The Phantom of the Opera at His Majesty's Theatre

The prologue to a bright new year! A classic spectacle of gothic romance.

As one of the oldest running shows on the West End, Phantom has gained a reputation for many things from being a tourist trap to romanticizing stalking but I prefer to introduce people to this show by telling it as it is - a gothic romance. Tragic, horrifying and deeply carnal. This story, written by Gaston Leroux and first published in 1909, has been largely adapted as two genres: Horror and Romance. Andrew Lloyd Webber's Musical obviously falls on the latter but that doesn’t mean it is free from horror elements. These potentially triggering topics and features of the show have been beautifully outlined in an access document that can be requested from the front of house staff or found at the Box Office of His Majesty’s Theatre.

At my evening show on the 2nd of January, I had a lovely chat with Jemma - an amazing member of the Phantom Team that focuses on assisting those with all things access! His Majesty’s Theatre currently has an infra-red audio enhancement system when requesting support for deaf and hard of hearing guests and rentable opera glasses available even in the middle of the stalls. From my seat, P34, there is a pillar that only blocks a small part of the stage but it is fantastic for legroom. Rentable opera glasses are available for £1 and I find them almost a necessity from this spot. For larger scale sections such as Act two's opening Masquerade, it can easily be enjoyed from the full back view this seat gives, but having seen this show a number of times, I love to use my glasses during the scene to appreciate Maria Bjornson’s detailed and timeless costume designs.

*POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD*

My Review:

This review is coming from someone who has had the privilege to see this current cast 3 times since they began. To me, this show is timeless and holds a special place in my heart being the first ever show I saw on the West End way back in 2021. Despite my love of the show, I took a while to warm to Lily Kerhoas’ portrayal of Christine Daaé, I can now safely say that she is in her element on that stage and specifically when accompanied by Dean Chisnall and Joe Griffiths Browns’ stunning performances.

We find a naïve take on Christine in the beginning that slowly morphs into one who understands that she holds as much power over the Phantom as he does over her. By Point of No Return, the balance is clear, making Final Lair that much more striking as she hands him back the ring.

In this performance, Kerhoas’ Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again seems to mirror the depth and passion of Chisnalls’ Music of the Night. Where he is deeply passionate in a sensual sense, she mimics this passion through pure and raw emotion. It feels like how this was meant to be performed.

Dean Chisnalls’ Portrayal of The Phantom does not have enough words in the English language to describe, but I will try. A deep and rich tenor range makes experiencing Music of the Night feel like a lullaby. Soft, comforting and decadent, switching between the well-known title track ballad to this and back to the harsh tones of Don Juan's Motif in the beginning of I Remember/Stranger Than You Dreamt It is a clear reflection of his stunning range.

Opposite Chisnall is the stunning Joe Griffiths Brown as Viscount Raoul De Changy. A boyish and charming portrayal of a classic loverboy. In a similar aspect, David Kristopher-Brown as Ubaldo Piangi brings equal bounds of charm and comedic timing to his role. When it comes to their respective love interests, each contributes details that make their final scenes much harder hitters.

The managers within this cast have some of the greatest comedic timing I’ve seen on stage. Playing off each other so comfortably and shining through in the small solo comedic moments they have.

Zoë Soleil Vallée shines as Carlotta - a capital D-Diva! Her take is fresh and yet an ode to each Carlotta that has come before her. The character's usual stroppy nature shines in Prima Donna and Notes 2 is only emphasised by her stunning projection. This performance was a treat as it was my first time catching any cover for this role!

This show is near and dear to my heart and I can honestly say that this current cast is an absolute honour to see live. If this is your introduction to this show, it is a perfect time to see it.

Special thanks to Edie and Jemma for making my first theatre trip of the year so wonderful and welcoming!

Content Warnings:

The theatre has content warnings on display which are as follows:

Loud Noises
Pyrotechnics

Additional content warnings for the show can be found on the website or upon requesting the access document at the theatre, and these warnings are as follows:

Loud Sounds
Gun Shots
Flashing Lights
Haze
Fire
Pyrotechnics
Depictions of Violence and Death at certain points during the performance

The theatre access document is requestable by patrons. It contains detailed content warnings including time, identifiers and prior moments before the effect as well as the effect, location and main triggers.

Access information can be found at: https://lwtheatres.co.uk/access/his-majestys-theatre/#the-phantom-of-the-opera?externalId=1736120005458 and this link details everything from audio and visual assistance to the amount of steps in the venue and the exact distance from any important points within the theatre.

Thank you for taking the time to read and I hope this review has proved interesting and helpful for you :)

- AnxiousTheatregoer