By Amanda Jackson, NDG Special Contributor
A fan of The Phantom of the Opera since childhood, I had goosebumps with the first notes of the overture. It didn’t take long at all to be captivated with the performances and story -a story which, though I knew it well, still managed to take me by surprise. NDG’s conversation with The Phantom is available here and earlier this week, we looked at the production of the show. Today we will focus on the wonderful performances.
Christine, to her credit, was incredibly sympathetic. Her torment, her vulnerability, her overarching emotional strength, came across beautifully in every line she voiced. Her tiny stature played perfectly against the Phantom’s towering figure and her steps were graceful and light. She was particularly moving in her rendition of Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again, which has never quite caught me like it did in this performance. The grief and finality inherent in the song was alive in her presentation and felt like a turning point in her story apart from the men in her life.
During the final scene, when Christine embraces the Phantom, he throws his arms out away from her as if he cannot bring himself at first to feel her touch. There was a pain in the motion before the release. This gesture truly conveyed to me how agonized Phantom was through life without touch or tenderness. I felt it viscerally in my stomach and chest. It was these fine details, the turns, and the pauses, which made the performances most real.
I was overall spellbound by the production, which was clearly made with love. I feel fortunate to have seen such a beautiful rendition of a story I hold so dear.
This is the final weekend to see The Phantom of the Opera at the Dallas Summer Musicals.
