by Marcella Ortega
Daily Lobo
The power of extravagance should never be underestimated.
"Phantom of the Opera," the longest running show in Broadway history, has come to Popejoy Hall and brought with it lavish scenery, costumes and a splendid assortment of sophisticated clichÇs such as "Curse you" and "So be it."
Directed by Harold Prince, the play revolves around opera singer Christine DaaÇ, played by Marni Raab and Sarah Lawrence, and her relationship with a phantom - a hideous masked composer who lives beneath the Paris Opera House and haunts it during the day. Within the first 10 minutes of the play, his presence is made known as a giant gold chandelier that shoots out sparks is raised from the stage over the audience.
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The Phantom, played by John Cudia, gives a heart-wrenching performance. His powerful voice projects the pain that lives in the heart of the composer who hides his face from the world above.
The stage quickly transforms as the Phantom lures DaaÇ beneath the opera through her dressing room mirror. There, the Phantom composes music for the actress to perform. It seems as though the two would be able to cultivate a relationship, but the Phantom's obsessive tendencies toward DaaÇ and his musical compositions stand in the way.
An example of this is at the end of the first act when DaaÇ and her childhood sweetheart, Raoul, played by Michael Gillis, sing a song together on the roof of the opera house. Little did she know, the Phantom was watching, and the sound of her engaged in song with another man was too much for him to bear. He sings and dances, expressing his disappointment with the situation as he belts out, "I gave you my music."
The Phantom plots his revenge by commanding the opera troupe to perform to his composition "Don Juan Triumphant," where he will steal DaaÇ and take her beneath
the opera.
The cast goes all out in grand corset dresses and giant powder wigs. The most remarkable costumes were worn by Carlotta Giudicelli, played by Kim Stengel.
She gives a hilarious performance as the spoiled soprano of the troupe. In each performance, her attire is a step up from the rest. While the chorus wore velvet corsets with fringed skirts, she wore a matching gown that swept across the stage.
The play reaches a climax in a chase, after the Phantom takes DaaÇ underground, where they are followed by Raoul and the troupe.
Though the story itself may be a little clichÇ, flamboyant costumes, special effects and props are enough to satisfy a modern audience.
"The Phantom of
the Opera"
Popejoy Hall
Today, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, 1 and 7:30 p.m.
Friday, 8 p.m.
Saturday, 2 and 8 p.m.
For tickets visit UnmTickets.com or call UNM Ticketing at (505) 925-5858.
Grade: A
