Isaiah Bailey and Jordan Lee Gilbert (Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman)
Reviewed by F. Kathleen Foley
Hollywood Pantages Theatre
Through August 9th
RECOMMENDED
Daniel Lopez and Jordan Lee Gilbert (Photo courtesy of The Nederlander Organization)
On the opening night of Phantom of the Opera, the lobby at the Hollywood Pantages resembled a festival. Celebratory fans queued up in long lines to purchase merch, from t-shirts to totes to the iconic half-masks that have become the instantly recognizable emblem for this iconic work. As for the performance, the roaring approbation of the crowd frequently stopped the show. Those ecstatic reactions were well warranted.
Debuting in London in 1986, Phantom was forced to close during the pandemic in 2020 but reopened in a scaled down and “revitalized” 2021 production that is still running. On Broadway, it ran for 35 years before closing in 2023, still a record for the longest run in Broadway history.
The reimagined London production, now part of a multi-year North American tour, is playing at the Pantages until August 9th. Miss it at your peril.
No mere musical, Phantom is a full-fledged theatrical phenomenon that has inspired generations with its florid romanticism and dream score by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe. The book, by Webber and Stilgoe, is based Gaston Leroux’s 1910 French novel, Le Fantôme de l’Opera.
Of course, some of the most famous effects have, of necessity, been scaled down for the tour. The subterranean canoes, gliding through the mists underneath the opera house, seem more meandering than atmospheric. And instead of crashing onto the stage, the famous chandelier just plummets a few yards, but it shoots off such a satisfying barrage of sparks that the spectacle more than compensates for the modification.
Those are negligible changes in a dazzling whole. Chrissie Cartwright is credited for adapting Gillian Lynne’s original choreography, while Matt Kinley adapted the set design, although Maria Björnson’s spectacular original sets and costumes —a study in sheer stagecraft — remain largely intact. Sadly, Lynne, Björnson, and original director Hal Prince, have all passed away since the musical’s inception, but their historical contribution is honored in this extraordinary production.
Inspired by Prince’s original staging, director Seth Sklar-Heyn addresses the challenges of this dizzyingly complicated production with few hitches (although the blaring orchestra needs to be toned down for the “Music of the Night” number, which drowned out the vocals).
As one who has seen several Phantoms, including Michael Crawford’s, I can report that Isaiah Bailey’s performance in the role is a revelation. He’s an actor for the ages, a virtuosic singer who can hold a note past the point of no return. It’s difficult to imagine that anyone will ever surpass his heart-breaking and definitive turn, which must be seen. Gorgeously voiced Jordan Lee Gilbert plays Christine with a dancerly grace that elevates the evening, while Daniel Lopez is a serviceably engaging Raoul.
More than four decades after its premiere, Phantom of the Opera remains one of the greatest of theatrical experiences. This touring production honors that legacy, reminding us why the masked and pitiable Phantom continues to haunt the Paris Opera House — and our imaginations.
Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; Check website for schedule; thru Aug. https://www.broadwayinhollywood.com/buy 2 hours, 30 minutes with intermission.
