The Phantom Visits Washington
Phantom of the Opera
at the Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C. July 10
at the Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C. July 10
Recommended beverage: a glass of Pinot Grigio
On a two-month run at the Kennedy Center's Opera House, The Phantom of the Opera is a visually stunning production filled with superb singing. This production did everything right, from the cast to the magnificent set and costumes.
Props play a central role in this story, perhaps more so than in any other musical. The chandelier, the monkey music box, the mask--all symbolic of the elusive Phantom.
Female lead Marni Raab elegantly performed the role of Christine Daae. She sang with a sweet yet powerful voice, effortlessly hitting the highest notes. At this show, Christine's lover Raoul was played by understudy Sean MacLaughlin, who gave a strong performance. Most exceptional, though, was the Phantom himself, played by John Cudia, who has played both the Phantom and Raoul, as well as just about every character in Les Miserables, on Broadway. Cudia's voice sent chills through me, particularly in the first act when he sang "Music of the Night," during which my tears uncontrollably flowed. One could feel the raw emotion, the Phantom's loneliness and frustration, in every note he sang.
The haunting story is based on the book Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux. The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, which is set in 1911 in a Parisian opera house, first opened in London in 1986, and on Broadway in 1988, then starring Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. This national tour, in Washington until August 12, is well worth checking out.
Props play a central role in this story, perhaps more so than in any other musical. The chandelier, the monkey music box, the mask--all symbolic of the elusive Phantom.
Female lead Marni Raab elegantly performed the role of Christine Daae. She sang with a sweet yet powerful voice, effortlessly hitting the highest notes. At this show, Christine's lover Raoul was played by understudy Sean MacLaughlin, who gave a strong performance. Most exceptional, though, was the Phantom himself, played by John Cudia, who has played both the Phantom and Raoul, as well as just about every character in Les Miserables, on Broadway. Cudia's voice sent chills through me, particularly in the first act when he sang "Music of the Night," during which my tears uncontrollably flowed. One could feel the raw emotion, the Phantom's loneliness and frustration, in every note he sang.
The haunting story is based on the book Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux. The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, which is set in 1911 in a Parisian opera house, first opened in London in 1986, and on Broadway in 1988, then starring Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. This national tour, in Washington until August 12, is well worth checking out.
posted by Dana @ 10:59 AM
1 Comments:
At 10:24 AM,
Jennifer Sardam said…
Thanks for the wonderfully informative review. I'm going tonight with my guy. It's my first time ever going to an opera or the Kennedy Center, having only lived in DC for about eight months. Every blog entry I've read on this event makes it sound like something I should not miss.
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