The plan of watching a play or opera in Esplanade has been long overdue. It remains a plan until Cuz Eram was nice enough to take care of the booking for us. So on the 3rd of May, all 9 of us, went to Esplanade. Went home, change on a nice dress (i love to dress up and this is one occassion that i don't want to miss hihihi), went to City Hall and meet ffg. Quarter to 8, we were already at the esplanade and calling cuz because they were still having dinner somewhere. It was a first time for me to watch an opera and honestly, I was never a fan. It was a fabulous experience, though. And it always give me great pleasure and excitement doing things the first time. *hope no one will interpret this in a 'green' way hehehe*. For a first timer, it was indeed great to start off with Broadway’s longest-running musical - The Phantom of the Opera.
The Esplanade Theatre's interior was really beautiful and very elegant. It has four levels and our seat was located on the fourth at the circle 3 with a clear view of what's going on on stage. They don't allow photos to be taken even on mobile phones but I managed to steal a few shots hehe. 10 minutes to 8, they were already closing the door, and the opera started at exactly 8pm. Neat! Never been to any show that started exactly the time they print it. Although cuz and the rest didn't managed to get on time, they were still able to watch the next scene. It was really different to watch it on stage than watchin it on a big screen. The musical started off slow, like a gentle giant waking up. It was really breathtaking. All the stage props were amazing. Candles rose out of the stage when the Phantom was rowing his boat with Christine in it. And it all looks so real. The dungeon was magnificently constructed, the shadows giving it an eerie and menacing look. The ballet dancers were splendid. The costumes are all colorful. The grand staircase at the Masquerade scene is really something. I didn't know or notice that they used mannequins until Novyta told me :) I was actually thinking where did they get those extras. I love the songs. It'll make you fall in love over and over again. The actors are great. Although there were scenes that I got a little bored, but hey it's my first time. It was one hell of an experience. It was really fab.
Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is the heart-wrenching story of the mysterious "Angel of Music" who lives beneath the Paris Opera House. The hideously disfigured Phantom falls in love with the young singer Christine, devoting himself to creating a new opera star while exercising a reign of terror over the Opera House's occupants.
The casts, as I've done my research on the internet and not wanting to shed that $25 bucks for the booklet, did a fantastic job. Brad Little being The Phantom, Rebecca Pitcher as Christine, John Bowles as Raoul, Ana Marina as Alternate Christine, John O'May as Firmin, Anders Sohlman as Andre, Pauline Du Presis as Carlotta, Jackie Rees as Madame Giry, David Rogers-Smith as Ubaldo Phangi, Nadia Komazec as Meg Giry, Andre Strijdom as Reyer, James Skinner as Passarino, David English as Auctioneer/Lefevre, Rouel Beukes as Joseph Buquet, Sebastian Zokoza as Don Attilio, Sean Andrews as Marksman, Ben Kaslauskas as Slavemaster (In 'Hannibal'), Matthew Overmeyer as Soldier, Chris Wright as Porter/Tin Soldier, Mons Botha as Princess/Mirror Bride, Sophie Viskich as Wild Woman (in 'Hannibal'), Jennifer West as Wardrobe Mistress, Hamlee Louw as Madame Firmin, Nomasande Webu as Innkeepers Wife (In Don Juan Trumphant), Simon Pryce as Lionman, Donna-Maree Dunlop as Gauloise, Deborah Annable, Sarah Bakker, Marianna Baltadano, Mietta Gornall, Catherine Leppingwell, Maggie Purr as the Ballet chorus of the Opera populaire, Sharyn Winney as Ballet swing, Kurt Hapt, David Sommerville, Deborah Caddy, Amy Holder as the Swings, and Sharyn Winney as Dance Captain.
The ending part was great. Audience shows their appreciation by giving the casts a round of applause from the time each cast was introduced, although no standing ovation :( But if i were to ask, I would give them much appreciation than just applauding. It was really beautiful and you can't say that it is an easy work. Oh, I just learned that Sarah Brightman used to play Christine. Wala lang. We took picture from my camera phone afterwards.
The first act lasted for 1 1/2 hour with an intermission of 20 minutes. It ended around 11 pm. After the show, we had dinner at the Gluttons Bay where we saw Brad Little having his dinner too. If it were only me and ffg, I'll come up to him and ask for his autograph. Sayang, dxo band was there with us nashy ako hehehe.
The show will still be aired until the 20th of May so you still have time to catch up.
