 Me with Erik and Christine 🙂 Some fun mannequins in the lobby of the theatre |
This was my first time seeing the show in a foreign language, and it was a very interesting experience. I have heard Das Phantom der Oper before, but it’s not something I listen to regularly. However, I’m just SO familiar with this show, that I would almost forget they were singing in German! It was odd. And the whole show went really fast, for some reason.
Anyway, the Phantom was the third understudy for the role or something…he did fine, but really just walked through the part. He did make me cry once at the end…I can’t even remember why now…I think it was during the “Ich liebe dich, Christine” bits…but for the most part he was a rather uninspiring presence. And I’m certain that that’s only because he doesn’t have the opportunity to perform the role much. |
| Colby Thomas was Christine, and was quite good. She overacted the part a bit, but Christine is one of those parts where it would be quite difficult not to overact. She had a lovely voice, and
her scenes with Raoul were good. Raoul was not one of my favourite Raouls…he was quite good-looking, but after awhile it started to bug me that they had too much makeup on his eyes or something, and it looked like they were bugging out all the time. Also, he kept doing this “SuperRaoul” pose, that you have to see to know exactly what I mean, but it was just a little too funny. 🙂 |
 The Neue Flora theatre |
 The entrance to the Neue Flora |
Probably the person who stood out the most for me was the guy playing Piangi! He was fantastic! My eyes were glued to him for all of Hannibal…I think one of the funniest things I’ve seen in
a long time was him imitating Madame Giry with her cane, and then motioning to Carlotta like he wanted one too. 🙂 He was also great in Notes, and the Don Juan Triumphant rehearsal…I just really liked him! Overall, the production was really good, and had we had a different Phantom, I probably would have *really* enjoyed it. The fact that it was in a language I don’t understand didn’t take away from my enjoyment of it at all, and I hope to see other foreign productions of it in the near future! |
The Quotes:
“It’s Super Raoul!”
Me, at various times during the show (you had to see it 🙂
“They’re desperate for Phantoms”
Ian Jon Bourg, on why nobody knew who was starring in the show until an hour before it started
The cast:
|
The Phantom of the Opera |
DAVID HUNERJAEGER |
|
Christine Daaé |
COLBY THOMAS |
|
Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny |
KIEL KLAPHAKE |
|
Carlotta Giudicelli |
LAURIE ANNE MCGOWAN |
|
Monsieur André |
ANDERS SOHLMAN |
|
Monsieur Firmin |
REINHARD SCHULZE |
|
Madame Giry |
LINDA BRUSKE |
|
Ubaldo Piangi |
MARCELLO RONCHIETTO |
|
Meg Giry |
SABRINA HARPER |
|
Jeweler (“Il Muto”) |
PIERRE YVES DUSCHESNE |
|
Auctioneer |
JONATHAN GUSS |
|
Monsieur Reyer |
STEPHAN DRAKULICH |
|
Monsieur Lefèvre |
EBERHARD NEITZEL |
|
Joseph Buquet |
WM. LYNN DIXON |
|
Don Attilio (“Il Muto”)/Passarino (“Don Juan Triumphant”) |
RONN EALY |
|
Slave Master (“Hannibal”) |
ANTONY WOOD |
|
Page (“Don Juan Triumphant”) |
ANNETTE KUHN |
|
Porter/Fireman |
JAMES RIO |
|
Wardrobe Mistress/Confidante (“Il Muto”) |
SUZANNE GARI |
|
Princess (“Hannibal”) |
ALISON KELLY |
|
Madame Firmin |
YVONNE EDWARDS |
|
Inkeeper’s Wife (“Don Juan Triumphant”) |
CATHERINE FORBES |
|
The Ballet Chorus of the Opera Populaire |
ELISABETH COLLIER |
|
Dance Captain/Ballet Swing |
SARAH LOUISE TODD |