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Post by scuffa on Aug 8, 2007 17:51:46 GMT 9.5
Caught up with a "well trained" friend yesterday who gave me some newspaper clippings on the opening of Phantom. She knows to save all Anthony stuff for me.
Most of the articles have been online and shared but this small article puts a different slant on the opening. Sounds like the producers really pushed our man.
The Phantom Must Go On
When associate director Arthur Masella addressed the opening night audience for The Phantom of the Opera to explain that the cast was ravaged by flu, he did not tell the whole story.
Apparently Anthony Warlow called in sick on Saturday and was adamant he could not go on. He was told in no uncertain terms he had to go on. His understudy was like a shadow, fully costumed and warmed up, ready to go on at a moment's notice in case Warlow floundered.
It is a mark of Warlow's professionalism that he struggled through. If his voice was good when he was so ill, we can only imagine how he will be at the top of his game.
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Post by windbelle on Aug 8, 2007 21:09:28 GMT 9.5
Oh my! I never thought they really pushed him to go on. That's tough. Although I know the opening night is important, and I'd be deadly disappointed if I were in the audience and didn't see him on the opening night. *Sigh*
Edit: Oh, thanks a bunch for the clipping! Now we know that what kind of professionalism he has displayed.
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Post by neh on Aug 8, 2007 22:14:24 GMT 9.5
Good grief, they have no right to pressure him so when he's clearly unwell... those bastards! *although as Belle says, if i were in that audience and he didn't appear, it would stink beyond all manner of stinkiness*
I just realised that in exactly a month's time, i will be at Phantom! WOOHOO!!!!!!
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cirque
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Post by cirque on Aug 9, 2007 15:32:36 GMT 9.5
Hey everybody... im new here but caught the show on tuesday here are my thoughts -
The wait for this day was agonising... I know every word of the score, have seen it countless times by illegal means... but have never seen it LIVE.... so the fact that I would finally get to see the show... and with my favourite musical theatre star Anthony Warlow was more then I could possibly handle. I rushed into the theatre half an hour before... anxious to see if Warlow would be on... and he WAS. Oh how joyous I felt! After his recent absence due to illness, he was back and he would officially be my 'first' Phantom. On with the show....
We had a full cast, except for alternate Julie Goodwin as Christine. I'd heard great things about her but wasn't prepared for what I was about to see. Mark my words, Julie is possibly the FINEST Christine you will ever see/hear. At only 19 years old, and currently studying to be an opera singer, this is how Christine should be, operatic yet with a youthful air to her voice. I know it sounds like I'm avoiding Warlow, but heck we all know what he's like... this girl is a shining star, and without a doubt will light up Opera stages around the world. I haven't seen Ana, but have heard clips of her... and she doesn't come close to matching the vocal brilliance of Julie.
Anthony... what can one say? Effin' Amazing in every respect. He is at the perfect stage in his career to be playing this role. Vocally, he has never sounded better. His Music of the Night is a soaring and visceral experience. The song, being so overdone and all, can fall in to the trap of being somewhat dull....yet Warlow reinvents it.... adding new dimensions, vocally and emotionally to create an absolutely enchanting experience.
Supporting players were generally of good quality, John Bowles as Raoul is neither great nor bad... he is merely 'there'. John O'May and Derek Taylor are deliciously camp as Andre and Firmin. Andrea Creighton and David Roger Smith, hystrically 'divaish', and Jackie Rees suitably menacing as Madame Giry. A special mention must go to newcomer Nadia Komazec who is adorable as Meg.
Seeing this show was surreal... I sat there watching it going... am I REALLY seeing this? FINALLY? after all these years? Yes I was.... and I will never forget it... ever... as they say "you never forget your first time"
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Post by neh on Aug 9, 2007 20:42:32 GMT 9.5
Hhehe, that's great cirque! Now i almost want poor Ana to be sick so that i can see/hear Julie! Golly, i'm gonna melt melt melt when Ant does MOTN......
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Post by windbelle on Aug 9, 2007 21:10:27 GMT 9.5
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mhoshiko
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Post by mhoshiko on Aug 10, 2007 1:46:39 GMT 9.5
Thanks a lot for reviews and further story behind the opening night, windbelle!
The more reviews and news about him I read, the more I adore him and his professionalism.
He is really the best in the world!
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Post by Marie-Cris on Aug 10, 2007 19:45:04 GMT 9.5
Great reviews everyone! ((Sorry I haven't been talking much here, I've been caught up))
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Post by neh on Aug 10, 2007 20:23:49 GMT 9.5
Thanks again Belle! *salute* The first review may have been iffy on the production overall (I can see where they're coming from with the arguement about the portrayl of Christine... mabye if they had seen Julie in the role they might have been satisfied??? who knows?) but it's wonderful to see that everyone loves Ant... well, that goes without saying - only an utter fool wouldn't and even then i'd advise some sort of test be taken and medication perscribed!
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Post by scuffa on Aug 11, 2007 1:33:44 GMT 9.5
Made me laugh when the first review calls this production tired and lackluster yet the second review states the exact opposite "fresh, dazzling and entertaining as the first production".
But like Neh pointed out, everyone agrees that Anthony is the high point.
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Post by neh on Aug 11, 2007 9:48:14 GMT 9.5
Hehe, yes that's a rather different take on the show in either one, eh?! BTW, scuffa i love your border pic there - so cute!
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Post by scuffa on Aug 11, 2007 13:04:26 GMT 9.5
Thanks Neh, it is pretty cute. It was taken at the concert "An Evening with Anthony Warlow" in Brisbane a few years back. I was in the front row and the lady next to me had a new digital camera on her lap (hence the weird angle) and kindly shared some of her photos. My avatar is also from the same night.
Thanks to Marie-Cris' assistance, I was finally able to load something into my signature.
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Post by Marie-Cris on Aug 11, 2007 21:01:48 GMT 9.5
I do what I can  |
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cirque
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Post by cirque on Aug 16, 2007 0:53:12 GMT 9.5
Well after a long hard wednesday at uni... i decided to see if i could snag a ticket on impulse for the night show and managed to get a single seat in the stalls in C reserve on the very aisle.... these aren't bad seats at all, there is no overhang to obstruct you and no pesky poles! Though I did miss out on some of the action, such as phantom at the organ and quite a bit of the stage in masquerade. If you do get a c reserve seat in the stalls, make it on hte LEFT hand side, you won't miss a thing!
Anyways, my friend who is an usher told me that Warlow was out for the matinee, so I was expecting to see Simon Pryce, which I wouldn't have been to sad about because I hear he is wonderful. So I got to the theatre, checked the board, WARLOW WAS ON, I grinned. Julie was on again as Christine, she has been on ever since I saw her last tuesday, TEN SHOWS, including the two show days. Ana is apparently very ill and the second cover isn't ready so Julie has had to slug it out. The show was as wonderful as ever, Warlow was excellent, though it was quite clear that he wasn't feeling too well and at the start it seemed as if he was pushing himself, but he warmed up wonderfully in the second act and his final lair was even better than last time. Julie was wonderful yet again, but it's obvious that doing ten shows in a row, including one earlier in the day, has taken it's toll, the gorgeous voice is still there but she was taking it easy, only letting it rip when it was urgently required.
All in all it was a great show, Warlow didn't get the whole audience standing ovation whicha nnoyed me, damn uncultured people! haha.
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Post by neh on Aug 16, 2007 12:44:00 GMT 9.5
Hehehe, i'd feel exactly the same cirque, if no one gives him one when we go. Heck, Cinta and i won't care what anyone else does - we'll set off bloomin' fireworks if we can!
I'm very glad that you got Julie again (she must be exhausted but what a trooper!), and that Ant could come on (he's just a GOD, as we all know), but golly - poor Ana and indeed poor everybody; it seems the virus is still running rampant down there. That really sucks - i mean, any group of people could have been subject to it but it had to be a performance troupe in the beginning of a run! That's just cruel -why not give it to ... i don't know.. a bunch of lawyers?!
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Post by windbelle on Aug 22, 2007 22:49:28 GMT 9.5
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Post by Marie-Cris on Aug 23, 2007 14:12:36 GMT 9.5
Ah ha that's brilliant! Great find! Oh, his voice is brilliant even when it's dark.
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geldridg
Phantom
Do you really think that I would ever let you go?
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Post by geldridg on Aug 23, 2007 19:18:13 GMT 9.5
Interview has been Dorian-ed...
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Post by neh on Aug 23, 2007 21:01:49 GMT 9.5
Ooooh, thankyou so muchly to both Belle (great find once again!) and Greg (our master techno-guru!) Mmmm.... darker Ant ..... very nice! *giggle giggle*
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Post by Marie-Cris on Aug 23, 2007 21:28:11 GMT 9.5
"Racing, got them to a good start, Phantom got the best foot on the outside, so did Christine Daae, and now here's Raoul coming up on the edge with 400 metres ... " ... MUUAAAAAW!  |
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Post by neh on Aug 24, 2007 8:31:21 GMT 9.5
HAHAHA - He's a hoot! Seriously, if he did functions i'd hire him just for the impressions!
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Post by Marie-Cris on Aug 24, 2007 10:07:56 GMT 9.5
I'm going to cut the sexy throat growl out of that audio and just slap it on repeat   |
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Post by neh on Aug 24, 2007 20:43:49 GMT 9.5
Oooh yes - do, do! *runs about like a spaz*
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Post by windbelle on Aug 27, 2007 21:19:34 GMT 9.5
Here's another interview: www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22300340-5003423,00.html More specific details about the opening night flu~~ And he talked a bit about the possibility of a new musical written especially for him. Oh dear, I really hope that would come true! |
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Post by neh on Aug 27, 2007 21:57:29 GMT 9.5
Me too, me too, me too, me too, me tooooooooooooooo! Thanks so much for the link Belle - mwa!
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Post by Marie-Cris on Aug 27, 2007 23:45:11 GMT 9.5
ATRJWRTJ!!! WAGTJSYJMSG!!!! SRTJSWRYSYKJRSAFVFF!!!!!!!!!  |
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mhoshiko
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Post by mhoshiko on Aug 28, 2007 0:27:08 GMT 9.5
Thank you very much for the link, windbelle! A new musical witten especially for him... how thrilling! My husband and I was just talking about possibility (rather dream) living in Australia, so that we can have more chances to see Anthony. I wish I would win the lottery!! I envy everyone who's living in Australia.
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