Melanie's picture of the Majestic

Melanie and I sat in a box for this show, and while it was fun to be in a box, it would have been more fun if a) we would have looked like we belonged in a box (rain does not agree with us!), and b) we could actually see what was going on! The view was not the best. However, it's not as if I've never seen this show before! :-) So I still enjoyed it quite a bit. The overture was fabulous as always. Madame Giry was rather animated throughout the show...it was a very different interpretation, and though I did enjoy it at certain points (particularly "Yes, you did well...he would be pleased. And you...you were a disgrace!"), for the most part I think I prefer the traditional interpretation.

Adrienne McEwan was a decent Christine...I hadn't noticed in the program that she did Monday nights, so I was a little confused when she first came out...I was just like, "That's not Sandra!" :-) And Gary Mauer was a decent Raoul...as I've said time and again, it's going to take a whole lot to impress me with Raoul. :-)

Hugh Panaro as the Phantom...I was kind of torn. On the one hand, he's got a lovely tenor voice, and acted the part fairly well, though I thought he went a little bit too crazy in the final scene. On the other hand, he *is* a tenor, and, as stupid as this sounds, was just too pretty for the part! :-) And though the Erik of the book may have been rather delicate, I've just always imagined him to be a little more physically impressive. At any rate, I did enjoy the show a lot, particularly the final scene, as always. Oh, and the fact that we were sitting at the perfect angle to see Hugh on the angel during the rooftop scene, so I didn't have to watch "All I Ask of You" at all! :-) Read Melanie's review.

Gary Mauer's autograph (Don't ask me why I didn't get a picture...I don't know