Global Courant 2023-04-17 14:53:47
NEW YORK –
On Sunday, the final curtain fell on New York’s production of “The Phantom of the Opera,” ending Broadway’s longest-running show with thunderous standing ovations, champagne toasts and gold and silver confetti bursting from the famous chandelier.
It was show No. 13,981 at the Majestic Theater and it ended with a reprise of “The Music of the Night” performed by the current cast, previous actors on the show – including original star Sarah Brightman – and crew members in street clothes.
Andrew Lloyd Webber took the stage last in a black suit and tie and dedicated the final show to his son Nick, who died last month after a long battle with stomach cancer and pneumonia. He was 43.
“When he was a little boy, he heard some of this music,” said Lloyd Webber. Holding his hand, Brightman agreed: “When Andrew was writing it, he was there. So his son is with us. Nick, we love you very much.”
Producer Cameron Mackintosh gave some in the audience hope they’d see the Phantom again, and maybe sooner than they think.
“The one question I get over and over – will the Phantom return? I’ve been a producer for over 55 years and I’ve seen all the great musicals return, and ‘Phantom’ is one of the greatest,” he said. . “So it’s only a matter of time.”
The musical — a Broadway staple since it opened on January 26, 1988 — has weathered recessions, war, terrorism and cultural shifts. But the ongoing pandemic may have been the last straw: it’s a precious musical to sustain, with elaborate sets and costumes and a large cast and orchestra. Sunday’s curtain call showed how out of step “Phantom” is with the rest of Broadway, as well as how glorious a big, splashy musical can be.
“If ever there was a bang, we’re going out with a bang. It’s going to be a great night,” said John Riddle just before storming in to play Raoul for the last time.
Based on a novel by Gaston Leroux, “Phantom” tells the story of a disfigured composer who haunts the Paris Opera House and falls madly in love with the innocent young soprano Christine. Webber’s lavish songs include “Masquerade,” ΓÇ│Angel of Music,” and ΓÇ│All I Ask of You.”
In addition to Riddle, the New York production said goodbye with Emilie Kouatchou as Christine and Laird Mackintosh standing in for Ben Crawford as the Phantom. Crawford was unable to sing due to a bacterial infection, but was cheered at the curtain call and stepped to the side of the stage. The Ghost beckoned him to stand beside him, Riddle and Kouatchou.
There was a video presentation of many of the actors who had played key roles in the show over the years, and the orchestra seats were packed with Christines, Raouls and Phantoms. The late director Hal Prince, choreographer Gillian Lynne and set and costume designer Maria Bj├╢rnson were also honored.
Lin-Manuel Miranda was in attendance, as was Glenn Close, who performed in two separate Broadway productions of Lloyd Webber’s “Sunset Boulevard.” Free champagne was offered during intermission and flutes of it were handed out on stage during the curtain call.
Riddle first saw “The Phantom of the Opera” in Toronto as a 4-year-old child. “It was the first musical I ever saw. I didn’t know what a musical was,” he said. “Now, some 30 years later, I’m closing the Broadway show. So it’s incredible.”
Kouatchou, who became the first black woman in the role in New York, didn’t think the show would ever stop. “I was like ‘OK, I’m going to do my run, ‘Phantom’ continues and they’re going to be more Christines of color,” she said. “But this is it.”
The first production opened in London in 1986 and since then the show has been seen by more than 145 million people in 183 cities and performed in 17 languages in 70,000 performances. It has grossed more than $1.3 billion on Broadway alone.
When “Phantom” premiered in New York, “Die Hard” was playing in movie theaters, Adele was born and floppy disks were at the forefront of technology. A stamp cost 25 cents, and the most popular songs of the year were Steve Winwood’s “Roll With It,” George Michael’s “Faith,” and Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up.”
Critics were positive, with the New York Post calling it “a piece of impeccably crafted musical theatre”, the Daily News describing it as “spectacular entertainment”, and The New York Times saying it “desires nothing more than to flood audiences with fantasy and pleasure.”
Other Lloyd Webber musicals include “Cats,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Evita,” “Sunset Boulevard,” and “School of Rock.” The closing of “Phantom” means the composer is left with one Broadway show, the critically torn “Bad Cinderella.”
The close of “Phantom”, originally scheduled for February, was pushed back to mid-April after a deluge of renewed interest and ticket sales pushed its weekly gross above $3 million. The closure means the longest-running show crown now goes to “Chicago,” which began in 1996. “The Lion King” is next, which began performances in 1997.
Broadway took a beating during the pandemic, with all theaters closed for more than 18 months. Some of the most popular shows — “Hamilton,” “The Lion King” and “Wicked” — recovered well, but other shows struggled.
Break-even usually requires a steady stream of tourists, especially for “Phantom,” and visitors to the city have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. The pandemic also increased spending on all shows, including routine COVID-19 testing and security personnel. The Phantom became a billboard for Broadway’s return — he’s partially masked, after all.
Fans can always grab the Phantom elsewhere. The flagship London production celebrated its 36th anniversary in October and there are productions in Japan, Greece, Australia, Sweden, Italy, South Korea and the Czech Republic. One is about to open in Bucharest and another will open in Vienna in 2024.
Kouatchou, who walked the red carpet for the final show in a hot pink dress with a sweetheart neckline and a cutout, said the bitterness was undermined by the big goodbye. Most Broadway shows slip into the darkness unnoticed.
“It makes it a little sweet, right?” she said. “At the end of this we celebrate. We all get together and drink and laugh and talk about the show and all the highs and lows. It ends on a big note.”
