![]() Musically and structurally, it’s closer to well, an opera than a traditional musical. Everything you see on stage in Phantom is unique and evocative and beautiful. And it’s conscious, hard-won iconography created by the best designer Maria Bjorson, the late great director Harold Prince, lyricists Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe all worked at the height of their powers to make this strange show succeed when it really shouldn’t. Phantom of the Opera, the show, is iconic. Because the combination of sets, costumes, music, story and the quiet, collective wonder of live performance make Phantom into a miracle. It’s awful because it lacks talented singers yes, but it also doesn’t have the magic of theater. ![]() If you need evidence of how bad The Phantom of the Opera can be, look no further than the 2004 movie directed by Joel Schumacher. The actual story of the show is very basic and not a lot happens (compare it to Hamilton or Les Miserables where everything happens). It’s music is beautiful but it doesn’t have many high energy show stoppers. ![]() ![]() The Broadway show combines everything that makes theater great. But it’s because it’s such a strange and unique show that it represents the highest triumph of musical theater. Phantom is not a perfect show, and I say that as someone who deeply loves it and has seen it many many times. Still, despite the Tony awards and eternal run and worldwide icon status, the Opera Ghost has his detractors. It’s been seen by over 140 million people in 35 countries and it’s made over SIX BILLION DOLLARS. I know there are people that don’t like this show ( some of them write for The Mary Sue even). What’s perfect to me might be cheesy to you and what’s moving to you might be pretentious to me. There’s a reason I’ve said “greatest” and not “best.” I don’t think that we can truly measure the quality of art. For one, the closest contenders, Chicago and the Lion King are a decade behind and for another, Phantom will probably never close…because it’s the greatest theatrical achievement in history. It’s a record that no show can even hope to break. It was the 33rd birthday of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera. In January it will hit 31 years on Broadway. Thursday was a special anniversary in London’s West End.
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