Re: Phantom of the Opera was Re: Lion King Overrated

Date: Thu, 1 May 2003 09:59:26 -0700
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney.parks
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"Judy Shaw" <email-address-deleted> wrote in message
news:email-address-deleted...
> And here I thought I was the only one to be disappointed in Phantom. I
> actually fell asleep during it!
>
> Judy Shaw
There are several musical versions of Leroux's novel, of which Lloyd
Webber's is by far the most popular. Nonetheless, I can't stand it.
The reason for that is another musical titled simply 'Phantom'. (ALW's is
the full 'Phantom of the Opera', or simply 'POTO' in our house.) It's by
Arthur Kopit and Maury Yeston, and is very popular on the Civic Light Opera
circuit.
I absolutely adore this version - having seen it about 40 times, and "You
Are My Own" still makes me weep openly. This is a show that focuses on
character and story, which are precisely the weak points of Lloyd Webber's
version. Nonetheless, the music is beautiful in its own right, although not
as 'spactacular'.
Ever wonder what the phantom's name is? This show will tell you. Ever wonder
how he got to be disfgured? Kopit & Yeston have that, too. What about his
family? How does he spend his time? We actually get to learn who he is, and
why he loves Christine.
Strictly speaking, this show includes much that would be a 'prequel' to the
original novel. But I love it, and it really saddens me that I haven't seen
a good production of it since late in 1999.
DJJ