Manchester
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| Palace Theatre, Manchester |
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| Me at Palace Theatre, Manchester |
On my first visit, in April 2012, I went
across to Manchester for the day. I met
up with Rob and we hung around at Stage Door and we got to say hi to a number
of cast members including John Owen Jones.
I was especially happy to meet Angela M Cesar (Carlotta) and had a nice
catch up. She is becoming one of my favourite Carlottas. We also met Karen, a big John Owen Jones
fan, who was seeing the same performance as us and we were able to discuss and share
our love for one of my favourite phantoms.
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| Inside Palace Theatre |
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| Me and Angela M Cesar (Carlotta) |
Rob and I had a quick drink/snack at nearby
Caffe Nero’s before catching the matinee show.
Despite my very uncomfortable seat I thoroughly enjoyed the performance
and my appreciation for the production continues to grow. Rob wanted to meet more cast members so we
hung around stage door afterwards. I got
to meet Liesel Dowsett (Dance Captain and who I saw perform in a previous
Phantom UK Tour) and Olivia Brereton (Alternative Christine and who I saw as Christine
at the performance). Rob managed to meet
who he wanted to meet so we settled down for a nice meal at nearby Pizza
Express. Afterwards we went our separate
ways for our train home.
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| Me and Olivia Breeton (Alt Christine) |
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| Me and Rob at nearby Pizza Express, Manchester |
My long time friend, Liz, came up from
South to spend the weekend with me in Manchester. She is a big Phantom and Love Never Dies Phan
and was curious to see the new production.
I met her at Manchester Piccadilly Station as I arrived earlier before we had lunch
and settled into our hotel near the Palace Theatre. I showed Lizzie the sights of Manchester via
the Rochdale Canal and the backstreets.
Lizzie saw a fair bit although we were disappointed to see the
Manchester Wheel was no more.
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| Liz and I in Missoula's, Manchester |
Manchester Sights (From Left)
Photos 1 & 2 Rochdale Canal
Photos 3 National Football Museum
Photos 4 Busy Historic Quarter, Manchester
We returned to the hotel to
rest before the show and to learn that John Owen Jones was ill and would not be
performing at the performance that evening. I was disappointed for Liz but I was
intrigued with Richard Woodford (Understudy Phantom) who was going to debut as
Phantom. We were in the Gods and I
probably sat in the most uncomfortable seats with more or less no leg room and
the view was of a vertigo issue (I do not even suffer from it!). I do not think the glass of prosecco I had
helped lol. I enjoyed Woody’s performance
as Phantom and he did a great job considering it was his debut that
evening. I hope he will have more
opportunities to put on the mask at future performances. Liz was impressed with the production and the
new impressive souvenir brochure came out so I was able to purchase one.
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