The cast of "The Phantom Of The
Opera" performs at the 67th Annual Tony Awards, on Sunday, June 9, 2013
in New York. -- PHOTO: AP
By Corrie Tan
The Phantom Of The Opera seems to enjoy stalking Singapore's stages.
The masked spectre has skulked in the shadows of the Kallang Theatre
(1995) and the Esplanade Theatre (2007). Come July 16, it will take up
residence in the Grand Theatre at Marina Bay Sands.
Created by Andrew Lloyd Webber and directed by Harold Prince, the
deeply romantic musical with its gothic overtones has been a smash hit
worldwide, telling the story of a disfigured musical genius who falls
deeply and tragically in love with a talented young opera singer rising
through the ranks.
American actor Brad Little, 49, will be returning to Singapore in the
role of the tortured, lovelorn Phantom. Little has performed the role
more than 2,200 times across the globe.
Speaking to Life! at a stopover in Singapore last month, he says: "I
love playing this role and I still do. I still find different energies,
different ideas, something will just suddenly spark you'll go, wow, I
never thought of it that way. Different Christines will bring something
new."
In this production, the ingenue Christine - the object of the
Phantom's obsessive affection - will be played by Australian actress
Claire Lyon, 26, a newer addition to the cast. Little says fondly of his
co-star: "She is Christine."
He adds: "Claire's career started off as a ballet dancer, went into
classical singing, and then the understudy and then - it's amazing, the
parallel of her career and Christine's career."
This year, the Phantom celebrates its 25th year on Broadway, where it
remains the longest-running musical to date. Along the way, the beloved
musical has picked up 130 million audience members in 27 countries and
earned more than US$5.6 billion.
For more, read Life! tomorrow.
corriet@sph.com.sg
http://stcommunities.straitstimes.com/show/2013/07/01/phantom-opera-haunts-singapores-stages-yet-again