Let me state some facts. The Phantom of the Opera is the longest running Broadway show of all time. When it opened, Ronald Reagan was president of the United States. It is the second highest grossing Broadway show of all time (behind The Lion King). Even after almost 30 years, it still brings in more money weekly than most other shows on Broadway. Despite these incredible statistics, these are not the reasons why I think The Phantom of the Opera is the greatest musical of all time.

Just because something is popular or makes a lot of money does not mean that it is great. The movie that makes the most money often does not win the Oscar for best picture. In fact, I would even go so far as to say that its popularity somewhat dilutes the greatness of the show.

However, that being said, its popularity should not hurt its artistic merit. It seems to me today that actors have some sort of aversion to admitting how much they like this musical. It's almost like since the general population likes it so much, it is no longer "cool" to like the show as an actor. Every actor wants to do the show at some point in their lives, but only because of the spectacle it provides for an audience (as well as the MANY solo moments it provides for a few actors). But despite all this, I still think it is the greatest musical of all time. But in order to understand why, one must look past the spectacle and see the characters, specifically the character of the Phantom.

One way to look at the show is as a scathing commentary on how we sometimes look at others. The Phantom is one of the more tragic and sympathetic characters in all of storytelling. People laughed at him simply because of how he looked. He was a freak show. But deep down, he has a tender soul. All he wants is to be accepted by others, and the way he communicates is through his music. Despite this, he is forced into hiding and living a life of solitude. He must put on a mask just to be seen by others (so much so that it defines who he is). Eventually, he resorts to killing others just to get noticed. His killing is essentially an act of desperation. People had already regarded him as a monster, so he had nothing to lose. He is not a monster; the people around (or lack thereof?) him made him one.

This also explains the Phantom's fascination with Christine. Christine was willing to listen to him and hear his music when no one else would. Yes, she was afraid, but she gave him the chance to express himself.

This whole narrative is a dramatization of how superficial humanity can be. If we only look at the appearances of others, we are missing out on a key component of understanding who people really are. Also, this superficiality causes people to put on "masks" to hide their true selves. This protection mechanism often becomes so much a part of us that it can define us, just as the Phantom is defined by, and inextricably linked to, his mask.

Now I could go on and analyze each line word by word and each song lyric by lyric to explain my point (especially at the end of the show), but that is a conversation for another time. But this is why I think this musical is so wonderful. Through a spectacular, mysterious tale with beautiful music and compelling characters, The Phantom of the Opera essentially shows us the dangers of only looking skin deep. Yes, there are other musicals that have morals like this, but this show seems to deal with the complexities of the issue better than others. The character of the Phantom is intriguing to say the least, and this beautiful show tells his story.

I think if we look at the actual words and lyrics of the show, we can really learn a lot about ourselves. I admit, it can be uncomfortable and somewhat painful, but it is definitely worthwhile. This show may not be the conventional choice for being the greatest, but give it a chance. That's all I ask of you.