The Phantom of the Opera
Directed by Harold Prince
Ford Centre for the Performing Arts (Vancouver)
April 30-August 31, 1997
THE SENSATIONAL PETER
KARRIE DELIGHTS VANCOUVER AUDIENCES WITH A MAGNIFICENT
PERFORMANCE
Peter Karrie's powerful and sensational performance as the Opera "ghost"
in Phantom of the Opera gave a full-house audience here in Vancouver
a show they will never forget! His charisma and stage presence kept the audience
in awe throughout the performance. This extraordinary London West
End/International singing star has portrayed the lead role of The Phantom
for over two years in Toronto at Livent's historic Pantages Theatre, as well
as the London West End staging. He was also on tour in Singapore and Hong
Kong.
This Andrew Lloyd Webber/Harold Prince international hit, in the words of
Livent Inc. Chairman and CEO, Garth H. Drabinsky, was meant for the "very
intimate nature and proportions of the Ford Centre in Vancouver because of
the emotions, romance, and spectacular staging" that go with this production.
And indeed, the spectacle that was the hallmark of The Phantom of the
Opera mesmerized us, the spectators, with the chandelier you'd think
would fall over our heads, or the pyrotechniques that felt like almost burning
the stage, and naturally, the sensation of the underground river where the
Phantom takes Christine to his secret hiding place.
The Phantom of the Opera is based on the classic novel by Gaston Leroux,
and tells the story of the deformed Phantom lurking beneath the stage of
the Paris Opera terrorizing all its occupants. He falls desperately in love
with a young soprano, Christine Daae (Teresa de Zarn), and devotes himself
to making her a star. However, a rival, the young and handsome Raoul, Vicomte
de Chagny (Kip Wilborn) comes in his way. At the end, the human side of the
Phantom gives way, and he surrenders Christine to him.
The very touching last scene when Christine kisses the disfigured Phantom
to thank him, followed by his painful aria "Music of the Night" as he hears
the two lovers singing "All I ask of you" was truly moving. These two songs
leave you humming hours after the show.
This magnificent musical is a show that should not be missed. The actors,
the production, the venue--all these make The Phantom of the Opera
the box office hit it has been for years.
--E.Farolan