Listen to the music of the night again

GOOD news for those who missed it the first time it came to Manila in 2012 and for those who wish to see it — and its famous chandelier — again, The Phantom of the Opera is back in town.
The famous West End and Broadway musical will have performances at The Theater in Solaire from Feb. 20 to March 31.
What makes this blockbuster Andrew Lloyd Webber musical “re-watchable” is the timelessness of its songs and story.
“I think that one of the amazing things about Phantom is that it transcends language and time. In every language, in every audience, there seems to be something that resonates with the audiences, in the younger generation,” said Kristen Blodgette, the musical’s supervisor, after a media preview of rehearsals on Jan. 23 at the Star Theater at the CCP complex. “In New York, we find that parents would say ‘I came when I was 16’ and their children would come now and somehow we manage that in every turn. The beauty of the visual, the melodic accessibility, if none of these seems to grab the younger people, then it might be the love story, which is about acceptance. It’s a great story.”

Adapted from Gaston Leroux’s novel of the same title, it tells the tale of a disfigured musical genius who haunts the Paris Opera House. The young soprano Christine Daae becomes the object of his obsession, unaware that she is in love with her childhood friend Raoul.
Many of its songs have become classics including “The Music of the Night,” “All I Ask of You,” and the title song, “The Phantom of the Opera.”
It has been 33 years since The Phantom of the Opera was first performed in London in 1986, but the classic musical love story entrances generations.
Since its first staging, the musical has won over 70 major theater awards, including seven Tony’s on Broadway and four Olivier Awards at London’s West End. On Jan. 9, 2006, it officially became the longest running show on Broadway, and on Jan. 24 last year, the Broadway production celebrated 30 years on Broadway.
“The show has not aged, it does not feel dated in writing, in staging, in stage craft. I think that’s the primarily reason why the people still yearn to see this production,” said director Arthur Masella.
After Manila, the touring production will next stop at Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tel Avic, and Dubai.
The touring production stars Jonathan Roxmouth as the Phantom, Meghan Picerno as Christine, and Matt Leisy as Raoul.
Tickets to the musical are available through TicketWorld (www.ticketworld.com.ph). — Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman