Im Obsessed Please Help

Paper faces on parade. (Image credit to the amazing @rose-margaritas)

[paper-faces]

"The Final Bow" commissioned from THE AMAZING @rose-margaritas

A bunch of friends and I saw Clay Singer/Riley Noland/Francisco Javier Gonzalez's Masquerade pulse together and were collectively traumatized by this exact moment. This is Clay!Erik looking over his shoulder at me, @ravens-repine, and @poorerik during Final Lair. A sniveling, sweating, sobbing mess of a man. With his world falling apart around him. This brief moment seemed small at the time compared to the grand tragedy unfolding before us. But the grief and terror of this one moment will haunt me for the rest of my days.

Eventually I just said "fuck it" and commissioned Margaret, who I've wanted to commission for a while now, and they were (and still are) in a Masquerade art renaissance. So the stars aligned perfectly. Margaret's art is amazing. She is amazing. So polite and patient despite me being like the most insane individual. They answered all my questions no matter how stupid. Took all my requests seriously so as to ensure I got exactly what I wanted. Made suggestions based off her own expertise, especially in terms of composition and lighting. Was very open about price and other logistics ahead of time so I always knew exactly what was going on.

11/10 please commission this AMAZINGLY talented, visionary, kind, passionate individual because you will receive a life changing piece like this one that you will cherish forever.

[wheel-of-fish]

Saturday, June 6, 2026 • 9 p.m. EST

Fish's 300th and final stream—STOLLEBOOT

I'm usually pretty decisive about what to stream, but this one eluded me for weeks. How do you cap off 300 nights of shared memories and shenanigans and collective suffering? You can't. Not meaningfully, anyway. What you CAN do is have a party and watch the most ridiculous option possible.

Stolleboot is a brilliantly seamless edit by @cowardtranslation that stars beloved jack of all trades JEREMY STOLLE as the Phantom, JEREMY STOLLE as Raoul, JEREMY STOLLE as Passarino, and JEREMY STOLLE as Piangi.

As always, the stream will be on cy.tube and shy anons are welcome. For more info, please see the Saturday Streams FAQ! Link and password will be posted here at 8:45.

Remember to follow @from-aldebaran for stream posts going forward!

[muirin007]

Thinking about Love Never Dies and how an actual, hand-to-God thing the Phantom says with his own mouth is, "Give me the gun, Meg."

"Who should we send in for hostage negotiations? Probably someone level-headed and normal like, you know, the Phantom of the Opera."

[paper-faces]

Noose. Cape. Angst. Mascara.

Fit check for my Final Lair era

[a-shakespearean-in-paris]

Had the pleasure of seeing Masquerade this past Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (Pulse 5, 3, and 5 again), and I have THOUGHTS. (For future reference: end of May 2026)

For background, I saw the OG pulse 5 back in March, and that was my first time seeing the show. Very silly of me to wait till March to see it for the first time (and only see it once on my Broadway trip— massive gaf as a Phantom girlie for life), but of course I adored the experience and immediately was like, yeah, we're doing that again. Very glad I picked end of May instead of July so I could catch some of Clay's last few performances!

Anyway, thought I'd do a little write up for each because I need to scream about it, and I also saw a couple of rarer castings so why not. Going to break this up and start with the first show, stay tuned for more later:

Friday, May 29, 2026. Pulse 5 with Clay, Georgia (u/s Christine) and Frankie

Firstly, the energy was very buoyant before we even walked in. I don't mind keeping to myself as a usual solo theatre-goer, but everyone was so happy and excited, and I was able to chit-chat with a lot of different people. It was so nice to tell two first timers how much they were going to love the show. (I saw them dry their eyes on the way out after curtain, so I think they did ;) )Last time in March I was the only solo person there, and there were big families and another group of people I ended up in the same space with a lot who I just don't think enjoyed the show, and that made a different experience in energy. I don’t think it’s a factor a lot of people take into account, but I think that matters.

I got asked to dance during masquerade! I couldn't tell who he was exactly but I was one of the first to walk in, and he was wearing a goldish (?) coat. I got a little teary-eyed when I walked in the Masquerade room as I did the first time I saw the show, and I saw a few others get teary as well. I think it was the NBC interview where Riley said she gets to see "people's dreams come to life" and she is 100 percent right.

Christine brushed my shoulder during Hannibal. General note I love how the cast touches audience members. none of them just invasively plop their hand on your shoulder…it's a lingering meaningful brush that makes you feel like you belong.

Speaking of that, I will never not be moved seeing my own face in the mirror. Obviously, the chandelier is the most well known Phantom iconography (other than the mask) but the Mirror scene is my utter favorite and she will always be my icon.

Whenever I see a new Phantom I will be able to tell you in thirty seconds flat if I like his performance or not, and that comes when he sings "flattering child you shall know me, see why in shadow in hide..." If I instantly relax, I will enjoy the interpretation. Happened in March when I heard Clay and happened again. Such a smooth rich voice

Riley was obviously out, and I was bummed to miss her but HOLY CRAP GEORGIA. Dare I say I think she and Clay's Erik/Christine have a touch more chemistry. Every movement she made, every gesture was seeped in romance and adoration. Like this Christine was in love.

Clay was great back in March but he has fine-tuned since and the articulation and vocal register for the role is even more immaculate, as is the way he carries himself as the Phantom. A bit skeptical of other people/the audience but also fascinated by us

POTO: Right before as Georgia's Christine beckoned the audience to come forward, the smile was utterly mischievous. I loved that particular choice. During the title song I could only catch glimpses of them getting into the boat but they had that same mischievous and playful energy. Riley and Clay to me give a couple who cling together because of shared trauma and fascination, but Georgia and Clay gave an equal mesmerization of each other's art. As they both got into the boat I saw a sense of "oh my god, we're doing this."

MOTN I do miss that iconic Hal Prince blocking of 'touch me, trust me," but I understand the new blocking decision to fit with the immersive nature. First time I saw the show all I could think was unnnghh hands and...yeah same here LOL.

Following MOTN I got split up with Giry (Gabriella Enriquez.) She read as younger than the last one I saw (Satomi) and interestingly she told Bouquet "stay away from my corps de ballet" (Pretty sure Satomi said "stay away from my daughter.") Having a younger Giry with a younger phantom is an interesting dynamic where they could almost be peers, but she purposely keeps a distance.

Went to automatons, bedroom, then shadow box in that order. Going to refrain from talking too much about my previous show experience as much as I can, but when I first saw the show we got the bedroom first and I loved how Clay adjusted Riley's dress after he set her down. He also put his hand on my shoulder as he walked by to get the hotbox and now I get to tell all my friends "the phantom touched me in his bedroom." This fact makes me the most popular girl in bookclub.

handhanhandhahdhahahs handsssss. Don't want to say more in case this gets real weird real quick but Clay has such a delicateness as Christine imagines (this is how interpret it) I didn't have the best vantage point for this but that may have been for the best because…🫠

I'll be honest I thought the head coming out as a bit much at first (I thought the hands were enough—I like that implication alone) but you know what heck yeah go diane. it captures that hazy feeling of yearning for someone. Georgia really played up the eroticism as well.

During STYDI Christine caressed Erik's face and he closed his eyes, as if intoxicated by the intimacy. Gentle face caresses are my own personal weakness so this made my heart pitter patter.

After the unmasking and Erik held himself over Christine, she seemed less frightened of his face and more in shock and frightened at his anger.

Flashback scene the Head carny guy had a chat with me about the flamethrower guy and how good looking he was.

Before we headed to the next room Erik crept through the room and he brushed his hand over my shoulder. Said it earlier but the way the cast in general touches the audience is magnetic.

Claire Leyden was our Meg. She has such an infectious energy I absolutely need to see her Christine now.

Still impressed by clays athleticism in the rooftop scene. It’ll does not feel like a highly choreographed stage combat scene. It feels real.

Got the outdoor track for the first time. As Christine began to sing she looked wistfully off to the distance as if looking for Erik. It took her a bit before she even looked at Raoul.

Clay has such a good phantom laugh lol.

He crept down the stairs and sang to a preteen girl during the transition into wishing. Me and another woman agreed we weren’t jealous (cough)

I do prefer the outdoor set for wishing but there’s something intimate about the indoor track that’s missing here if you get the outdoor one. Wishing in general has just become so important to me as I lose family though, and seeing it up closer really is moving. This was still moving though…she has a gorgeous voice.

I am consistently amazed at the dressing room scene. It’s like they’re doing it for the first time again, it’s still so fresh.

Christine showed an audience member the letter and they looked at it together. So cute.

The preteen girl from earlier was there with her parents and her mom actually got teary eyed here. I think it says so much about how we all just want to be swept away at the end of the day. This play does that in a way few other things can. We live inside art for a bit.

Ok PONR and final layer was juicy.

Firstly i stood by Raoul and Frankie has such a great palpable energy as the character. Angry here, yet curious. Even compelled as he watched.

PONr blocking has grown on me. Was kind of meh on it at first.

Chandelier begins to jingle after the unmasking and we see Erik look at it and almost gleefully accept his fate. Christine runs to him and pushes him out of the way and I am so glad I caught this moment because clays Erik grabs her and holds her so close in an almost kiss as they take each other in for the briefest moment before he seizes the opportunity and whisks her away. This moment and another one layer took my breath away.

Kind of a bit of a whiplash to have the managers scuffle around and say “oh I am so glad you’re alright!” But I did chuckle lol.

Clay! Erik’s final lair never does not feel like an ultimatum to me the way other phantom final layers do (mostly referring to OG staging when I say this) but this one oozed with longing and rawness. It truly was like seeing two people who love each other fight and not a last ditch resort.

“This haunted face holds no horror for me now,” she held his fade in her hands so tenderly. He closed his eyes for a moment to take it in.

She then moved away, looked away, and delivered “it’s in your soul where the true distortion lies” and OH MY GoD I have never heard a delivery like that. She wasn’t saying “hey you’re evil” she was understanding the world made him this way. You’re hurt deeply. And he misinterpreted. I have never gotten that interpretation before from another pairing, I didnt think it could be interpreted another way until now. Such kudos to Georgia for making me rethink something and discovering something new.

Its noted he sweats a lot, but I love it tbh. It makes it feel realer. There was also quite a bit of spit (sorry if that is gross lol)

Bad view for the kiss but they clung so tightly and held onto each other after…more face touching as he delivered the last bit of lines before Raoul drags her off. He remained on his knees for most of this part and it was almost as though he was a boy again.

Eventually though Christine pried away from Erik…but not before kissing him on the forehead.. Clay also reacted to that by peering at her sweetly even as he was begging her to go.

Side note but as someone who acted before (just in school) I am so jealous of his compelete embodiment of this role. not one part of him is not in character…his hands, his eyes and the way they scan the room…he was probably an a student in movement for actors lol. (Or has dance training, or both)

Don’t have too much to say about the ending other than it was fantastic of course and quite a few sniffles were in the room. I didn’t quite cry bur I felt very raw. Also a welcome change from last time as I don’t think the audience was into the vibe lol. I tried to start a clap after he sang “night” because good phantoms deserve claps there but it didn’t catch lol

After I mer some nice people at the lair bar and it was so nice to fangirl. Also met the cast and they couldn’t have been lovelier. Georgia and Clay even indulged me in the “middle of an otp sandwhich” photo I asked for. They even retook it when the first came out bad, bless them.

Clay couldn’t say what he was doing lol but said his departure was a “for now” thing so take that as you will, hehe.

All in all the night was so special to me. Clay and Georgia had such great chemistry and seeing them wrapped in each other felt natural and believable. Both were such yearners: it was beatiful.

Anyway I read other breakdowns and wanted to write one too thanks for reading goodnight lol

[or-what-you-will]

Gaston Leroux Book Club: June 2026

Welcome to our first ever Leroux Book Club book! This month we are starting with one of Leroux's most famous books:

Le Mystère de la chambre jaune // The Mystery of the Yellow Room

Le Mystère de la chambre jaune was first published Sept 7-Nov 30 1907 as a serial in L'Illustration and is the first book in Leroux's Rouletabille mystery series.

It was first published as a novel in 1908 and first translated into english the same year by an unknown translator. It was also translated into english in 2009 by Jean-Marc Lofficier and Randy Lofficier with the title: Rouletabille and The Mystery of the Yellow Room.

You can find copies of both the french and english on Project Gutenberg:

French (1908)

English (1908)

[phantoonsoftheopera]

“Tanguero”

This illustration combines two of my loves: Phantom of the Opera and Argentine Tango. “Point of No Return” has something of a tango beat, and while listening to it recently, I sketched an image of The Phantom and Christine in a classic Argentine tango move (and one of my personal favorites), the leg wrap. It turned out rather nice, so I decided to render it completely.

I think the rough quality of the pencil lines fits with the raw emotions inherent in both the dance and the music, while the swirling cloak adds that dramatic aura that is also a signature of tango.

See more of my art here

[or-what-you-will]

I was inspired by @wheel-of-fish's fic Red Death Riding and I did a bit of art!

I love how fish's Erik design brings together Red Death and The Highwayman and images of death on a pale horse which all lend themselves so well to dramatic visuals.

[or-what-you-will]

Gaston Leroux Book Club

So...recently I (sort of accidentally) thrifted a whole pile of Leroux's books that I've been wanting to read for ages, and I thought it would be really cool to share them with people and start a kind of book club!

On the first of each month (starting this June) I'll make a post announcing the book for the month with links to public domain copies and translations into English if they exist. (Please feel free to reblog with links to other languages if you have them!)

Just reblog the month's post (I'll keep it pinned) with your thoughts and and I'll do the same when I'm done! I'm super interested in what everyone thinks, and of course if you have a cool edition or illustrated version, definitely share pics!

I'll see you all on June 1 with the first pick!

[lonlonranching]

in a way daroga is a fantasy (what if you had only one friend who ride or die because he thought you were funny as fuck despite your strange and unnerving behavior and interests and even helped you fake your court ordered death bc he genuinely fuck wit you only to go to jail for your ass and get kick from his home country to later follow you to paris where you’re involved in character compliant nefarious activities that he shakes his head at to let the audience know he disapproves but in reality you give him purpose because he got i can fix you disease that’s terminal) and in a way erik is a fantasy (what if some french guy randomly was dropped into your life who’s ugly but lowkey hung AND the most interesting person you’ve ever met even if he dramatic as hell which unfortunately adds to the hyperfixation of your sad boy who’s fucked up fetish and he’s this incredibly talented architect musician clown with a sordid past (he was in the circus) but you constantly have to quote tweet THIS ISNT YOU on his deranged schemes bc hes never acted right in his life and you’ll never learn better) and of course there’s the most fantastical part of it all (they play chess together in the latter’s weird ass VRBO rental that’s in a GREAT location)

[brideofmirrors]

Ayesha watch Üwe

[wheel-of-fish]

Saturday, May 30, 2026 • 9 p.m. EST: Uwe Kröger, Beatrix Reiterer & Lucius Wolter (Essen 2006)

Yeah...we're overdue for a viewing. This performance is wildly entertaining thanks to the unique acting choices of an otherwise very talented performer, and Beatrix is a favorite Christine, and...I'm...you just have to see it. It is best experienced as a group. Also, Grapeman (Bacchus) is there.

As always, the stream will be on cy.tube and shy anons are welcome. For more info, please see the Saturday Streams FAQ! Link and password will be posted here at 8:45.

[wheel-of-fish]

Room is open!

Link: https://cytu.be/r/saturdaystreams

Password: cantreadmykrogerface

[opera-ghost]

[elfinmirror]

Grumpy Erik is lurking in the shadows.

(A pretty accurate description of Erik’s life tbh)

Quick character study ,100% based on the trap-door-maker PotO movie project by Peter Bregman and others. (official site here, check it out!).

[rose-margaritas]

Imagine if Christine reached for the Phantom from the boat after the Final Lair?

Except, you don’t have to imagine, because Jordan Lee Gilbert, our lovely Christine from the US tour, inspires this piece! When I learned that Jordan made the acting choice of reaching for the Phantom when she was opposite David Young Fernandez, this idea came to mind almost immediately. I genuinely can’t wait for summer 2027 to come any sooner, because I need to see them in Boston NOW!!

In addition, this piece was also done in collaboration with my lovely friend @nerdywriter36, who wrote such a devastating piece that I nearly cried myself to sleep. It’s called lost my fight with fate, and I need you all to drop everything you’re doing right now and GO READ IT.

Anyway, enjoy this double emotional damage for the two of us!🫰

[drawnby27emilys]

A lil illustration of the lovely Jordan Lee Gilbert as Christine🎀✨️✨️

[do2faj]

Quick sketch of my whiny wet sewer man as a small break from commissions and finals