My Phantom Journey 2013 (Part 1)

Liverpool

Liverpool has a special place in my heart.  There is something magical about the city and I always look forward to returning.  I couldn't think of seeing anything more special than see Phantom there! It also worked out that seeing Phantom was exactly a year to the date when I first saw the UK Production for the first time in Plymouth.

After my 56th (18th visit on the UK Tour) to Phantom!

Pierhead and Empire Theatre, Liverpool

On arrival in Liverpool I met up with my friends, Leni and Sabine whom I had the pleasure spending time with whilst in the city.  We stayed in Albert Dock, an ideal base for the sights and attractions even if it was bit of a walk to and from the railway station and the Empire Theatre!

It was great checking out the sights around Albert Dock. Sabine and I spent a morning at the Merseyside Maritime Museum and we visited the 'Titanic and Liverpool - The Untold Story' Exhibition.  I always wanted to see the exhibition and was glad to have taken the opportunity.  The exhibition was a powerful, emotive and moving exhibition which displayed real life stories of those who were on the Titanic.  I was close to tears and in all an excellent exhibition!  A rare comfort I learnt there were no cats on the ship but still very tragic in all other perspectives.  It affected Liverpool profoundly because the Titanic was registered in the city and a lot of the crew were Liverpool residents.  We also saw the permanent exhibition of the other doomed ships, Lusistania and Empress of Ireland.  

Leni spent her time at the Beatles Story Museum which she enjoyed. In all it was a good morning for our musuem fix.  After our fix we had a wander on Pierhead and saw some of the sights connected to the Titanic such as St James's House, the former White Star Line Office, and the Titanic Monument which was built in honour and memory of the engineer room staff hereos who lost their lives when the ship sank.

Dawn just about to visit the Exhibition at the Merseyside Maritime Museum

 St James's House and Titanic Memorial, Liverpool

Sabine & Leni enjoying their Flat Whites at the Pierhead Ferry Terminal Cafe

The first evening I saw the Les Mis movie at Liverpool One's Odeon whilst Leni and Sabine had their Phantom fix at the Empire Theatre.  I was tempted to see Phantom but decided to see Les Mis again the cinema instead.  Loved the movie even more on my 4th visit and now looking forward to the DVD.

 

Odeon Cinema, Liverpool One

Albert Dock, Liverpool at Night

I have been waiting to see Phantom in Liverpool since booking my ticket in June 2012.  The evening arrived and we braved the wet and cold weather to reach the Empire Theatre.  I was very pleased with my front row ticket. I never sat front row stalls seat for Phantom before so this was a first! Apart from not seeing their feet, the stage was high, I had a great close up view of the performers.

On my 56th visit (my 18th visit of the tour) we had most of the principals on including Earl Carpenter, Simon Bailey, Angela Cesar and we had Olivia Brereton as Christine (6th time seeing her on the tour).  I was even more moved by Earl's and Olivia's portrayals of Phantom and Christine respectively especially during Music of the Night when Christine offered the mask back to The Phantom.

After the show we braved the cold and did the usual stage door rituals.  We managed to catch Earl briefly and Sabine took a photo of me with him.  It was great to catch up with most of the cast especially Angela and Olivia.  Olivia and I were recalling when we met last time which was in Leeds on the evening of when we had the evacuation!  I missed David Phipps-Davies as he was on holiday but look forward to seeing him in Birmingham.  It was also great to catch up with Petra again, whom I met last year in Edinburgh, and we all took some friendship photos after the rituals.

Phantom in the City!

Me with Olivia Brereton (Alt. Christine), Empire Theatre Stage Door, Liverpool

Me with Angela Cesar (Carlotta), Empire Theatre Stage Door, Liverpool

Leni, Sabine and Me at Empire Theatre Stage Door, Liverpool

On the Saturday morning I bid farewell to Leni and Sabine who were continuing their Phantom adventures in London and I made my way to Liverpool Central Sation for a train to Port Sunlight on the Wirral Pennisula.  I always wanted to visit Port Sunlight, a preserved historic village and famed for the production of Sunlight Soap (now part of Unilever).  The founder of Sunlight soap and philanthrophist, William Lever, chose the village for his soap production and his workers.

Port Sunlight Village

I spent a few hours admiring the historic buildings and preserved landscapes.  I enjoyed visiting Port Sunlight Village Museum including Lever's vision in providing more than work for his employees and its fascinating how his social vision influenced greatly future generations.

Before returning to Liverpool I paid a visit to Lady Lever Art Gallery which was founded by Lever and I enjoyed mooching around and specially enjoyed The Lever the Collector display.  I was inspired by what Lever said that 'Art can be to everyone an inspiration.  It is within the realm of all of us...' (Lever, 1922, Lever Art Gallery)

It was a pity it rained during my visit but it didn't spoilit for me.  I would love to return in the summer and enjoy the village's landscape in bloom.  In all it was a good day and return to Liverpool happy.  Before catching my train home I met up with Annie, Kathy, Olaf and again Petra for a coffee after they saw Phantom.  It was nice chatting about Phantom and sharing our unequited love for our favourite show! 

This trip was full of happy memories and hope these will continue on on future travels.  Next and final stop of the Phantom UK Tour....Birmingham!

Petra, Annie, Kathy and Me outside the Empire Theatre, Liverpool

Fond memories of Liverpool and Phantom!

A Great, Phantastic & Wicked London Visit!

I arrived in London on Friday afternoon and went to see Great Expectations at the Vaudeville Theatre in the evening.  I thoroughly enjoyed the play and here's my review about it:

 Great Expectations at the Vaudeville Theatre, London

Saturday morning saw for me queuing for day tickets for Wicked at Apollo Victoria with James.  Afterwards I had a catch up and tea with James at Victoria Railway Station before making my way to the West End where I met up with friends whom I was planning to see The Phantom of the Opera matinee with.  

 Wicked at The Apollo Victoria

Me and the Girls ready for Phantom!

Per usual, the show was fantastic as ever!!!  The amazing cast keeps on improving in the show and they are growing on me including the understudies.  Marcus Lovett (Phantom) has improved a lot more from when I saw him in January.  His Music of The Night was amazing and you could tell his desire, as the phantom, to have Christine was so strong and this was so moving! His other acts were amazing and he just simply recreates The Final Lair! The chemistry between Marcus and Sofia Escobar (Christine) gets better and better!  I was moved to tears with both of them throughout from the beginning to the end! I left the theatre wanting more! And to see it again and again!  I'm planning another trip in April (My 56th or 57th visit!). I'm hoping he's on again but I'll be very happy with Scotty (Scott Davies) (Standby Phantom) another favourite Phantom of mine, if he isn't.

 

Nicola Rutherford (Understudy Carlotta) and I, Her Majesty's Theatre Stage Door

 Me and the Girls with Marcus Lovett (Phantom), Her Majesty's Theatre Stage Door

 After Her Majesty's Theatre Stage Door rituals we and the girls parted company and said our goodbyes.  I then joined my other friends, Lizzie and Sophia, and we made our way to Victoria for dinner. Lizzie then went home and Sophia and I joined James and for Wicked which is another amazing musical.  This was my 2nd time and I enjoyed it even more.  We met Gina Beck (Glinda) and Michelle Pentecost (Standby Elphaba and an excellent one!) at Stage Door afterwards.  Then we all parted ways for home and, for me, my hotel.  It was nice returning to the hotel on a high!  

James and I during the interval at Wicked

 Gina Beck (Glinda) and I at Apollo Victoria Stage Door

Michelle Pentecost (Standby Elphaba) and I at Apollo Victoria Stage Door

I'm looking forward to my next trip to London which should likely to be in April. It's nice sharing similar journeys with like minded people who share how I feel about seeing shows especially Phantom of the Opera and a favourite Phantom!  As well see a lot of Phantom in 2013, I also want to see a number of National Theatre productions too such as Othello, One Man Two Guvnors (again), The War Horse (again) and The Curious Incident of The Missing Dog in The Night Time.

 Now waiting for my next London Phantom adventure in April!

Having Great Expectations!

Since watching the Great Expectations movie starring Jeremy Irvine, Helena Bonham Carter, Holliday Grainger and Ralph Fiennes last year, I have been inspired to read the novel again.  I have read the novel before but I wasn't moved and in all honesty I then wasn't a fan of Charles Dickens.

However, being a Humanities graduate, my attitudes have changed towards approaching literature whether it's a classic or contemporary works.  I decided to approach Great Expectations from a humanities perspective such as the characters and their life journey amidst the society and its systems that were then in place.  Each character in the novel are of such contrast to one another and this enhances the classic.  Reading the novel the second time was much more enjoyable.  I appreciated the characters a lot more and learnt more of its social history at the time Charles Dickens had written the book.

I learnt of the stage version, adapted by Jo Clifford, at the end of last year.  Clifford had begun putting plans to adapt the play since 1988 and it had opened in Glasgow in May that year.  It subsequently did a tour around the UK and some of the countries in the Commonwealth.  

Following further rewrites of Great Expectations including the current London production presented by Beckman Union which opened on 1st February 2013.  There was a gala performance on 7th February which was live streamed to selected UK cinemas.  I had an opportunity to see it in Leeds but I decided not to in the end as I was seeing it that following evening (8th February 2013)!  

I knew, according to reviews, that the adaptation would be very different to what one would expect of the production.  It isn't a play that you can follow literally and a change of approach is essential in order to appreciate it.  It is important to focus on the characters and what they had to face in society at the time in order to accomplish their goals and expectations. The London production is presented to coincide with the celebrations of the International Dickens Bicentenary.

I was reading up the write up Jo Clifford did for the house programme I bought and the characters in the classic (or other Charles Dickens's classics) can apply to a variety of individuals in modern day society who are trying to accomplish their goals and having high hopes for the world to be a better place for themselves.  Clifford concluded, which I agree with wholeheartedly, that appreciating Charles Dickens will 'help strengthen and our personal hopes and expectations of a better world' (Clifford, 2012).

On to the play! To my delight I've got an upgrade to the Dress Circle even if I couldn't help being concerned about the attendance at that evening's performance and having to close the Grand Circle.  I expressed my concern to one of the ushers and she said that they are in the midst of promoting the play more widely.  I just hope it will attract more people to book and see the play.

 *Please note my review may have some spoilers and it's exclusively subjective*

What I liked about the play was all the action happened in one room, Miss Havisham's room in Satis House.  This for me meant less distraction and more focus on the characters themselves.  This made my approach to the play a lot easier.

I like how the Older Pip (Paul Nivison) narrates the story and the relevant characters appear on stage as and when the story told with the relevant actions.  The story's dialogues and the interaction of the characters worked well together and it flowed nicely.  I particularly loved the cast especially Paula Wilcox (Miss Havisham), Grace Rowe (Estella), Isabelle Joss (Mrs Joe), James Vaugham (Wapole/Wemmick) and Chris Ellison (Magwitch).  I also love the wit and humour from the characters of Jaggers (Jack Ellison).  In all it was an excellent first class casting!

I love the stage design set up and its props.  The lighting was incredible and interacted nicely with the stage.  I loved the music score which was played before the opening of Act one and during the performance.

Overall it was an excellent play and well received by the audiences.  I do highly recommend it and the booking of the production is until June.  Here is the official website.  I really hope it does well and subsequently extends in the West End.  I'll endeavour to promote the production to my theatre going friends and via Twitter.  I've just learnt that one of my best friends has booked to see the production. So good all round so far.

A big thanks to the creative and productions team and the play is supported by The Dickens Legacy.









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Les Miserables – the movie!

Les Mis at The Leeds Light Vue

Me seeing Les Mis for the 2nd time!

Waiting in Anticipation?

I waited in anticipation for Les Miserables to be released in UK cinemas on the 11th January 2013.  I wasn’t happy about other countries such as the USA and Australia having the movie before the UK.  After all quite a lot of the filming had been done in our country and Europe!  I persevered the spoilers the US fans posted on Twitter and friends who personally told me about the movie.

Despite the feelings I have to say it was one of the best movies I’ve ever seen.  I was impressed how Tom Hooper directed the movie.  He is certainly a very talented director I’ll look out for future movies directed by him.  He knows how the musical ticks and both the scenes and musical numbers were of the perfect co-ordination and choreography!

This is strictly an analysis of what my thoughts of the movie are and not a descriptive account.  Many of my friends have seen Les Miserables on stage and already know the story and synopsis.  There is no need to repeat this and I highly recommend seeing either the musical on stage or the movie if anyone hasn’t yet seen it.  It’s a musical where you’ll have to form your judgement and opinions from firsthand experience and not through hearsay!

Here is a summary of my thoughts (Please note these are subjective).  The most outstanding performance that stood out for me was Anne Hathaway (Fantine) and Hugh Jackman (Valjean).  I was especially moved by Anne Hathaway’s Fantine when she sang ‘I Dreamed A Dream’.  I love the overall performance of Hugh Jackman and his talented acting and singing made the role of Jean Valjean perfect.

As for Russell Crowe, his singing didn’t impress me and I felt he was talking through the music than singing!  However I loved his acting and his presence in the movie was perfect for Javert.  I also loved Samantha Barks (Eponine), Eddie Redmayne (Marius) and Aaron Tveit (Enjolras).  I wasn’t moved much by Amanda Seyfried (Cosette) I’m afraid to say.  I’m not keen on the role of Cosette in the musical generally so maybe this could be the reason why I feel the way I do about Amanda’s portrayal.  I don’t know.  I loved it when Samantha Barks sang ‘On My Own’ where I was moved emotively by Eponine’s feelings and desires about her life journey and Marius.  

It was nice to see a number of notable West End Performers starring in the movie such as Colm Wilkinson (Bishop of Digne) and Killian Donnelly (Combeferre).  

It was great to learn that the movie itself, Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway have won Golden Globes Awards on the 13^th January 2013.  My conclusion on the movie: Wow! Great movie with great casting!

Regular visitor to the movie?

I made a second trip to the movie the following week (18th January 2013) and took my friend, Debbie, with me.  I was even more moved than the first time!  I managed to spot Fra Fre (Courfeyrac) and Hadley Fraser (Army General of the National Guard) on this occasion. Next time, I will try and look out for more musical theatre performers!  Debbie and I were crying at different stages during the movie.  We were so emotional after ths show that we had pop in the nearby Cafe Rouge for some red wine so we can be calme and composed for making our journey homes haha! What a good start to 2013 so far! Here is more visits to the Les Miserables movie!

Debbie and I having after movie drinks! Perfect!

Please feel free to share any thoughts with me about the movie whether you have seen it or if you’re planning to see it.  I’ve tried to make the movie review spoiler free as possible so this is why I’ve not mentioned how the musical is arranged in the movie and not go into any detail of what exactly happens!

London Start to 2013

Covent Gardens, London

Trafalgar Squure, London

The National Gallery, London

A Fountain at Trafalgar Square, London

I travelled down to London with mixed emotions after having a rubbish New Year.  I was anxious to begin 2013 with something I enjoy doing! I can't think of anything more pleasurable than seeing The Phantom of the Opera, my first show of 2013!  It couldn't be any better! I also booked to see Chariots of Fire which worked out well because I booked it on the day the production closed. The producers moved the closure date forward which meant the 5th January 2013 was the last day of the production.  I considered myself lucky or I would have left it too late.

Marcus Lovett and Sofia Escober in the Production Posters, Her Majesty;s Theatre

The Phantom of the Opera

After experimenting with my new camera around Trafalgar Square and Her Majesty's Theatre I made my 54th visit to Phantom on the first evening.  I was happy and very relieved to see Marcus Lovett performing this evening as the Phantom after having been intrigued with his portrayal and him as a person for so long.  We had Sofia Escobar as Christine and Simon Thomas as Raoul.  Lara Martin was ill so we had Nicola Rutherford as the understudy for Carlotta and who I enjoyed.  I was especially looking forward to seeing Marcus!

I was amazed with Marcus as the Phantom! The emotive and human interpretation he puts in the role amazes me! His performance throughout was mind blowing and is now my very favourite Phantom! I thoroughly enjoyed Sofia as Christine and she was the best I've seen her perform and also enjoyed the wonderful current cast.  

As usual I went to Stage Door and managed to briefly chat with Si Shorten (Swing and Understudy Phantom), Gareth Snook (Monsieur Andre) and Simon Thomas (Raoul).  I've got my programme signed by Sofia and I had another photo taken with her.  The moment eventually came when Marcus came out...he is the nicest person I ever met at Stage Door and it was such a delight to meet him in person!  He signed all my things and we had photos taken.  We were able to have a nice chat about the show and he was interested in my journey as a Phantom Phan.  In all it was a lovely stage door experience and one of the best! He even tweeted that it was a pleasure to meet me and congratulated me on my BA degree.  I was so moved by his Phantom and also him as an individual.  It has taken me 19 years, 54 performances and 16 phantoms to finally have a Favourite Phantom!  I couldn't go straight back to the hotel so I stopped at a late night cafe and celebrated my happiness and giddyness with tea and cheesecake!

Sofia Escobar (Christine) and Dawn at Her Majesty's Theatre Stage Door

Marcus Lovett (My Fave Phantom) and Dawn at Her Majesty's Theatre Stage Door

The Chariots of Fire

The following day, after a lie in, I was too excited to sleep from a phantastic time I had the night before.  I was especially looking forward spending the day catching up with like minded friends and seeing the matinee performance of Chariots of Fire.  After having breakfast and checking out I headed into the West End.

I met up with Lisa at Leicester Square where were able to have a catch up and also James who joined us for lunch.  Afterwards we made our separate ways to our respective shows. Lisa was seeing Les Miserables and James was seeing Privates on Parade.

Lisa and I enjoy drinks at Costa, Leicester Square

Lisa, James and I having lunch at Pizza Express, Covent Gardens

I walked with Lisa because our theatres were next door to each other and I met up with Jeanette at the Gielgud Theatre.  We had a coffee at the Dress Circle Bar before the show.  The theatre is beautiful and intimate and I love its ambiance.  The Dress Circle Bar has a balustrade where you can look down the theatre's foyer. We sat in the dress circle slips where we had a good view of the stage even if restricted from the right side of the stage.  It didn't matter as we saw the main action on the stage throughout.

Chariots of Fire Advertisement

Chariots of Fire at the Guilgud Theatre, London

Well, Chariots of Fire is such a lovely and moving stage production.  Everyone knows the famous Vangelis music - which is such a moving musical score in its own right.  I loved how the movie is interpreted on stage (considering I usually have reservations about movies being interpreted on stage).  I felt very moved and inspired with the storyline about two runners' quests and determinate to succeed at the 1924 Olympics amidst facing barriers and challenges from the society around them. It's a shame it has now closed and I do hope it returns to the stage some day whether in London or on tour in the not too distant future

Afterwards we met the principal actors, Jack Lowden (Eric Liddell) and James McArdle (Harold Abraham) at Stage Door.  We also met up with Sophia and again Lisa.  Jeanette, Lisa and I had a drink near Her Majesty's theatre, where Jeanette was seeing Phantom that evening.  I caught up with Sophia afterwards for a bit.  The time came when we had to part company.  After collecting my luggage from my hotel I got my train back to Leeds.  What an amazing whirlwind couple of days it was! Another great London adventure with a lot of highlights!

Sophia, Jeanette and Lisa at Gielgud Theatre Stage Door

Leicester Square, London

I plan to be back in London next month for some great, phantastic and wicked times! I'm excited to meet up with more friends and share some potential highlights of 2013!