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Show: The Phantom of the Opera
Society: Abbey Musical Society
Venue: The Forum Barrow. 28 Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire
Credits: MUSIC AND BOOK BY ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER, BASED ON THE NOVEL BY GASTON LEROUX
Type: Sardines
Author: Graham Whalan
Performance Date: 11/03/2024
The Phantom of the Opera
Graham Whalan | 13 Mar 2024 06:35am
Any re-staging of Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s masterpiece, Phantom of the Opera, by an amateur theatre company is always going to be a risk. With its legions of devoted fans, it is highly likely that everyone in the audience will have seen it before, or perhaps several times, and will therefore come with their own expectations, maybe even tinged with some anxious thoughts. How far will the budget stretch to fulfil the high production values of previous shows? Will the performers be skilful enough to display the wide operatic range required? Will a local orchestra be up to the task of reproducing the stirring score?
Having been privileged enough to be in the audience on the opening night of Abbey Musical Society’s new production, my verdict is a simple one – pitch perfect! And by that I mean everything about this production. In other words Producer Nick Collinge and Director Russell Brown pitched everything just right in terms of both tone and style. I was very taken with the expert staging and remarkable attention to detail. As we are taken down to The Phantom’s lair, for example, and later in the Graveyard, whilst the dry ice creeps menacingly across the stage, the additional lighting effects, in total coordination with the music, create exactly the right mood and atmosphere. And then of course there is the chandelier which rises dramatically at the start as the music soars, and then comes crashing down at the end of Act One – simply breathtaking in its impact.
Yes the music did indeed soar throughout, thanks to the 17 strong orchestra of talented local musicians, under the experienced baton of Angela Guntrip, as they coped professionally with the differing musical styles involved. Meanwhile the charm and grace of the ballet and dance numbers thanks to Sarah Powell’s reliable choreography were beautiful to watch. The Masquerade sequence at the start of Act Two was a real treat – a lavish spectacle indeed as the stage became filled with colour and sound, courtesy of a superb range of plush costumes, and yes, once more, a pitch perfect blend of voices.
Then we come to the principal cast. I thought Ailsa McIntosh, as Christine Daaé, was magnificent, her voice and vocal range exceptional as she took us on a journey through initial vulnerability and innocence to a mature blend of passion and pathos. She also sang with an impressive clarity, hitting insanely high notes with precision. In this she was matched by Arron Wakefield as The Phantom, who was equally able to display the wide vocal range his role required, skilfully balancing menace and threat with both tenderness and sensuality. His delivery of The Music of the Night, for example, whilst effectively rendering Christine spellbound, I’m convinced had exactly the same effect on the audience. Meanwhile Chris Barker, as Raoul, gave a competent and convincing performance, his strong vocal style befitting his role as Christine’s earnest suitor and protector.
There were also some notable performances from Joseph Atkinson and Anthony Collins as the hapless theatre managers, whose antics and constant sense of bafflement were hugely enjoyable. I also found Megan Bradley as Carlotta, and Samuel Southern as her companion, Ubaldo Piangi, a wonderful comic pairing. Her Prima Donna pomposity was very effectively supplemented by his compelling Latin histrionics – not to mention their individual vocal talents. Rachael Lewis was also a very believable Madame Giry, maintaining a commanding attitude of authority over proceedings, whilst giving us clues to her conflictual feelings about having offered The Phantom some level of protection through the years. In addition Daisy Brown played her daughter Meg very effectively, with both confidence and a good deal of charm and empathy.
So, in summary, this is indeed a production of high quality, staged by both an excellent creative team, and a hugely talented cast. As for my expectations, there were not only met, but exceeded by far. By far! Thank you to everyone involved for your obvious hard work and dedication, and for a wonderful evening’s entertainment. It’s certainly a well-deserved standing ovation from me and, since everyone around me was also on their feet at the end, from everyone else as well!