Review - Phantom of The Opera (Shenzhen 2024)
6H 14 Eugenia Lo
The Phantom of The Opera musical performed by the West End’s cast, took place in
Shenzhen this year from the 2nd of July to the 4th of August at the Bay Opera of Shenzhen.
Composed by the well-known composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, the musical narrates the
story of Christine Daaé, a talented singer at the Paris Opéra who is both guided and
tormented by her mysterious music tutor, whom she believes to be her "Angel of Music." The
truth reveals that her mentor is the Phantom, a disfigured and obsessed individual who lurks
beneath the opera house, manipulating events, endangering lives, and disrupting Christine's
romance with Raoul.
The set design of the performance was on point. It started with the opening scene of the
auction in 1919, during which an aged Raoul in a wheelchair purchases a music box with a
monkey figure sitting on top. This monkey figure plays one of the theme songs, which later
builds up to the iconic shattering chandelier scene as the phantom terrorises the performers
of the opera house, creating an ominous atmosphere. The transitions between the opening
set and the opera house set were very quick and smooth. The dusty, antique curtains
transformed into the grand black and gold columns of an English opera house with a simple
change in the order of the layers of the set. Another memorable scene from the musical was
the entrance of the title piece, "Phantom of The Opera". In this scene, Christine and the
Phantom pass through the mirror in Christine’s room and take a boat across a river in the
middle of thick fog that leads to the Phantom’s chambers.
The costumes of the characters were mostly similar to previous performances, with notable
exceptions during the segments "Masquerade" and "All I Ask of You." In “Masquerade”,
compared to other London’s Opera Houses’ productions, the costume designers elevated
the design concept to a new level. They crafted Christine’s dress based on a tutu in contrast
to the common, long party dresses, creating a link to the musical's beginning when Christine
was a ballerina. In “All I Ask of You”, those familiar with "The Show Must Go On," the most
frequently staged version of the musical, might have found certain aspects disappointing.
Instead of a dark blue hood that better suited the emotions of Christine in the scene, one in
light green was used, unintentionally softening Christine's character, contrasting with her
actually bold persona.
Overall, the cast members’ voices suited the characters they played, although Raoul, who
was supposed to be sung by a tenor, had the vocal range that is closer to a bass singer.
However, it is important to note that this review reflects the 3 p.m. performance on August
4th, featuring a different cast from the main evening shows, which could explain minor
imbalances among the cast members. Despite some minor flaws in the performance, the
musical comes highly recommended. The engaging and thrilling plot compensates for any
shortcomings, making it a worthwhile experience.