Phantom of the Opera (1976 musical)

Infobox Musical
name = Phantom of the Opera
subtitle =


caption = Logo
music = Adapted by:
Ken Hill
lyrics = Ken Hill
book = Ken Hill
basis = "The Phantom of the Opera" 1911 novel by Gaston Leroux
productions = 1976 Lancaster
1984 Newcastle
1987 St. Louis
1988 San Francisco
1989 U.S. Tour
1991 West End
1992 Japanese tour
1992 World tour
2004 Tokyo
awards =

"Phantom of the Opera" is a 1976 musical adaptation of the novel "The Phantom of the Opera" by Gaston Leroux, written and adapted by Ken Hill. Ken Hill's musical is a unique adaptation of Gaston Leroux's classic novel, dealing with the hideously disfigured Phantom's amorous obsession with the magnificent, naive singer, Christine. Writing original English lyrics to the music of Verdi, Gounod, Offenbach, Mozart, Weber and Donizetti, Hill created an evening of murder, mystery, and song. It is a return to Gaston Leroux’s original story and its long-forgotten humour. Hill felt, like Leroux, the Opera Ghost is not merely a "creature of the imagination of the artiste," rather he is a spirit who will touch all those who enter the theatre.

History

Ken Hill’s "Phantom of the Opera" was the first musical version of "The Phantom of the Opera". Ken Hill’s version is often overlooked when it comes to stage versions of the famous "Phantom of the Opera" tale by Gaston Leroux. Hill's musical is said to have inspired the award-winning Andrew Lloyd Webber musical version of the story, although he never received any formal royalty for it.cn|date=July 2008

As Ken Hill rummaged through a junk shop, he picked up a copy of Gaston Leroux's "Phantom of the Opera" novel and decided on the very same day to produce it as a stage musical in the original form - using the author's vision. He set to work straight away and a few months later it was complete. Apparently, the show started off as a production at Morecambe Pier, but was also first staged when Hill was working as Director of Productions for the Newcastle Playhouse. This first production was produced at The Duke’s Playhouse, Lancaster on July 26, 1976, where it proved to be a hit. It was directed by John Blackmore, designed by Clare Lyth, with musical direction by Gary Yershon. It differed from the later version of Ken Hill’s musical, in having a modern musical score by Ian Armit (who also worked with Hill on his production of "The Curse of the Werewolf") in addition to excerpts from the opera "Faust" by Charles Gounod.

The musical was then forgotten about until 1984, when Hill was in much need of a new show. Remembering the success he had with his original version of "The Phantom of the Opera", he decided to revive it. This time though, he wanted to add the kind of music that would have been heard at the Opéra Garnier in the late nineteenth century. Consequently he discarded the modern score by Ian Armit and wrote original English lyrics that told Gaston Leroux’s tale. By placing them to opera arias by Gounod, Offenbach, Verdi, Weber and Donizetti, he created a musical that reflected the era in which the original novel was written. This updated version of "The Phantom of the Opera" was produced in a joint production by the Newcastle Playhouse and the Theatre Royal Stratford East, and premiered at the Newcastle Playhouse on April 3, 1984, before shortly moving to the Theatre Royal Stratford East. In between, the show had two very brief runs at the New Tyne Theatre, Newcastle and the Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton - neither of those productions did very well. When the show got the Theatre Royal Stratford East, Sarah Brightman, who created the role of Christine in the Lloyd Webber version, was famously asked to perform the role of Christine in the 1984 cast but she turned it down, leaving the role for the opera singer Christina Collier.

Andrew Lloyd Webber, who at the time was married to Brightman, and Cameron Mackintosh attended a performance of Ken Hill’s "Phantom of the Opera" at the Theatre Royal Stratford East. Prompted by the good reviews, they approached Hill about the possibility of their collaborating on developing a grand scale version of his Phantom in the West End, and offered to produce it. In fact, Hill and Webber were already friends, having worked together earlier on a revival of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat" at the Winchester Theatre. Webber and his producer, Cameron Mackintosh had been highly enthusiastic when they broached Hill about his Phantom of the Opera. But in the end, Webber chose to pursue the musical without Hill.

"Phantom of the Opera" then emerged on the other side of the Atlantic in 1987 for its American premiere in St. Louis at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. This production starred Sal Mistretta as The Phantom - his performance won him the St. Louis Theatre Critics Award. A second US production was mounted in 1988 in San Francisco at the Theatre in the Square, produced by Jonathan Reinis.

The productions of "Phantom of the Opera" in St. Louis and San Francisco were so successful that Hill was asked to mount a national tour of the United States. Jonathan Reinis (who later produced Ken Hill’s "The Invisible Man" in London) formed Phantom Touring Company Inc. who acted as the producers for the tour, along with Electric Factory Concerts. The tour began in 1989, with musical arrangements and designs by the original Newcastle Playhouse team. It performed for a few years to packed houses all over America, travelling to approximately 110 cities, and grossing a total of $72 million.

In 1991, "Phantom of the Opera" returned to the United Kingdom where it embarked on a national tour and then transferred to London’s West End. It opened at The Shaftsbury Theatre on December 18, 1991, with a similar cast to the 1984 production - Peter Straker was The Phantom and Christina Collier as Christine. But despite positive reviews, the West End production did poorly at the box office and was forced to close earlier than expected, on April 11, 1992. However, the production was nominated for two Olivier Awards (equivalent of the Broadway Tony Awards) for Best New Musical and Best Director of a Musical, the latter of which placed Ken Hill against Simon Callow and Judi Dench.

ynopsis

Act One

The story of The Phantom of the Opera begins with the new manager, Richard, previously president of Northern Railways (and a proud member of the Stock Exchange Choir), arriving at the Paris Opera House. He is greeted by the artists and staff ("Welcome Sir, I'm So Delighted"). The previous managers of the Paris Opera did not last very long, due to problems with the legend of the Opera Ghost, who demands 20,000 francs a month and his own private box. These requests are defied by the adamant and foolish Richard, little knowing the mayhem that will take place if he refuses to accept the Ghost's demands. Madam Giry, the box keeper, warns Richard that he may have upset the "Ghost". She is horrified when Richard demands use of Box Five (the Ghost's box). She knows the “Ghost” won't stand idly by while Richard refuses to accept his demands. She warns Richard to expect a run of horrific events, which they are...though they're as funny as they are fearsome.

The evening performance begins ("Accursed All Base Pursuit of Earthly Pleasure"). The ghost provides his first warning in the form of the murder of Mephistopheles - "You don't exist…" After the performance, Richard's handsome (if somewhat dim) son - Raoul, madly in love with the chorus girl Christine Daae - goes to her dressing room, only to hear her speak with another man. Jealous, Raoul enters the room to find it empty. This "ghost" seems very real, as is his love for Christine and woe betide anyone who gets in his way. ("How Dare She")

A Groom comes to talk to Richard in his office about the disappearance of a horse named Caesar ("Late Last Night I'm In The Cellars"). Richard decides that the man is an idiot and promptly fires him. We catch up with Raoul, the young and betrayed lover, and Christine at a local graveyard ("All Of My Dreams Faded Suddenly"). He is then introduced to the angelic voice of the Angel Of Music ("While Floating High Above"). Christine leaves and The Phantom attempts to throttle Raoul, but is disturbed by a Grave Digger, and runs off. Back at the Opera House, the unfortunate Richard has had to stand by while his son pursues the chorus girl Christine Daae, and now must convince his diva - Carlotta, who feels she is too ill to perform - to sing at the performance later that evening, with the help of his staff ("She Says She's Got The Nodules"). An agreement is made that Christine Daae will sing the role, while Carlotta mimes the act.

This wasn't what The Phantom had in mind ... He'll not cease causing "accidents" and will do all in his power to disrupt the proceedings, including rubbing out the lead singer. At the evening performance, Carlotta mimes the act incorrectly and very clearly out-of-sync with Christine ("What Do I See"). Christine faints before the end of the performance and The Phantom drops a large candelabra on Carlotta.

After the performance, Christine and Raoul meet on the rooftop of the Opera House to discuss running away from the Opera House and The Phantom together. But The Phantom isn't very far away at all ... He appears from behind the statue of Apollo and towers above them ("To Pain My Heart Selfishly Dooms Me"). Christine and Raoul leave the roof, leaving The Phantom alone. An Old Man enters, throwing bird-seed down for the pigeons on the Opera House's roof. The Phantom's hurt turns to anger, and he throws the unfortunate man off the building. The Phantom screams that Christine will be his and the first act ends.

Act Two

A performance of Faust begins with Christine singing the lead role of Marguerite ("Ah! Do I Hear My Lover's Voice?"). However, during the song there's an unscheduled blackout and when the lights come back up, Christine has disappeared. The show quickly adjourns and the rest of the cast search high and low for her all over the Opera House, taking their lanterns into the audience ("No Sign! I See No Sign!"). But to no avail. The scene switches to The Phantom's underground domain where he takes Christine in his boat and ties her to a post at his mist-shrouded dock before rowing slowly back into the darkness, leaving Christine behind ("Somewhere Above The Sun Shines Bright").

Meanwhile, the search party above ground migrates to the boiler room and The Persian reveals his true identity, and fills us in on the Phantom's history ("Born With A Monstrous Countenance"). Raoul searches for a way down to the cellars below the Opera House ("In The Shadows, Dim And Dreay"). He succeeds and slips through a manhole with the rest of the group, into a boiler room. However things quickly heat up, literally, as The Phantom traps them inside. It looks like the end for the motley group, and they break into a chorus of ("What An Awful Way To Perish").

The final scene takes place in the Phantom's Chapel, with his organ and its unkempt riot of sheet music as a center-piece. He seems determined to wed Christine and expresses his love for her ("Ne'er Forsake Me, Here Remain"). As the song ends, Christine tears off his mask and The Phantom screams in anger and shame, hiding his face from Christine. His sobs fade and he turns back, with a determined and violent look in his eyes, and produces a Priest and Chorus Girl to bear witness to the forced marriage between him and Christine. But just in time (of course), Raoul, The Persian and the rest of the group burst in, having escaped the Boiler Room and come through The Phantom's traps. The Phantom, suddenly finding himself in a tight spot, produces a knife and pulls Christine in front of him - a union sealed in death seems his only option...

Musical Numbers

;Act I
* Welcome Sir I'm So Delighted - Debienne, Remy, Faust, Mephistopheles, Richard, Raoul, Jammes
* Accursed All Base Pursuit Of Earthly Pleasure - Faust
* How Dare She - Raoul
* Late Last Night I'm In The Cellars - The Groom
* All Of My Dreams Faded Suddenly - Christine
* While Floating High Above (Music: Bizet, "The Pearl Fishers") - The Phantom
* She Says She's Got The Nodules - Faust, Carlotta, Richard, Remy, Jammes, Debienne, Christine
* What Do I See - Christine (as Carlotta)
* To Pain My Heart Selfishly Dooms Me (Music: Offenbach, "Les contes d'Hoffmann") - The Phantom, Raoul, Christine;Act II
* The Entr'Acte
* Ah! Do I Hear My Lover's Voice? - Faust, Christine
* No Sign! I See No Sign! - Debienne, Richard, Raoul, Remy, Dominique, Faust, Jammes, Madam Giry
* Somewhere Above The Sun Shines Bright - Christine
* Born With A Monstrous Countenance - The Persian
* In The Shadows, Dim And Dreary - Raoul, The Persian
* 'What An Awful Way To Perish - Faust, The Persian, Madam Giry, Richard, Jammes, Raoul
* The Final Drama
** Ne'er Forsake Me, Here Remain - The Phantom
** Ne'er Forsake Me, Here Remain (Reprise) - The Phantom, Christine
** He Will Not Go Without A Friend - Company

Further productions

A new song was added to the show in 1992, especially for the first Japanese Tour, based upon an aria by Antonín Dvořák. The title of it was "All Of My Dreams Faded Suddenly" and is sung by the character Christine. It replaced "Love Has Flown, Never Returning," but not before the latter had been recorded onto the West End cast recording of "Phantom of the Opera". It still remains there, and the newer song was never recorded and released officially.

Since 1992, "Phantom of the Opera" has toured the world, in countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Italy, Germany, Japan, Korea and the United Kingdom. The most recent UK tour took place in 2000/2001 and was produced by Chris Moreno at the Theatre Royal, Lincoln. It has been said that modern productions of "Phantom of the Opera" tend to place emphasis on the camp side of the show, sometimes poking fun at the Lloyd Webber version.

The most recent production of "Phantom" took place in 2004 in Tokyo, Japan running from November 10, 2004 to November 28, 2004. It was produced by Stewart Macpherson who originally produced the West End production in 1991.

Recording

The official cast recording of the show, was released in 1993 by D Sharp Records. It featured the entire West End (Shaftesbury Theatre) cast, and includes all the songs in the show. It was also later released by two other record labels; Stetson Records (an off-shoot of The Stetson Group), and BMG. The latter versions of the CD were mainly sold in Japan (in Japanese packaging), Australia and New Zealand, on national tours.

Related links

* [http://www.kenhillsphantomoftheopera.co.uk/ Ken Hill's "Phantom of the Opera" fan website]
* [http://phantomsmask.frbb.net Phantom's Mask] - Phantom Discussion Forum