PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
Ipswich Musical Theatre
September 8, 2023
Reviewed by Damien Lee – West Bremer Radio
The Ipswich Musical Theatre Company are getting ready to raise the curtain on their major production for 2023, The Phantom of the Opera. Whether you’re a long time Phantom fan, or you’re seeing the show for the first time, this production, of the one of the world’s most successful musicals, is guaranteed to delight and entertain.
Australian audiences are no stranger to this Andrew Lloyd Webber classic, with many notable stars such as Anthony Warlow, and the late great Rob Guest, donning the mask and lurking in the subterranean depths of the Paris Opera House. In my view, Nathan Kneen who plays the tortured leading man, now sits with the those I have mentioned. His voice soars to heights required by the role and he never missed a beat. His command of the stage, and the energy required bringing to life one of the most famous musical theatre characters never wanes. Kneen really impressed as the Phantom, portraying the character as both menacing and infatuated with Christine Daae, the young dancer turned soprano, played by Bryleigh Parsons-Pope.
Displaying an angelic voice and capturing the terror of being stalked by the Phantom, Parsons-Pope delivers a sweet, impressive, and enchanting performance as Christine, portraying her as the secret songbird. In this production she comes across as more thoughtful, attentive, hesitant, and feisty, earning praise for her stage presence. Russell Morgan delivers a wonderful performance as Raoul. His voice and irresistible stage presence make him the perfect viscount. Morgan’s chemistry with Parsons-Pope’s Christine is sincere, wholesome, and highly believable, while his stage presence with Kneen’s Phantom exudes undeniable tension. The trio’s on-stage dynamics are enjoyable and convey the sense that they are genuinely having fun performing together.
Other notable performances include Elise Pickersgill as the vocally perfect and fierce opera diva Carlotta Guidicelli, and Samantha O’Hare, who brought to life one of the most memorable performances for me as Madame Giri, and was as menacing as the Phantom at times,
Director, Lyn Pelgrave, has done an incredible job of staging such a large scale musical on the small and intimate stage at the Civic Centre. The use of a large LED screen at the rear of the stage, to bring to life the scenes, is a spectacular replacement for painted scenic backdrops and constructed set pieces. No doubt the support from local company CPC Productions has been a valuable collaboration for the Ipswich Musical Theatre Company, especially with design, audio and lighting elements. That said, I attended the final rehearsal, and the production experienced some delays and timing issues with technical elements and scene changes that may need refinement.
While orchestra sizes dwindle as producers worry more about the “break even” point of a show, Ipswich Musical Theatre Company should be commended across the arts sector for mounting this show with a massive 28 piece orchestra. Under the baton of acclaimed Musical Director Robert Clark, the score for this show soars, and rollercoasters throughout the story retelling. The orchestra is tight, well rehearsed and so professional it could sit in the pit of any main house metro theatre. Though with limited space at the Civic Centre, the orchestra had no hope of fitting into the pit, so are sitting in a separate room one floor down from the stage level. One thing is for sure, you will not forget the music and the songs we have grown to love including Music of the Night, Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again, All I ask Of You and The Phantom Of The Opera.
From the opening words from the Auctioneer (Greg Hinks) selling off the Paris Opera House famous Chandelier, and no I won’t tell you what happens, to the magical climax, this is a show that deserves full houses and standing ovations.
Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before and allow yourself to enter the labyrinth that is The Phantom Of The Opera.
Playing until September 17, 2023.
Ipswich Civic Centre
Tickets – www.ipswichciviccentre.com.au
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