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Phantom Manatee Players
Review by William S. Oser | Season Schedule
Also see Bill's recent review of Alabama Story
James Alexander Hyde and Sophia Masterson Photo by Brian Craft | Anyone hoping to see Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera in regional or community theaters is going to be disappointed, as those rights aren't going to be available anytime soon. Phantom is a different version based on the same source novel and written by Maury Yeston (music and lyrics) and Arthur Kopit (book). Each version has its pluses and minuses; The Phantom of the Opera, emotionally, is almost of opera proportions while this version is more intimate, revealing many details of the characters' backgrounds and even giving the Phantom a name, Erik. I am a big Maury Yeston fan and this is one of his best scores, containing one sensational duet, "Home," excellent solos for the leads, "Without Your Music" for Erik and "My True Love" for Christine, another duet "You Are Music," and a show-stopping comic song for Carlotta, "This Place Is Mine."
Manatee Players' cast is full of excellent voices: James Alexander Hyde as Erik; Sophia Masterson, an actual opera singer, as Christine; Kris Sethi as Carlotta; Chris Caswell as Gerard, the former manager of the Paris Opera House; Tristan Martin as Philippe, the Count de Chandon; and Cory Woomert as Alain Cholet, Carlotta's paramour. The ensemble also sings very well, but the night I saw it the score didn't go soaring, and applause after songs was perfunctory. Perhaps it was a question of exhaustion after a week of tech rehearsals and dress rehearsal, but what I saw on stage simply did not have sustained energy behind it.
Steve Dawson's direction also seemed to suffer from energy deficiency, chases around the opera house looked ragged, as did much of the ensemble movement. Much of the dance work was among the best elements of this production. Scenery by Dan Yerman, lighting design by Joseph P. Oshry and costumes by Becky Evans seem to be victims of end of the season fatigue and do not represent the best this company is capable of. It is impossible to judge the music direction of Aaron Cassette, usually very reliable, which may be suffering from the general fatigue.
I am glad to see Manatee Players offering Phantom as it is a show I like very much. I hope the production improves greatly when the cast is more rested.
Manatee Players presents Phantom through May 8, 2016, at Manatee Center for the Performing Arts, 502 3rd Ave W., Bradenton; 941-748-0111, manateeplayers.com.
Cast: Erik: James Alexander Hyde Christine Daae: Sophia Masterson Phillippe, The Count de Chandon: Tristan Martin Gerard Carriere: Chris Caswell Madame Carlotta: Kris Sethi Alain Cholet: Cory Woomert Inspector Ledoux: Mark Eichorn Jean-Claude: James Olson Joseph Buquet: D. Callaghan Mayer Flora: Amelia Woerner Fleure: Anne Progner Florence: Taylor Reister Minister of Culture: Peter O'Malley Opera Tenors: Peter O'Malley, Jalex Scott Opera Divas: Alice Byrne, Carol Ciancia Belladova Dancer: Diana Dizon Belladova Voice: Amelia Woerner Young Erik: Jasiu Sebastian Hyde Young Erik Voice: Maddie Cashen Oberon: Jalex Scott Carlotta Staff: Craig Engle, Bradley Keville, Dan Wuethrich Policeman: Bill Cairo, Bradley Keville, Jalex Scott Ensemble: Emily Branton, Nancy Brining, Alice Byrne, Bill Cairo, Kaity Cairo, Maddie Cashen, Carol Ciancia, Diana Dizon, Craig Engle, Becky Evans, Tori Greenlaw, Nicolette Huit, Sofia Johnson, Bradley Keville, D. Callaghan Mayer, Ana Moss, Peter O'Malley, James Olson, Anne Progner, Taylor Reister, Anna Grace Robinette, Jalex Scott, Sarah Van Keuren, Amy Woerner, Dan Wuethrich Ballet Dancers: Emily Branton, Diana Dizon, Sofia Johnson, Ana Moss You Erik Understudy: Tori Greenlaw
Phantom Orchestra: Conductor: Keyboard: Aaron Cassette 2nd Keyboard: Teresa O'Connell Reeds: Teri Booth Trumpet: Victor Mongillo Percussion: John Januszewski
Directed by Steve Dawson Choreographed by Vanessa Russo Musical Direction by Aaron Cassette Production Stage Manager: Kristin Ribble Scenery Designed by Dan Yerman Lighting Designed by Joseph P. Oshry Costumes Designed by Becky Evans
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