Original posted in my yahoo blog on Luglio 26, 2006
The STORY
PROLOGUEIt is 1911 and the contents of the Paris Opera House are being auctioned off. Present are the auctioneer, porters and bidders. Raoul, now 70 years old and in a wheelchair, buys a poster and a music box. As the auctioneer displays the Opera House chandelier, he explains that it is connected with legend of The Phantom of the Opera. With a flash of light, the audience is flung back in time, when the Paris Opera was at its height.
Act 1: Paris 1881
We are thrust in the middle of a rehearsal for the opera Hannibal. Monsieur Lefevre, the retiring manager of the Opera, is showing the new managers, Monsieurs Firmin and Andre, the great stage. As the prima donna, Carlotta, is singing (THINK OF ME), a backdrop falls to the floor, nearly killing her. The cry is raised, "It's The Phantom of the Opera" Upset, Carlotta refuses to sing.
Meg Giry, daughter of the ballet mistress, Madame Giry, suggests her friend, Christine Daae, take Carlotta's place. Christine has been taking lessons from a mysterious new teacher. (THINK OF ME)
At her triumph in the Opera, is Raoul, a nobleman and patron of the Opera. Raoul recognizes Christine as a childhood friend. (ANGEL OF MUSIC) He comes backstage after the performance to escort her to dinner, but Christine tells him she cannot go, because her teacher, "The Angel of Music," is very strict. (LITTLE LOTTE)
When Raoul leaves Christine's room, the Phantom appears. (THE MIRROR / [ANGEL OF MUSIC]) Christine is lured into the bowels of the Opera House, where the Phantom will continue her lessons.
He leads her to his underground lair, (THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA)where she sees a frightening vision of herself in a wedding gown. (THE MUSIC OF THE NIGHT) She faints, only to be awakened several hours later by the Phantom's music on the organ. Creeping up behind him, she rips off his mask. Horrified, he takes her back to the surface. (I REMEMBER / STRANGER THAN YOU DREAMT IT)
(MAGICAL LASSO) The Phantom has sent notes to both the managers of the Opera, as well as Raoul, Madame Giry and Carlotta, (NOTES / PRIMA DONNA) which give instructions that Christine will have the lead in the new opera, Il Muto. The manager's refuse to give in to the Phantom's demands.
Il Muto proceeds as planned, (POOR FOOL, HE MAKES ME LAUGH) with Carlotta in the lead, and Christine in a secondary role. As promised, disaster strikes - the stage hand, Joseph Buquet, is killed, and Carlotta's voice is stolen.
In the confusion, Raoul and Christine escape to the roof of the Opera House.(WHY HAVE YOU BROUGHT US HERE / RAOUL, I'VE BEEN THERE)There, with all of Paris around them, they pledge their love to one another.(ALL I ASK OF YOU) They cannot see the Phantom overhearing theirs vows of love. (ALL I ASK OF YOU - REPRISE) Enraged at Christine's betrayal, the Phantom causes the final disaster of the night - the mighty chandelier comes crashing to the stage floor.
Act 2: 6 months later
(MASQUERADE) The second act opens at a grand Masquersde Ball, held on the steps of the Paris Opera. No one has heard from the Phantom in 6 months. Christine and Raoul are engaged, but are keeping it a secret; Christine keeps her engagement ring on a chain around her neck.
(WHY SO SILENT) Suddenly, the Phantom appears, disguised as The Red Death, and delivers to the managers a score from his opera. Don Juan Triumphant.
At first, the managers refuse to perform the strange, disturbing opera.(NOTES / TWISTED EVERY WAY) Then, with the help of Raoul, they devise a plan to trap the Phantom, using Christine as bait. Plans for Don Juan Triumphant, and the trap, are made.
Christine visits the grave of her father. (WISHING YOU WERE SOMEHOW HERE AGAIN) There on the grave stands the Phantom, beckoning her to join him. Raoul appears and takes her away. (WANDERING CHILD / BRAVO, BRAVO)
At last, the opening night of Don Juan Triumphant arrives. The theater is surrounded by guards and police, eager to catch the Phantom. As the opera comes to its end, the Phantom takes the place of Piangi, the lead singer. (THE POINT OF NO RETURN) He confronts Christine on stage during the performance, and escapes with her once more to his labyrinth below the Opera House. (DOWN ONCE MORE / TRACK DOWN THIS MURDERER)In a last confrontation, the Phantom gives Christine a choice: stay with him forever, or he will kill Raoul. Her decision brings to an end the story of The Phantom of the Opera.
Text from Programme Book of 2006
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| 2006 July 25 Cast list |
《歌聲魅影》觀後感
對於今次在香港上演的《歌聲魅影》，欣賞過後，真有點點失望。
不單是今次的 casts 與上次來港演出的，總有點點差別，就連舞台技術上也略為遜色。
飾演 The Phantom 的 Brad Little，無疑音色雄渾，可是總覺得在半場的演出有點點失準，更有些微走音的情況出現，不過在下半場時明顯已沒有這種情況。
飾演 Raoul 的 John Bowles，如單純說外型及音色也不過不失，但總感覺還欠點點味道，可是當他與 Christine 唱 duet 時，有稍為過火之嫌，完全蓋過了女方。
似乎今晚的演出，女角較男角更顯突出。
飾演 Christine Daae 的 Ana Marina 若然與 Sarah Brightman 相比，當然還欠了一點點，但她的演出卻值得稱讚，聲音甜美，很有我心目中 Christine Daae 的影子。 Bravo！
飾演 Meg Giry 的是韓國人 Jee-Hyun Noh，比 Christine Daae 來說，更像我心目中的 Meg。可能是先入為主的關係，一直感覺 Meg 是一位嬌滴滴的女孩，所以我會認 Meg 一定要找一位嬌小玲瓏，聲音較嬌的 singer 演繹，Jee-Hyun Noh 可算演活了 Meg Giry。雖然我不是 Korean，但作為一個 Asian 來說，都要為 Jee-Hyun Noh 感到驕傲，始終亞洲人在西方的音樂世界內不容易佔一席位。
《歌聲魅影》的 crew 中最令我感到驚訝是 Musical Director 由一位女指揮家 Vanessa Scammell負責擔此重任。在我過去所看過的音樂劇中，我印象中是沒有出過一位女指揮家的，雖然她的指揮技巧看似柔弱，但整晚的演出不過不失。
演出中，我最欣賞的是 underground 唱 theme song "The Phantom of the Opera" 中的乾冰變河流，慢慢地流向 orchestra pool，那個形做出唯美的效果，讓我看得不得不讚；而在山洞內的音效更是一絕。還有在 Opera House roof 那個天使造形的裝飾，Brad Little 要冒著危險站在那裡被吊下來，真替他擔心。
最失望的是 Opera House 那顆水晶燈跌下來的速度實在太慢了，不能給予我震撼的效果。我仍然難以忘記上次演出的團體，在同一個地方，那顆水晶吊燈突然跌下來的效果所帶給我的震撼。
