The Phantom's Makeup (ALW)
Today, we're looking at the Phantom's makeup application process across multiple replica productions.
While the makeup design (prosthetic sculpts, paint scheme) have always varied between replica productions, the application itself followed the same process. First, the actor's hair is slicked back, a bald cap is applied, and glued down. Originally, these were latex (rubber) bald caps. These days, the lighter vinyl (plastic) bald caps are usually favored. Plastic caps also allow the edges to be seamlessly dissolved, creating a smooth transition from cap to skin.
Pre-painted foam latex prosthetic appliances (head crater, right cheek, and bottom lip) are then glued down, one at a time. Several productions through the years did not use a bottom lip appliance. Prosthetic adhesive (pros-aide) or a silicone -based adhesive like Telesis are most commonly used, depending on the actor's skin and sensitivity. Then final makeup is applied to the "good" half of the face and blended into the prosthetics to pull the whole look together. Lastly, the two wigs (alopecia and Valentino) are glued down and the Phantom is ready.
While silicone prosthetics are generally preferred for film and TV because of their realism and ability to dissolve the edges, foam latex remains popular for stage productions as they are usually lighter and less expensive. The distance between the stage and the audience also means that truly seamless edges are not as important as on film.
The design of the Phantom's makeup was meant to represent a congenital birth defect, not a wound sustained later in life. No single medical condition was used as a basis for his look, but several real conditions could explain different aspects of his disfigurement. While mostly just misshapen and discolored skin (as seen in these featured makeups), some designs such as the Australian and World Tours of decades past did appear to have red, raw sores at the top of the head.
1. Michael Crawford, Original London cast
2. John Owen Jones, West End
3. Jeremy Stole, Broadway
4. Peter Jorde, Copenhagen
5. Alexander Goebel, Vienna
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