The Phantom of the Opera

[Sammy Boy]

Being somewhat uncultured and only interested in very "kiddy" stuff (action figures, toys, etc.), this was the last thing I wanted to watch, either as a film or on the stage.

However my wife convinced me and I watched both the film and the live stage performance.

I have to say I now have a newfound appreciation for this type of entertainment (but I still don't know enough about it obviously to know what it is called, it is a musical, a play, or a combination?).

[Sheenar]

Phantom is one of my favorite musicals (I have yet to see it live). Glad that you got to see it! Andrew Lloyd Webber is a genius at making musicals (though some of his musicals I have problems with --like Jesus Christ Superstar--but he had other good ones --like Evita and Cats).

I hope this positive experience with the theater will encourage you to continue seeing musicals (and regular theater too). If you get the opportunity, see Les Miserables --it's my favorite and it has an amazing story and awesome music.

[Radical Dreamer]

Oh, I LOVE Phantom of the Opera! I would absolutely love to see it on stage, but I haven't had that chance yet. XD It's one of my favorite musicals, though, along with My Fair Lady and Wicked (which can't count 100% 'cause I've never seen a stage performance for that, either! One day, one day! XD). Andrew Llyold Webber IS a musical genius, and I'd love to see more of his musicals--Evita looks especially interesting.

[Quote=Sheenar]If you get the opportunity, see Les Miserables --it's my favorite and it has an amazing story and awesome music.[/Quote]

Oh man, I want to see Les Mis so much. XD It's becoming one of my favorite books, and I adore the story (the movie with Liam Neeson and Geoffrey Rush is also epic), and I've heard a few songs from the play. It makes me want to see it so much! XD

[Gypsy]

You're going to love Les Mis the musical when you see it, trust me. "On My Own" will be stuck in your head for days.

Although it's a bit out there, Into the Woods is pretty amazing too. Bernadette Peters as an old witch was just classic.

[termyt]

The Phantom of the Opera is a very good piece. Lloyd Weber certainly has a flair for the dramatic.

I’m a big fan of musical theater – some of the best cinema ever crafted are musicals – My Fair Lady, The King and I, Fiddler on the Roof, Singing in the Rain…

I’m glad you enjoyed it – it certainly is different in the theater, yes?

I hope this opens you up to the greater genre. Check out something by Rogers and Hammerstein next like The King and I or South Pacific.

[KagayakiWashi]

Although they're probably a considered more "operetta" than "musical", I suggest you check out some of Gilbert and Sullivan's stuff like "The Pirates of Penzance", "HMS Pinafore", "The Mikado", "Iolanthe" and "Patience". That was what got me into the interest in the stage and they're great comdies with super catchy tunes.

[GeneD]

I've seen Phantom of the Opera live and it was brilliant, I actually haven't seen the movie and I'm not sure that I would want to.

I'm not really huge in to stage entertainment, mostly because of the price, but I've also seen The Lion King on stage and that was excellent too.

[Sheenar]

Oh, I LOVE Phantom of the Opera! I would absolutely love to see it on stage, but I haven't had that chance yet. XD It's one of my favorite musicals, though, along with My Fair Lady and Wicked

My Fair Lady is one of my favorites too! (I own the movie with Audrey Hepburn). My friend Devorah's dream is to play Eliza Doolittle!

I saw Wicked in Houston a couple of years ago. It was awesome! I loved the whole thing!

[GhostontheNet]

Being somewhat uncultured and only interested in very "kiddy" stuff (action figures, toys, etc.), this was the last thing I wanted to watch, either as a film or on the stage.

However my wife convinced me and I watched both the film and the live stage performance.

I have to say I now have a newfound appreciation for this type of entertainment (but I still don't know enough about it obviously to know what it is called, it is a musical, a play, or a combination?).

The collector and his toys, eh? Somehow I think I can empathize with the sentiment, particularly when I have a dragon puppet hanging on top of the computer screen I'm writing on. Take courage: if even the Frankenstein monster could start Puttin' On the Ritz and getting cultured, so can you. Personally, I too absolutely loved the film version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, which besides having some truly brilliant singing and acting, was also a shot for shot remake of the silent horror film classic The Phantom of the Opera starring Lon Chaney. On that note, besides the fine suggestions of the others, I would recommend you check out Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, which I think you will enjoy immensely.

[RobinSena]

The Phantom is quite an awesome play/story. I saw it on stage nearly 5 years ago, and it was very enjoyable.

[Kairi]

As much as I love the movie, it's hard to beat seeing Phantom live. I went to the musical when I was in London last year -- it was amazing, and the old theater where they performed really added to the atmosphere.

Hopefully, that won't be the last one I see. ^^; Wicked, The Lion King, Cats, and so on... I'm sure they'd all be entertaining!

[joshua8416]

the phantom of the opera and my fair lady are the best
but you can't forget the king and i

[Scarecrow]

I love musicals but I just wish they had better music I don't care for that theatrical sounding type of stuff. I loooved Moulin Rouge though. I wish they would make more musicals with different styles of music rather than the same ol broadway sound. I only saw PoO movie and it was ok. Loved the style. Music not so much. Tim Burtons Sweeny Todd is amazing too. But I really had to watch it a few times before I could digest the songs very well.

Wicked was a step in the right direction IMO as far as musical style. I'm gonna go see that next month in LA. My ultimate dream though would be some Gothic Melodic Metal-Opera type musical. Metal music, theatrics, gothic atmosphere *sigh* amazing. A theatrical play using Kamelot's concept albums, Epica and The Black Halo, would be something to die for.

[Sammy Boy]

Hmm, I am tempted to buy a copy of Les Miserables and read it now. I understand it's considered a classic.

But at the moment I am read Ursula's The Earthsea Quartet, so it will have to wait.

The collector and his toys, eh? Somehow I think I can empathize with the sentiment, particularly when I have a dragon puppet hanging on top of the computer screen I'm writing on. Take courage: if even the Frankenstein monster could start Puttin' On the Ritz and getting cultured, so can you. Personally, I too absolutely loved the film version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, which besides having some truly brilliant singing and acting, was also a shot for shot remake of the silent horror film classic The Phantom of the Opera starring Lon Chaney. On that note, besides the fine suggestions of the others, I would recommend you check out Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, which I think you will enjoy immensely.

Somehow I have the feeling you are more widely read and cultured than I am (not to flatter you or to say you do not collect anything, of course).

Is Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street considered to be horror? I am a bit of a wuss, horror doesn't suit me.

[Scarecrow]

Meh... its more like a horror/comedy. The movie isn't scary but it is gory (not nearly as bad as everyone made it out to be though). Its more of a "cartoonish" and overly stylized type of blood though so even if you're squeamish, it shouldn't bother you too much I wouldn't think. (I've known quite a few people who hate gore/horror but really had no problem with this)

[ADXC]

Sorry for gravedigging this you guys, but I don't want to make another thread.

I went to NYC for my Senior trip this week and saw The Phantom of the Opera as a Broadway play and I have to say it is one of the BEST things that I have ever seen. I wish I could see it again in NYC with my family sometime. Gotta love that music and singing! Andrew Lloyd Webber was a genius.