Phantom

Book by Arthur Kopit, Music and Lyrics by Maury Yeston

Based on Gaston Leroux’s novel The Phantom of the Opera the story begins when we meet Christine who is selling music. The Count de Chardon passes by and falls in love with her and her voice and offers her singing lessons at the Paris Opera with the osner Carrirere. Unfortunately by the time she arrives there the theatre has been taken over by Carlotta and her husband Cholet who give her a job in wardrobe and not lessons.

At the time we first meet Erik (the Phantom) he kills Carlotta’s wardrobe Manager after he stubbled in on the Phantom and his Acolytes. No one can see the Phantom’s face and live it would seem. Erik was born and raised in the cata­combs under the Paris Opera House and needs beautiful music – he cannot exist without it. He takes Christine as his pupil, training her for the opera, but forbids her to see his face. As Gérard Carrière has now lost his position as head of the Opera house he cannot protect Erik’s privacy any longer, Carriere is later revealed as the Phantom’s father. Carlotta, the new diva and owner of the Opera, has a terrible voice that torments the Phantom. He then sets about sabotaging Carlotta’s performances so that the chief of police is brought in.

His salvation must eventually come through Christine, whose voice is so beautiful that he falls in love with her. Christine makes her debut and is given a lead role by Carlotta. However Carlotta is jealous of Christine and has only given her the role to sabotage her and publically huniliate her. Christine’s voice fails her on her debut causing great anger from the Phantom who cuts the chandelier causing it to crash to the floor and stop the performance. The Phantom takes Christine into the catacombs with him and plans to keep her there.

Carriere follows the Phantom to try and reason with him but the Phantom will not listen. Instead he leaves and kills Carlotta for poisoning Christine and ruining her debut. Whilst he is gone Carriere tells Christine about Erik and his mother, Belladova, who Carriere fell in love with. He urges Christine to leave the Opera House but she feels she owes Erik for his help.

The Phantom returns and Christine asks to see his face. She believes if his mother could love him despite his face then so could she. Unfortunately she was wrong, screams and runs away followed by a devasted and angry Phantom. The Phantom is soon surrounded by police chasing him and fears that he will be captured and treated like a circus freak because of his horrendous face (which is never seen). Erik shouts out to his father for help. Carrière understands; he grabs a policeman's gun and aims at his son. After a struggle with himself, he fires, and the Phantom falls, calling out Christine's name.

Originally Produced in the United States at Theatre Under the Stars, Houston, Texas
Originally directed by Charles Abbot