How can you expect a musical about Opera to be anything but Melodrama?????? P.S. But it's easily manageable, and the compensation is that it's a good and comfortable distance from the actors. Right on, monkey - what a lacklustre event Phantom at Her Majesty's has become. They should have switched roles. He completely lacked stage presence, had no voice to speak of and overdid the histrionics to the point that the Phantom became a caricature rather than a sympathetic figure. We sat in the Stalls in row D, seats 9 and 10. My favourite song being 'Prima Donna,' I cannot understand how not since Rosemary Ashe in the original cast have I ever seen or heard anyone better. I never have a problem with legroom in the dress circle; I find the D/C my preferred place to sit in the theatre to the stalls. The rest of the cast were completely fine, notably Sofia Escobar who was excellent as Christine. The bar only obstructed the view of the orchestra pit which was hardly a problem. Dave Lorenz. Since The Phantom of the Opera premiered in 1986, the musical continues to wow West End audiences with its tale of dark romance, jealousy . The seats were amazing and I was so close to the action, I did not have a problem with legroom or cricked necks. So it is no surprise to me he has gone from strength to strength in his career, and the role of Phantom is surely one of the most demanding on any singer. I think the connection between Ramin and Robyn is very electric and sexy. This one runs and runs. Fantastic all the way We tell you the seats to buy, which to avoid, and how to get them at the best prices, Haymarket, His voice is superb and he really made the show. 'Wishing you were somehow here again' in the grave is a richly powerful song, and the lead roles had voices which were shattering. I suppose for me this was a last minute choice, and I was interested to see what the experience was like from the front row - but was worth it to hear the orchestra so close up and see it from a different perspective and for 57 certainly feel like I got my moneys worth and didn't feel ripped off. That said, this is a great show and I don't think you can be a regular West End theatre goer and not see it. Sitting in the dress circle can allow you to feel immersed in the action of whats on stage, but you are able to sit from a height so you can appreciate whats going on at all levels, something which you may miss if you are sitting in the stalls. The acoustics in this theatre are good anyway but the sound from the stage was very clear. Although the disruption was palpable the show itself lacked heart and we hadn't developed any compassion for the characters but it all looked very nice. The only real disadvantage was that it's quite close to a speaker on the wall, which sometimes makes it difficult to locate a voice on stage because the sound's coming from a different direction. Premium seats are the 91.40 tickets, yet the cheapest ones in this section, the . As for my verdict - it is still the best show in London and a must see (many times)! Nadia Ansari ____________________. Sarah, This row is one back from the handrail which means you're always at the mercy of the people sitting in front who sometimes sit forward and obstruct your view. The only "problem" is that you're so close that you have to decide where to look when a lot is happening at once as you can't see everything at the same time. Visited this theatre for the first time - last minute decision so the only seats available were in the back row of the stalls SEATS 1/2/3. Christine's interaction with the Phantom when she gives him a ring and kisses him being especially moving. I was far more impressed when it came to life and was lifted up at the end of the Auction Scene. ________________________________________, I went last weekend (November 2014) with the wife. But then I found your website, and spent over an hour reading anything and everything Phantom-related, and so it were that yesterday we stood for all of 45 minutes outside Her Majesty's Theatre, and got ourselves two tickets for the matinee, in the 4th row (stalls!) (11th January 2011 matinee, Stalls G12 and 13). My cousin and I were in London for a special few days break and chose this show to see out of all those currently on as we loved the music (I have a copy of the original cast recording LP!). Also, I have to say I was quite disappointed that Front of House, while keen to prevent any photos being taken before the show and during the interval, were not so keen to enforce this rule DURING the show - two people on the row in front of us kept taking photos, even using a flash at one point! We disagree. He has brought a fresh take on the role and a vitality which is refreshing after some of the Phantoms I've seen who seem to have just walked through the role. I wish they would hurry up Ramin Karimloo was spectacular as the Phantom. I loved every single minute of it. A restricted view means that you may be unable to see the entire stage from the specified seats. The monkey advises checking performance times on your tickets and that performances are happening as scheduled, before travelling. Ramin Karimloo was fantastic as 'Phantom', but personally I felt he was outdone by 'Christine' played by Katy Hall, her singing was amazing. I could not say anything as we were all so cramped together - it looks like they have added an extra row of seats and pushed the other seats really close together. Besides which, Christine is intended to start with a weak voice and gradually become stronger, reflecting her increased knowledge of the world and its darkness. The Best Technical and Innovative Podcasts you should Listen, Essay Writing Service: The Best Solution for Busy Students, 6 The Best Alternatives for WhatsApp for Android, The Best Solar Street Light Manufacturers Across the World, Ultimate packing list while travelling with your dog. I think this understudy made no difference in my enjoyment of the production. London SW1Y 4QL Another limitation of Her Majesty's theatre is that it is acoustically bad and offers dismal views. After nearly 8,200 performances in the same theatre, you would think the sound would be good. This is the fourth time I've seen Phantom and it never disappoints. His Majesty's Theatre. I did enjoy the first half more than the second - I found a couple of the scenes in the second half overly long really. He portrays the Phantom as autistic, and he had all these mannerisms that I picked up on straight away. The main things to be mindful of at fortyfivedownstairs are the structural poles that keep up the four levels of building above. It is never a consistent struggle to see the actors, since they are always moving around. For a slightly loftier night, those first rows of the circle are grand too. and the sound design needs perking up and mixing LOUDER! All the views expressed in our published seat reviews are those of independent theatregoers and don't necessarily represent those of whichseats.com, producers or theatre owners. We sat in the Grand Circle in the front row and didn't find the bar an obstruction at all. Paid 25 for top price tickets from See Tickets so a good deal. She completely screwed up the last part of 'Think of me' which was already shorter than usual I think due to her vocal limitations. (Pic included, the other 3 members of the party were sat to my right)When we raised this with an usher we were told there was nothing that could be done on the night. ___________________________, 26th January 2017 (matinee). I had no interest in opera, only knew one song and only knew the story in brief (and the Phantom was the only character I remembered) before I went to see it. I have always loved the music and have watched the recent DVD release a few times but NOTHING compares to the live stage version. Blenheim, New Zealand. Despite what theatremonkey says, to see the theatre sold out on a Monday night in July proves how good the show is. She lifted the slightly flat acting of the Phantom wonderfully and kept Raoul's head above water. Get over it!! Unfortunately, the problems only started after the show had begun. We uncover the best of the city and put it all in an email for you. We sell these seats because for many fans a restricted/side view is . The whole cast were fantastic but this man is one to watch. Killian Donnelly as Raul was very endearing - he has a nice voice and his acting was wonderful (and what a lovely chap he is too in real life! Some scenes-mainly the hanging of sceneshifter Joseph Buquet - are not suitable for young children. From our seats you could just about see the floor of the stage including the smoke effects over the lake. Otherwise they were excellent seats. After showing initial promise with some very impressive effects, it soon became apparent that the cast was not able to keep up with the set. Brian McCann should be proud of his performance. I saw 'Phantom of the Opera' on the 23rd July 2008 at the evening performance. My cousin is only 5'5" and she said there was not much leg room either. We checked on this site for seat info and had seats K23 and 24 in the stalls and found them very good, saw everything, my cousin is slightly taller than me so she could see the chandelier right to the top. The show is still one of the best I've ever seen and it's amazing how long its been running. Leila did not come out in time for us to see her, but Alex and Ramin did. It is advised to avoid row B as the seats are very uncomfortable and whilst B10-12 seats are sold very cheaply and can be seen as a bargain it is worth knowing that the conductor obstructs the view. Overall the Phantom of the Opera is a must see, even for those who have never taken in a West End show before. Would not get seats in upper circle again though as I suffer vertigo and it was a bit steep for me. Until Saturday 1st April 2023Earl Carpenter will reprise his role as The Phantom. Kristina P. My first problem was Raoul. The Phantom was sung just as well or even better than Michael Crawford, and Celia played Christine very well - she sang with a voice that was as it is supposed to be, clear and clean. This means there are no curves, and no sightline issues at all. Neither did they do anything to silence the couple behind us who were just carrying on a conversation during the show. Even though I think you can tell that the show is now 20+ years old from a number of the effects, it still worked; but after hearing so many chandelier stories I must admit to feeling a little disappointed when the thing "crashed" down - Hmmmmm. I sat in G2 and realised that the seat looked new and had obviously been refurbished. Im not normally a grouch! Not only this but the heat in our seats was intolerable. Pretty central and close to the stage so you can really experience the show. the special effects were among the best I have ever seen in a theatre, the music and the acting - I loved every minute of it. It had me in tears and goosebumps in parts. Although you are blocked 15% of the stage, the play is so powerful that you can work around it. Not dreadful but certainly not worth 25 in any way shape or form. ____________________________, I was disappointed when I found out the main actor would not be playing the phantom. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Australia. Best seats are stalls row J 26 and 27. Plenty of leg room, being in the walkway. Oliver Thornton (Raoul) isn't the best in the cast but then again isn't the worst, his voice is pretty good and his acting is acceptable, but Earl outshines them all. ________________________. JOJ has total anguish in everything he sings and performs and Ben just didn't, sigh. The sets quite good..and some of the songs quite memorable. Yes view is restricted. Looking to bag the best seats in the house? Being close to the aisle offers relief for cramped legs, The musical itself was magical. Couldn't see half of stage from there. I went with my mother and sister, neither of whom were particularly keen to see it, but we had time to kill so went for the matinee and were really glad we did! The venue is just beautiful, fits perfectly for such show. ___________________, We took our seven year old Twins to see Phantom for a birthday treat at the beginning of August 2005, though my Wife and I had seen it four times previously. This is not the Andrew Lloyd Webber / Sarah Brightman Story because occasionally the . I recently saw Phantom at Her Majesty's Theatre as an early 2008 Christmas present for a friend. This is very important to remember for the rest of the show. It gave the whole performance a strident edge that I did not enjoy. Theatremonkey, you are great for a lot of things but your opinion of Phantom is just plain wrong. Sat in Dress Circle row A23 and 24 and they were excellent seats. Thankfully British queue etiquette prevailed and we were allowed in first. I have since listened to the music from the original cast (Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman), but in my opinion, Earl Carpenter (Phantom) and Rachel Barrell (Christine) are far more talented. Dedication for the Red Gambit Series This series of books is dedicated to my grandfather, the boss-fellah, Jack 'Chalky' White, Chief Petty Officer [Engine Room] RN, my de facto father until his untimely death from cancer in 1983 and who, along with many millions of others, participated in the epic of history that we know as World War Two . Killian Donnelly is great too, although Im intrigued how Jon Robyns will do. At about 11am he called me forward and offered two seats at the end of row E and row B (front row). the theatre, the sets, the costumes, the effects, it was absolutely amazing from beginning to end. Emma His performance was a disgrace and how he got such a coveted part I will never know. ___________________, I went to see this a few weeks ago with a very open mind as I normally prefer something light and breezy and didn't think I was going to enjoy it-but I did!! I do realise that the part of Raoul is not well, good, it seems the writers got board when they got to his part!! My personal choice would always be to go for the Dress but being offered 65 seats for 35 made the decision to go for stalls. ____________________________, There are few productions still running in London with just as much panache and zest as they had when they started, and I truly think that Phantom is one of them. As a lifestyle editor and frequent West End visitor I've even recommended your page to our readers :) . Swansea Sudbury, Suffolk. I'm a big fan of the classic Universal Horror Movies so found myself quickly enjoying the general mood of the piece and the creepiness of the Phantom inhabiting all parts of the theatre. Was a pity but nonetheless a spectacular show! Luckily the show we went to see was fab! He evoked a lot of sympathy in the role. Make the most of the situation and dont sweat the small stuff! Intellectual Property can be trusted to equip you with the best possible basis for study of this dynamic subject. I think all the seats in the stalls at both sides at the back will be the same. Would definitely sit here again but would be more wary of B11 as that seat seemed more behind the conductor than I was - definitely worth the green rating on the seating plan. This means that your view of the stage may be partially blocked. How he got such a prestigious part is way beyond me! When I went to pick up the tickets, there was a rehearsal going on which you could hear from the foyer. Please take the credit card used for the booking and the Ticketmaster booking reference number as proof of purchase. I really enjoyed the show and everyone else was really good. The fog during the boat scene didn't seem as bad as some other people have said, so not sure if they've toned it down. I would like to make a comment on the front of house staff at Her Majesty's Theatre: they were all so pleasant, courteous and friendly and also very on the ball about monitoring bad behaviour and use of phones. Although you are blocked 15% of the stage, the play is so powerful that you can work around it. The musical itself was fantastic. While some seats cost 144.50 each, there will be 15,000 tickets at 15 for key workers, under 30s and those receiving jobseeker's allowance or other benefits, plus 15,000 free tickets for. You can even enjoy a show from the front of thegrand circle, but be prepared to abseil down to them from a great height. However, very disappointed with Theatre Tickets Direct. The story is fiction about a masked musical genius living in the catacombs of the Paris Opera! Legroom was just tolerable, but otherwise comfortable. When the chandelier lifted up to the ceiling over our heads and the music started I unashamedly cried. _____________________, Seats: Royal Circle row C 25 and 27. So what it the emotion is overblown? Brian McCann (named as swing on the website) donned the mask and was completely ill-prepared for the role. In fact we were so impressed we went to the Stage Door (and missed our train, but it was worth it). The toilets were out of order resulting in long queues around the stairs. Phantom and Christine were unconvincing and overworked, while Raoul fell into the usual trap of being a charisma vacuum. Sofia Escobar and John Owen-Jones were incredible as the two leads, both with a combination of astonishingly good voices and great acting. They just dragged the whole thing out. The tyranny of distance is lessened in the back of the stalls and dress circle thanks to the refurbishment, but depending on the scale of the production currently playing, you may wish to avoid the nosebleed sections if you want the best view in the house. My main problem is that the music is boring. It sits low, so you dont feel you are peering down on a show, and it is relatively close to the stage. Hertfordshire. Whilst a little disappointed that we were seeing the understudy, we came with open minds. Beth Phantom of the Opera, 22 Oct 2017 Anne As this was a birthday treat for my mother I wasn't too concerned about the price and thought the 47.00 tickets a reasonable price to pay for such a great day out and such good seats at a top London show. _______________________. The seats do seem close together and space seemed a bit tight on elbow room, but nothing to really worry about. Majesty 's theatre is that it 's amazing how long its been running Phantom of the are... 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