Hiii, saw Masquerade today at 1:30pm! I had Sean Seamus Thompson on for Phantom and Claire Leyden on for Christine. Here are my thoughts and feelings as well as any interactions I had. It might not be super detailed as I did have a slight migraine throughout this thanks to the rainy weather in the city lol:
Opening:
-My crowd was pretty chatty during the violin solo opening which I found a bit annoying but what can you do
-Danced with Firmin (Skeleton Leotard) during masquerade, I did not anticipate this at all but it was so fun. he kissed my hand when he lead me back to my spot heheheh
Hannibal:
-Claire Leyden Christine is a masterclass of acting
-She’s so unsure of herself during the beginning of the think of me cadenza and I loved watching her confidence grow leading up to that high C
-got to throw a rose to her I love doing that
Mirror/Title Song:
-She’s so excited to see Raoul (Dan Hoy) and Raoul is so excited to see her, it’s like he’s been wishing for this to happen for awhile
-hand choreography between went crazy
-Sean Phantom had a crystal clear tone, very traditionally broadway style voice to me
-Claire’s Christine is in awe of him, she is so sure this is in fact her angel
-Sean is very interactive with the audience during MOTN
-He’s so excited to have Christine there and is equally in awe of her as she is of him, he’s scared to be around her like he’ll break her if he touches her
Bedroom scene:
-I was right next to the monkey box, Phantom showed me the mask and I nodded. He made eye contact with himself in the mirror looks genuinely looked so frightened and sad by his own appearance
-Claire Christine is playful with the veil and looked at me for approval to remove the monkeys mask I was like yes go for it
-Obsessed once again with the Automanta (gonna be honest I have no idea how to spell that so robot phantom) wedding dance scene it’s my new favorite additions from the original
-I find it so funny that when Madame girly is explaining how Christine and the phantom met and you here a recording of think of me it’s very much Sierra Boggess during the Royal Albert hall concert
stranger than you dreamt it:
-Claire’s Christine is genuinely unsure of her memory
-Sean phantom totally thought she was going in for a kiss but nope unmasking instead
-She’s not really scared more just startled until she falls over and he practically jumps at her, then she starts gasping and screaming
-he is just straight up sobbing at his piano until she gives the mask back
-Christine is crying too
-He absolutely falls fully in love with her when she gives him the mask back
Carnival:
-Did the ring toss game and got a shot of something it was so strong I was trying not to cough after it but I did 😔
-Held hands with young phantom for a second because no one else was
-Barker came up to me and told me to be careful because he is contagious I was like with what?? And he was like you don’t wanna find out
Learn to be lonely:
-Satomi is a great Madame Giry, very strict and wants to help Erik but is frightened and resents that she is but can’t help it.
-Kaley Ann Voorhee’s is a perfect Meg and Christine it’s insane
-Claire’s Christine is really shaken and obviously feels terrible about what has happened
Flys/Rooftop:
-Sean phantom is pretty cold when killing buquet, only smiles when it’s done.
-Claire Christine watches that tail end of this and clung to my shoulder before running up to see what’s happened on stage
-Indoor show! As expected it’s pouring rain in nyc
-I actually couldn’t see 90% of the rooftop scene because I was placed right behind Erik was blocking my view, I didn’t mind I actually found it funny like man can you stop yearning in despair and move over I’m trying to watch 🙄🙄🙄
-He did smack the rail in anger when Raoul sings “What you heard was a dream, and nothing more”
-After that Phantom turned around and ushered me into his spot thanks Erik!! You are so kind ♥️
-Really cute all I ask of you, a lot of the song was song with them touching foreheads. Christine really needs reassurance and someone to ground her back to reality after everything she’s been through, and she’s getting it in this song from Dan’s Raoul. Even if it’s just for a moment.
-During the kiss Christine popped her leg up I really liked that detail
-Sean phantom is hysterically sobbing in disbelief during the reprise but then it quickly turns into a temper tantrum, you hate to see it 🤷♂️
-Sean’s phantom has a childlike quality to him, he’s clearly stunted.
Graveyard/Wishing:
-Was the very last one in the room for wishing so my view wasn’t very good but Claire is a once again amazing, a very mature Christine who I think just struggles to understand herself and misses her father because that’s when things still made sense to her.
-I really love Dan’s Raoul, he’s truly trying his best
-Sean’s phantom has such a whiny tone during “Rest assured I bear no grudge..” line
-I was the first one out of the room and started walking behind Chrstine who was chatting with another woman from the balcony.
-we got outside and Claire’s Christine said something along the lines of “I will see you inside” and the woman stopped walking. I was like “I think we are supposed to keep walking?” But I honestly wasn’t sure and the woman was like “wait are we???” And Claire’s Christine came back and was like “I’m sorry please follow me! I would never leave you out in the rain my friends!” We all had a good laugh about it
-I walked behind her for a bit where she was warming up her voice
-Christine then turned to me and said “walk with me to my dressing room?” And offered me her hand. Of course I took it.
-she sat me next to the piano and asked about if I ever get stage fright and how I deal with it. I told her about how my mom used to say pick a spot in the room and focus on that, ignore all the other noise. She told me my mom is a wise woman and I agree.
-She jumped in fear when the “Christine Daae 10 min call” over the speaker like she was afraid it was the phantom
-amazing twisted, she is very overwhelmed
-She gave me the note from the phantom (I have it to another girl later as Im very lucky and got it from another man last week.)
-Carlotta walked in and literally went “Get out” to her and Piangi very funny as always
-obsessed with the managers as always, Andre cried into a ladies lap in despair
-Raoul got the “I’m here… I’m here…” scene and a detail I liked it that he like fell back into the piano and made lower notes go off it added to the tension.
Don Juan:
-Claire was so amazing in this scene and her acting truly heightened the stakes. She keeps looking at Raoul like “Yeah it’s him get me out of here” and you can watch Dan’s Raoul put that together and also start to panic a bit
-After she first unmasked him, Raoul tried to intervene and she whispered “Let me handle this” and he immediately backs off and ushered for the managers to also back off
-She seems out of body when she unmasks him like it was the only thing she could truly do
-he scrambles and panics and tries to crash the chandelier like he’s genuinely ashamed we all saw his face
-Claire pushes him out of the way and immediately tries to get away from him after they are in the clear but he clings on
-I’m like 90% sure he yelled “DIE!” When he crashed the chandelier and Christine is really horrified and screams
Final Lair:
-Sean’s phantom is sobbing again and Claire Christine is giving an a thousand yard stare
-She starts like hysterically laughing in disbelief while singing her first few lines in the scene
-She’s so defeated and exhausted upon seeing Raoul in the trap
-but she gets a second wind after the ultimatum is delivered and she’s ready to basically fist fight Erik
-One detail I hope I didn’t fantasize is that when she sings “Angel of music who deserves this?” She repeats the music of the night pose with her arms up that is also repeated during Wandering child
-Sean’s phantom hates Raoul lol
-he is kinda full out regret though his “make your choice” really sad and small
-They hold each other for awhile after the kiss before Erik breaks away first
-Christine b-lines it to Raoul but also isn’t ready to say goodbye she literally yells “What? No!” Before he drags her out of there
-Sean’s phantom really thinks Christine as come back and when she disappears in the cloak he shakes it as if he’s looking for her
-Sean’s phantom truly is just a kicked puppy
-ran into Claire in the street while walking out and we talked for a moment she is super sweet!
Overall really great time as always, and I’m so delighted I got to see this rare-pair of understudies. Also I was going to try the black tie standby line to see 7pm pulse with Kyle and Eryn but it looks like that got canceled? So there was no standby tonight sadly. Might buy tickets to them sometime this summer to make up for it 😗
No-one asked for this, but I'm going to post it anyway.
Here are my thoughts on Anna Zavelson's first show as Christine Daae on 18th May 2026.
- Firstly, what a voice!! Anna can really sing, she reminded me a lot of the Broadway Christines, which I guess makes sense. It was quite funny at the start of Christine's Think of Me, because you can tell what a fantastic voice she has, even when shes trying to hide it.
- There were lots of cute little acting choices during Hannibal - like Anna looking back at Meg when she asks "Christine, what's the matter?" and then jumping and looking forward when Mdm Giry bangs her cane and tells her to concentrate and flinching when Meg first starts shouting about her catchphrase about the Phantom.
- She's also really smiley as she gets prepared for her debut during the transition in Think of Me, and she's a very cute Elissa.
- Anna does a lot of acting with her eyes and face - I'd recommend using the opera glasses to watch her if you're sitting further from the stage. She also acts a lot through her voice, which is nice for audios.
- This might just have been me, but during her high notes at the end of the title song, she genuinely looked like she couldn't control her voice and had no idea how she was singing like that. Like there was this kind of panicked, shocked look and I was all there for it.
- In MOTN there are times when she almost looks like she's in pain, like shes caught between the pleasure and pain of the music.
- When the Phantom sings that she should "turn your thoughts from the world you knew before" she does this quick spin to look at him, shocked that he would ask such a thing.
- Also not about Anna, but Ashley!Raoul is always so pissed off in Notes and I am here for it.
- Why are all the current Christines so good at playing Serafimo? It was never a part of the show I cared about that much, but honestly I can't stop watching it now - its just so good how Christi e goes from all cute and playful to absolutely terrified after the Phantom makes himself known.
- The rooftop was sooo good - her voice when she sings about his face and his eyes, my poor heart. And she is a very enthusiastic kisser - she really went for it after Raouls initial tentative kiss, hands in his hair, everything.
- Also she jumps/flinches when Raoul calls her name after they've been searching for the Phantom. Such a nice little character moment.
- And because I'm a sucker for Raoul/Christine cuteness, she buries her head against his chest when he holds her during the rooftop. But, I just want a hand kiss at some point during the scene, is that too much to ask!?
- Also have I mentioned she is a beautiful Christine. Although where are my luxurious curls?
- Triton girl is back!
- Also, not sure if this is normal and I've just never noticed it - but Meg is willing to throw hands when the Phantom beckons Christine over in Why So Silent, like she shouts "no" and has to be held back by her mother. I am in love.
- Anna looked like she was having so much fun dancing in Masquerade and her poofy skirt was gorgeous (at least by new UK star Princess dress standards)
- Christine stumbling as she walked over to the desk in Notes II (possibly a mistake rather than a choice) and then mouthing "no" over and over as Piangi and Carlotta corner her in Notes II.
- Anna looks so despondent in the sitzprobe scene. Then as everyone walks off, she faces Mdm Giry who can't quite meet her eyes and then Anna follows her across the stage as she walks off stage - which I found quite haunting. I don't think that's normal blocking, although my memory isn't always great about these things
- Oh god. Her WYWSHA made me cry. Her acting, the grief just rolled off her in waves as did the adoration for her poor father. And that voice!
- Little costume note about Anna's Aminta dress - it has very bright red lacing on the bodice and big red roses on the apron. It's beautiful.
- In the final lair she flinched when he sing-shouts "Pity comes too late"
- Christine looked so sorry after unmasking the Phantom before he pulls her off stage.
- Ashley jumped!!! I haven't seen hum jump since Lily's last show.
- She looks so sad when Raoul is in the noose - she keeps holding his face and then putting her head to his chest as if crying - my poor heart
- Anna stroked the Phantom's hair during the kiss and she was crying as she hugged him
- Also did I mention that Victoria was back on as Mdm Giry. What a queen.
- After the kiss, Christine is looking for a way to escape but turns when the Phantom keeps singing, telling her and Raoul to leave. Like Beatrice she does shoo Raoul away and walks towards the Phantom, but doesn't get quite as close as Beatrice did during her run. When she comes to give the ring back, she holds his hand for a long while but eventually pulls away and sobs as she runs back to Raoul.
- Initially she faces forward as Raoul steers them away on the boat, but about half way across she turns and looks to the Phantom.
-I think my pulse was fuller than usual? Just felt more crowded in certain scenes and took longer to get to place to place
Hannibal:
-Madame Giry took my hand and led my to the piano where I was asked to play for the ballet corps to practice!! I just pressed random keys and they were like wow you are so good thanks!! And I said like “hey happy to share my talents with you all.” I had no idea what I was doing.
-Addie Morales plays a very doe eyed Christine, I loved watching her be playful with her Meg.
-Her voice is very soft and sweet but deceiving powerful when she wants it to be
-Got to throw a rose to her after think of me
Mirror/Title Song/MOTN:
-Ryan Vona.. Ryan Vona Phantom. I love his vocal choices. Every single one feels like there is so much thought and care put into it.
-While most Christine’s I’ve seen beckon the audience to follow after the mirror scene, they are a bit more seductive (?) mysterious about it whereas addie was excited and curious wanted us to follow her on this new journey
-I saw someone once describe Ryan’s phantom and swarmy. And yes he is.
Bedroom/wedding room/Etc:
-I was placed in the back of the room for the bedroom scene and couldn’t see it that well.
-Addie’s Christine gives such a playful and curious energy when trying on the veil and removing the mask off the monkey
-Hands.
-Ryan’s phantom came back into the room and was genuinely upset at the mask having been taking off the monkey. He looked at the guy sitting next to the bed accusatory and that guy shook his head no and pointed at Christine. Got a good laugh from the crowd.
-Ryan’s phantom then offered his hand to me to take and I blacked out.
-Obvi I took it and was led out of the room first, and sent down a hallway where I ran into the robot phantom.
-He took my hand and led me into a private room, that’s where he showed me the newspaper about the stolen engagement ring, I said “For Christine?” and he showed me the ring.
-I cannot believe I got to see this scene for myself after hearing about it 😭 I feel so lucky
-I was led back to the wedding room and I just really love this scene. Robot phantom got really close to my face and then turned around and got really close to another persons face lol.
Stranger than you dreamt it:
-Christine’s curiosity finally catches up to her.
-There is such a simmering rage and frustration to Ryan’s phantom.
-He sung “fear can turn to love” like he was trying to convince himself of that.
-Ryans phantom is a lurker he is lurking through this crowd. He was leading one woman behind me and then was next to me on the escalator, unwavering eye contact for a while before moving on and getting in between the couple in front of me, and so forth.
Carnival:
-I was in the middle of the room, I think this scene does go on a smidge too long but I am impressed by all the performers nonetheless
-Held Young phantoms hand for a second before being shoo’d away
-he later reached for another woman who took his hand, after he was shoo’d away again Ryan came up and held that woman’s hand for a bit afterwards
Learn to be lonely/Il Muto:
-Tia Karaplis has such a warm beautiful voice as Giry I would love to hear her Christine as well since she does cover her
-Gerogia Mendes very cute as Meg
-Addie comes back a bit shell shock and really clings onto the small mirror when phantom calls her name
-Ryan’s Phantom is a trickster at heart and is having the time of his life terrifying Buquet before killing him
Rooftop/All I ask of you:
-indoor version! Which I kinda prefer oh no
-Dan Hoy is a very dashing Raoul, his Raoul is genuinely really worried for Christine and holds her close as she clings onto him for dear life explaining what she’s been going through
-I think Addies Christine has love for the phantom but knows now he isn’t stable and that he isn’t what she thought. It scares her terribly.
-Ryans phantom is beyond delusional during all I ask of you, smiling during Christine’s first verse acting as if she os singing to him until Raoul comes back in the next verse and it comes crashing down.
-he walks around behind the glass and reaches for Christine’s hand, comes so close but she closes the glass door right before he can touch her. He truly is haunting the scene.
-Addie and Dan have great chemistry as raoustine.
-can confirm Ryan’s phantom mouths “you know I do” alongside Raoul when Christine says “say you love me”
-the reprise ohhhhh
-Ryan’s phantom cries one single tear and the echo of Christine and raouls voices singing is definitely in his head. It physically hurts him to hear like an oncoming migraine.
-All he can do is start hitting himself repeatedly to get to stop before deciding revenge is the best course
Wishing/Wandering child:
-it took a long time to load into the room for wishing and I missed the beginning dialogue of the scene
-Addie’s wishing was really powerful, angry in all the right places. It felt like I watched her Christine grow and mature from the beginning to end of it.
-Dan hoy raoul loves Christine and is so desperate to protect her but I think that frustrates Christine
-he hugs her and holds her so tight during wandering child, he seems genuinely scared of the “angel” before Christine pushes him off to go confront Erik herself
-He’s grasping at straws coming up with the Don Juan plan
Plot rooms:
-While walking down Madame Giry stopped me and pulled me aside to have me learn and practice the point of no return dance with another dancer 😭😭
-genuinely didn’t know that was an option we did it about three times and it was specifically Christine’s choreography during the lines “past the point of no return, no going back now, our passion play has now at last begone” Giry sung that part while me and the dancer danced it out, she asked me to sing it with her if I knew the words and like yes I do so we were singing and dancing. Crazy.
-As I was walking in the room Raoul said “good to see you again Madame” thank you Raoul!!!!!!!!
-Had the managers, Raoul and Christine, Carlotta and Piangi order of rooms
-Managers are funny, many jokes about Firmin wanting to drink
-Addie’s Christine sung the first part of twisted everyday so quietly, it genuinely felt like she was going to pass out from fear
-the line “He’ll take me, I know.” Was spoken sternly not sung and she said “I’ll be taken, I know.”
-The guy next to me received the letter from the phantom to Christine and he then handed it to me. I asked him if he wanted it back and he was like no you have it. Thank you random man!!
Point of no return:
-I’m crazy I’m crazy I’m crazy
-it genuinely felt like Christine was sacrificing herself for everyone, including Erik.
-Ryan’s phantom is so stern and so sure that this is how things are meant to be when he proposes
-He flops the the ground and desperately tries to escape after being unmasked but results in trying to crash the chandelier
-from my POV I could see after Christine pushes him out of the way of the chandelier falling, he at first loving held her face before moving his hand on her throat and dragging her off. Scary!
Final Lair:
-I was one of the first to arrive in the final lair and saw Christine trying her best to calm him down but he’s just not having it. So he goes and sets up the trap for Raoul.
-everyone in the trio crying
-Dan’s Raoul is PISSSEDD off it’s awesome to see
-This is the most rerik pulse
-When Raoul says “I love her does that mean nothing?” Erik full went “aww ☹️” mockingly out loud
-after Erik says “be my guest sir” he grabs Raoul’s chin and forces him to look at Christine and gave her a look of “get a load of this guy” and it got people laughing. I have never in my life seen a phantom who got people laughing during the final lair.
-Addies Christine is clinging desperately onto Raoul trying to free him and screams when Erik forcibly pulls her off of him to deliver the ultimatum.
-she’s so fucking sad
-you can tell this is the first time in Erik’s life he has felt like he is finally winning.
-Erik and Raoul are singing so much of this like 2 inches from each others face let them kiss
-during “Pitiful creature of darkness..” Dan’s Raoul reaches for Christine to take his hand, like he’s accepting his fate and just wants one last goodbye. She almost takes it before nodding no, turning away and facing Erik. Raoul is so heartbroken realizing he’s losing her.
-the kiss was crazy okay, Erik literally kisses back and lifts her off the floor I’ve never seen anything like it.
-Christine doesnt want to leave him but he screams at her to go
-the thing is addie Christine loves Erik but he is also kind of a mystery to her and she knows he is too dangerous to be with. Ryans Erik knows this too. But is too angry and spiteful to admit it until the bitter end.
-only time he is truly gentle with Christine is the end when she comes back and it’s not even real.
-there’s truly so much to say, extremely nuanced, layered performances from everyone.
-Ryan’s phantom feels like that Facebook comment meme where the guy is like “Nothing to smile about in my life” if you know
-Guy next to me was SOBBING at the end I get it
-I don’t know how to explain this but Ryan’s phantom could have Love Never Dies happen but Addie and Dans raoulstine could not. It only has to make sense to me.
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