The Phantom of the Opera.

It is finally time for a #theatretrip. 

In London I went to see Andrew Llyod Webber’s Phantom of the Opera in Her Majesty’s Theatre. It was my second time seeing this musical on stage. The first time I saw the musical was in London in 2018. The show was supposed to come to the Bord Gáis Energy theatre in 2020 (if I am remembering correctly) and I had bought tickets but unfortunately the show was cancelled and it has not made its way back to Ireland yet, so I was really excited to have the opportunity to see it again. 

So let’s dive right in. Firstly I want to say that Her Majesty’s Theatre is a beautiful theatre. It is ornate and the decor is rich and red. The stage itself is beautiful and the theatre, despite being big, still feels intimate when you’re seated. 

If you have not read or seen Phantom of the Opera, the story centres around Christine Daaé, who is a naive singer. She starts off as a dancer in the chorus but upon receiving lessons and orders from the mysterious and increasingly threatening opera ghost, she becomes the show’s lead actress. She believes she is receiving lessons from the angel of music, a teacher who was sent to her by her late father. The truth of the matter is that this mysterious teacher is a man who lives beneath the opera house, he is hiding because he is disfigured and the world has been cruel to him. He is a tortured soul, he is a deeply sad figure, he is a genius when it comes to writing music, and he is obsessed with Christine. He loves her, he wants her to be his star, and his bride. 

The show was amazing. I loved every second. The entire cast was incredibly talented, and it is a treat to hear operatic singing as it is not a style of singing that I hear very often – I should rectify that and go to more operas, but I digress. The score of this show is a treat. My favourite song will always be All I Ask of You because I think it is just the most beautiful melody. It is full and romantic and so full of hope and light. It always makes me cry. I think it is a stunning scene, it is so full of love. Christine and Raoul are on the rooftop, her cloak is flowing with her every move, he is guiding her and leading her, sweeping her around the stage in his strong arms. The pair are truly in love and this song just perfectly illustrates how they feel. 

The show is full of stunning performances. The set is rich, the costumes are dazzling. 

One of my favourite scenes is the opening of Act Two, the masquerade ball is just amazing. It is visually one of the most amazing performances in any show. The costumes are so different, detailed, and eye-catching. The song is catchy too. It is just a stunning way to open an act. 

The show is fairly heavy in tone so this ball is actually a nice break from the dark mood … that is until an uninvited guest makes a dark appearance. 

I cannot recommend this show enough. If you get the chance to see it, then do not miss it. 

It was definitely one of the highlights of my trip to London. 

It was an amazing trip, and now that I am finally feeling better I can finally start writing again. 

Stay tuned as there is lots to come on Katelovesliterature.com.