CMU School of Drama


Thursday, April 06, 2023

The House Where Phantom Lived.  Part II - Her Majesty’s Theatre, London.

The Theatre Times: Аn Exclusive Interview with James Paterson who was part of the original cast of the legendary musical The Phantom of the Opera, later on, the resident director at Her Majesty’s Theatre on West End for 10 years straight, one of the respectable Phantoms. James, also a musical theatre and vocal instructor, gave an exclusive interview to his former student – Lisa Monde, dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the musical.

1 comment:

Jordan Pincus said...

This article was a fascinating read. I enjoyed it so much as a Phantom fan. I have always been interested in the transitions and differences between London and Broadway shows. I didn’t know Phantom was so different in London! “Letters” is actually one of, if not my favorite scene in Phantom, and it was so interesting to hear that it wasn’t necessarily intended to be played for humor, since that was how I always knew it. I guess it makes sense that this choice would suit American audiences more than British. You know, it always feels like things are just better in London. I really like the choice of the auction being slower. I do agree that it feels rushed on Broadway. You need the anticipation for the chandelier… and moreover, if you don’t know what’s coming then it’s even more jarring. I’m not sure if it is intended for you to distinctly recognize Raoul from the start, or if that’s something you should be gleaning by the end.