Phantom of the Opera at the Benedum
Part 1: January 15, 2006

The Phantom of the Opera’s arrival has been awaited months in the Pittsburgh area. As early as last November Phantom ads flooded the TV and airwaves. Newspapers ran ads, but all were outdone by the cultural trust which had sent notices out in the summer of last year. It should come as no surprise then, that the show was sold out at the time of this report.

The show was held in the Benedum theater, a palace of marble staircases, crystal chandeliers and lush carpeting. The theater’s massive chandelier which dwarfed the stage version was nervously eyed by first time attendees. Then the house lights went down and the magic began.

From the balcony veteran viewers watched as the famous chandelier leapt off the stage and kept going. Due to the theater’s massive size the chandelier had to rise much higher than in other productions and the effect was heart-stopping. But all went well and soon the stage wash awash in the colorful costumes and drama of Act 1.

The touring cast was well-received and very refreshingly European in flavor. Gary Mauer as superb as the Phantom, hearkening back to the pre-Webber Phantoms who were more darkly brooding. The performance exuded both savage strength and tender weakness and the actor deserves kudos for a wonderful performance.

Christine was also a delightful change as portrayed by Elizabeth Southward. Her Christine is far more despairing than any other, but still she exults in her romantic triangle She seems to enjoy leading both men on, but what woman doesn’t like to be a goddess from time to time? She also seemed very much in love with her Erik, kissing him at the musicals end very deeply. So deeply that he had to break contact first, which is a lot more satisfying if you think about it.

Kim Stengel as Carlotta was wonderfully over the top, and much more comic than any other actress seen to date. This worked out perfectly though, and gave the character some needed dimension.

Overall the cast was wonderful and the stage crew didn’t miss a beat. All the well known effect were there and carried off perfectly. The chandelier drop for instance was so rapid that a few audience members shrieked too. The catwalk was there, and the dramatic disappearances of the Phantom in Act 2.

The sellers were very helpful in the souvenir booths but they all have the same detached air all sellers for this show do. They seem unfazed by the excited crowds that soon bought out a number of the goods. The booths of course were hit three times, before the show, intermission, and closing. It goes to the seller’s credit that they stayed open until the theater itself closed.