Are
you familiar with The Phantom of the Opera?
This year, I had no idea what to get Mr. Handsome for his birthday, but I wanted it to be special. I keep a list on my phone of gift ideas for him and other family members, and I had quite a few ideas for small presents in the $10-$15 range but nothing amazing.
For a while now, he has been wanting to see the live Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera. He saw it (both live and in theaters) as a teenager and loved the music, but it’s been a while. His two youngest sisters went this spring while they were in New York City for a choir trip, and they have been talking about it ever since.
I read the book in French 10 years ago, and all I remember is that the plot was pretty odd. (That and my [very] animated French teacher’s dramatization of the work.) But Mr. Handsome assured me that you don’t go for the plot–you go for the music.
So when we heard that The Phantom of the Opera was coming to the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in downtown Nashville, I knew it would be the perfect birthday present for Mr. Handsome.
The production was wonderful. The plot was a bit strange, as expected, but the music was fantastic, especially the theme song.
Have you seen it? If you have, you know about the massive chandelier hanging over the audience that “falls” in the middle of the musical. It doesn’t fall all the way, but let me just say that I am very glad we weren’t sitting directly under it.
We were a good distance away, and my heart still stopped. Maybe it’s because I’m pregnant and a little more on edge, but if we had been sitting underneath, there’s a good chance I would have gone into cardiac arrest. I was expecting at least a few people to scream, but surprisingly, no one did. I must have been the only chicken in the theater.
I saw it in Pittsburgh and love it, I even own the DVD of it with Genard Butler (sorry if I miss spelled his name) as the Phantom. It’s one of my favorite shows
I think experiences make the best gifts. One of my favorite wedding presents that we received was a white water rafting trip, and one of the best gifts I’ve ever given was a balloon ride.
As great as the gift of a physical item can be, they don’t tend to be memorable in the same way experiences are.
Musical theater is so much fun, and so is the whole experience of being at the theater for any show.
Happy birthday to Mr Handsome!
My favorite musical! I even inscribed a line “You’ll guide me & you’ll guard me” from the musical inside my husband’s wedding ring!
cool gift!! never saw phantom of the opera myself. there used to be ‘playhouses’ here where you could go see the play and have dinner. usually a big name actor and then locals. unfortunately they’ve all closed down but we loved to go for special occasions with the family. saw quite a bit of great plays that way
btw, you look absolutely stunning!
Yes, I’ve seen Phantom both on Broadway and off. I don’t consider it at all “odd” or “strange.” Put it in the context of the time it was written, and by whom it was written. Leroux had a law degree and was for a time a court reporter. There was a case where someone at the Paris Opera was killed by a chandelier counterweight falling. No doubt that case was an influence on his writing.
Leroux’s tale of a “phantom” haunting the building is no stranger than any other Gothic-style tale or detective tale that was popular in the 1800’s. Look at Poe, Doyle, Stoker, Collins, Gaskell, Alcott, and even the Bronte and Dickens gloomy-toned stories. Many of those stories were serialized for publication in literary magazines, and would have kept readers anxious to purchase the next installment.
I don’t agree with Mr. Handsome’s statement that you go to a show like “Phantom” for the music, not the plot. The music furthers the plot. You cannot (and should not) separate the two in a musical such as this. “Jukebox” musicals are the exception, where a sometimes weak or even missing plot is woven around already existing hit songs (“Smokey Joe’s Cafe,” for example).
In any case, there’s your idea for a Christmas present – the original cast recording of the show on CD, which should come with lyrics and pictures to help you remember this experience. I have the music from every show I’ve seen and some from shows I’ve yet to see.
Never seen this play, but I’ve heard of it. I believe you hit it out of the ballpark, Ellie, with this birthday gift, Mr. Handsome has a big smile on his face. I like your hair Ellie, looks so soft and pretty…Jane
Thank you, Jane! 🙂
I love the Phantom of the Opera music!
My mom took my sister and I to see the musical production last winter and we loved it! Every time I heard the theme song I would get goosebumps and when the chandelier dropped, I nearly screamed. 😉
Did you bake or buy a birthday cake? And did you take as picture that you could post? It’s nice you thought of an idea that was special to him and it turned out good.
Mr. Handsome isn’t a huge cake person, so I decided to make him cherry strudel. Recipe coming soon. 🙂
Ellie
I saw it in NYC. Amazing.
Have you ever heard of Drew Tretick? I love his Phantom of the Opera medley! He plays an electric violin and the sound is stunning.
Hi Kay. I haven’t. Mr. Handsome and I will have to check it out. 🙂
Ellie
I saw it in NY city with my three daughters we took train in had dinner at a resturant close to Penn station it my mothers day and birthday present now I have the CD music and DVD of the phantom of opera with gerald butler since my daughter love phamthon also had seen multiply times I brought her a blanket with phamthon on it for birthday slash Christmas happy birthday to your husband great idea
One time I got my teen age son ultra compacted paper cloth wipe circular tabs that super expand when taken out and made wet, for Christmas. Needless to say that was not a very thoughtful gift. Even when I really tried my gifts were just tossed aside. I think men get hurt by being excited and then getting a pair of work gloves or dentasl floss etc. But you really did a job of getting a gift that wowed!
I love the phantom of the opera. I have never seen the live musical only the movie version that came out about 10-15 years ago. After I saw the movie I had to get the cd soundtrack-I haven’t listened to it in a while and now I really want too!!
We love Phantom Of The Opera’s music. We have the CD.We have never seen the play,unfortunately. Wishing Mr. Handsome a year of happiness and blessings.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR. HANDSOME
Joan,Marion and Marilyn
Thank you, ladies! 🙂
Such a great musical! If you ever have a chance to see the live Broadway version of Les Miserables, it is also outstanding. My husband and I attended a few years ago in Charlotte, NC, and it was phenomenal!
We haven’t seen Les Mis live, but Mr. Handsome loved the movie and says he would really like to see the Broadway version.
Ellie
If he enjoyed the movie, the 10th anniversary Broadway musical version is available from some years ago on DVD, and is just wonderful.
Thanks for the suggestion! That’s a good idea.
Never heard of the Phantom of the Opera.