The morning after of the Phantom

So yes, I had gone for my long-awaited musical finally.. what can I say? I liked the set that was done up for the musical of the Phantom and it was nice here & there.. ok ok ok, I know I'm being vague... Fine.. sigh..

I loved the splendour of the costumes, especially during the scene of the Masquerade Ball.. the setting in general for most scenes were beautiful (especially themain Opera House walls with huge angels adorning the pillars).. my favourite setting was the Phantom's lair, it had a aura and mystery abt it. It was lovely hearing the songs I've been hearing often frm the 1st time I knew abt the musical, felt a sense of warmth and understanding. When it came to the very one song that was my favourite, the solo number by the Phantom himself 'Music of the Night', I was sorely disppointed however. Maybe it was Brad Little's "off day" but he sure left me sad when I heard that song.. could have also been the sound system at the Esplanade. The parts of the verses where he sang softly, I could barely make out the words, then on the strong, crescendo and high bits, the Phantom's voice sounded strain.. like he was struggling to hit the notes. I know Brad Little ain't Mchael Crawford, so I didn't dare put too much hope into hearing magic but still, I was left disappointed. That favourite song of mine didn't strike a single chord with me thru' out.. sigh

John Bowles, who played the Phantom's rival in love was pretty gd in his parts, more so than the Phantom at some parts. I did felt that the Phantom picked up a little in the second act but it still sounded like he was straining.. the loud, majestic bits frm him sounded like blasted thunder, it was like some bits were loud & then out of nowhere another bit blasted thru. It must have been the sound system at work too. Even the part where the Phantom had discovered abt Christine's & Raoul's declaration of love & he was sobbing at his betrayal, it came across as in breaks & pieces, like the Phantom was forcing himself to cry. It was a rather jagged sort of sob emotion. Of course I'm not expecting wailings but it was strange, like a struggle to express anguish.. It was like a lil sniffle, pause, a louder sob, pause, longer pause, sniffle tt sort of thing & muffled words.. he sounded at tt point like he had cotton balls in his mouth, until the part where he gets into an anguish rage & rains a curse on the lovers.

There was of course some nice comic relief frm the actors, who played Monsieur Andre & Monsieur Firmin, the new managers of the Opera House & also the scenes when they get notes frm the Phantom in the Manger's Office.. lol.. another bit that I was looking forward to - the chandelier crash scene, was but a tinkle & jerky movements.. it was bad rigging on the theatre side. My Bear, who had gone for the performance back when it 1st came to Singapore said tt it was a real chandelier crash scene back then, with glass shattering everywhere. Saftey reasons for the lack of tt at the Esplanade I guess. My Bear even said the original cast who came the 1st time were better than the cast we had last night. All tt said, it was still an experience in its own (spent $25 on the programm too.. heh heh).. Next up, Sir Ian McKellen in King Lear.