Unusual things you love about The Phantom of the Opera

[toxic fruit]

Ok...yeah, yeah you love Erik anc Christine is cool too. But phantom is also about the little things I think. What are some of your favorite little details?

I love the random organs and electric guitars. It just adds a little extra something to the experience if you ask me! :)

[Wishing]

First of all, I love Erik's outfits, and his sideburns. :D As for everthing else, I like how the masquerade dancers pan down the stairs with the confetti flying around. I think that is just so cool.

[Miss Daae]

Well more of the stage version but, I love how they make it seems as though the boat is actually is the water and the candles float and go up and down as if it were in the water even thought you know there is no water. And it looks like the boat keeps moving down a river as the bigger candles on the side move down as if they past it. Yeah, I loved that part in the musical.

Ok, basically the whole part of Phantom of the Opera, like how they walk down to the boat place, and the stairway thing is the back moves up and down as if they are actually getting somewhere when they really aren't.

Ok, also last one, in Masquerade, that not all of the dancers on the stairs are real. I love that part on the stage! Yah, um...I would have never known they were fake if I didn't look at the special features of the Phantom of the Opera dvd.

[Wishing]

Well more of the stage version but, I love how they make it seems as though the boat is actually is the water and the candles float and go up and down as if it were in the water even thought you know there is no water. And it looks like the boat keeps moving down a river as the bigger candles on the side move down as if they past it. Yeah, I loved that part in the musical.

I forgot about that! I was only thinking of the movie. I love that part of the play - It's so magical. Another thing that I liked from the play, is that Erik is all over the place. Just look all around the stage for him.

[phantoms_nemo]

I loved the candles that rose from the water and lit as they touched the air. I also liked when the masqueradedancers used the fan things when they where dancing on the stair case.

[Why So Silent]

Oh my god, the Masquerade dancers rocked! Its my favourite scene in the whole musical. I also just love the stage in general, the opera house is so beautiful.

[toxic fruit]

Originally posted by Why So Silent
Oh my god, the Masquerade dancers rocked! Its my favourite scene in the whole musical. I also just love the stage in general, the opera house is so beautiful.

Oh yeah! I definately give the masquerade dancers props for the complicated fan dance! :)

[cinty]

I am unusual.. I LOVE CHRISTINE AND RAOUL!!!! Hahaha.. I bet that's unusual. ;) :rc1:
Mmm.. I love the monkey box... I love the Masquerade dancers... I love the flowers Christine gets sent, lol.. much much more!!

[Mouette]

Unusual?

I love the darkness. I LOVE the darkness of Phantom.

I am absurdly attached to Gerik during the Masquerade sequence; this is disturbing, as he is literally dressed to kill.

Falling shandeliers! I cannot see a chandelier without thinking 'Phantom!'

I love the sarcasm and the humor in both the Notes sequences (so devastated that they cut Notes 2 out of the movie)

My favorite line of the entire play is the Shattered Chandelier line during Masquerade (again, devasted that Gerik did not get to say this, but it wouldn't have made sense as the chandelier was still quite firmly affixed to the ceiling).

The flaming fireballs in the cemetary (yet another set of lines Gerik didn't get to say . . . are you seeing a trend?)

How absolutely passionate and utterly mad Erik is/can be.

The mirror sequence after Masquerade--nice nod to the novel.

I'm sure there are more, let me think a bit.

[toxic fruit]

Ohhh I thought of another. The world's greatest line! So much passion put into this one genius line!

"You will curse the day you did not do allll that the phantom asked of youuuuuu!!!!"

That's right! You better watch out, Christine!

[masquerade_dancer]

I love how the Opera House is restored in the prologue. It's just like captivating! And plus it looks really cool. As been said before, the fans from Masquerade. I also love all the costumes! They're gorgeous and brilliant and some are even hilarious. (i.e. furby man!!)

[bankdude]

The chandelier falling down was pretty cool...I liked the phantom's white mask when he's in red with all the veins popping out. It was funny.

[YoungGiry]

I love...

The way Christine and Meg hold hands in Angel of Music...

The amount that Madame Giry cares for Erik, and how you can see that in the flashback scene in the movie...

Madame Giry's braid in the movie...

The lake itself...

The staging of Point of No Return in the musical when Erik wears the cloak...

The way Erik says "Your chains are still mine, you will sing for me!" in Masquerade...

All of Madame Giry's lines...

The whole first half of Down Once More (before Raoul enters)...

The way Madame Giry says "And what a Masquerade!" in the movie...

Erik's insanity...

[Eriks_Angel]

I love when the Opera house is restored in the beginning, it gives me goose bumps everytime.

This is going to sound weird - but Gerry!Erik seriously looks hot when he's killing Buquet. Just that look in his eyes, and slight grin - so evil lol.

The masquerade dance is awesome

[Luciana]

I love the set. The Opera House is so grand and the candles are beautiful and everything just seems to fit. I really find it so amazing. The colors and everything are breath taking, and I wish I was there, truthfully.

[IamErik771]

Unusual things I liked about POTO? Hmm...

- Erik's black fedora (hat), which was omitted from the 2004 film for some bizarre reason
- The rubbery thing on the Phantom's lip in the stage version (again, omitted from the film)
- The "photograph coming to life" effect at the beginning of the movie
- The way Peter Karrie sang, "Lead me, SAVE me from my solitude..." in the Toronto stage production
- The unmasking sequence in the 1925 silent film (Lon Chaney and Mary Philbin)
- The late, great Steve Barton (Raoul in the Original London Cast)
- John Owen-Jones' pure psychoticness during both unmaskings in the stage musical
- The way Gerard Butler sang "What raging FIRE shall flood the soul..." and "Monsieur, I bid you welcome..." in the 2004 film

[Masked Shadows]

Originally posted by Miss Daae
Well more of the stage version but, I love how they make it seems as though the boat is actually is the water and the candles float and go up and down as if it were in the water even thought you know there is no water. And it looks like the boat keeps moving down a river as the bigger candles on the side move down as if they past it. Yeah, I loved that part in the musical.

Ok, basically the whole part of Phantom of the Opera, like how they walk down to the boat place, and the stairway thing is the back moves up and down as if they are actually getting somewhere when they really aren't.

Ok, also last one, in Masquerade, that not all of the dancers on the stairs are real. I love that part on the stage! Yah, um...I would have never known they were fake if I didn't look at the special features of the Phantom of the Opera dvd.

I love how they boat moves, it looks like he's actually moving it but the amazing thing is it's not even on tracks.

I love the moving catwalk thingys. I would imagine at first they would be hard to walk on seeing as they're constantly moving.

I love the fake Masqueraders. It's so funny backstage they hang those things on like 2 long poles from the celing of the theatre. It looks like a ton of people being strapped onto poles, they're so realiztic. But yes, those are my favorite three form the musical. I was suprised sombody else had all three of those!

[Masked Shadows]

I thought of more, I love how Minnie Driver plays Carlotta. Her 'Hmph!'s and stuff like that.

I wish they'd left the maniac laughs in the movie though.

I also loved, from the musical, how the Phantom pops up at random times during the ballet above the stage chacing Bouqet. One last thing, I love in teh beginning of the Musical how the stagehands dressed in Costume throw the huge blankets off the sides of the stage to reviel the Angel sidings.

[Luciana]

I also, of course, love the furby man. He looks so cosy in that fur costume.

I love the slow-motion-ish touch to Mme Giry's flashback. Sometimes, it just looks normal, then during certain parts, it slows down.

I always sit up straight and really pay mondo close attention to the movie at that point.

[toxic fruit]

I wish I could own that monkey music box! That would be so much fun to have! They could keep making more and sell them for a lot of money each. Kind of like what they did with the Lord of the Rings jewelry and cups/swords.

[Eriks_Angel]

You can find replicas of the monkey music box on Ebay, made by the San Francisco Music Box Company. Not to scale obviously, but probably the next best thing. :)

[toxic fruit]

Wow! Thanks! That's awesome! How did you find it? Did you put in keyword: Phantom of the Opera or something?

Edit: I saw it. It looks nothing like the monkey in the movie...but I have no idea about the stage version. The pink gown replica looked kind of impressive..however I bet it's cheaply made. *sigh* It would make a good Halloween costume though! It would be so much fun to be Christine!

[The_Persian]

These are all in the AWL stage version:

I LOVE the butterfly outfit in Masquerade. It is so cool! If I am ever good enough to be in that scene, I want to be the butterfly!

I also love the moment when the Phantom first appears in the mirror and he sings "Look at your face in the mirror, I am there inside!" It sends shivers down my spine.

Also the part when the chandelier rises to the ceiling and the dah! duh duh duh duh duuuuuh" comes on... its soooo loud and powerful.

[phantoms_nemo]

This is very random for me to say this. I have never really watched another movie with such detail and I would never say this to a person if I actually knew them personally to their face. I liked Gerik's hands. Yes I said it. I like big hands. I have my reasons but they are not appropriate for a PG website. I guess you must all understand, I hope. Just fill in the rest yourself.

[Erik]

I ADORE the way the Opera house changes from black&white and run-down to colourful, alive, and running again.

I love the way Meg says "She needed rest"

I love Mme. Giry defends Erik to Raoul, telling him what an artist and a genious Erik is :)

[Phantom's Shadow]

I love when Erik runs his hands down Christine's neck and to her hand in PONR. Her expression is priceless.

- when Erik looks at Christine through his Don Juan mask when he holds her hand. Total control and fear

- When Christine wears makeup in Music of the Night

- Madame Giry taps her cane to silence everyone on stage (Broadway production)

- Miranda Richardson's accent (she is the only one who really takes a bit of french in the film...GO Giry!)

- Erik smashing the mirrors. Better than disappearing into chair.

Thanks for the Monkey Musical box tip!

[tatjoker]

I love so many little things in this movie...

~The Phantom's skull mask... it's very, very nice... especially how it's completely black under it around his eyes.
~When the Phantom takes his cape off right after POTO.
~The rose in Christine's hair in Don Juan just adds so much to it, it's beautiful!
~When Mme. Giry sings "And what a masquerade" during that scene.
~Everytime Andre says "Scrap metal, actually." It just makes me laugh. He's funny.
~The furby guy during Masquerade! Woot woot!

[composer15]

There are so many things that I love about this movie, but I will only name a few to save time ;)

The way Meg walks and her actions during angel of music
The way the phantom looks at Christine through the mirror
The way the phantom helps her off the horse during POTO
The way the phantom smiles before Christine faints
Carlotta's facial expressions during prima donna
When the music plays after the hanging
The way the phantom puts his arms out when he says " if Pride will let her come to me her teacher"
The way the phantom melts when he sees christine during why so silent
How the phantoms voice sounds so gental during wondering child
The camera view and christines movement after the phantom says, " the final threshold, what warm unspoken secrets will we learn"
The concern looks on Roauls face throughout the entire movie
chrsitines hair
when the phantom cries at the end and the saddness in christines eyes
the way the mirrors brake
Old Raouls expression when he sees the rose and ring by Christines grave.

I know I said I would only tell a few, but I just couldn't stop myself. You know you love me ^_^

[opera_ghost_lives]

Hm....his smile....his butt....his face.....his love....and his passion for music!! PRacitcally...he's just sexy beyond belife.....:tp1:

[IamErik771]

I've thought of more:

- Jennifer Ellison's portrayal of Meg

- The colored contact lenses Michael Crawford wore when he played the Phantom. (I heard that actors no longer use contacts for the stage show.)

- The Red Death outfit in the Hungarian productions. See for yourself!
#1 (http://www.azoperahazfantomja.hu/kepek/0523_166w.jpg)
#2 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/erikak1970/hungarian_phantom/red_death.jpg)
#3 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/erikak1970/hungarian_phantom/hungarian_masquerade_bw.jpg)

[Masked Shadows]

Wow... that is an amazing costume!!!!

[IamErik771]

Yeah. I'm not too crazy about the hat and mask, but I LOVE the "rotting ribcage" effect. :D

[AAW0487]

From the 2004 film I enjoyed- The Phantom's costumes perfect and he was just incredable. Christine showed her beauty when she came out in her gorgeous dress and with the crystal rhinestones dazzling in her curly hair. The chandelier rising at the beginning of the movie with the musical intruments blairing is the perfect way for it to begin. Masquerade was wonderful, because you could see the wealthy people and servants enjoying themselves, and the confetti was a great addition as well as the fans being used. And, the dancers through out the movie were great to see.

[AAW0487]

Oh and I must also say that in the movie version of the "Point of No Return" Christine and the Phantom were just drawn to one another with a deep passion in both of their hearts. But in a play I saw not to long ago it just seemed like Christine was just trying to trick him and didn't really love him at all. And the end was just right. The Phantom and Christine shared a passionate kiss with one another, and after he loved her enough to let her go he dissappeard into a mirrior leaving no trace, but his mask behind, as the light shone onto it. And of course the ring and the rose being left on Christine's grave in loving memory of the Phantom.
:phanc1:

[erik's_admirer]

HA! I love the most random person in the movie...
You know the guy in Masquerade, who's wearing a gaint checkered puffball costume?!?!?! I've paused the movie several times just to stare and laugh at him.
And for some reason, I love (well, not LOVE) the parts when Erik is killing people...he looks so HOT. He always toys with them first, and the whole time he has thing evil little smirk on his face that is so SEXY.

[Erik]

Okay, here I go...

First, the characters. I heart Furby man, and Jennifer Ellison (?) The girl who played Meg. She was phantastic, I love her voice and how adorable she is.

I love how Michael Crawford sings:

PONR in general, but especially the end when he goies into AIAOY, and the parts there he sings "Our games of make believe are at an end", "What raging fire shall flood the soul," and "Abandon thought and let the dream descend."

I love how Gerard Butler (<3) sings the Wandering Child bit at the end of Christine's WYWSHA.

The people making out when Meg is looking for Christine ^_^

Costumes: Le PONR! Gerry! Les pantalons!!!! Sam: ::dies:: I freeze frame that. ::shifty eyes:: What? Who said that?

::whistles::

Anywho, yesh, costumes. I haven't seen a stage version yet, so I'm going based on the 2004 movie here.

I heart Meg's little costume she wears while looking for Christine. Also her costume in Il Muto ^_^
I heart Christine's wedding dress.
I heart the Masquerade dancer costumes.

Set: Why Have You Brought Me Here = Awesome way to see my favourite parts of the opera house.

Yeah, I think that's it. :D It's so not, but I'll add later.

[Jodi Weaver]

The chandelier, the candles rising lit from the water...
THE SWAN BED! How luscious THAT thing looked! Surrounded by the black veil; like sleeping in the midnight sky.
But best of all for me were these two things:
1.) Erik's tears as he crushed the rose in the snow. So devastating and yet, so touching. I just want to throw my arms around him every time I see it!
2.) Watching Erik sing the final chorus of "All I Ask of You" while perched atop the statue, his arms outstretched. Puts CHILLS down my spine in a rather pleasant way. Look out Raul. Your days with Christine are numbered!

[getzell]

When Christene rides in the carage to the cemetery ( i love
Love that scene! Who dosen't.) its so cool with the mist and Roul riding on the horse.

[The Phantom]

The most general, unusual thing that I love about Phantom of the Opera is the mystery and romance mixed in with the horror and suspense. No where else can you get so many genres of a piece put together. :]

[Learn2BLonely]

The tug that Christine gives the ribbon tied to the rose. *Love it*

[doristelford]

I love the first appearance of Erik in the stage and film version. I love the expression on Raouls face during TPONR. I love Christine growing up emotionally throughout the stage and film versions. I love Madame Girys expression when the words his reign shall end are sung. I love thebook. I love that bed.

[Minoru Inoue]

I love certain things about the actors in the play:

1) I love how, when Hugh Panero left to do Lestat (which bombed BTW), he asked if he could take the musical monkey box with him, because he'd grown so attached to it. They let him!

2) What first struck me about Masquerade BEFORE I found out that nearly half the dancers were fake, was the notes for the song. I picked out the high part, and tried to reach those notes all afterwards (I was maybe seven?). I couldn't. So I decided that one day I would reach those notes. ^^ Now they're easy for me to hit. Yay!

3) I love how "Christine" hair is Sarah Brightman's real hair. Christine's supposed to be blonde, but they decided to keep it like Sarah's.

4) Costumes, duh. They so rock. And not the movie costumes -- wayyyy too boobage, and non-era. The play ones were perfect.

[HunterX]

Actually, I have some WEIRD things that I like about the POTO, in the movie specifically. Madame Girys voice, I like it, its pretty, when she sings in the Magical Lasso part and when she has the one line in the masquarade where she says "And a masquarade" and then I love her hair, even though I also hate it because its really long and she wears it up all the time.

I also love the masks the phantom wears (who doesnt?), hmm.. annnddd I like the cool costumes everyones wearing in the Masquarade, there are some WILD ones there. lol, actually I like the guy that dances at the top of the stairs in that one part of Masquarade, he moves his hands around in like circles, lol.

I also strangely like the composer, he's cool, lol. When he mouths the words "Your Fired" to that one guy and when he always freaks out "There is no understudy for La Carlotta!"

One thing I DONT like about POTO to even this post out, is that when Madm. Giry first brings the "Devils Child" into the opera house, he is first in the Church room where Christine always lights a candle, only the window is different and the candle alter is moved,the room looks very different. it bugs me everytime I see that part.

[IamErik771]

More things I love:

The orchestrations in the title song for the Vienna production of the ALW musical. Particularly during the second verse, there's a lot of interesting improvisation going on with the bells and keyboard instruments - it just sounds so magical and mysterious, and makes the Phantom's voice seem even more ethereal. I wish I had more clips from this cast, to see if they did that sort of thing with the other songs. <3

I love, love, LOVE the "glass eye" Erik was going to wear in the original concept sketches for the ALW musical... I really wish they had actually used that in the stage show, and perhaps the film as well.

John Owen-Jones's evil laugh after Why So Silent, as he's vanishing down the trapdoor. It more than makes up for the fact that he doesn't laugh during the chandelier drop. ^_^

The Japanese lyrics during Magical Lasso. On the part where Mme. Giry says "He will burn you with the heat of his eyes..." in the English version, in Japanese, she says, "Jigoku no te ga semaru." That literally translates to "The hand from Hell will close (on you)." Hand from Hell... the coolest term for the Punjab lasso I've heard yet!

Hugh Panaro's sudden crescendo on "To glance behind" in the title song. Trés awesome!

Ian Jon Bourg. I just cannot say enough about this actor... He should have had more opportunities to play Erik here in the US. At least Germany recognized his talent... but they should have let him (rather than Uwe Kröger) dub the 2004 film.

The instrumental intro to Masquerade. It's too bad they left it out of the OLC recording and the 2004 film!!!

The Phantom's deformity in the David Staller version. While it's not as spectacular as the ALW stage version, it beats most of the film deformities by a considerable amount. I shall try to find a pic.

The way Leroux!Erik calls the Persian a "great booby." Except that in Lowell Bair's translation, he calls him an "immense simpleton." Darn translators, spoiling our phun! :tongue:

And I shall think of more, eventually. ^_^

[Chance_or_Destiny]

I personally fell love with the music, the passion and soul in each piece. I also enjoy "Down once more" when the lovers triangle meets, as well as "Point of No Return", and Meg's costume in Masquerade, oh the list just keeps going on and on and . . .

[THeFaCeiNTHeMaSK]

Well, the most unusual thing I love about POTO is when they're singing Prima Donna in the movie and they sing the very last line. In the background you can see Madame Giry singing it and halfway through the last note she throws her arm in the air and turns around like she's fed up with everybody. heehee, I luve it!

[Phantom's Sonnet]

I love the darkness of the Phantom of the Opera, the romance, the story of a beast who all he needs is love. I know that sounds kind of dorky, but to me POTO is very fairy tale like but, really dark. I also love the costumes and the music. The music is very haunting and yet beautiful.

[ForbiddenRomance]

I love Madame Giry's Masquerade dress

[Ballet_Giry]

I like Meg's hair and her ballet dress that she is wearing AOM. I also like the Hannibal dance.

[IamErik771]

Yet another list of things I love about POTO:

- Earl Carpenter and John Cudia's portrayals of Erik. They are simply marvelous.

- Julie Hanson, Sierra Boggess, and Jennifer Hope Wills' portrayals of Christine... Too bad Sierra didn't get to do a cast recording for the Vegas production, but at least she will for "The Little Mermaid."

- The self-assembling chandelier in the Vegas version... I wish they had done something like that in the film!

- In the Japanese lyrics of "Prima Donna" (at least, from 1992 on), on the last line of each verse ("Sing, Prima Donna, once more" in English), the lyrics are "Sou, Prima Donna, brava!" I love that. ^_^

- I adore Kazuo Kawai (Carlotta) in the 1999 Japanese cast recording... especially her "croaks" in Poor Fool... There are simply no words to describe them. I think those were the only "Carlotta croaks" that literally made me burst out laughing the first time I heard them, and even now, they still do.

I'll probably add to this list at some point soon. ^_^

[The Floor]

Sooo... I saw the stage production last October (John Cudia & Marni Raab - who is definitely worth seeing), and during STYDI, John's shoes squeaked across the stage. I LOVE that. Why, I'm not sure. But mesa worships it. [/random Jar Jar Binks moment]

Which brings me to the first legitimate point of my post: John Cudia is love, yo. *stole KT's thing* He was my first stage Phantom, and I was blown away by his intensity. How he maintained his energy and focus through the entire musical, I'll never know - but I will always worship him for it. I was also swept away by his Angel of Music. Rawr. *does kitty-like claw thingy* And his Final Lair? Remarkable...

Pssst, Jamie - I know exactly what you mean about Miranda Richardson!Mme Giry. She is delightful. I mean, I love her in every movie she's in, but in PotO, she just adds this touch of elegance and class I never would have expected (after reading Leroux!PotO, where she's a superstitious busybody with nearly no place in the plot). She just kicks ass, period.

Two words: HUGH PANARO. The man has a voice like an angel, and Phantom or not, he's my hero. I only wish I had the words to describe the segue from PotO to MotN. *shivers out of sheer delight*

The gosh darn monkey! That... thing is what truly entertains me in the '04 movie, odd as it sounds. There's something so charming about it, and the way you see it from beginning to end is certainly delightful.

And, for now, I'm done. LOVE.

[MystMoonstruck]

I love that La Carlotta passes up all the other gifts for a new poodle! That says so much about her to me.

I also love her line: "I 'ate my 'at!" I giggle every time.

I love the big, wooden elephant in the opening number, especially the way its hollow side provides a cubbyhole in which to pass time. Check it out!

The raising-the-chandelier and sweeping-back-time IS a shivery moment!

I love the monkey music box, too! I've seen many versions for sale, so it's obviously a popular item.

I love Christine's debut, especially the stage set, which is so fanciful and dreamlike. I like the barrettes/starbursts in her hair.

I LOVE Raoul--his enthusiasm, his gallantry, his gentleness with Christine, his enthusiasm and even his foolhardiness.

PONR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Christine's costume reminds me of my beloved reenactment events. GerryasErik is undeniably yummy with the whole toreador/tango-type moves. Hmmm... Wouldn't have been quite the same number with Piangi, eh? (Visualize: La Carlotta and Piangi in PONR)

[MrsOwenJones]

I love the way in the westend show the phantom appears from behind the golden statue thing that comes down towards the end of act 1 and sings thats just gives me shivers its a brilliant moment

[ErikLove4Eva!]

OK well, I was with Jacqueline and Natalie, Jacqueline's dad was taking us to see the new pirates movie. So when we were walking up to the entrance I started singing

"Furtivly we'll squaff and quaff stealing what in truth is mine. When it's late in modesty starts to melow with the wine. You come home I use your voice slam the door like-" then I look down and saw another part of Jacqueline that shows a lot ( not on purpose) It freaked me out so then I practically screamed:

" CRACK OF DOOM!

Yeah..it was weird but actually very funny..ehe..hehhe

[masquerading rose]

Niiiiiice, Sabrina. I deem you captain of the Weirdo Duo!!


Its weird, I love the the little Monkey Box and I love making up little parodies to the songs. (To the tune of "Angel of Music") Now as I sing I can sense him and I know he's queer!

[ErikLove4Eva!]

I talk in Phantom quotes a lot like when the class had a silent moment I screamed:

"POOR FOOL HE MAKES ME LAUGH HAHAHA!" Everyone looked at me weird... *_* So what if I have random Phantom moments?

[masquerading rose]

Thats okay, me too. My friend and I were walking out of band late and the hallway was abandoned. We started singing "Masquerade" loudly and off key, and dancing. Then we realized the doors to all of the strict teachers' classrooms were opeaned. We got busted, but we were craking up.

[Victorian Era Drama]

I know this is weird, but I love how Madame Giry is the only with a French accent, even in the play (at the one I saw). Everyone else has British or American accents. Also, I love when The Phantom threatens the cast at the end of Prima Donna... I attempt to scare my fellow Color guard members by shouting out randomly "If these demand are not met, a disaster byound your imagination will occur!" I scared them all right, but no one really got it, except for my band director, who just laughed. Now they all think I'm insane...

[Skoteinos Metamfiezomai]

I love how Phantom provides interesting inside jokes you can use to creep people out... for example, a friend of mine does alot of drawing... and she made a chibi comic written by Erik- 'Ways That The Fop Can Die Without *cough* Me Being Involved'. At the end, Erik gives up, because he remembers Nadir... and the end of the comic says- "So once again the day is saved by Nadir, that creepy Persian dude who asks about ghosts." Anyways, so whenever someone stops something that should have happened, my friend and I look at eachother and say, "So once again the day is saved by Nadir, that creepy Persian dude who asks about ghosts..." and everyone stares... and no one gets it... like usual...

But all the kids on my bus are afraid of my friend and I because of all the macabre Phantom jokes that no one understands.

Also, Phantom inspired a whole new version of chocolate chip cookies... new cooking recipies are always cool. Of course, they don't taste the best... lol...

[masquerading rose]

My other Phantom-loving friend ran into a flagpole at school, and I sang, "Poor fool, he makes me laugh!" he was craking up so hard at that, he forgot about the bloody nose.

Also, I was on the bus and on my way to get a physical. My... well I think he's my friend, he's been really been since we broke up (*ahem* I broke up with him), but anyway, he called me on the bus and he said, Oo, Chris, I'm so mad at you, that I'll send my flying monkeys and the Wicked Witch of the west at you! And I said,"Oh, Tell Elphie I said "hi". And I have a punjab lasso and I'll send all those other deranged pangirls after you. We are a team you know, me and my fellow phangirls!" then I hung up and continued my bus ride. He didn't get it and I was craking up. I know, its really not that funny.

[ErikLove4Eva!]

OH! AHAHAHAH! This one is wicked funny:
Ok, well I was talking to Jacueline on the phone. She had put white yarn around one of her old dolls and put on a poofy dress...CARLOTTA AS COUNTESS!

She brought it in the next day to school. We were listening to "Prima Donna", she took the doll out and started to make it dance. But we renamed the doll: PILOTTA Piangi +Carlotta = Pilotta...


Oh and another time:
We have this Sim city thing for my grade where we make stuff to sell for fake money. I brought my radio in for an attraction. So, it was snack, so I put in the OCR into my radio. Jaqueline and I turned on "Poor Fool He Makes Me Laugh" So, everyone was talking and we had to put our ears up to the radio to her. But then I got a funny idea. When Carlotta started to croak, I turned it up. The when Erik's manical laughter came, I blasted it! Everyone looked straight at me and Jacqueline. I was laughing along the laugh, but I actually found it funny. I flopped down into my chair, almost falling off from laughing so hard! It was so funny.

[Skoteinos Metamfiezomai]

Oh, the poor, poor, abused doll... Pilotta? *shudders*

Bellybutton pants and believing are definitely winners... I have a friend who lives several hours away, and I introduced her to Phantom when she came to visit.

At the beginning of MotN, where he swishes his cloak, I was like- "CLOAK SWISHY THINGY!" She laughed... but anyways, then I noticed, for the umpteenth time, those freaky pants that go way too high...

"BELLYBUTTON PANTS!" was the first thing that came out of my mouth. And then, I was like, "I hate those things! Pants that go above a person's belly button shouldn't be worn at all!"

Her reply was, "Are you saying he should take his pants off?"

And a few moments previous to that, we had commented on Meg's famous line- "Christine, do you believe?" So, at the end, when Meg gets out of the catacomb water and her pants dry off in five seconds, we were like, "If you believe, then your pants will be dry!"

.. You know, looking back on those paragraphs, I just think I like the randomness.

[masquerading rose]

Oh, one time, I thought I was going crazy because of PotO.
Before I went to sleep, I put in my 2004 movie soundtrack and my CD player would pepeat the songs over and over. Well I had a dream that my math teacher let me bring in my CD player and I had the song on point of no return. And in my dream, once the words got "Too inappropriate for school" My teacher made me turn it off, but I still heard it. I really started crying because I thought I was going crazy because I was the on ly who could hear the music. Think it was a nightmare, I sat bolt upright. I looked to my Cd player that was sitting on the dresser next to my bed and I heard "The bridge is crossed so stand and watch it burn" I was so relieved thnat I wasn't mentally insane....

At lunch, one time, I couldn't stop singing Down once more. So two of my friends got it stuck in their heads. So after luch, we went to Social Studdies and we were reading quietly, and then one of my friends went "Wait, I think my dear, we have a guest. Sir, this is indeed an unparralled delight... (and so on)" My other friend got Raoul part, and I started singing Chnristine's part and we had the timing perfectly. My teacher was confused and she got sort of angry for interupting the class, but since I was joining in, she let us off easy.

[ErikLove4Eva!]

Phantom insane? Ooh fun! That happens to me! I even hear a little voice talking tome! ((eheheheh))

Okay, yesterday I went swimming with Jacqueline and we swam past the docks. ((I can't swim really past my head...and I actually was..hmph)) But the Jaqueline (lets call her J) sang:

"Past the point of no diving!"
so I started in too!
"The final breast stroke! The dock is crossed so float and watch it sink!"
And so on. We redid the enitre song! It was so fun!

[Skoteinos Metamfiezomai]

O.o

I'm sure any lifeguards/innocent bystanders got a crack out of that.

Okay, so, in a fanfiction I'm writing, Erik dresses as a Bedouin Arab... (it's a long story) I asked a friend of mine to do a chibi of him... it's hilarious- he looks ssssoooooo pissed off! It probably has something to do with the fact that he's wearing many layers of all black, a full black face mask, and a scarf-like thing is wrapped around his head (not a turban... I need to look up what it's called, actually).... and the only part of his body you can see is his golden eyes. It's CCRREEEPPPYY.

[masquerading rose]

My mom and my sister and I re-write the phantom songs like: Now I sing I can sense him and I know he's queer!

I'm writing a fanfiction where Christine give Raoul a frilly, pink, ruffly shirt for his birthday and Raoul's all "Ummm... Christine, I love you, but this shirt.... well its..."
And Christine's all "Georgeous! I knew you would like it!!"
Raoul: "I didn't say that!!"
So yeah, it sort of gives an explination to why people think my beloved Raoul is a fop. Because Christine only buys him ugly shirts. So anyway, my sister and I were shopping and we saw a shirt that looked like the one I decribed in my story. She and started craking up, and no one got it....

[Mrs Nadir Khan]

The weird things dealing with Phantom are my random comics. It started in Algebra. I was really bored with square root review so I drew Erik in the corner, looking equally bored. I drew a caption above him saying, "When I was your age, I never had to do this crap..." Beneath him, with a wry grin, I drew Nadir, looking exasperated. He has a caption that says, "For all our sakes, stay in school."

It spiraled from there. I've got a bunch I drew in Spanish class (the most boring class in history) and in Algebra. My BFF and I make them up when we are bored and it's kind of a running thing between us.

[masquerading rose]

I l;ove how in fanfictions, there are Mary-Sues and they follow Christine and Erik around and during "Phantom of the Opera" the Mary-Sue sings along even in "Our strange duet!" lol. That is a strange duet; its a trio!! Sorry, lame joke.

[ErikLove4Eva!]

What else have I done?

Well I have the MCR of POTO, and I plastic piano thingy. One day I was bored, so I set my piano thing to organ, and of coarse started to play "Phantom of the opera" So I got an idea. I went upstaiars, put the MCR in my radio, and started to play with the music. By the way...I don't know how to play the piano. I can play, but don't know the notes. I play clarinet. But it actually sounded cool...weird... XD

[PhAnToMeSs07]

Wow, actually, the one thing I really like comes from the ALW original soundtrack. Well, Michael Crawford sings All I Ask of You Reprise and he is literally whimpering and moaning her name in pain and betrayal. It tops the new movie’s version any day. It gives me chill bumps and makes me want to cry. In the same song, he has this huge evil laugh and it is immense and It echoes and then he yells “Go!” Ah, it just sends shivers down my spine.

And yet another, when he makes Carlotta croak...he does this really evil sounding snicker and following it, you hear, “She is singing to bring down the chandelier!”

Also, at the end of Prima Donna, he says, “So, it is to be war between us? If these demands are not met, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur.” In the movie, it is said in the letter but I like it better when he sings it. Oh, there are so many more but I will stop there.

[ErikLove4Eva!]

I pet my new SUSAN KAY'S PHANTOM!!!!!!!!

I can't...NOT touch it. I know, that's very...odd, but I just can't. My hand...won't let meh!. ((woooooooow))

[masquerading rose]

Yeah, It is a good book. I wish I could read it right now, but I'm too busy balancing so many other things on my plate that I can't really "Sink my teeth into it".

[AshyLeStrange]

I love Gerard's voice in the movie... I thought it was perfect for the role of the Phantom.

I loved the Phantom's costumes in the movie. (Especially the slicked back hair.)

The rose with the black ribbon was probably one of the sexiest aspects of the movie.

I love that flicker of sheer anger and hatred that flashes in Erik's face as he's strangling the guy.

Leather gloves are hot. It's just that simple.

I like how two people will be singing different lyrics at the same time. (i.e. Erik is singing "My spirit and your voice" whilst Christine is singing "Your spirit and my voice")

[Bricabrac]

Movie: The transformation of the Opera House in the beginning

Stage musical: The Phantom's "I'm here!" "I'm here!' "I'm here!, coming from all corners of the theater.

The Phantom's picking up Christine's veil after she has left with Raoul and burying his face in it. (That's not in the film, is it??)

The show ending with the spotlight on the white mask fading out as the orchestra plays those last wonderful chords.

[A_Single_Rose]

I love... his hands. The Phantom makes such sensual motions with his hands you can't help but imagine... Well, the good "Phantoms" have wonderful hand motions like John Owen-Jones and Michael Crawford. Especially in Music of the Night and Point of No Return. Gah... So... So... Indescribable.

I too, like it when Erik sobs into the veil as Christine leaves him. I mean, it's not a good thing that he's sad, it's just so sad it's beautiful.

[Mrs Nadir Khan]

I like the part in Notes/Prima Donna where Raoul sings "Where did she [Christine] go?" It cracks me up for some reason.

I love it when, in Kay, Erik says he was "in the nadir of depression". I wind up laughing so hard and it's not even funny unless you know what's coming in the next section.

I love it, in Kay, when Reza yells, "I hate the Shah!"

I love it in Leroux when Erik calls Jammes "a calf in the field".

I love it in the Lon Chaney version when the water starts rising and the Persian and Raoul start freaking. I love both Raoul and the Persian, but their expressions are utterly priceless.

I love it in the '04 version when Emmy says "consume" during PoNR because she pushes the note funny and she sounds really raspy so my mom just cringes.

I love the whole final lair scene in the stage version (I've seen John Cudia as the Phantom for that on Youtube and his hand movements and body language are flawless!).

I love the 1991 stage version when the Persian pulls a sword out of his cane and you think he and Erika are gonna bust out fighting but they just kinda accept each other.

I love the cartoon version just because it makes me think of Scooby Doo.

I love the part in one of the songs from the Yeston and Kopit musical where "Raoul" says, "You are the best you win the prize" it makes no sense.

[MissDay7000]

Oh but there are so many to choose from! Let's see, I love...

The Phantom's sensuality in the 04 movie (Though realistically I don't think Erik would know how to be that seductive considering he's lived half his life in a sewer)

I love the way the Phantom runs his hands down Christine's waist and hips in the movie...*shudder* God, everytime I watch that part of MotN, I get goosebumps

I love it when the Phantom hits that high 'soar' note in MotN. For some reason everytime me and my sister see that part we just start laughing at the expression on his face...

I love how in the book Erik says, "And the grasshopper hops jolly high!" For some reason, every time I read it it just cracks me up.

I love Erik's fedora--I WANT THAT HAT. It's the only thing the Phantom's costume was missing in the 04 movie.

I love how in Notes, Patrick Wilson's Raoul sings, "Of coooourse NOT," I don't know, for some reason the way he accentuates the word 'not' amuses me

I love Wandering Child, especially when the music swells as the Phantom and Christine sing, "Angel of Music I/you denied you/me, turning from true beauty..." I can still remember getting all excited the first time I saw it, wondering what was going to happen

I love how at the end of The Mirror in the movie, when the Phantom is singing "I am your Angel of Music, come to the Angel of Music" you can see a slight smile on his face, like he's so satisfied that he's succeeding in luring her to him

I love how at the end in the movie, the Phantom sings the line, "It's over now, the music oooof the niiiiight!" God....I can still remember just thinking, "Wow..." the first time I saw. It just has such a finality to it...

[Hidden Away]

I love the electric guitar and the organ's 'zing' to Phantom of the Opera, if you could say. It just add something you'd never expect and well I just love the collide of rock and opera. Phantom of the Opera and Nightwish are two wonderful examples. And I also love the cavish look to Erik's lair. It add so much more mystery into the entire format of the movie. And ummmm, in the Vegas/stage performance I love the mist and the gondola thing their have their it's amazing. And in the Vegas when Raoul jumps into the water--you'd have to be there--I don't know how he doens't kill himself by hitting the stage. Oh well, stage tricks are always fun. Someone actually thought my friend (from afar) was a guy b/c she had a beard and sideburns. Yeah ____ for taking the role so I didn't have to do it!!! HEHE!

[masquerading rose]

I love Carlotta's hats and wigs... haha...

I also love Raoul, but I'm not sure if that's unusual. I also love how off-key the dancers can be at times. It's funny, but annoying. I also love to make up words and stuff and I love how the original Meg sounds like she takes Speed. haha.

[The Countess]

I love Michael Crawford's nose! :p

Yeah, that doesn't really count does it?

I love the way Erik makes shadows on the backdrop in the stage version. Shadow puppets much?

[masquerading rose]

Hahahahahaha....

I love Patrick Wilson's eyes.... And Emmy's jawline....

Anyways, I love how there was a Phantom who thoughts the words were "Seal my fate tonight. I hate to have to cut the prisoners short, but the ducks are warring in let the audiance in because the song is on FIRE!" Haha... I laugh about that everytime. I just love all of the bloopers. Hehe. I often make fun of them.

[xXphantomaddictedXx]

I liked when Erik is hanging from the chandelier during the play. I thought it was cool how they were able to get him up there.

[Ange de Musique]

I love too many things to keep track of! :D But here's some of them:

(This is rather sadistic) I love the part in the movie where Erik is choking Buquet, and just as he dies, he gives this evil smirk of triumph. I love Erik's black leather gloves, and his cape. I love the leather boots he wears in the last lair scene. And, and, and...:D

Laura

[xXphantomaddictedXx]

I love the way Michael Crawford sings Music of the Night. It's so dramatically effective, the way he sings it. I love the way Michael Crawford sings his duet with Sarah Brightman during the song The Phantom of the Opera. Oh, heck, I'm just going to come right out and say that I absolutely adore any song Michael sings during the play. :mask:

If we're going to talk about Phantom in general, I liked how (in the version I saw) after Christine finished Think Of Me, it looked like she was backstage in the opera house. I thought that was cool how they made it look like she was backstage. To this day, I seriously wonder how they did that.

[ChristineJ16]

I've always loved how during Music of the Night when Erik catches Christine as she faints. I know of only Michael Crawford and Peter Karrie that did it for the stage show. Gerard did it for the movie. It's a shame more of the Phantom actors don't do it. I look it this way, if you can't actually pick her up, at least catch her and guide her down to the floor. That would be cool too! :D

[IamErik771]

Yeah, apparently it's only in the UK productions that the Phantom catches Christine. The others stopped it after a nasty incident in which a Phantom on Broadway (I think it may have been Michael Crawford) dislocated his shoulder while catching the Christine actress, and the American theatre companies decided to avoid letting actors do that anymore. Although I'm told that some American Phantoms like John Cudia move as if they're trying to catch her, but miss.

However, I did hear about something a month or two ago where Ramin Karimloo, the current London Phantom, pulled a muscle in his shoulder and couldn't catch Christine for a couple weeks. They changed the blocking for that scene to the way it was done in the US during that time. But Ramin recovered, and is now catching Christine at each performance again. :D

[Ange de Musique]

Hehe, how funny! :D It is much more romantic to have Erik actually catch Christine. Makes him look nice and strong and manly, too. We girls enjoy that part. :D

Laura

[Madame le Courayer]

I love the Don Juan scene in the movie but I have to admit...I just get cracked up when those male dancers come out. Here's Gerry singing his soul out and looking so damned sexy...and then out come these cheesy dancers! I'm sorry if some people liked it....I didn't. To me it's just funny!

[Ange de Musique]

Hahaha! :D That is funny, and even funnier is the fact that I never noticed! :o Maybe I was too focused on Gerry being so irresistable...Ooo la la! :D I love that scene too, the music, and everything is simply breathtaking.

Laura

P.S. Off topic but Madame le Courayer, I have read that tidbit of your story and reviewed! ;) Just thought I'd let you know, in case you see this before you see the post.

[tiannangel]

I'm not sure if this is supposed to be posted here, but oh well.

Has anyone seen the original traliers for ALW's Phantom? The one with Sarah Brightman and Steve harley?

That was the most HILARIOUS one i have ever seen! No offense but his voice is HORRIBLE, and I started cracking up so badly when he started sawing at the Chandelier with a butter knife :D:D

[Madame le Courayer]

Tianna it's weird that you mention the SH video because I just saw it for the first time tonight and I was floored. It's soooooo bad!!! I can't begin. Anyone who hasn't seen though should watch it just BECAUSE it's so bad!
SB was lovely however...she is the video's only saving grace.

[ChristineJ16]

Yeah, apparently it's only in the UK productions that the Phantom catches Christine. The others stopped it after a nasty incident in which a Phantom on Broadway (I think it may have been Michael Crawford) dislocated his shoulder while catching the Christine actress, and the American theatre companies decided to avoid letting actors do that anymore. Although I'm told that some American Phantoms like John Cudia move as if they're trying to catch her, but miss.

However, I did hear about something a month or two ago where Ramin Karimloo, the current London Phantom, pulled a muscle in his shoulder and couldn't catch Christine for a couple weeks. They changed the blocking for that scene to the way it was done in the US during that time. But Ramin recovered, and is now catching Christine at each performance again. :D

Yeah, I know Michael injured himself on Broadway. I think it was with Sarah Brightman, not exactly sure. So since that happened to him no US Phantom actors can do the catch huh? Weird. I still say they should at least help guide her to the floor if they can't actually catch her.

For fun I have watched You Tube MOTN clips with the actors John Owen Jones and Earl Carpenter. Both catch Christine as she faints, it's awesome! :D

[tiannangel]

Tianna it's weird that you mention the SH video because I just saw it for the first time tonight and I was floored. It's soooooo bad!!! I can't begin. Anyone who hasn't seen though should watch it just BECAUSE it's so bad!
SB was lovely however...she is the video's only saving grace.
Yes I agree, Sarah was lovely...

though there was one point in the clip...
My friend commented that she'd rather meet the Phantom in a dark alley with out his mask on rather than meet Sarah at 2:20 in this clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmI9gAyNPyE

I kinda agree...her eyes are really slightly creepy....

[Madame le Courayer]

Some of her facial expressions as she drifting towards the Phantom in the boat are humorous and put me in mind of Mary Philbin's dramatic antics in the 1925 version. I suppose it seemed like a good idea at the time. :rolleyes:

[tiannangel]

Yes, though now we watched it...oh god...

I think my stomach is going to burst! :D:D
I can't believe they used Stve Harley as the Phantom! I mean, his voice wasn't very good, it just was really really....I dont know the word to describe it though...

Definitely way worse than any phantom yet.
Though I hafta wonder, if this was the original tralier, were they going to use his for the Phantom?!?!?!
that would have been pretty bad...

[IamErik771]

Aye, they were originally going to cast him as the Phantom in the stage show. According to the "Behind the Mask" documentary on disc 2 of the 2004 film, the main reason why they ultimately chose Michael Crawford instead was because Steve had difficulty with the stuntwork that the Phantom would have to be able to do. Although when ALW first heard Michael Crawford singing, he said it occurred to him that "that's what the Phantom should sound like!" :mask:

I found a clip a while back that had a snippet of Steve Harley singing a bit of "Music of the Night." I thought he sounded a lot better there; he wasn't trying so much to sound like a rock star. But then again, it wasn't one of the highest or most difficult parts of the song -- I think it was the "Floating, falling..." verse. I'll see if I can find that for ye. ^_^

[Madame le Courayer]

Thank God for Michael Crawford and ALW's excellent taste! :mask:

[xXphantomaddictedXx]

Thank God for Michael Crawford and ALW's excellent taste! :mask:

Agreed...what would we do without ALW and, especially, Michael Crawford to worship? I know that I'm not complete unless I'm worshipping Michael Crawford - I don't know about the rest of you, though. In my mind, Michael Crawford is the Erik to defeat all Eriks, stage version or otherwise. I think I better stop here before I go into a useless rant about how wonderful Michael is! :p

[IamErik771]

I agree completely... and not just because of his singing and acting in the role. He created most of the choreography for the part, and did a tremendous amount of research by reading Gaston Leroux's novel and seeing a few of the film versions.

Also, there were a few things he said in interviews that I thought were brilliant ways to use personal experience to help find a character. For example, I read an interview where he talked about how he found out that his mother passed away, and flew into a rage because he refused to believe it... so whenever he had to get super-angry as Erik (like in "Stranger Than You Dreamt It" and the final lair scene), he would remember how he felt at that moment. :(

And there was also an interview he gave on TV during the time when he was doing the stage show, where he drew parallels between the Phantom's childhood and some articles he had read about children who were born with AIDS -- children whose parents had abandoned them because of their condition. (This was the mid- to late 1980s, after all, before most of the public understood what AIDS was.) He was deeply touched by the heartbreaking stories, and said that they gave him a deeper understanding of what Erik must have gone through in his childhood.

Also, the way the Phantom buries his face in Christine's veil after she leaves with Raoul? Michael came up with that kind of by accident; during the first performance of the show, Sarah Brightman had forgotten to take the veil with her, as originally scripted. So Michael went to pick it up, and did that motion because he thought it seemed right for the character. It wasn't in the script, but the director thought it was brilliant, and so it became an official part of the blocking for that scene.

*********

L'anyhoodles, back on topic... I love:

- The way Earl Carpenter says (rather than sings) "one love, one lifetime" in the AIAOY reprise after "Point of No Return."

- Hugh Panaro's evil chuckle when Raoul enters the lair in at least one recording I've heard... Earl Carpenter also sprinkles in some great "evil chuckles" in that scene.

- Paul Stanley's lisp... I don't mean to sound mean, but when he shouts "INTHOLENT BOY! THITH THLAVE OF FASHION!!!" in the "Mirror" scene, I burst out laughing every time.

- Ethan Freeman and Brad Little's sarcastic and sneering tone when singing the line, "...This brave young suitor..." in the "Mirror" scene. I'm no Raoul basher -- far from it -- but that always struck me as a perfect illustration of Erik's attitude toward his new rival. The way I see it, he shouldn't really consider Raoul to be much of a threat until "All I Ask of You."

- John Owen Jones's "betrayed" in the "All I Ask" reprise... so the line came out, "And now, how you've repaid me... Denied me, and BETRAYED me!!!"

- The way Colm Wilkinson and Peter Karrie, in the Toronto production, went up an octave for the line "Let my opera begin!!!" just before the "Don Juan" scene.

- Kim Stengel's 'croaks' in the "Il Muto" scene. Rather than the traditional croak, she shouts "TOAD!" in a really strange voice that's hilarious to listen to. I wonder if she could sing a whole song (not from POTO) in that voice for a CD or concert? I'd really like to hear her do that. XD

- The way that Christine, in some productions (and also on the original Canadian cast CD), does a cadenza at the end of "Think of Me" that's reminiscent of the one Carlotta does at the beginning of the "Hannibal" rehearsal. I prefer that to the ones that Sarah Brightman and Emmy Rossum did, because it makes it just that little bit more believable that the song could conceivably be a part of the "Hannibal" opera.

- Yuichiro Yamaguchi's super-long note at the end of the "All I Ask" reprise, in the 1992 Japanese cast album. He holds it twice as long as most other Phantoms.

- One random (and now infamous) occurrence in the London production, where John Owen-Jones was playing Erik and Nicky Adams played Christine. Nicky took off his mask at the end of PONR, and instead of screaming "NOOOOOO!" like he usually did, John shouted something that sounded like, "NO! F*** YOU! YOU LYING B**CH!" Now, that is getting into the moment. XD

- Phantoms like Davis Gaines and Rick Hilsabeck, who roll their 'R's a lot in MOTN. Seriously, what's sexier than Davis's "Close your eyes, and surrrrrender to your darkest dreams..." or Rick's "...let your spirrrit start to soar"?

- Steve Barton and Yuichiro Yamaguchi, respectively, in the second verse of the title song... Most Phantoms tend to belt "Sing once again with me..." but these two sing it softly and yet commandingly... as if to say, "I don't need to raise my voice... You're in my power, and you will do as I say."

- Peter Karrie's "You try my patience..." in the final lair scene. He growls it like a demented lion, and it's just every kind of awesome.

- The Japanese Phantoms' way of doing the line, "Make your choice!" They sing the line -- 3 descending notes, with the last one as a deep, dark snarl.

- The way Phantoms like Michael Crawford shouted, "I love you!" a couple times at the end, after Christine and Raoul left.

- Gary Mauer's total fury after Christine sings, "I gave my mind blindly..." He gets up and moves as if he's about to swat her, and then stops and looks at his hand, as if he were shocked and horrified at what he almost did.

- After Christine kisses him, Peter Karrie does this great thing where he touches his lips, then hers, then his again with his fingertips... He communicates so much with just that little gesture, as though he can't believe she would actually kiss him, and has never been kissed before.


Again, I shall post more when I can think of them... think of them fondly...

[/shamelessly butchered quote at the end of a super-long post]

[phan-atic]

I love the way the chandelier wobbles a bit when it goes up to the ceiling in the prolouge...

[xXphantomaddictedXx]

I love the whole prologue! I just think the auction scenes were a nice way to open the play. Also, I love the way you are led to believe that the man in the wheelchair is Erik. That is semi-concrete proof that he may not have died at the end of the play. A brilliant idea, if I do say so myself! :D

[phan-atic]

Really? I never really thought it was Erik... until the auctioneer said his name I thought it was Christine's son or grandson.

[xXphantomaddictedXx]

Really? I never really thought it was Erik... until the auctioneer said his name I thought it was Christine's son or grandson.

*laughs gently*

Nope, it was Erik - supposedly, of course, but the almost-fact remains: he may not have died at the end! Squee! :D

Back on topic, I love how Erik just suddenly...appears out of nowhere during the "Phantom of the Opera" song. That was brilliant for me because I thought he would just walk on the stage when his cue came. But no, they had some sort of elevator or something and made him "appear" out of nowhere. Props to the choreographer for coming up with that! :D

[phan-atic]

*laughs gently*

Nope, it was Erik - supposedly, of course, but the almost-fact remains: he may not have died at the end! Squee! :D

Back on topic, I love how Erik just suddenly...appears out of nowhere during the "Phantom of the Opera" song. That was brilliant for me because I thought he would just walk on the stage when his cue came. But no, they had some sort of elevator or something and made him "appear" out of nowhere. Props to the choreographer for coming up with that! :D

Yes, I guess so- it was fantastic how he appeared. I thought itwas Raoul, though.

[IamErik771]

Yeah, if you're referring to the elderly guy who sings in the prologue, it is Raoul . . . unless you mean someone else in the scene. It would be cool if it was the unnamed guy who buys the pistol and skulls from Robert le Diable. XD

***

I love:

- The fact that Christian Müller got to play Erik at age 21. He understudied the role while playing Raoul in the Essen production in Germany, and eventually got promoted to full-time Erik. He was amazing, and fully deserved the chance to play the role at such a young age; look for clips on YouTube to hear for yourself. :mask:

- That a friend of mine made a compilation video of "evil laughs" from different Phantoms. (http://youtube.com/watch?v=USVL_Onw568) Michael Crawford, Steve Barton, Earl Carpenter, and Brad Little are my personal faves there.

- The way that in the original Austrian and German productions, the Phantom sang his first lines in the title song an octave lower. When done right, it sounded beautifully seductive.

- Peter Karrie's "Music of the Night" on his "Theatrically Yours" album -- the instrumental track begins with the music box playing the "Masquerade" melody. That was by far the best opening to the song that I've heard on a solo album.

- Ramin Karimloo's "rock-ifying" of the Phantom's verse in the title song . . . It's a million times better than the way Steve Harley tried to do it.

[The Countess]

I also love how Erik is carring a lantern on the way down to his lair (musical) and first checks to see that the way is safe. Or at least that's what he did in the show I saw.

I love how Lon Chaney directed the unmasking scene (1925). Best scene in the entire movie.

I love how all the London Christine's are nasual. It gives you so much variety.

[xXphantomaddictedXx]

Some things I love:

~Erik's organ. I know, I know, it's just an instrument, but I really love it because I happen to believe that Erik's organ is a safe haven for him. What I mean by that is when he isn't at his organ, he does not feel as relaxed or calm as when he is composing or playing music. I think Erik needs a safe haven in order to be able to live properly.

~This line: Pity comes too late, turn around and face your fate. That line is very powerful and means Erik is ready to let Christine go if it means her happiness. When I hear it on my OLC recording, I nearly begin to cry because I am overcome with so much emotion. I think that is the point when most people begin to truly empathize with Erik.

~The way Christine kisses Erik to show him he could never be with her. This is a bittersweet scene and also one that nearly made me cry when I saw POTO for the second time. Erik has just realized that he can never have Christine, but she kisses him to show him what love is truly about. I will be honest here...all I wanted to do during that scene was rush on stage and declare my love for Erik. :mask:

[The Countess]

Lon Chaney's hand motions!!!! Aaaa! So smexy...

I love how Leroux is the narrator in the novel becuase it adds to the realisum.

I <3 the costumes in the musical, especially Christine's dressing gown.

[Madame le Courayer]

Yes, yes! The graceful unfurling of Lon Chaney's hand as he is speaking to Christine (Mary Philbin) is one of my favorite things about the 1925 movie. "That is where I sleep..." Oooh...chills!
Another thing I love about the 1925 movie is it's realism. Up until the last couple of scenes, it's quite the best in cinema as far as POTO goes.

How about in the book when Carlotta is reading the Phantom's note and she glances outside and sees the hearse? Another "chills" moment! :eek:

[angelgirl]

There's a lot of little things about it I love, but one of them would have to be the swordfight scene in the movie. I root for the Phantom every time! (Even though I know he's not going to win!)
A.G.

[xXphantomaddictedXx]

~Erik's mask: Because it looks so mysterious and alluring on him. Moreover, his mask is just one more thing that adds to his appeal (if you know what I mean).

~Erik's enchanting, hypnotic voice: This is classic Erik. One word from him and someone could be put in a trance almost!!

~The swish of Erik's cloak as he moves through his lair: For some reason, the sound of his cloak has always been a way to make me lose my mind.

~The deformity: This just makes him different in my eyes, and I think it has a lot of appeal.

~The way Erik is so graceful as he moves through his lair: You do not see very many men who are graceful like my Erik anymore, so this is something to treasure.

~The way Erik walks like a cat...totally unnoticed: Silence is golden, especially if you are trying to frighten someone. I love the way Erik has mastered this art.

~The way Erik sits when he plays his organ: Another big way to make me lose my mind.

[Trix]

^ Agreed on all of them.
Not sure what it is, but a man of mystery always gets me...
And yes, the deformity brings with it this certain assumption, that he is not like everyone else. Which is a big deal.

Now excuse me...
I must go sit outside and affectionately sigh while I think about your list...

[Ange de Musique]

Ohhhhh yeah, I totally agree! I love the cape twirling bit.

I love Erik's black, exquisitely tailored leather gloves! I have a fetish with black leather gloves now. Just the sight of him wearing those gloves is enough to make me shiver with delight. :D

I love the way the candlelight plays with his expressive eyes.

I love the way his white dress shirt gapes open and bares his chest.:D

I love the graceful way he stalks up the stairs at the beginning of MOTN. (In the movie)

And on and on I could go...:rolleyes: :D

~Laura

[xXphantomaddictedXx]

~Erik's dress pants...there's just something appealing about them.

~The way Erik is emo a lot of the time; sometimes I think all he needs is a big hug.

~The way he swirls his cloak around before covering Christine after she faints during the MOTN scenes.

~His slicked-back hair.

~His gold eyes.

...I could go on, but I think you all get the point. ;)

[Trix]

*sighs*
Oh yess....

I know I always have a squee attack whenever he flourishes his cape in the movie.

What else...


OH!

The way he runs his hands over Christine at any point in the movie.
I don't care if he is a virgin. Any man that can touch a woman like that HAS to be good in bed.

His playful half-smirk
You only see it a handful of times, but when you do it's positively knee melting.

His dislike of Carlotta
I know this is weird, but I just love how he goes about messing with Carlotta. Dropping set pieces on her and messing with her voice and such... it's all very mean, but cloaked in a mischevious kind of way that tells you he's getting his kicks doing it.

His hand movements
I have a hand fetish. I notice peoples hands very quickly, and I just love the expressiveness he has with his hands. Especially in the stage show. Oh man...

[Madame le Courayer]

OK I gotta say this: I hate the cape swishing thing! I thought it was over the top and over dramatic but hey that's just me!
*ducks thrown objects*
However, if you've ever seen the promo video of MOTN for the stage show with M. Crawford and S. Brightman you will have seen the slow and sensual way MC removes his hat and cape all the while looking at and singing to SB. Now THAT, mon ami, is SEXY!!!!!
Then watch the way he runs his hands down the sheet music. It sends shivers up my spine.
And then the way he raises his hands and the lair porticullis lowers and then he goes and kind of leans against it while she comes right up to him and brushes against him. It's like he's saying, "You're not going anywhere."
*lets out an animal howl* That gets me every time!
NO, he's not as hot as G. Butler, but it's his prowess and his gestures that grab you!
Take a look if you're interested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5dhyiqhR7Y&NR=1

[The Countess]

Norman Kelly's mustache is beastly. True he's not blonde, but I've always thought Raoul to have facial hair.

I also love LC's mask, it's so cute!

[Phantom's_last_rose]

I love how Lon Erik hesitates before touching Christine's shoulder. Nice and Leroux like just like Lon was trying for ;).

And I love how in the Vegas show Erik hangs from the chandiear. THAT MY FRIENDS IS AWESOME! *starts running around squeeling about her love for the Vegas show and the Kay novel and the 2004/Lon movies* Sorry phan insanity.

And now I must go worship Lon and Gerry's capes. *leaves while acting insane*

[The Countess]

I love how Lon Erik hesitates before touching Christine's shoulder. Nice and Leroux like just like Lon was trying for ;).



*gasp* Oh, yes how could have I forgotten! Such a sweet, innocent gesture. Like a timid boy...from a not so innocent man.

I love how completly awesome Lon's Red Death costume is! It has that regal presence that really inspire other versions I'm sure.

[Erik'sMusic92]

I totally agree with you, Hannah! That MOTN stage video with MC and SB really has a connection between Erik and Christine. Whenever I watch that video, I just melt at MC's movements....... *dreamy-eyed*

[darcimkire]

OK I gotta say this: I hate the cape swishing thing! I thought it was over the top and over dramatic but hey that's just me!
*ducks thrown objects*
However, if you've ever seen the promo video of MOTN for the stage show with M. Crawford and S. Brightman you will have seen the slow and sensual way MC removes his hat and cape all the while looking at and singing to SB. Now THAT, mon ami, is SEXY!!!!!
Then watch the way he runs his hands down the sheet music. It sends shivers up my spine.
And then the way he raises his hands and the lair porticullis lowers and then he goes and kind of leans against it while she comes right up to him and brushes against him. It's like he's saying, "You're not going anywhere."
*lets out an animal howl* That gets me every time!
NO, he's not as hot as G. Butler, but it's his prowess and his gestures that grab you!
Take a look if you're interested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5dhyiqhR7Y&NR=1

i remembered what gillian lyne [the chorepgrapher] says about the "brushing" scene in this video. she said "when she [christine] brushes against him-- i always felt that he must have gotten an erection, of course-- and she probably never felt that before in her life.."

[Kiri_Giry]

What I love is how the phantom is so... wise to some degree like he knows what he's talking about and if he doesn't understand he doesn't talk about it, it's like Raoul at some points for me in the movie and musical and Susan Kay book and Leroux, he just seems to talk about things they don't understand. :) I love Christine because even though she is nieve and some what gullible she is smart for her time for being a woman. I like how instead of her being a complete slutty goof she is smart and not inept to to do things. :lips:

[xXphantomaddictedXx]

I'm sure this has probably been said at least a handful of times already, but I'm going to say it again in my own way. Lon Chaney's body movements and facial expressions are genius! He could not use words to tell the tale of Erik and Christine; therefore, he had to resort to other methods. I guess what I love is the way Lon is able to show so much without speaking or making any other type of sound. You could say I was blown away.

[BrokenVow]

In the scene of Masquerade, I love how there is a costum half woman and half man. It's so awesome xD

[iholland95]

Well more of the stage version but, I love how they make it seems as though the boat is actually is the water and the candles float and go up and down as if it were in the water even thought you know there is no water. And it looks like the boat keeps moving down a river as the bigger candles on the side move down as if they past it. Yeah, I loved that part in the musical.

Ok, basically the whole part of Phantom of the Opera, like how they walk down to the boat place, and the stairway thing is the back moves up and down as if they are actually getting somewhere when they really aren't.

Ok, also last one, in Masquerade, that not all of the dancers on the stairs are real. I love that part on the stage! Yah, um...I would have never known they were fake if I didn't look at the special features of the Phantom of the Opera dvd.


I also love the part where the stairs come down out of nowhere and it looks as if they are moving. It is so cool... I wonder how they do it...

[xXphantomaddictedXx]

I love how, at the end of MOTN, Erik pretends not to know how to play his pipe organ. That always makes me laugh.

I also love Christine's hair and how it's so curly and poofy and such. More specifically, I've always thought Sarah Brightman and Marni Raab had the best hair.

[Kitty-Grimm]

VOGUE DUDE!!! How can you not love Vogue Dude from the Masquerade scene?!

[The Countess]

3 words:

Peter. Karrie's. Thighs.

Oh my gawd, I just can't control myself sometimes! If you don't know what I'm talking about, take a look at his POTO and MOTN. *fans self*

[xXphantomaddictedXx]

Davis Gaines' rendition of MOTN. Seriously, my brain is going to mush just thinking about it~!

[IamErik771]

3 words:

Peter. Karrie's. Thighs.

Oh my gawd, I just can't control myself sometimes! If you don't know what I'm talking about, take a look at his POTO and MOTN. *fans self*

LOL. Not laughing at your comment itself, but because it reminds me of a couple of epic flubs Peter made during the final lair scene -- he once sang "An eternity of THIS before your thighs!" And I think at another performance, he sang "Order your fine horses now! Raise up your hand to the level of your thighs!"
:lmao:


Davis Gaines' rendition of MOTN. Seriously, my brain is going to mush just thinking about it~!

Heck, yes! On that topic, I love how Davis, Steve Barton, and Kevin Gray roll the 'r' in 'opera' when they sing the title song -- it makes them sound really sophisticated and refined, and I think they're the only Phantom actors who have done that.

I also think it's awesome that Davis, Colm Wilkinson, Anthony Crivello, and a few other Phantoms sing "This face, which earned a mother's fear and loathing" one octave higher than most others do. It makes it even more heartbreaking (as long as they can pull it off).


EDIT: This is my 1,771st post... Mwahahaha!

[xXphantomaddictedXx]

Heck, yes! On that topic, I love how Davis, Steve Barton, and Kevin Gray roll the 'r' in 'opera' when they sing the title song -- it makes them sound really sophisticated and refined, and I think they're the only Phantom actors who have done that.

I also think it's awesome that Davis, Colm Wilkinson, Anthony Crivello, and a few other Phantoms sing "This face, which earned a mother's fear and loathing" one octave higher than most others do. It makes it even more heartbreaking (as long as they can pull it off).

Never noticed that, but I'll have to check it out.

On a different note, I really like how it looks like Christine is backstage during the middle of Think of Me.

[The Countess]

LOL. Not laughing at your comment itself, but because it reminds me of a couple of epic flubs Peter made during the final lair scene -- he once sang "An eternity of THIS before your thighs!" And I think at another performance, he sang "Order your fine horses now! Raise up your hand to the level of your thighs!"
:lmao:


Me thinks that Mr. Karrie has a thigh fetish...

[xXphantomaddictedXx]

^:lmao:

Something 'unusual' I love about POTO is how even the littlest things -- such as Christine's outfit(s) or Erik's mask -- have held the attention of so many people for so many years now.

[VoiceBehindtheMirror]

Oh boy, we’ll be here for hours…

Lon Chaney’s eloquent hand movements in just about every scene.

The musical notes painted onto Carlotta’s chest and upper back during Il Muto in the 2004 version.

Hugh Panaro’s maniacal resonating laugh at the end of Why So Silent?

The way Peter Karrie practically growls “You try my patience…” to Christine in the final lair scene.

Gina Beck’s cadenza at the end of Think of Me.

The emotion Gina Beck puts into “The tears I might have shed for your dark fate grow cold, and turn to tears of hate…” The way she belts “Hate!” is just beautiful.

Sierra Boggess’ eyes.

Michael Crawford’s gleeful little smile at the end of the MOTN video with Sarah Brightman.

Carlotta's "Kiss me in my AAAUUUUUUUUHHHH!"

The guy dressed in all yellow during Il Muto in the 2004 version, fumbling around the curtain trying to get backstage. Then his attempt to try to roll with the awkwardness by grinning and bowing with his fan. Hilarious.

The lair scene in which Robert Englund is at the organ sobbing silently as Christine sings the libretto to Don Juan Triumphant.

Towards the ending of the Charles Dance version, after Erik and Christine sing their duet at the end of Faust. The look on Erik’s face is that of pure fulfillment and happiness.

The way Michael Crawford sings “Lead me, save me from my solitude…” Tears, every time.

John Owen Jones’ “You alone can make my song take flight, it’s over now, the music of the night…” His voice is otherworldly.

… just to name a few. I could go on and on incessantly.

[Ramin+Sierra 4ever]

I'm kinda obsessed with Christine's blue dress in the musical. The one she wears in Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again. I think it's gorgeous.

[Peregrine1911]

What drew me to Erik in the first place years ago is the fact that he is unusual. I grew up in Florida, and I am old enough to remember the days when it was loaded with citrus groves, beach towns, and novelty entertainment (accompanied by numerous novelty shops). I am a sort of plain-clothes eccentric that way, and Erik himself gives new meaning to novelty on so many levels.

To paraphrase a few of Leonard Wolfs notes in his annotated book, that in many ways Erik is the personification of creativity in all of its horror, glory, humor, sadness, love, fear, and any other emotion you can mention. He can be the shadow self, or the guide during moments of grief. A few more key words in my recent encounters with Erik (inside my mind and dreams): the shadow self and catharsis.

Like others have stated, I could go on and on but I need to stop right there, at least for now.