New Phantom Ramblings (just random thoughts), this time with another musical boot :)))
World tour Singapore 2019 (Tysm op)
Starting by saying that it is a really good boot, very clear in visual (except for some REALLY shaky parts and the lighting making it a bit difficult to see the actors faces) and in audio.
Random yapping (as always) and comparing some sections with the 25th and this boot (with Hugh Panaro as Phantom) —> the only 2 full shows that I’ve seen. Not really well organised thoughts, sorry.
In MotN I’ve noticed that the Phantom here (Jonathan Roxmouth) keeps a lot of distance to Christine, compared to the other productions I’ve mentioned above (even tho in the yt boot it’s a bit hard to say, because it doesn’t exactly show both of them during MotN, so I could be mistaken). Might that be just a direction choice? Or is it the Phantom being almost… Afraid of being too close to Christine (as in: “Idk what could happen, on both sides, so it’s better to keep some distance between us”) ? (Or maybe I’m just horrendously misreading this…). In the 25th they stay A LOT CLOSER during the whole song, tho that version deviates a bit from the original format; the yt boot has the Phantom moving around a lot (like here), but also “dangerously” coming close to Christine and teasing her (yk how Panaro’s Phantom was, that scoundrel! Haha). Take for example this part:
Here the Phantom (Hugh Panaro) gets really close, almost touches Christine, seems like he is going to kiss her.
(I’ve put the video because the GIF is too pixelated to see anything and it makes me want to bang my head against the wall)
So… You might say… Well here too seems to almost touch her, but still keeps that safe distance to her (as a way to control himself? Maybe? Idk)
Won’t bring out the 25th for this lil part, because he literally CARRIES HER (mf got luckier /j) , so totally different story there.
Moving on. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS LITTLE DETAIL OF JROX’S (I think I’ve seen people referring to him like that, but correct me if I’m mistaken) ACTING in “Stranger than you dreamt it” when he says “ This is what you wanted to see!?!” ohhh, love love love:
The way he crouches and shows his face with so much CONTEMPT!!!. Also Christine’s (Meghan Picerno) little jump, omg.
In the 25th has a different vibe (more violent), because they are running around and he also grabs her and then shoves her to the ground (not very gentleman behaviour, my man).
Not to say that Roxmouth’s Phantom here is more chill, just look at this:
(Btw I really like his stomping, also in the final lair)
Ironically enough Panaro’s Phantom here is less of a brute than these two.
Idk how to “classify” Roxmouth’s Phantom here… Panaro’s and Karimloo’s are almost at opposite ends, but idk about him… Hm.
(Me dumb)
As I said other times we could stay here all day comparing all the differences between them (that’s the beauty of it), so I’ll stop here (even tho there are many other parts that are interesting to take into consideration)
:)