Photo by Johanna Siegmann
Reviewed by Lovell Estell III
Los Angeles Theatre Center
Through Dec. 13
If nothing else, this production is an extraordinarily ambitious undertaking by Vox Lumiere and creator/composer/director Kevin Saunders Hayes. However, the final product bears the unmistakable imprint of artistic overreach.
In essence, it’s a mini rock-opera inspired by a popular stage musical that was inspired by a film, that was inspired by a book. It’s a gangly fusion of music, dance, techno frills and cinema, performed on a scaffold stage with an enormous screen as a background. The screen serves well for the viewing of the much revered silent film of 1925 with Lon Chaney doing the honors as the deranged, love-smitten opera ghost.
The problem is twofold: The “simul,” format is extreme sensory overload, and the movie is often far more engaging than the dancers — or anything else happening onstage; most of the time, there is a noticeable, sometimes jarring disconnect between the film and stage narrative, so much so that it boggles the mind to imagine what this show would be like without the film as a backdrop.
James Lynch is passable as the Phantom. On the upside, the singing is good, particularly that of Marisa Johnson and Victoria Levy in the role of Christine. Natalie Willes choreography is superb, while Sharell Martin garners mention for an oddly spectacular array of costumes.
Vox Lumiere at Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., Dwntwn.; Fri, 8 p.m. (Oct, 10; Nov., 21; Dec.12.); Sat., 8 p.m. (Oct. 11; Nov. 22; Dec. 13). (844) VOX-ROCK, www.voxlumiere.com
