautiful harmony during the graveyard scene that I’ve never heard anyone do before. The final scene was fabulous as well…his Erik had a very child-like quality that made him utterly endearing.
| I had seen Glenda as Christine twice before (Third and Fourth Experiences), and I liked her just as much this time. She’s a really great Christine. The only one I really didn’t care for was Brian as Raoul…he seemed very uncomfortable in the role, often looking as if he didn’t know what he should be doing, and even looking down once to check his mark! I’m sure he would improve with more opportunity to play the role on stage. |  This wasn’t at Phantom, but it was on the same weekend! 🙂 Alison, myself, Karen and Gill at the stage door of the Royal Alex after Rent |
We did go to the stage door afterwards, but since it was a matinee, we only got to speak to Kim. She was lovely, as usual! I did want to talk to Kip to tell him how much I enjoyed his interpretation, but it will have to wait! 🙂
The quotes:
“Please tell me it’s going to be okay!!”
Me, stressing out over the understudy list.
“Thumbs up or down?”
Alison, cautiously approaching me at intermission. 🙂
The cast:
The Phantom of the Opera |
KIP WILBORN |
Christine Daaé |
GLENDA BALKAN |
Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny |
BRIAN C. DUN |
Carlotta Giudicelli |
KIM STENGEL |
Monsieur André |
KEVIN McGUIRE |
Monsieur Firmin |
TERRY HODGES |
Madame Giry |
KRISTINA MARIE GUIGUET |
Ubaldo Piangi |
BRENT WEBER |
Meg Giry |
CATRIONA DERGUSON |
Monsieur Reyer |
GERALD ISAAC |
Don Attilio (“Il Muto”)/Passarino |
SCOTT WATANABE |
Porter/Marksman |
TIM STIFF |
Monsieur Lefèvre |
GARY KRAWFORD |
Auctioneer/Joseph Buquet |
JOHN DODINGTON |
Lion Man/Fireman |
KELLY ROBERTSON |
Slave Master (“Hannibal”) |
KIRK HANSEN |
Flunky/Stagehand |
CHRISTOPHER KISS |
Policeman |
ROBERT MEILLEUR |
Page (“Don Juan Triumphant”) |
JAYNE SMILEY |
Porter/Fireman |
PAUL MULLOY |
Page (“Don Juan Triumphant”) |
TANIA PARRISH |
Wardrobe Mistress/Confidante (“Il Muto”) |
DIANE LEWARNE |
Princess (“Hannibal”) |
SANDRA MARGOLESE |
Madame Firmin |
JANET COATES |
Inkeeper’s Wife (“Don Juan Triumphant”) |
MONICA WALSH |
The Ballet Chorus of the Opera Populaire |
SARAH DAURIE RACHEL GIBSON PHILIPPA HAYBALL DONNA KELLY DEANNA PIDWERBESKI MIMI F. PINEAU |
Dance Captain/Ballet Swing |
ANITA BOSTOK |