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Post by thistimetomorrow on Jul 3, 2023 14:56:19 GMT
I've not heard Charlotte, Paige, Samantha or Ellis for any of the roles mentioned
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Post by topaz on Jul 3, 2023 14:59:31 GMT
Do we know when is Cast Change? Last show for the current cast 29th July, first show for the new cast 31st July. |
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Post by Sean on Jul 3, 2023 15:10:30 GMT
Do we know when is Cast Change? Last show for the current cast 29th July, first show for the new cast 31st July. Thank You  |
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Post by theatremiss on Jul 3, 2023 17:32:37 GMT
Is Robyn’s leaving at cast change? He seems to have only just donned the mask
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Post by anthony on Jul 3, 2023 18:40:58 GMT
Is Robyn’s leaving at cast change? He seems to have only just donned the mask Nope - he has only just donned the mask, really. if you think that they had a filler Phantom prior to him (Gant and then Carpenter), so he hasn't actually completed a full run. Sad about Holly. Underrated here, I think. She performs the role effortlessly. |
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Post by A.Ham on Jul 3, 2023 21:44:55 GMT
Agreed. I saw Holly in this when I went at the end of April and thought she was fantastic.
And Jon only began his run in this at the start of April so would assume he’s signed for another 9 months with option to extend.
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Post by theatremiss on Jul 4, 2023 21:05:38 GMT
Is Robyn’s leaving at cast change? He seems to have only just donned the mask Nope - he has only just donned the mask, really. if you think that they had a filler Phantom prior to him (Gant and then Carpenter), so he hasn't actually completed a full run. Sad about Holly. Underrated here, I think. She performs the role effortlessly. I think I was just living in hope |
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Post by BVM on Jul 5, 2023 9:01:27 GMT
Carefully timed return visit to Phantom last night so I could see Job Robyns, Paige Blankson and Connor Carson (and amazingly sod's law didn't strike and all three were on as scheduled :-))
The bad - the audience! No drunks (fortunately), but the talkers, oh my God! Four tourists behind me arrived late, then spent entire first half moving, searching through bags, rustling, dropping things and talking endlessly. I can normally only ever bear to do the passive 90 degree turn for talkers as can't face confrontation but last night did the full on 180 degrees and looked them in the eyes 4 times in first half. No difference. Gave up for second. Show was sold out which pleases me muchly but did mean I couldn't even move. Also there was pockets of talking all over the stalls - it is SO frustrating - why can't people just sit still and watch in silence?
The good - everything else. It looks and sounds glorious and you can really see it has a freshness (despite being so old!) and a resident team who are taking excellent care of the show. I personally found it rather tired with some questionable casting through the late noughties and tens but it's in great health again now.
Jon Robyns is a very masculine Phantom. His voice is very strong, probably the strongest I've seen since the re-opening so the songs sound fantastic. He has less of the Phantom's funny mannerisms and tics etc which I think may not be for some of the purists but I rather like it. He reminded me a bit of the redeemed more human Phantom that Ramin was when Love Never Dies opened before ALW asked Bill's opinion who said to evil him up again. But yeah, I rather liked the likeable tenor.
Paige Blankson I already knew had a beautiful soprano having seen her in Les Mis but Cosette isn't a role you can do a huge amount with acting wise. She was really absolutely charming as Christine though. Innocent, sweet, vulnerable, nuanced. A really lovely performance. She's probably not quite as strong as Holly who is totally effortless, but she does have significantly fewer shows under her belt. Do hope she's staying after cast change as would love to see her again sometime.
And Connor is a very cute Raoul. Less of a swagger than Matt and a slightly less powerful voice but pure musical theatre with lovely pitch and tone. More of a sweet sensitive Raoul.
Overall was a great combination.
The year after this re-opened sales were so sluggish and must confess I was concerned for it's future. It's wonderful to see it selling so well now and in such good shape. And whilst I mourn the lack of traction for anything new in London sung through and romantic, at least on this side of the pond Les Mis and Phantom can still tick those boxes for me :-)
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Post by distantcousin on Jul 6, 2023 9:42:33 GMT
There are persistent rumours swirling around social media platforms that Phantom is going to announce its closure....
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Post by A.Ham on Jul 6, 2023 9:52:54 GMT
There are persistent rumours swirling around social media platforms that Phantom is going to announce its closure.... I very much hope not! As BVM has said above, sales seemed sluggish last year and it did feel at risk for a while, but more recently it’s been playing to full houses and garnering praise for a strong cast so I’m confident there’s plenty of life left in it yet 🤞🏻 |
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Post by topaz on Jul 6, 2023 10:06:36 GMT
I've heard reports of said rumours twice now and still not seen any of the rumours themselves in the wild, unless the reports can count as rumours - where are they?! (And while we're at it, where is that cast change announcement?)
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Post by BVM on Jul 6, 2023 11:09:29 GMT
There are persistent rumours swirling around social media platforms that Phantom is going to announce its closure.... Yeah you're right, I’ve also heard these ever since re-opening and they came round again when Broadway closure was announced. But it really does seem to be selling very well now so hopefully it’s fine..... |
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Post by Jon on Jul 6, 2023 11:10:28 GMT
I suspect Phantom would experience a surge in booking if they announced it was closing to the point where they probably would withdraw the notice.
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Post by demelza on Jul 6, 2023 17:26:16 GMT
Given that cast change is at the end of the month, I'd be surprised if the rumours were true. The show's been selling well, and it is at a LW theatre, so I feel like things would have to be dire for ALW to let it go
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Post by A.Ham on Jul 6, 2023 17:32:39 GMT
Plus, let’s be honest, there’s not a lot of guaranteed hits sloshing around at the moment to replace it with. CM and ALW’ll be taking the better the devil… approach I’m sure.
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42ndBlvd
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Post by 42ndBlvd on Jul 6, 2023 18:04:13 GMT
Given that cast change is at the end of the month, I'd be surprised if the rumours were true. The show's been selling well, and it is at a LW theatre, so I feel like things would have to be dire for ALW to let it go ALW has shown time and again he doesn't care about new casts who have just signed on. |
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Post by richey on Jul 6, 2023 18:04:55 GMT
If it's selling pretty well at the momemt I would think ALW would be desperate to keep it open following the flops of Cinderella and Aspects
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Post by anthony on Jul 6, 2023 18:21:37 GMT
Only thing that adds some validity to the rumours is that they stem from the same person who broke Phantom and Cinderella Broadway closing before the official announcement...
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Post by theatrefan62 on Jul 6, 2023 18:35:02 GMT
Alw doesn't have all the power, it's going to be Camerons decision more so. As we've seen before Cameron has ultimate control of the show.
And yeah new casts mean nothing, plenty of examples of casts joining then shows closing.
Even if it did announce closing I'm sure it would extend like broadway did. Even if just a few months.
I have no knowledge on whether it is or not but there's nothing we know that would suggest it wouldn't suddenly announce closure.
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Post by steve10086 on Jul 6, 2023 21:10:32 GMT
Alw doesn't have all the power, it's going to be Camerons decision more so. As we've seen before Cameron has ultimate control of the show. And yeah new casts mean nothing, plenty of examples of casts joining then shows closing. Even if it did announce closing I'm sure it would extend like broadway did. Even if just a few months. I have no knowledge on whether it is or not but there's nothing we know that would suggest it wouldn't suddenly announce closure. Why does Cameron have ultimate control? Really Useful own 55% of the production company, while CM owns 45%, with a co-production agreement stating there is no single ultimate controlling party. Do you mean that when they jointly make an unpopular decision ALW blames it all on CM? That sounds more plausible. |
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Post by BVM on Jul 6, 2023 21:48:46 GMT
Very much didn’t mean to start a rumour!
I’d heard rumours more than 6-12 months ago, not recently.
I really don’t think it is closing, it’s selling very well now!
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Post by BVM on Jul 7, 2023 11:40:56 GMT
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Post by tommy on Jul 9, 2023 19:28:01 GMT
Saw The Phantom of the Opera once again recently (after I don't know how many times in the past) and felt the current West End show is in very good shape, fresh, high quality performances (we saw James Gant as The Phantom, great singing voice). Hope this show will continue for many years, it such an iconic piece of musical theatre that one can see over and over again.
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Post by sukhavati on Jul 12, 2023 1:34:41 GMT
Very much didn’t mean to start a rumour! I’d heard rumours more than 6-12 months ago, not recently. I really don’t think it is closing, it’s selling very well now! Considering it's the ONLY sitting production of Phantom anywhere, I'd be surprised if they closed it despite full houses. Tourism is back, so hopefully the audience spreads out and shares the wealth with all the West End musicals. |
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Post by SuttonPeron on Jul 12, 2023 18:00:53 GMT
Whether we like it or not, it´s selling very well and I don´t think it´ll close anytime soon. I won´t go back, but it´s nice that tourists can see something similar to the stunning original.
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