The Phantom of the Opera (Musical) ~ Lost in Adaptation

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How closely did the the musical theater adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber stick to the plot of the original book by Gaston Leroux?
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[@Dominic-Noble]

Slight error: Apparently Firmin Richard and Armand Moncharmin's names were changed to Richard Firmin and Gilles André in the musical and I didn't notice.

[@laterkater4213]

Dominic Noble To he fair, people don’t really mention names much in musicals. I mean, that’s what the program is for. (Unless you’re watching Hamilton of course. Kind of hard to forget a name in that show.) 😂

[@mattneff]

@@laterkater4213 To be faaaiiirr....

[@ImaraRavenfire]

I mean, it's totally ok. They only say it like.... once? In Act 1? I think? Plus, it's a lot easier to pronounce those names in song

[@morgangobin9985]

ImaraRavenfire They do say their names again right before the masquerade scene in Act II, and Raoul shouts them once or twice. ...Wow, I feel like such a nerd for knowing that! 😅

[@ImaraRavenfire]

@@morgangobin9985 Ah, I forgot about those. Thank you for that one!

[@OptimusPhillip]

Unpopular opinion: Raoul is not the hero of the story in any version. Christine is. While Raoul is the primary POV character, ultimately, the plot revolves around Christine, and in fact, she's the one who gets herself out of the situation, while Raoul fumbles about uselessly throughout the story.

[@reveranttangent1771]

Oooh!

[@musicadictor]

wait.. unpopular? I always thought it absolutely was Christine's story!

[@OptimusPhillip]

@@musicadictor I don't know how unpopular it actually is, all I know is that I've seen multiple reviewers explicitly refer to Raoul as the hero.

[@devinbaggs7542]

Not at all unpopular, Raoul is a useless side drip at best :P

[@Seloa]

I like you, you can stay. :D

[@Artemisa97]

" Ah, balls, he's not an angel, I've been kidnapped by a smelly looney." Everytime Dom uses costumes, a fairy gets her wings * o *

[@cookiemocher388]

I love that metaphor man

[@artemiswolf4508]

The two phantoms singing together was both adorable and funny. Now I really want a scene of the suave and elegant phantom from the musical meeting the sewer gremlin from the book

[@RoseBaggins]

Yes!!

[@beccag2758]

I feel like they'd both be disgusted by each other😂 like book vs movie Princess Diaries grandma

[@TheCrazyHedgehogLady]

Yes, please!! 😆🤣

[@chanteuse-ro3kf]

That is a common misconception. Erik doesn't live in the sewers. He lives in a house near a lake that comes from a system of pumps that regulate the waterlevel under the opera house.

[@amandaburnham8626]

I read your comment before I got to that part, then I laughed! Great moment 😊

[@CarolineofTheInternet]

I sustained a traumatic brain injury and during the recovery wrote a truly insane story I called "Phantom Of The Opera 2: Written by Someone Who Doesn't Hate Women", and it was STILL a better sequel than Love Never Dies.

[@lindahl458]

Please publish this for the world to enjoy

[@TheQuashingoftheTub]

Put it on Ao3 I wanna see this

[@thequeenofcringe1585]

That is something I NEED to read

[@jamesvivian2855]

I really want to read that

[@user-kw7mr6xt9n]

i want to read this SO bad

[@benfarrar741]

I would disagree about calling Raoul the hero of this story. He tries to be the hero, and puts forth a sincere effort; he just fails at it. The real hero, unexpectedly, is Christine.Throughout most of the show, she is heavily manipulated and deceived by the phantom, and by everyone else. Then, right about the time she visits her Father's grave, she begins to show signs of wanting to become a stronger person and move on with her life in the wake of her Father's death (an action which would weaken the Phantom's power over her considerably). By the end, she has managed to break free of the Phantom's spell and completely condemn him. But in an incredible feat at the show's climax, Christine saves the life of her love interest and reforms the villain through the sheer force of her own compassion. I have noticed that many stories make an effort to have a feminine hero, but they only succeed in doing so by having a woman behave in a traditionally masculine way. Christine Daae is remarkable in that she is feminine in every possible respect, and remains so at every point in the story, but she is the one who saves both Raoul and (to an extent) the Phantom at the end.I love that about her.

[@li-limandragon9287]

It’s sad to see how screwed over Christine is in almost all adaptions.Went from courageous heroine to beautiful doormat who sings nice.

[@Concetta20]

Hear, hear!

[@vijo424]

I think you could call him the "hero" in the classical sense of "male hero comes to save frail woman from kidnapping scenario", even though he doesn't succeed without Christine doing the real work. Definitely not a hero in the sense of a man to look up to who does things truly worthy of admiration.

[@Luna_Christine]

We do not speak of “Love Never Dies”

[@evanlinden4410]

The evil text

[@jessica23claire]

I am total trash for Love Never Dies

[@evanlinden4410]

not another theatre trash channel We all have our vices, I suppose

[@elan825]

@@jessica23claire I wasn't super hot on it when I saw it, but I probably did rewind the ending some 20 times. Meg flipping out and screaming, and the chaos that ensues is so good. Plus, they made Raoul look like the trash person he is in the book.

[@k1tkat-kate]

+

[@entwistling]

Well. Guess you're just gonna have to do Les Miserables now.

[@beccag2758]

Daaaaang that book is freaking long😂

[@christmastiger]

That would be a terrible thing to force Dom to read in order to review, that book is way too long for its own good.

[@Justice237]

H S I remember he said in one of his Q&As that he wasn’t gonna touch Les Misérables because it’s just too damn long, and I can’t say I blame him, I saw the musical and movie before having a shot at the book and I just couldn’t stay with it

[@anttibjorklund1869]

​ @@christmastiger "That would be a terrible thing to force Dom to read" Somebody requested the "50 Shades" reviews. I *think* he can handle Les Mis.

[@kazemizu6284]

The poor guy, that'd take a while xD

[@cpasta517]

I always wondered why the monkey was up for auction instead of Erik's MASK. I mean, IT was in the vaults of the theatre, too; like a few feet away from the monkey, and you're right, Christine never even looked at that monkey. Also, there was literally NO reason for Christine to talk about it, much less to talk about it OFTEN. It would have made SO much more sense for Christine to remember the mask the most, it would have been a better line in the song, and a better bit of storytelling.

[@polyhymnia701]

Coffee Pasta Maybe the monkey symbolizes the tiny ember of good remaining in Erik's soul? It's still a stretch...

[@cherries_and_wine]

I believe the mask was taken by Meg

[@emilystein5255]

okay so ive seen a few productions where Christine always wakes up to the monkey and kind of plays with it a little, kind of being that one little thing down there that makes her happy or brings her some feelng of safety? So it could be the reason why she talked about it a lot

[@beccag2758]

Emily Stein the version I saw did that too, however I'm guessing it was chosen because it's large, moves, and sounds interesting, while something like the mask (which I agree would be more appropriate) is only visually interesting and would be harder to see without the the spotlight it gets at the end?

[@Concetta20]

I think Meg squirreled it away for herself.

[@Dominic-Noble]

First!

[@sierrarush9750]

isn't it cheating to call first on your own video?

[@nostalgicarchives9463]

Very funny

[@Thraim.]

Your parents were so proud of you, but now you ruined it all.

[@thedarkoracle4807]

Well played.

[@cpkgrownup9496]

I love that this is a thing now. 😂

[@PsychicHyrax]

Christine: Daddy? Erik: DO I LOOK LIKE-

[@t.thomas8919]

Yes, you do. Do bother in saying otherwise. Fans won't let you. Deal with it. XD

[@Brilliantlight319]

When Dom does a duet with Dom... I sort of like it.

[@mathieuleader8601]

ME MYSELF AND I

[@stephenmarco2927]

He should do anything you can do from Annie get your gun

[@evies.1018]

Stephen Marco Dom and Terrance should do it!

[@PrincessGrouchy]

The dynamic Du-om.

[@menotyou4289]

Anything you can do, I can do better between Terrance and The Dom???

[@authoralysmarchand4737]

I think the best chandelier drop is in Portland, Oregon. When it starts to drop, it doesn't angle for the stage. It drops into the audience, and while still falling, the lights cut to black. Each time I've been at a Portland performance, audience members scream. It looks so much like it will land in the audience (it stops about 10 feet overhead--the liability insurance must be killer) that, when I took my daughter and our seats were going to be below it, I found someone to trade so we'd be a few rows back so she wouldn't have a heart attack. When the lights come back up and you stand up under it, it's incredible to see how close it is. Anyway, Karimloo's Phantom is easily the most heart-wrenching I've seen, and I've seen a LOT of them, and Frasier's Raoul is definitely the most happy-go-lucky innocent idealist. Despite the horribly pixelated background, this is a beautiful performance, especially given the limitations, and I do really love the transition after "Think of Me," when Christine turns around and the mirror reflects the real audience as her audience. Other versions I've seen have the cast running out on stage without a curtain, whereas the RAH production makes a smooth switch to being backstage. And I'd be embarrassed to be the guy in audience left who is asleep with his mouth hanging open.

[@mindygracebickerdike]

They do the same in Her Majesty's Theater. My mum saw a performance of it in London. It drops right over the audience's heads almost like it will land on them but crash last moment on the stage.

[@beccag2758]

That's awesome! My question: doesn't that make it really easy for some "art imitates like" psycho to sabotage the fake out? Like like _maybe_ I'm paranoid but you know, that seems kinda too easy...

[@KryssLaBryn]

@@mindygracebickerdike Does that in the North American tour as well (or at least did, pre-movie, when I saw it). Went so close over our heads on its way to the stage that I could literally, in those pre-LED days, feel the heat of the lights as it passed. If I'd stood up I could have reached up and touched it.

[@lilitudeluna6296]

When I saw Phantom in Louisville, KY at the Center for the Arts, they pulled the chandelier up from the orchestra pit & then dropped it back SWINGING out over the audience then “crashed” back into the pit. It caused everyone to scream and the pyrotechnics and smell of burning candles and matches terrified even veteran Phantom goers.

[@cholec9230]

You probably saw the tour; there’s no continuously running production in Oregon.

[@SunnysFilms]

"To show off his sweet Red Death cosplay." I spit out my coffee. Thanks for that.

[@almightycinder]

In case you don't notice him, Ramin Karimloo actually has a cameo in the Butler movie: the photo of Christine's father.

[@diddyhenderson4496]

Can we all just take a moment and enjoy the music of the night duet

[@joeevans5770]

We all need the whole song sung like that

[@authoralysmarchand4737]

Until that last note, that whole piece made me laugh.

[@tv_tim]

I enjoyed it, but after it was over my immediate reaction was "WTF?" And then I realized I liked it.

[@k1tkat-kate]

I'm so glad this exists

[@hypersilver1111]

This is all well and good but there is one thing you didn’t address that we’re all thinking about... What happened to the Rat Catcher?!

[@kristisimonson435]

@@str.77 I remember seeing him mentioned in some libretto too, maybe up high on one of the catwalks as they pass. I always had nosebleed seats in the theatre so if he was there he was obscured by the top curtain.

[@Roadent1241]

Kristi Simonson Nosebleed seats...?

[@NeonNecropolis92]

He runs past Raoul and Giry on their way to the Phantom's lair, smacking the floor with a net. I don't think he made it to the Royal Albert Hall proshot, which is just as well since his appearance is kind of jarring and has nothing to do with anything.

[@SunflowerSpotlight]

Roadent1241 It’s a term for the ones farthest away from the stage. Since they get higher as they get farther back in stadiums, and the farthest you can possibly get in theaters is not just in the back of the room, but also high up, the idea is that you’re so high the pressure changes and could cause nosebleeds in some people. 😅

[@SunflowerSpotlight]

Lauren Byers I wonder if that happens in the touring show. 🤔 Since they have to deal with different theaters all the time, I’m not sure that it still happens. Hmm. I saw the show 2-3 years ago, and I didn’t notice him, but I definitely could have missed that part. I want to go back when I can; it’s my favorite musical. Although The Lion King was pretty amazing as well. But the set was recently redesigned in the touring show for Phantom, and for the titular song, they go down this tower that turns onstage, with stairs that pop out in time for them to step on them, then recede. It’s so cool. 😂 Just the little changes they made had me enjoying the show even more than I expected.

[@k1tkat-kate]

"Hmm? Oh. Okay, apparently there's an awful sequel that confirms he lives." DON'T TALK TO ME ABOUT LOVE NEVER DIES THAT SHOW SHOULD HAVE NEVER SEEN THE LIGHT OF DAY!!!!!

[@magicamadeye]

@Rebecca Woolf funnily enough its also based on a book

[@minastone155]

@@magicamadeye a book Andrew Loyd Webber commissioned. He gave Forsyth the plot beats he wanted

[@brentage5000]

@@minastone155 I've read the book, and....it's not bad. Not great literature by any means, but entertaining for an afternoon or two and consistent in presentation. Not sure how they produced such a turd of a musical from that, but then again....I don't really wanna know.

[@raf015_2]

The only good reason that makes me thankful for the existence of Love Never Dies is the fact that it made Ramin and Sierra cross paths. They have a wonderful friendship and they are incredibile together as Erik and Christine.

[@joethehero2]

Nobody: Andrew Lloyd Webber: Tax the poor~ I don't care~ I'm a spam-faced millionaire~

[@TheDanishGuyReviews]

The more l'm taxed, the more my hunger to eat the rich grows.

[@Jayfive276]

A valid point but why does it ALWAYS have to be a greentext meme?

[@Roadent1241]

Glad to see people are still quoting Russell.

[@joethehero2]

Because if there was EVER a time to use that meme, it would be to give ALW both barrels over his actions as Lord. (Also this is the first time I've used that meme and I didn't want to waste it)

[@nobledamask]

Have you tried "kill all the poor"?

[@michaeloconnor5904]

Lover of the book: You gave Meg too much time for my liking Andrew Lloyd Webber, holding the Love Never Dies script: *awkward silence*

[@authoralysmarchand4737]

I have no intention of watching LND and having PotO ruined for me, but what's up with Meg in LND?

[@michaeloconnor5904]

@@authoralysmarchand4737 Um, basically she shoots and kills Christine before committing suicide at the end after going bat-shit crazy. I will say that the song Love Never Dies is quite good and Til I Hear You Sing is my favourite ALW song. They're not really plot-relevant so listening to them could only really enhance your POTO experience and is Borgess and Karimloo and come with my highest recommendation.

[@KryssLaBryn]

@@authoralysmarchand4737 Gets worse than that for poor Meg, alas. In the book it was based on, "Phantom of Manhattan", the Phantom raises money after he gets to New York by first getting a job on the docks gutting fish, and later selling postcards at Coney Island while dressed as a clown. >< In LND, AWL simplifies rather a lot. Meg and Mme Giry didn't just help sneak him onto the boat, they came with him, and raise the money to build his own theme park by the extremely expedient means of whoring Meg out to rich dudes. Which she did in the hopes that the more she helped him out the more he would notice her (because she's fallen in love with him too by now)--only for Christine to show up and ruin everything because as soon as he sees her again, he's thoroughly obsessed with her again, and Meg realizes that all her hopes were for nothing. Also Christine and the Phantom had sex before he left, but then he bailed because he was so overwhelmed by finally getting everything he wanted that he left her just sleeping in the damned barn he nailed her in, and now of course she's had his kid (this taking place ten years after POTO. Except that apparently ALW can't math). And we *know* that it's his kid and not Raoul's, because the kid is also musical (and of course there's nO wAy he could have inherited any kind of musical talent from his *mother*). Plus Raoul is impotent. And also an abusive drunk. And Christine was in love with the Phantom all along. Seriously, it's like ALW went hunting through the absolute worst E/C fics he could find on fanfiction.net and took, just, ALL of the notes. >< Pretty music (terrible lyrics; but pretty music); some quite nice costume designs in some productions (such as the Australian one); but just the *woooooooorst* most hackneyed plot eeeeever. I strongly suggest that if you ever do decide to listen to the soundtrack, you find it in a language you don't speak (the German one is quite nice), so you can enjoy the music without being distracted by the words.

[@CCNuck]

You are incredibly helpful and thoughtful! That was a fantastic synopsis, with good advice.

[@jenneli314]

Meg is my favorite character in the play, the sequel did her so dirty! She goes from a true friend championing Christine's talent, inquisitive, feisty, and talented in her own right to a burlesque dancing, crazed, lovesick, psycho?

[@morgangobin9985]

Whether you love it or hate it, there’s no denying that the ALW Phantom of the Opera has withstood the test of time for a reason-the music, the costumes, and, let’s be honest, the overly romantic tones have only enhanced its appeal to a wide audience. As for the 25th Anniversary in particular...personally, I think it’s nearly perfect. This is a phenomenal alternative if you’re not able to see the show in person. The three leads nail their performances, the supporting cast is stellar, the orchestra is beautiful, etc. etc. I can’t recommend it enough.

[@syra1541]

it's absolutely incredible

[@li-limandragon9287]

It’s a great musical but poor adaptation of the source material, particularly compared to Les Miserables.

[@Turner_Strait]

ooh the self-insert thing huuuuurts when you remember Love Never Dies... [big wince]

[@sorcerersapprentice]

Heard about that from Lindsey's video. I swear that musical makes the fanfiction that I wrote as a 13-year-old look like Citizen Kane.

[@authoralysmarchand4737]

I refuse to watch LND.

[@Turner_Strait]

It pretty much IS fanfiction! Except because it's written by a renowned playwright and songwriter it's somehow not regarded as such. Or at least, not publicly lol

[@harrietamidala1691]

Oh God, love never die is basically a fanfic brought to light on stage. Check out the musical hell review of LND. It is glorious in ripping it apart.

[@billuraral1870]

The-musical-which-shall-not-be-named

[@Grim_Sister]

“You know, other cats on Twitter are saving babies while you’re running into windows.” I feel the same about my cat. She’s pretty and sweet, but not very bright.

[@angelicatays1556]

"I've been kidnapped by a smelly Loony."

[@leadingblind1629]

Dominic Noble...let me tell you how actresses and singers who were not leads earned money to survive back then. They were basically Satine from Moulin Rouge. Not always but patrons DID provide them with clothes jewels and rent. For sexual favors. Philippe in the books was La Sorelli's patron.

[@Battleschnodder]

so like actresses now in LA

[@leadingblind1629]

@@Battleschnodder always has been

[@KR-ue1gd]

Wikipedia has several possible etymologies of the word "tutu" (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tutu_(clothing)#Etymology)... two of which relate to rich men propositioning young dancers. Classical dance, ladies and gentlemen!

[@waterlily7343]

@@KR-ue1gd Maybe it is unrelated -but I'd bet it's not- , but "tutu" is also an old timey slang for money in Brazil.

[@NeroCM]

@@KR-ue1gd Wanna bet this is how "exotic" dancers came to be? Some girl thinking "I'm not good enough to be in the theatre, but maybe I can still get men to pay me if I dance for them?" and it snowballed from there.

[@bioman1hazard607]

Lindsey Ellis phantom reviews were great, it's cool to referenced and reccomend it

[@RoseBaggins]

They definitely are.

[@kathrynolsen1256]

I prefer reviews not to include cleavage and alcohol to make them more “interesting.”

[@anna-flora999]

@@kathrynolsen1256 so you're judging a book by its cover..

[@alicedubois1348]

@@kathrynolsen1256 She doesn't target her videos for children. You should check it out before you judge a full video from the few seconds that you saw.

[@kathrynolsen1256]

Tandem Dominum Plays I’ve watched many. But there is no need to involve alcohol to deal with your feelings on literature.

[@brooketrotter18]

Raoul is usually played a bit softer, but Hadley played him a lot snarkier, possibly as a prelude to his characterization in LND. Hadley's reactions as Raoul to Christine during All I Ask of You always make me laugh.

[@brooketrotter18]

13:31 glad you kept it in the video! I love that face so much.

[@TactlessC]

>"Which I'm pretty sure was illegal in 19th Century France" Well Actually...since when have criminals cared about what was illegal?

[@carlrood4457]

It's a little hard to hide from authorities when you're using your kidnapping victim as an attraction at your circus.

[@kyleshea384]

@@str.77 Maybe it was because he was horribly deformed and the cops did not care

[@count_bodies_like_sheep9296]

Watching Dominic sing The of Music of the Night with himself is the highlight of my day.

[@tessawidenhofer]

I just had the mental image of a Lost in Adaptation of Genesis 39 vs Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat... iconic

[@l.n.3372]

As someone who loves both, I always like to compare Joseph and the amazing technicolor dream coat vs. Joseph, king of dreams (the sequel/prequel to Prince of Egypt)

[@hellogoditsmesara3569]

Despite everyone crying “phantom” Eric himself refers to himself as the opera ghost. In Notes/Prima Donna: Who would have the gall to send these? Someone with a puerile brain. These are both signed O.G. Who the hell is he?! “Opera Ghost”

[@benfarrar741]

Really not amusing.

[@SomeBlokeOrWhatever]

"Prius Donna" tho. You wanna know how I know this comment was written on a mobile phone?

[@hellogoditsmesara3569]

A Birb fuck

[@Charuchii]

Dominic, you fool! By opening up the possibility of discussing stage plays, everyone will start telling you to do The Cursed Child stage play next! ... Well, at least you discussed the script already

[@epicremarc]

Charuchii that was Terrence

[@maggieholland8202]

There can't really be a lost in adaptation since they literally just released the script and called it a day

[@rulerofthewild7747]

That’s not a adaptation though that’s literally just the script.

[@curiousKuro16]

I work in a library and your singing about the phantom cracked me up so I confused security.

[@vrededromer8955]

Such a pity the Royal Albert Hall version did not have the raising of the Chandelier while playing the phantom Theme, it is such an iconic moment and gave me serious goosebumps when I had the chance to see it live.

[@msmichellewinchester]

The bloopers killed me. "You know other cats are saving babies on Twitter and you're running into windows." :D :D :D

[@KeyBladeMaster-Dan]

For the algorithm I AM YOUR ANGEL OF COMMEEEEENTS!!!!

[@jameswilson3370]

I like how in the musical Journey to the Cemetery and the few bars of music leading up to Wandering Child is all violin - a nod to Erik playing the violin in the graveyard in the book.

[@sigridhorn2408]

“Excuse me... This Apollo’s Lyre is occupied”

[@coyraig8332]

I don't get that joke. Is that what that part of the stage is called?

[@sigridhorn2408]

@@coyraig8332 oh... uh... It's a statue on top of the Palais Garnier, and if you've seen the show in theatres it's that angel statue they hang on stage, and then lower it to reveal the phantom hiding there (he also did in the book). If you've seen the 25th live, it's... not there. He just hangs out in the orcestra above the stage. It's a prop, not a stage part.

[@coyraig8332]

@@sigridhorn2408 I watched the last in this dude's trilogy. It's much more literal than I thought.

[@sigridhorn2408]

@@coyraig8332 ...the statue...? I'm confused

[@coyraig8332]

@@sigridhorn2408 Watch the third video

[@Formoka]

Audiobooks are also a good way to read if you have ADHD or dyslexia and have trouble with reading text. I recommend the Artemis Fowl series as the narrator does different voices for the characters and it’s fantastic.

[@LaineyBug2020]

Is it weird that I love to listen to the audio books as I read along? I think it goes back to when I was a kid & the library had kids books on tape with the books to sort of help kids read along. It's one of the ways I stubborned through my dislexia & became a bibliophile!

[@gingerstorm101]

Formoka I have ADD and I listen to Audio Fics all the time! I’m able to get so much work done while doing it!

[@SunflowerSpotlight]

I love audiobooks so much. I’m an editor, and while I love reading, I can’t get out of editing mode easily. I notice little issues more when I’m seeing the page, so to just enjoy a book I like to listen to the aural version. I can still read really top notch stories on paper, stuff that’s well-plotted and -paced, without little spelling errors, typos, and lexically vague or awkward phrasing. It allows me to just be a reader more easily. I’m also chronically ill, so being able to listen to something, give my brain something to chew on, helps me to not get anxious when I’m in persistent pain. Ever since I had double pneumonia as a young teen, I’ve used it as a distraction tool. I was so weak, I couldn’t sit up. My medicine made me sleep three hours at a time, and I had to take it every four hours. Or it made me so sick that despite being exhausted, I couldn’t rest because I was so sick feeling. I had to do painful breathing treatments as well; if I fell too short of the goal, I’d have to be admitted in the hospital to have stronger meds and to be under closer observation. If my father hadn’t been a doctor, I’d have been in the hospital. For about three weeks, my life was just medicine and coughing and nausea and pain. I couldn’t hold a book up, but I needed to escape the confines of the walls of my bedroom. I found audiobooks. I listened to all the available Harry Potter books and lived adventures in Narnia, cheered the triumphs and suffered the defeats of the characters. I wanted to hug their friends and cursed their enemies and felt I was losing a friend when I was done with the stories. Why live just one life, when you can read and experience hundreds? I’m so happy that digital formatting has made it easier to listen to audiobooks and opened that door for more people. It’s such a wonderful and versatile tool to have.

[@LaineyBug2020]

@@SunflowerSpotlight I hope you find as much peace & relief as possible day to day. I too suffer from chronic illnesses. I never had pneumonia, but a couple of bad bouts of pleurasy and multiple intubations have left me with reactive airway disease I get to manage on top of everything else. I love being able to slip from reality to reality & my heart aches right along with yours when I have to part with new friends. I think my ADD keeps me from enjoying just the audio version. I tend to drift off either in sleep or whatever else my eyes rest on, unless I'm drawing. Reading is sufficient to keep me enthralled in world, but adding the audio to my own reading maxes out my engagement and I am fully immersed & dead to the real world, lol! I get so wrapped up in the habbit, that if I don't have captions when watching something on screen, I have trouble paying attention!

[@SunflowerSpotlight]

Lainey Bug Thank you. I appreciate that. I’ve been sick since I was 11. It’s a little ironic that my illness would prevent me from serving in the military, but I’ve had it long enough that, if it was a person, now it would be old enough to join the military. 😅 So I’ve been able to figure out what distraction works well for me. I do still have my flares and rough times, but thankfully I at least have my books. I also prefer captions on. I feel like I can’t focus well enough to really get the plot’s details because of my pain much of the time, so I generally prefer rewatching things I’ve seen, but when I watch something new, subtitles are a must. Sometimes they’re put in the worst places, though. Recently I’ve also started the listening while reading thing, when it’s something I think is important or something with a lot of detail. I get a bit nervous if it’s long periods of time, though, because I keep wanting to read ahead. 😅 Or, I finally progressed in learning Spanish to the point that I can read a few books in it, and I understand way more with less stress when I both hear and see it. Super useful! I’m sorry you’ve had your own health struggles. I can’t imagine what intubation would be like, so immediate and in your face. I’m so sorry. I hope your health will be manageable so that you have a solid quality of life (for so many of us that’s really the most we can hope for), and that you have and continue to find more things that work as positive distraction and coping mechanisms to make it easier for you.

[@lycianempire]

This story really could use the intervention of Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax.

[@mindygracebickerdike]

Not to mention Agnes/Perdita and a little of Walter Plinge

[@lycianempire]

@@mindygracebickerdike Walter is the best Phantom, hands down.

[@efoxkitsune9493]

Omg so I've read the books in Czech, as English is my second language, and I was just recently wondering what Granny Weatherwax was called in the original (the Czech translations are truly amazing btw, but the names change completely, so)... now I know! Thanks! 😄 Can I ask, what's the English name of the 3rd one of the "Wyrd Systers"? There's Nanny Ogg, Granny Weatherwax, and...?

[@mindygracebickerdike]

@@efoxkitsune9493 The third Witch is called Margrat Garlik.

[@efoxkitsune9493]

@@mindygracebickerdike Wow, I see that the Czech translations are pretty much perfect haha. Thanks!

[@the1koolkitty]

I loved the entire review as always, Dom, but your jazzy Music of the Night “duet” in particular made me grin like a friggin’ idiot. Much love!! 🖤

[@EDDIELANE]

YAY the shoutout to Linsday!! she’s WICKED.

[@PunkPansy-]

"Aw balls! He's not an angel, I've been kidnapped by a smelly looney!" 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@GriffinPilgrim]

The Terry Pratchett version is still my favourite.

[@howaboutno802]

Wait... there is a Terry Pratchett Version???

[@GriffinPilgrim]

@@howaboutno802 Wellllll kinda. One of the Discworld novels, Masquerade, is a parody of Phantom.

[@mindygracebickerdike]

I love Masquerade, Ganny & Nanny are my favourite characters. "I liked you better when you were Walter Plinge."

[@schmohobzsia7216]

Masquerade is so good! Funny as hell and deeply empathetic in its treatment of the stories we tell ourselves. I really should re-read it...

[@pieter_kok]

And it's a pretty good mystery once again.

[@piccolofan24]

I live for Don’s interpretation of “Music of the Night”. ❤️

[@AnyZee]

"I'm so f*cking hot" Truer words were never spoken.

[@FaeQueenCory]

Here's a comment for the algorithm: I always had read it as both Madames being merged into Giry. She's kinda the character that subsumed almost all the cut ones.

[@elbauldelosrecuerdosdemigu5137]

I know you'll hate me for asking this because it would be a really time-consuming project, but I would love you do something similar to this Phantom of the Opera project with Les Miserables, I think it would be awesome.

[@epicremarc]

He’s said in a Q&A that he’s not going anywhere near Les Mis. I get it, it’s like 1500 pages long

[@elbauldelosrecuerdosdemigu5137]

@@epicremarc Yeah, it's really long, that's true. A pity, I didn't know it, if I had known, I wouldn't have asked. Thank you for the information

[@andrealabonair3519]

As someone who's played The Phantom of the Opera Pit for a school's production of the show, the Piano part's insane. The only good thing I got to do was recreate the iconic 'DA, DA, DA, DA, DA ,DAAAA!' I was so thankful when that show was done. But I always enjoyed listening to the people who played Christine, Erik, and Raul. They were amazing.

[@robyndaniell434]

"And the 2020 Tony award for best musical duet goes to...." That was some, sweet, sweet harmonizing! (Edit: duet, dang it!)

[@samanthafurnish1809]

I think one thing you fail to mention about a stage adaptation, especially in a musical as long running as phantom, is that often differences in character can be because of actor's choices. For example, the Christine I saw recently didn't seem sexually interested in Erik at all, instead she seemed to be extremely devoted to him and then deeply care and feel pity for him. Just my interpretation but I love your video

[@eveecco]

I'd like to thank you Dom for mentioning Maven of the Eventide as I believe KZbin suggested her videos to me because of this :D

[@whiteraven181]

Dominic: "Hello my beautiful watchers..." me: feels my depression lift about 85% Also, I lost it at the Dom-Phantom Duo singing a pop-y Music of the Night

[@nancyjay790]

KZbin's treatment of creators sounds similar to the Phantom. 🐱

[@ewicanteven3741]

In the book, Raoul's brother is a patron which might explain the free reign they are both given

[@fallenstarempire707]

Hey I don't have anything to say. Just trying to help stave off the KZbin algorithm.

[@alyssaagnew4147]

Same here.

[@2Ten1Ryu]

Me too.

[@sawyerthomson7497]

Mood

[@alnumbers2098]

Mood

[@cenedra20]

+

[@Sheila-gz1st]

I remember seeing PotO when I was young, and was fascinated and completely enchanted by the falling chandelier. It was amazing and blew my mind.

[@kathrynolsen1256]

Sheila I saw it as an 8yo and have loved it for 30 years.

[@Sheila-gz1st]

@@kathrynolsen1256 Same, except 20 years! :)

[@Wander85942]

I’ve love Phantom of the Opera since I was 5 years old. Fell in love with the music before I could understand the story

[@bee_doug]

Noel Luna Me too!! My dad has the original cast recording CDs and I used to listen to them obsessively as a five year-old.

[@christie8493]

Noel Luna me too! I saw it on my 5th birthday!

[@christie8493]

Bethany Douglass same but it was my mom who had the original cd

[@AnnieB097]

Love the phantom of the opera musical (I have the dvd of the royal albert hall performance on dvd) and this was really fun to watch thanks dominic 😁

[@bossyheifer]

Hey! I was going to say that! :)

[@colonyofrats4193]

Me too

[@renakawaiichan]

Same here. When I was 5, I memorized every single song and would listen to a cassette of the musical all the time.

[@ebonimccain6988]

Will you ever do a colab with Lindsay Ellis like I've wished for years.

[@signeaarejrgensen61]

Yes Yes Yes!

[@PKMNResearcherSkyler]

That would be great

[@vidoquen111]

@@sarasamaletdin4574 oh thank God I finally found someone else who doesn't like Lindsey.

[@drartemisa21]

@@vidoquen111 yeah whoever that was deleted the comment it seems.

[@joyceshiver6622]

Still want that Colab?

[@yunamchill9169]

Ngl, I was absolutely smitten by the lady that played Mme Giry. Am I the only one who felt the same? She's so beautiful and imposing at the same time. I also really loved Carlotta, she was so dramatic and her high notes, wow. Of course, Ramin, Sierra and Hadley are gold worth. My favourite pieces here would be Phantom of the Opera, That's all I ask of you and Masquerade. Masquerade always makes me cry cause I remember the days when we played POTO in high school, makes me too nostalgic. :')

[@DragonMama-yt3zs]

I believe I read somewhere, that Andrew Lloyd Webber stated his creation of Phantom of the Opera was semi-autobiographical has he compared the relationship between Erik and Christine to his relationship between himself and his then wife Sarah Brightman which could explain a lot.

[@foxylover9250]

Out of curiosity, I'm wondering if you'll ever do an LIA (lost in adaptation) of any of the Disney movies aside from Alice in wonderland and the live action originals you've already done, I love Disney and how they took these dark stories and made them kid friendly

[@Dominic-Noble]

Almost all my episodes are chosen by high contributing patrons so it's kind of not up to me. I have to admit I also try to discourage Disney movies as they tend to get hit with copyright claims more than average.

[@taleef1760]

Dominic Noble Isn’t Alice technically still in the public domain? Like if you don’t use video or audio from the Disney versions of Alice and give us awesome re-enactments that you be a way around it? Love your videos!

[@LisaAnne1998]

@@taleef1760 Alice in wonderland is the only one that has already been done though...

[@EDDIELANE]

@Alexandre Phaneuf élève the classics of course are adapted from some dark folklore, yes.

[@EDDIELANE]

Alexandre Phaneuf élève in the classic little mermaid - the mermaid has to kill the prince with a dagger to avoid being turned into sea-foam. Sleeping Beauty’s origin story had heavy tones of date rape- like actually impregnating someone while they sleep, even Snow White being based loosely around child- minors being stunted from growing...

[@l.n.3372]

Ok, I love Phantom and your analysis of the book and musical. But you won my respect by acknowledging Joseph and the amazing technicolor dream coat. That musical is underrated as hell and I love it too!

[@Randerson2409]

Boyband pop style "Music of the Night" is something I never thought I needed in my life. I still don't. Why, Dominic? Why?

[@AE-lw1ug]

Very respectful shout out to Lindsay 👏 I loved her exploration of this topic

[@hetafreak-gi1hr]

As an organist myself I have to say that I love the unholy piano/organ mashup at 11:06.

[@LaNoLaCola]

Since this covering the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, when will the Cats lost in adaptation episode be?

[@joethehero2]

Never. Cats is based off a book of poetry.

[@69Yosiel69]

@@joethehero2 another three parter it's the most logical request, then.

[@benjaminmadrigalperez9010]

Perhaps after the new movie come up????

[@joethehero2]

@@69Yosiel69 Unlikely. There's no plot to compare to.

[@eadlynjune]

I mean I don’t think it would make a lot of sense since “Cats” was used the poetry for the lyrics of the songs and are then strung together loosely by Webber. I mean I’m not sure what you could talk about.

[@andrewkim9848]

Diva from Musical Hell: *GREETINGS MORTALS*

[@fullmetalmasify]

Dom has quite a nice singing voice. That duet with himself was quite beautiful.

[@Thraim.]

Look at the time! It's Dom(inic) o'clock already.

[@AliciaNyblade]

16:44--Leroux Erik and Musical Erik begrudgingly joining each other in jamming out to "Music of the Night". I didn't realize how much I needed that in my life. XD And yes, I agree that Raoul as he is in the musical is MUCH better than his book counterpart. Also, poor Daroga gets cut out of so many versions, it's sad. He's the most intriguing character in the whole novel, after Erik himself of course, and his tense on-again, off-again friendship with him is such an emotional plot element I don't know why it gets scrapped so much.

[@marycanary86]

opera australia said it so well in 2011.... "theres the musics theatre sequel that they promise will be good "Love never dies" they say but i confess *i wish it would*"

[@emn2375]

"I've been kidnapped by a smelly loonie" I'm crying 😂😂

[@alexisgrey3633]

They cut out the only non white character, and yet in this production Ramin Karimloo who plays the Phantom is actually Iranian lol.

[@juliad.527]

Domenic's singing took me aback! (How is he so good???)

[@adamgelb567]

Do (any version of) Tarzan 1930s Weissmuller 1980s Lambert 1990s Disney 2010s Skarsgard Or: an Oscars of any combination. Imho, Lambert was closest overall, only because disney got everything wrong

[@kaspiansea3997]

Well...actually Iranians can be white too. We have very different looks all over country.we have dark tones too.our fairer skin tones can have really fair skin and blue or green eyes. my dad is actually blond with blue eyes. So I don't think it was whitewashing or anything like that.

[@ECL28E]

Has Mike Myers ever played a parody version of Andrew Lloyd Webber? He looks like a Mike Myers character.

[@authoralysmarchand4737]

I will never be able to unsee it.

[@RoseBaggins]

Oh my goodness, you are so right!! Never noticed before, and now I can't unsee it, lol. 😂😂

[@mimkyodar]

My partner says he looks like Gilbert Gottfried. Cue me riffing on him in a GG impression for 5 minutes.

[@nathanforester5993]

I am pretty sure they have made fun of his musicals a couple of times on SNL, and also he kind of looks like David Walliams.

[@anmanarrative]

I had to pause the video after the Music of the Night duet because I was laughing too much, oh that was absolutely beautiful!

[@brooketrotter18]

For those who like this and Lindsay's video, there's a channel called Phantom Reviews that covers every adaptation they can. Unfortunately youtube likes to take a lot of these away, but I still highly recommend the channel.

[@absolite6]

This recording was how I first heard of this story. First time Christine nicked Erik's mask, my little sister screamed and ran out the room!

[@spookyhood]

Loved that little nod to Lindsey Ellis - she is one of my favorite creators!

[@juliemassam933]

I do have to admit PotO is my favorite musical and I like how they made both Raoul and Eric more sympathetic.

[@banana_mango_milk]

Me: The character of Raoul here is an improvement over his book version but he is still 'Not Great'. Me: Actor cutie me likey

[@ivankaramazov6645]

Raoul is a sucker for wanting to save Christine, he should be a womanizer like Pheobus and take advantage of his money, beauty and social status, to have many lovers. Those who read Victor Hugo's book know that Phoebus didn't give a damn to Esmeralda and had many lovers. Let's see if the crhsitine could take the "beautiful" erik as Esmeralda could not bear to be close to the ugly Quasimodo.

[@li-limandragon9287]

@@ivankaramazov6645 That’s not a improvement that’s villainous downgrade. What I love about book Raoul is that he’s a sucker and loser but still ultimately a better person than Eric.

[@l.n.3372]

​@@li-limandragon9287 Book Raoul is a lot worse than just a sucker and a loser. He's actively harsh and rude to Christine for not returning his feelings for most of the book. Arguably, Christine/Raoul isn't written as a romance in the book so much as it's, well, painted as the better of two evils when her other option was a murderer.

[@pseudofox]

Opinions in music are subjective, but Ramin Karimloo is objectively one of the greatest and sweetest sounding singers of all time.

[@morgangobin9985]

promisedeyes Agreed! I doubt any other Phantom will surpass Ramin in my eyes. The 25th Anniversary has ruined me in that regard!

[@princeapoopoo5787]

Honestly, they have a habit of picking really fucking INCREDIBLE singers as the phantom but Ramin just makes me all tingly inside. Bruh, I'd almost let him kidnap me and take me to his sewers.

[@LaFemmeFictionale]

Clearly you've never heard Hugh Panaro.

[@polyhymnia701]

Anyone else think that Ramin should be touring with Queen instead of Adam Lambert? I mean, Lambert has a fine voice but Ramin actually sounds like Freddie.

[@bawoman]

@@morgangobin9985 Lol, Michael Crawford wipes the floor with him, sorry

[@psirune]

I cannot wait for part 3, thank you so much for covering this story so extensively

[@tobealostwanderer]

My absolute favorite version of Phantom is the miniseries with Charles Dance as the Phantom (its on youtube)

[@ibreatheair6313]

I love the miniseries too--and the little known musical "Phantom" which it was based off of (but was released later). It was in KZbin, but I'm not sure if it still is...

[@li-limandragon9287]

Accurate looking Christine too

[@katem.3677]

Small points: Book!Christine is a blonde, musical!Christine is almost always a brunette. Book!Christine starts out as a member of the chorus, musical!Christine starts out as a member of the corps de ballet.

[@carissaap7003]

Another point : meg giry is just a keeper of box five and nothing else in the book

[@katem.3677]

@@carissaap7003 you mean madame giry, right?

[@carissaap7003]

@@katem.3677 yeah madame giry my bad

[@l.n.3372]

Musical Christine is referred to as a chorus girl. Also, Christine is blonde in some non replica productions in Europe!

[@maryearly3259]

the musical was my first experence of the story as a kid- i got to see it live as a school field trip and loved it. then when the movie came out i snatched up a copy as soon as i could.

[@ashleybow]

It’s so sad that ALW made this Raoul a decently likable character in this and then just DESTROYS that in Love Never Dies

[@leadingblind1629]

After seeing the US tour, and yes I'm aware of the soundtrack and the DVD because I have both and Emma Love Never Dies fan oh, I have to say it can actually depend on who is acting the role! I mean, he's not exactly a good guy at all. They totally destroy the character don't get me wrong. But for one thing I hate real to begin with. Dot-dot-dot and I'm sure my talk-to-text features having a field day spelling this name. On the other hand, when I saw it live, the man playing Raul give the character such a tone that he sounded weary and frustrated, but not at all nasty or bitter or... Anything truly nasty.

[@ashleybow]

@@leadingblind1629 are you referring to the US tour of LND or Phantom? I've seen 2 shows of Phantom in San Francisco as well as own the DVD of the performance Dom is reviewing here, but I've only seen the Australian production of LND that was recorded since people had posted it to youtube. I've been very curious about what other productions of LND are like since it's become a guilty pleasure of mine despite how ridiculous it is (or perhaps because of it lol)

[@BestBoyPatrick]

Love Never Dies isn’t necessarily AWFUL. It’s just incredibly weird. I feel like if it wasn’t directly related to phantom it may actually be considered decent if not good. The main issue is how batshit insane it was. It just makes absolutely no sense

[@Grethrey123]

It has one or two good songs, but overall it utterly destroys all 5 of the main characters from the first show - Phantom, Christine, Raoul, Meg and Giry all seem to be in-name-only avatars. Not going to go into more details to avoid spoilers but those who have seen it will know what I’m talking about. Also the story of Phantom is pretty concise and self-contained so LND very roughly and terribly unpicks all of the loose ends that were 100% tied up at the end of the show in service of the ONE cliffhanger at the very end - ie where did the Phantom go?

[@l.n.3372]

​@@Grethrey123 ​​ While I agree with your argument, I'd hesitate to call Meg a main character in the original musical. The main trio is obviously the Phantom, Christine and Raoul. Madame Giry takes on the role of 3 characters essentially: her book counterpart, the old woman who served as Christine's caretaker, and a version of the Daroga who explains Erik's past to Raoul. Meg isn't a main character. She's arguably the least important female character in the musical as even Carlotta is more vital during the story, and the two managers both have more dialogue than Meg too.

[@kezplays5985]

Honestly, I wouldn’t mind hearing more of your thoughts on that wretched sequel (Love Never Dies) at some point. I feel it really drives home the fact that, though the character development for Erik is interesting in the first musical, Andrew Lloyd Webber either somehow Didn’t Get his own adaptation’s message or the siren’s call of an overindulgent sequel with more self-insertion was too much to resist despite needing to derail basically every character.

[@devinbaggs7542]

Bwahahahaha Dom singing "fuck me, it's the Phantom of the Opera" made me laugh out loud. Thanks for that Monsieur :D

[@exlibrisas]

I work at a theater and it very often buys rights and builds various famous musicals/operas/ballets. We have Fiddler on a Roof, Chicago, Greek Zorba... I would love us to make our Phantom of the Opera one day :D

[@louie5647]

As a phantom of the opera connoisseur, my heart was squealing with glee watching this review.

[@antifagoat6591]

God, I would love to see you talk about "Wicked" And its adaptational differences from book to musical.

[@andrewvarney5687]

That rendition of Music of the Night was delightful!!!

[@hellogoditsmesara3569]

Don Juan Triumphant A self insert fanfic in a self insert fanfic