The Phantom of the Opera at Sydney Opera House - Media Call and Review

[@Scotdod24]

Masquerade without the grand ness of the staircase, completely loses the Phantom entrance 😥

[@jormatevajarvi4190]

PHANTOM of THE OPERA to my taste❤..in a masterly way. Yes, in terms of high praise!🎉🎉🎉

[@stuffoftaiwan]

Nice concept but lacks of some visual impact, such as those stairs in masquerade in the original version

[@adriankmita]

Yes! Do love the spiral staircase. They had it for another production outside on the Harbour. But some of the other staging elements are better in this version. They have a turntable in this production that reveals the Phantom’s lair and other locations. Looks a bit more cinematic. Some of transitions are magic too. Unfortunately doesn’t look like they had room for the spiral staircase for masquerade in the touring production… they do have secret stairs down to the lair though.

[@angieakeroyd9077]

Josh Piterman is Amazing. He is so Talented.

[@alanshore17]

I couldn’t help but notice Amy seems like she’s rolling her eyes the entire time Josh is rambling 🤣😂🤣😂. They are both great, and i love them as a combo.

[@tejas57]

I flew down from Brisbane for this and it was so worth it

[@lucythecool_pug7565]

I loved this play I saw Josh and Amy do it ❤❤

[@giovannirastrelli9821]

I saw this version in US several times, it definitely panders to people who are only familiar with the 2004 film adaptation.

[@adriankmita]

Yes, there are definitely similarities with 2004 film… even the Phantom’s costume for masquerade is nearly the same. This production is better than the film though. “Past The Point Of No Return” and “The Final Lair” are better than the film too. They are more like the original.

[@bookemdano7567]

They’ve done the same with the “new” staging of Les Miserables and also Evita. They all resemble the movie versions and they all suck!

[@giovannirastrelli9821]

@@bookemdano7567 Yes! I hate it when musicals get retroactively rewritten/re-staged to match the film adaptation. It should be two separate entities.

[@ashleymalamute]

"panders to people who saw the 2004 film"...damn that's depressing. That film was crap.

[@KL-sw5xi]

Why is Christine Daae blind-folded during "The Music of Night"?? That's a dumb idea. That gesture has no impact to the story nor her character.

[@Mr-tu4cj]

Well they also added a part in the final scene where the phantom throws Christine onto his bed and crawls on top of her. It’s so odd! They’re just adding things for the sake of it lmao

[@savyluwiii]

Their voices are amazing but yeah the new added stuff and actions are too... unnecessary Its meh Or im just being biased cuz my fav Christine and Erik are Sierra and Ramin?

[@JamesOttman]

Bc "Close your eyes" lol

[@christopherh2336]

I bought tickets for the Melbourne show . Looking forward to it

[@ashleymalamute]

Was it any good?

[@ghibliguru_]

Famous last words

[@christopherh2336]

@@ghibliguru_ what do you mean by that ?

[@ghibliguru_]

@@christopherh2336 A lot of people say that the Melbourne performance was trash but I thought it was good

[@riaesmi5414]

Amy is amazing❤

[@waynedevonald9335]

This isn't the original production but the UK Tour version which is in parts quite different staging! I still enjoyed as the music is obviously the same but felt it didn't have the magic of the original!x

[@Mr-tu4cj]

The original staging was simple and beautiful. This new staging is a clunky mess, and it’s quite upsetting to see that it is still being used.

[@leefriedman3067]

Completely agree. (Correct me with any of this). The next time I see an ad/notice for a musical. If it has the name “Cameron Mackintosh” and the word “revival/new production/re-imagined” i am already skipping

[@singbike5832]

And now that the Broadway show is closing, if it ever comes back, this lousy reimagining could be what we get.

[@Mr-tu4cj]

@@singbike5832 I didn’t know the Broadway show is closing :( im sure you’re right. That’s what they did with Les Mis and Cats. And now when people see those shows they get a much inferior version without even knowing it.

[@singbike5832]

@@Mr-tu4cj Yes, apparently it's closing Feb. 2023. Maybe they'll finally release the filmed version of the original production they've kept locked away.

[@Mr-tu4cj]

@@singbike5832 That would be amazing, and one good thing to come from it. They did recently release some footage on the anniversary, so maybe, who knows.

[@jeremiahsminecraft2563]

Love Amy Manford!

[@adriankmita]

Yes! She is absolutely amazing in this production.

[@sujeangho]

Been to two Worldtour ones where Jonathan Roxmouth was Phantom - absolutely loved it - so much tension between christine and phantom and I was definitely seduced by phantom's charm and voice. So, I was very excited to see the show when I found out it is gonna be on Sydney. Watched the show on the second day and I honestly was so disappointed. I was not mad about vocals but it was more the fact that I was not convinced there was any connection or tension between christine and phantom. Had to watch the flimed 25th anniversary one where Ramin and Sierra was the main cast as soon as I got home just to check maybe I grew up and my point of view of the storyline has changed. But nope. I still enjoyed 25th anniversary one so definitely it was the Sydney production. Then I searched up some reviews to see if I am the only one who felt like this and all the reviews I could find were saying it is an amazing production so I'm going back to see upcoming friday just to see if I was just in a bad mood and missed any details. But reading the comments here now make me think probably it will be waste of money as there are others who felt exactly the same.. 😂 I liked some of the sub characters better in Sydney show - for example I loved Carlotts - her character was so detailed and was convinced she IS italian not someone who is trying to act with italian accent (and I did some dig up and found she is actually italian so that's probably why) and absolutely loved Raoul and Christine and Raoul's chemistry. But this is called Phantom of the Opera not Christine and Raoul's love story. They definitely need to show more chemistry and tension- which hopefully is improved next friday. Also.. was definitely not a big fan of the random blindfolding 😫 AND BRING ORIGINAL MASCRADE BACK

[@darnna]

I also am a fan of the 25th anniversary production, definitely agreeing on the chemistry between phantom and Christine part. Ramin expressed emotions so intensely. But The other thing that bothered me more was Amy Manfold’s singing - off pitch at one point, the sound of her breathing etc is stopping me from enjoying the music. Josh’s singing exceeded expectation but as you said, chemistry part a bit disappointing, especially the music of the night part. The intensity is losing in many of the scenes.

[@ey8767]

100% agree. Just watched this production in Melbourne. I also watched this London, with Ben Forster (that Jesus guy) as the phantom. I can definitely feel the connection between Christine and Phantom, and I was so sad at his fate. But in this production I can’t feel that sadness. Vocals are fine. But something is missing in the acting. Staging is unsatisfactory. There’s no Christine statute and she just passed out like that. I was like “what the hell happened?” I think Opera Australia is of course a professional in opera but they don’t really understand musical.

[@Yookay15]

i forgot that blindfold was a thing

[@rockyxbautista]

very interesting how they combined some of the costuming/little elements of the original production and Maria Bjornson’s design with the new and imo really bland watered down Cameron Mackintosh restaged version.

[@daisyjackson2962]

The mirror is cool but what happened to the staircase :(

[@mackenzie8547]

Why’s she wearing a blindfold

[@tonyandrade8131]

Gross... you all are being lied to... this is not the West End nor Broadway productions that are currently running... This is the cheap anniversary production that has toured and is just utter trash. I do not know why they would want to re-invent the wheel when the wheel was not broken to begin with.

[@davidrodrick2109]

Josh Piterman is actually 5’8, but he looks giant here. Is he possibly wearing shoe lifts to make himself look taller?

[@BroadwayGuy25]

This is a hot mess. I cannot understand the raves this production has been getting. Please bring back the brilliant original.

[@AJAAlquie21]

Why are they soooo touchy2 in The Music of the Night? No freaking sexual tension there man! I didnt feel the seduction & mystery 😞

[@iwasagirlineldiadoingalrig7290]

The ensemble's great but the staging's horrendous.

[@jermainelim514]

Went to see today. Felt a little different and the lyrics for Wishing was different as well. Was disappointed in that. It enjoyed it overall!

[@zuzannakozak-zagozda612]

what was the text? 😮

[@phantomphan873]

Why Can’t they bring back the old production? Cameron Mackintosh single handidly ruined the most beautiful musical ever with this BS “new production”, WHICH IS NOW 9 fricking years old.

[@BroadwayGuy25]

Because it's CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP. Cameron's favourite word.

[@mattconnor5769]

new staging is awful! Ive seen the US and UK staging over 200 times -- and this is crap. -- they ruined Les Miz -- and now they want to do the same here --

[@adriankmita]

What did you like about the original West End and Broadway productions that made it better than this one?

[@adriankmita]

Did you see the Cameron Mackintosh 2015 Les Miz production at the Capitol Theatre?

[@jeffreyreddy1982]

I love the phantom....but I don't like the new version...

[@Tips4TravelingWithDisabilities]

I saw this a few weeks ago And I saw the original production in Melbourne last time it toured and I preferred this one the simple staging and everything was so much better and the chandelier was much more impressive I would love to see both again but without the lyric changes that’s my only bad comment I hated some of the lyric changes

[@beethoven171]

The lyric changes annoyed me as well

[@mohikaner2004]

No magic, no emotion, no elegance. The phantom covers the girl's eyes with a kerchief and moves away from her. He is too far away to support her if she stumbles. She does indeed fall to the floor (although she is no longer blindfolded) and he takes his time to pick her up. At the end of the song, he takes her in his arms, even though there is no need. Where is the logic? There is no idea, innovation fails.

[@krystalharwood6359]

it makes me laugh (no pun intended) that its in new york currently and hasnt moved to any other US state. I'm deprived!

[@rachelminnaar4607]

The blindfold is ridiculous and pointless. He lives in a lair underneath the opera house, I think it's dark enough.

[@andresfelipe619]

TERRIBLE, watered and dumbed down direction of the show! It's like it was run through some crappy filter to cater to an audience that would never listen to this music to begin with! Awful choice!!!!

[@bookemdano7567]

Why fix what isn’t broke?? Like Phantom, the new staging of Les Mis is horrible! I find both are like watching amateur productions. The 35+ year old original stagings seem far more advanced and exciting for their age compared to this new boring dribble. And you can throw in the new staging of Evita into this crap bag. I will never waste my money and go see any of these shows again with these new stagings.

[@christopherh2336]

Opera house designed by a Danish Designer

[@sebastianpadkins]

Like the simpsons, it’s been run into the ground, the original runs will always be the best, it’s so watered down and tacky, it’s like the Times Square version of Mickey Mouse charging Disneyland priced

[@beethockmtee8565]

The new staging is dreadful. Looks like an abridged theme park show. Josh is a dreadful Phantom. Nasty voice to listen to. Definitely not a strong singer.

[@adriankmita]

Have you seen the original Hal Prince production on West End or Broadway? What did you like about it more than this one?

[@natashat6541]

What a nasty comment.

[@normangilmore1700]

@@natashat6541 Yes Natasha that was a nasty Comment . I am a Ben Lewis fan and he pairs really well with Amy or any other lady he sings with. I would very much like to see and hear Ben with Sierra ., but may never happen

[@craigpaterson9085]

Are you on drugs?? He is a powerhouse.

[@beethockmtee8565]

@@craigpaterson9085 lmao, no way.