Revisiting A Classic – Broadway’s Old Lights Often Shine Brightest
New Yorkers have a love / hate relationship with Broadway.
The best shows quickly inspire frenzied ticket sales and endless opinions on their merits. Tickets that are in high demand seem impossible to find at times — and can command a king’s ransom.
While some plays stick around for a while and some are quickly rejected by critical theatre-goers, the finest Broadway musicals have shown the ability to stand the test of time and seem like permanent fixtures in the heavily trafficked Theatre District…often justifiable.
Whether it’s the enchanting score of The Phantom of the Opera, the brilliant performances in Les Misérables or the sparkling stage arrangements of Wicked, these classics often deserve a second look, a re-initiation, if you will.
I recently decided to re-acquaint myself with The Phantom of The Opera, the longest running show in the history of Broadway. (It has been fifteen years since my initial viewing.)
The Phantom, a remake of a French novel by Gaston Leroux, tells the story of a disfigured genius who terrorizes an Opera House for the benefit of his beautiful protégé, an innocent chorus singer named Christine Daaé. While I won’t bore you with the details of the plotline, I will say that the performance kept me on the edge of my seat…again!
The play has been housed in the Majestic Theatre (245 West 44th Street) since 1988 – this landmark building celebrates Beaux art neo classical design that works perfectly with the play’s set — burnt orange, heavy curtains, gilded statues and dark, dramatic ceilings add to the romance of the play and enhances the feeling of being in a French Opera House.
I appreciated everything a little more this time around…the mesmerizing lyrics about love, loneliness and passion, the mystical setting, the riveting performances and the authenticity of the 19th century Parisian set design (some of the scenes are breathtaking).
This was more then a re-introduction to me…it was a new perspective on a timeless masterpiece and I felt almost giddy when I heard Christine Daaé’s amazing voice being nurtured by the flawed Phantom…I was amazed and moved and it was clear to me why this show has been running strong for the last 20 years, witnessing an audience over 10 million.
Theatre, similar to other forms of art, can allow you to escape, reflect, and holds the promise of providing perspective on even the most mundane of life’s troubles…it is a wonderful way to step back from the world and allow yourself to just be captured and entertained…a new and exciting place, if only for an hour or two.
In the middle of the performance, I thought of how magical the city of New York is…over 50 plays were being performed at this very moment…what a treasure trove of possibility – it would be a shame not to take advantage.
So whether it is a classic like The Phantom or Les Misérables, or a newer stage performance, let yourself escape to another place and experience this unique form of American art…
“That’s all I ask of you”!
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