#Phantom of the opera movie cast meg full#

Every inch of space is used advantageously, including the areas beyond the invisible proscenium (with the help of a well-placed crane). The cast does well just to cover the sort of distances they do without sounding breathless. The breadth of the performance space means there’s a lot of exacting choreography and movement design. Kelsi Boyden flits dutifully about as Meg Giry, ever eager but not quite the prodigy her mother Madame Giry might have wanted.ĭirector Simon Phillips has drawn on the inherent strengths of his cast, allowing them nuance in their performances while remaining familiar and true to the script. Maree Johnson, on loan from the Broadway production of Phantom, brings gravity and a kind of life-earned wisdom to the role of Madame Giry, no doubt informed by having played Christine in the original Sydney production. Similarly but much more slapstick, Naomi Johns as Carlotta and Paul Tabone as Ubaldo provide comic relief.

Michael Cormick as Monsieur Frimin and Martin Crewes as Monsieur André work together like a vaudevillian comedy duo, taking the edge off an otherwise rather dark story. Francis has a vibrancy and earnestness that contrasts well with the malevolence of the Phantom. Her vocals penetrate the air with brilliant force and her portrayal as the leading lady takes her convincingly from a young, unassuming ingenue to a more knowing, compassionate diva.Ĭallum Francis, best known for his starring role in the West End and Australian tour of Kinky Boots, is a fresh take on Raoul. Georgina Hopson’s Christine is endearing. He has a menacing presence on stage and maniacal energy. His voice is powerful and resonant, yet wistful in moments of vulnerability. Joshua Robson is magnificent in the role of the Phantom.

Tylesova’s designs augment the personalities of their characters: delicate, laced gowns worn by Christine gaudy, ostentatious outfits donned by Carlotta and Ubaldo an austere black dress uncompromisingly worn by Madame Giry and of course the Phantom’s sinister yet heroic long coats and broad hats. Not only does she dress the Parisian gentry, but Tylesova gets the added treat (which she shares) of creating costumes for an internal opera and ballet.

The imposing set blocks out the incongruous surrounds and truly allows the audience to be immersed in aristocratic Paris circa 1881.Įqually sumptuous are the costumes. There is a grand moat around the front circumference of the stage and several other entry/exit points. The aforementioned staircase extends from the top of the tower in profile, then fans out in a majestic curve where it meets the stage face on. A broken proscenium protrudes sideways from the top of the tower with a single red velvet curtain draped beneath and tied against the tower. And she succeeds admirably.Ī multi-level tower at the left of the stage houses two opera boxes, one above the other, and an arched doorway at ground level. She effectively had to work against the expansive surrounds of Sydney Harbour to conjure an illusion of the lush Paris Opera interior and the bleak subterranean lair of the phantom. Revered designer, Gabriela Tylesova, is the inventive genius behind the set and costumes. If any of this bothers the performers, they certainly don’t let it show.īut for some very minor glitches, the performance on Friday night went like clockwork, which was very fortunate since Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber himself was in attendance. Put it all on a stage with a footprint double and a half the size of any other theatrical stage in the country, throw in a sweeping staircase and an enormous chandelier held aloft by a crane, and you pretty much have a floating powder keg just waiting for an errant spark. Then you have a script and score that demand vocal mastery and intense emotional expression. A plethora of moving parts, slippery slopes, technical wizardry, and incendiary special effects require perfect positioning and precise timing. Of the outdoor Handa Opera shows that have been staged on the harbour during its ten year history, this would have to be among the most ambitious and extravagant. You could even hear crickets during the quiet moments (in a good way).

#Phantom of the opera movie cast meg full#

Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour’s Phantom of the Opera had the blessing of the gods on opening night, with the rain clouds that have near-relentlessly plagued the city during the La Niña summer graciously holding back for the full duration of the show, and a bare whisper of a breeze.