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winterOn Wednesday, I found myself in the possession of someone else's media passes to Phantom. It would have been somewhat foolish not to go, even though it was Damian on again as Erik. Mind you, the rest of the cast was entirely different - I think only Madame Giry was the same one I saw the first time.
And Damian's gone a long way. It looks like someone taped a show and gave him a DVD, because he's fixed the obvious mistakes, like stooping and the painfully wrong flamenco. He was also even better vocally. Still not my Phantom, but improving. And losing gut - it looked about 3kg down in 2 weeks, an admirable pace.
Christine was Edyta Krzemien, #3. She's got a lovely warm soprano, but she plays the stereotypical soppy Christine. Strangely, it made her and Damian work better - I think he just need a Christine weak enough so that he can bend her to his will, and last time Paulina was having none of it.
Raoul was Lukasz Talik, #2. Let me just say that I have no idea why they passed up at least half a dozen more qualified candidates I can name off the top of my head. The boy is good and eager in a long-limbed puppy-like way, so delighted to be on the stage that you wait for him to start vibrating, but he cannot sing. He's got a good strong voice, but no idea how to use it, and it wobbles all over the place, hitting the right notes and emission just long enough to make you realise that with a year's voice lessons, he'd be going places. But as yet, he's not, and that breaks it. (He also cannot dance, just like Raoul #1.)
The directors were decent, and Carlotta #1, Barbara Melzer, is a one-note hack compared to the way Anna Gigiel owned the stage. The ensemble seemed a lot more together, finally getting things done.
And I was absolutely delighted with Ida Nowakowska as Meg. She's always been a great Victoria in Cats, and while her voice is still developing (though very sweet), she's got a charisma that makes you not notice anyone else. For Meg to own the stage during Notes takes skill. Not to mention that she's a real ballerina, unlike Meg#1.
I have my next set of tickets for the 23rd. Don't know if I'll go yet, waiting for the cast to come up. Wanna 'nother Phantom.
And Damian's gone a long way. It looks like someone taped a show and gave him a DVD, because he's fixed the obvious mistakes, like stooping and the painfully wrong flamenco. He was also even better vocally. Still not my Phantom, but improving. And losing gut - it looked about 3kg down in 2 weeks, an admirable pace.
Christine was Edyta Krzemien, #3. She's got a lovely warm soprano, but she plays the stereotypical soppy Christine. Strangely, it made her and Damian work better - I think he just need a Christine weak enough so that he can bend her to his will, and last time Paulina was having none of it.
Raoul was Lukasz Talik, #2. Let me just say that I have no idea why they passed up at least half a dozen more qualified candidates I can name off the top of my head. The boy is good and eager in a long-limbed puppy-like way, so delighted to be on the stage that you wait for him to start vibrating, but he cannot sing. He's got a good strong voice, but no idea how to use it, and it wobbles all over the place, hitting the right notes and emission just long enough to make you realise that with a year's voice lessons, he'd be going places. But as yet, he's not, and that breaks it. (He also cannot dance, just like Raoul #1.)
The directors were decent, and Carlotta #1, Barbara Melzer, is a one-note hack compared to the way Anna Gigiel owned the stage. The ensemble seemed a lot more together, finally getting things done.
And I was absolutely delighted with Ida Nowakowska as Meg. She's always been a great Victoria in Cats, and while her voice is still developing (though very sweet), she's got a charisma that makes you not notice anyone else. For Meg to own the stage during Notes takes skill. Not to mention that she's a real ballerina, unlike Meg#1.
I have my next set of tickets for the 23rd. Don't know if I'll go yet, waiting for the cast to come up. Wanna 'nother Phantom.