¶ … Phantom of the Opera" -- Recent theater performance

What is all the fuss about? For many years, ever since this reviewer was a child, stories have been spun about the wonders of this tale, of Erik, the lonely and murderous phantom of the Paris Opera tunnels, who falls in love with a lovely orphaned ballet dancer and soprano, named Christine. He mentors her in her music through the mirror of her dressing room until she falls in love with a man named Raul. Erik, the phantom, tries to steal her away forever, but only after Christine takes the starring role in the opera he has been writing for the stage for many years. At the end of the play, he allows Christine to live her own life and leaves the theater.

Since this play has been running for so long, much of the cast's chorus is seasoned, and all of the current performers are replacements for the originals. Many of them appear to be singers by training rather than actors, as they tend to sing to the audience, rather than emotionally interact with one another. The only exception is the woman who plays Christine's rival, who is a more accomplished actress, but sadly, given that she is playing professional opera star, pushes her singing notes to an excruciating degree. But even though the performance itself has a tired quality, and the orchestra and scenery overwhelms the performer's talents, going to see "Phantom" at this point is not so much about what goes on stage, but being part of a theatrical experience. Tourists whisper, and children push and pinch one another, squealing first with anger when the Phantom is first unmasked unseen, then shriek with horror when Erik unmasked again for the benefit of the audience's view.

This is not musical theater any more, but spectacle. The emotions of the music and the broadness of the character come careening upon one's skull like the chandelier that falls in the first act. Why do die hard fans continue to go was the answer pressing upon my mind when I sat there, but I know the answer -- no matter how corny the production, the ideal of beauty and the redemption of the beast as a story still has a visceral, comforting power -- a warm McDonald's hamburger for the heart on a cold, emotionally sardonic day.