Line #42 Theatre/Phantom


1	[[quoteright:220:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/phantom_yeston_0.jpg]]
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3	An adaptation of ''Literature/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'' overshadowed by Andrew Lloyd Webber's [[Theatre/ThePhantomOfTheOpera musical]] in much of the Western musical theatre world, ''Phantom'' was written by Maury Yeston (music) and Arthur Kopit (book). Initially, it premiered as a 1990 television miniseries starring Creator/CharlesDance as the Phantom, before finally gracing the stage as a musical in 1991 starring Richard White. The first cast recording of ''Phantom'' was done by the Houston cast of Theatre Under the Stars.
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5	Yeston and Kopit's Phantom is more operetta-like in style than Lloyd Webber's, seeking to reflect the 1890s period, with a French atmosphere to reflect its Parisian setting. Its story offers a deeper exploration of the phantom's past and adds a subplot about his relationship with Gérard Carrière, this version's head of the Opera House. The portrayal of the titular character is also slightly less villainous than the Lloyd Webber version.
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7	Even though it had never made it to Broadway or the West End, ''Phantom'' has been performed in the U.S., U.K., Japan, Korea, Finland, Germany, Australia, and translated for non-English speaking audiences. The Creator/TakarazukaRevue reworked the show, and it has become one of Zuka's beloved properties. As of 2020, it has been staged four times, the last in 2018-2019 with Nozomi Fuuto in the title role.
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9	!!This musical contains these tropes:
10	* AdaptationDyeJob: Christine is blonde in the novel, but Sakurano Ayane wears a brunette wig. All other Takarazuka Christines are blonde.
11	* AdaptationExpansion: The original English version ends [[spoiler:at Erik's death.]] The Takarazuka production adds [[spoiler:Erik's funeral, Christine mourning Erik in a reprise of Hear My Tragic Tale, her going down to Erik's home to play their melody one last time, and him reappearing as an apparition to declare his eternal love for her.]]
12	* AdaptedOut: Raoul, vicomte de Chagny. Christine's other romantic interest is Philippe, count of Chandon, the "Champagne King". In the novel, Philippe is Raoul's older brother (and therefore the comte de Chagny), and "on terms" with La Sorelli (whose musical counterpart seems to be Philippe's partner initially). That being said, the main romantic relationship in ''Phantom'' is between Erik and Christine. Philippe's romantic overtures aren't as obvious or central to the plot as Raoul's.
13	* AngryMobSong: The police and crowd pursues the Phantom in a reprise of "Dressing For the Night".
14	* AscendedExtra:
15	** Nozomi Fuuto was in all ''Phantom'' productions staged during her time with the Creator/TakarazukaRevue. She played one of the Phantom's followers in 2006, Richard in 2011, and the title role in 2018-2019. Given her love of the show (amusingly, she wore a Lloyd Webber Phantom t-shirt during the filmed rehearsal of 2018-2019 Phantom and specifically pointed to it when the camera focused on her) and her reaction when complimented on her acting by Maury Yeston, she is also an AscendedFangirl.
16	** Within the story, Christine rises from a girl selling songs, to a costume girl for the Opera, to playing the lead role of Titania.
17	* AssholeVictim: While it doesn't wholly justify her murder, [[spoiler:Carlotta probably won't be mourned by anyone but her husband. She takes pride in being ThePrimaDonna (despite not having any actual musical talent to speak of) and TheBully, and specifically sabotages Christine. Erik ''did'' give her a choice of "leave the Opera or die" before he stabs her, though.]]
18	* BetterToDieThanBeKilled: Well, to be ''taken alive''. [[spoiler:Erik orders Gérard to shoot him and spare him from capture.]]
19	* DarkReprise:
20	** "Mélodie de Paris" is reprised [[spoiler:after the death of Buquet]] for Erik to bemoan his fate, as well as how dark and wretched he believes Paris is.
21	** "You Are Music" starts out as a lovely, joyful duet between Erik and Christine, and is reprised [[spoiler:as the last thing they sing to each other before Erik dies.]]
22	** "Dressing For The Night" starts with the company of the Opera preparing to go to the Bistro for a night out, and is reprised [[spoiler:as an AngryMobSong for the hunt for the Phantom.]]
23	* DiegeticMusic:
24	** "Mélodie de Paris" and its reprise at the Bistro.
25	** Christine and Erik's music lesson.
26	** The Opéra's performance of ''Theatre/{{Carmen}}'' and ''Theatre/AMidsummerNightsDream''.
27	* DistantDuet: "Home". Christine sings from within the Opera, the Phantom continues the song beneath the building.
28	* EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas: Erik ''did'' [[spoiler:kill two people.]] He still loves his mother Belladova, and sees her in Christine.
29	* FunnyBackgroundEvent: When Carlotta sings, people in the background can be seen cringing and plugging their ears.
30	* {{Leitmotif}}: Christine and Erik's melody. ''Do re mi fa so fa re fa mi, do re mi fa so fa re mi do...''
31	* HotterAndSexier: All of the actresses playing the allegedly hideous Phantom - even unmasked - have looked quite handsome/beautiful.
32	* LikeParentLikeSpouse: Erik is attracted to Christine because she reminds him of/resembles his mother Belladova, who is the only one in the world to openly love him before Christine came along.
33	* LocationSong: "Mélodie de Paris" introduces the setting and paints the city in a romantic, GayParee light.
34	* LoveAtFirstNote: Erik falls in love with Christine as soon as he hears her sing.
35	* ManlyTears: [[spoiler:Erik breaks down, howling with grief, after a frightened Takarazuka Christine flees from his unmasked face.]]
36	* MoodWhiplash: [[spoiler:Erik and Gérard's tender father-son moment is immediately followed by the Phantom being discovered and Carrière having to kill his son.]]
37	* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Takarazuka Christine does this twice, [[spoiler: once because she cannot stand the sight of Erik's face (after asking him to unmask) and runs away, once because she realized by screaming and fleeing she had hurt him.]] Erik also does this in a HeroicBSOD [[spoiler:because he regretted agreeing to unmask himself and driving Christine away by the sight of his face.]]
38	* OffingTheOffspring: [[spoiler:Carrière is forced to do this for Erik, who refuses to be captured.]]
39	* OutlivingOnesOffspring: [[spoiler:Because Erik makes Carrière promise to kill him if need be.]]
40	* PaperThinDisguise: Erik shows up onstage to mess up the opera's ''Carmen'', while wearing his mask and a costume identical to one of the company member's.
41	* PointyHairedBoss: Alain and Carlotta Cholet. The latter is a primadonna bully, the former is equally as obnoxious and intent on pleasing his wife.
42	* SadisticChoice: [[spoiler:Carrière has to either let the police capture Erik alive and save his life, or kill him on the spot to end his suffering. He chooses the latter.]]
43	* SayMyName: [[spoiler:Erik's last word is Christine's name. His last line in the Takarazuka production is also "My Christine!"]]
44	* TriumphantReprise: Takarazuka "My Mother Bore Me" starts as a heartwrenching song for Erik to [[spoiler:mourn the fact that he had accidentally driven Christine away]], and reappears as the very last song of the show in which [[spoiler:Erik's spirit promises to watch over and love Christine from the afterlife.]]
45	* VillainSong: Carlotta has "This Place is Mine", in which she gloats over how she runs the opera house and bullies everyone.
46	* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: What became of the Phantom's followers after [[spoiler:Erik's death?]] He told Gérard that they would die if he wasn't there to find them food.

Context Theatre / Phantom