Andrew Lloyd Webber’s famous musical “Phantom of the Opera,” which also just happens to be the longest running Broadway show, came to D.C.’s Kennedy Center on tour. I caught up with college students Marissa Dever, Rachel Wilkinson, Mikaela Phillips, Carlo Wood and Danielle Ciaurro about their thoughts on the “Phantom” through the lens of a millennial audience.
Q: Out of five stars, how would you rate the production?
MP: I would rate the production 4 stars. We had Christine’s understudy performing and she was a bit pitchy in places, but overall still good.
CW: 4.5 stars.
MD: I would probably give it around 4 stars! I saw it with a lot of understudies, but they still managed to pull off an amazing show!
RW: 4.5/5 stars.
DC: Out of five stars, I’d rate it overall five stars.
Q: Which adjectives would you use to describe the show?
MP: Classic, haunting, thrilling, dark, beautiful.
CW: Captivating, haunting, exhilarating, intense, beautiful.
MD: Magical, whimsical, haunting, emotional, fabulous.
RW: Heart-wrenching, flashy, engaging.
DC: Haunting, beautiful, mysterious, very French.
Q: Did you like the show? Why or why not?
MP: Yes I really enjoyed it. It was the second time I’ve seen it!
CW: In comparison to the original production, the costumes and the set are much simpler and easier to follow.
MD: I really did like the show! I was totally blown away by the rotating set and all of the illusions and magic tricks they were able to pull off. I’ve seen the movie version and filmed performances, but nothing quite compares to seeing it in real life - it just gives me chills. I was a little hesitant about Christine’s and the Phantom’s chemistry at first, but I think that may have just been because they’re understudies. They got past that rather quickly and I was sucked right in! By the end I was totally crying. There was no hope for my makeup.
RW: Yes. Partly because it’s one of my favorite musicals, but also partly because I went not just to enjoy the show, but to see a friend experience a work of art for the first time.
DC: I liked the show a lot. It was my first time seeing it and I thought it was great.
Q: The musical is based on a book written by a French author at the turn of the century. Do you think the show connects to a millennial audience?
MP: Well, considering the storyline, if “Phantom” took place in modern times, the Phantom would definitely be considered a pedophile. Which is kinda creepy, but he’s still angelic. Also, if it took place today, Phantom could have gotten plastic surgery to fix his face, but then again, he wouldn’t be as mysterious!
CW: By having quick transitions that occur in a blink of an eye, it’s much easier for non-theatre goers to enjoy the musical without ever feeling as if they’re in an actual fully produced musical. It’s very seamless overall.
MD: Well, I think first off, with the show, there’s a reason Andrew Lloyd Webber is one of the most successful composers on Broadway. His songs always feel like this interesting cross between pop music and musical theatre, which is an element for making his shows so much fun. But overall, I think the plot of the show shows all of the characters trying to find ways to just be happy despite having these huge obstacles. They want to be accepted, to find love, to find peace, to find success. I think these are universal things that millennials today are looking for, just as much as readers at the turn of the century.
RW: It doesn’t connect with a millennial audience in that it shows the beauty of sacrifice and forgiveness. These are two ideals that our generation especially lacks.
DC: I think the ending is a little unrealistic to a millennial audience and by extension probably some of the Phantom’s character because of the complexity of his love for Christine and his actions. I definitely had trouble connecting to the Phantom’s character because of that. I was expecting a Shakespearean tragedy of an ending where everyone dies, so it took me awhile to digest the final scene.
Q: Would you recommend the show to a fellow college student? Why or why not?
MP: I would definitely recommend it. It’s a classic and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music is timeless.
CW: Yes! It’s a very fairly priced show with great production value that’s telling a story of love that everyone can appreciate.
MD: I would absolutely recommend this to fellow college students! Every musical theatre kid I know is already obsessed with this show and I think it was a fun production of it. And I think it’s a great starter show for people who aren’t as into musical theatre. Like I said the songs are a great hybrid between pop and musical theatre and the plot has something for everyone to connect with.
RW: Yes I would recommendation it because it’s a beautifully done show from the score to the plot. It is always engaging. It’s also a great starting point to appreciate other classic plays, musicals and operas.
DC: I would recommend it to anyone and everyone - coming from a theatre nerd, so take that with a grain of salt. I think the show has a lot of depth and a good amount of comedic relief to counter the dramatic scenes, so it’s good for most audiences.
