Musicals - Woman in White and Phantom of the Opera

This was a very exciting day living the theatre-goers dream: I went to a matinee and then an evening musical!  I was keen to get in some musical time before baby makes an appearance.  I felt I wanted to see Phantom again in case it should close before I can easily head to the theatre again.  I was also interested that the Woman in White was having its first (limited run) revival since its debut in 2004.  I realised I could maybe do them as a double and asked Mum if she wanted to join me for either and was delighted that she said yes to both!

The Woman in White

I went for this for the matinee mainly because the reviews weren't as strong and I felt it would be better to end the day with Phantom on a high. Although this was the final day of the 12 week run for Woman in White so the evening might have been special as the final performance. I had read the novel since the show first was done and loved the book.  I couldn't actually remember much of the story line by now, I just remembered the feeling of racing through the book and being desperate for my next opportunity to read it.  I did a bit of research on the musical and the revival and learnt that it was now in a much more intimate theatre and the critics said that was a great improvement for the show.

 At the Charing Cross Theatre which was small but very pleasant and comfy seats (I may even have closed my eyes at points!) and leg room.

I enjoyed it although not as much as the book.  There weren't really any memorable songs and it was one of Andrew Lloyd Weber's operatic sort of musicals, quite like Phantom in many ways.  There was a comical number for the Count in the second half which was fun and stood out as different and a break from the rest of the show.  The staging with the train tunnel and the smoky fog was very good.

Phantom of the Opera

After a Garfunkel's tea it was on to Her Majesty's Theatre.  We were in the third tier and there was still a balcony above us.  We were pretty level with the chandelier which was exciting.  The contrast in the two theatres that day was great: one small, comfy and intimate; the second wonderfully grand and full of an audience speaking many different languages seem quite appropriate for the French Opera House. 

I had seen Phantom twice before, once probably as a young teen, and then with a friend in our gap year.  Mum remembered seeing it early when it came out (1986) and has now found the programmes of when she went.

The opening scenes and music lived up to the hype I had given them and Mum and I clutched hands excitedly.  I do find the whole fact of the chandelier magnificent.  I had read the book at Christmas so was slightly more aware and interested in how they did the story line.  I think I prefer the story in the musical perhaps.  There are lots of good and memorable and especially rousing songs in Phantom which I really like and I am always a fan of grand staging so it was right up my street there.  I seem to remember thinking the second time I saw it, how surprised and impressed I was by the illusions in it.  That only really happened at the end this time, probably because I was looking out for it more. Interestingly, the more I have thought about Phantom since going, the more creeped out I have been by the show.  I don't think I will be going to see it again, but very pleased I went again while I still could to satisfy my curiosity and memory.