Lee Mead Forum

So folks, for those of you that are interested in Phantom, I went to see it yesterday with the new cast. I just have to say that this was one of the most emotional pieces of musical theatre I have ever seen and I can't wait to go and see it again.

I'll start with the new cast. Since it's the first time I've seen it in the theatre, I don't really have anything to compare it to, but I thought the cast were fantastic. I'm going to start by apologising to Angelie who I know is a huge fan, but at the beginning only, I wasn't entirely keen on the new Phantom's voice (played by Ramin Karimloo). I think it's because I've grown up with Michael Crawford signing the part and Ramin just has a completely different style and tone to his voice. I did say that it was just at the beginning though, and by the time it got to The Music of the Night, I was completely taken in by him. I know the phantom is supposed to be, but his voice was very eerie, particularly when they echoed it.

I saw Leila Benn Harris as Christine who has a stunning voice - particularly when she sings Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again. She's a pint sized wee thing though. I was really disappointed after I booked the tickets that I wasn't going to see Michael Xavier as Raoul, however Alex Rathgeber was super duper. He has a lovely voice and is absolutely gorgeous.



*faints* I'm completely in love with him and got completely distracted whenever he was on the stage, particulary during Think of Me when he's in the box watching Christine singing - "Bravo!". The lucky Christine's get to kiss him too - grrrr . James Barron and Sam Hillier as Firmin and Andre were hysterical they both had great comedic timing.

The show itself was like nothing I've ever seen before. The Overture is one of my favourite pieces of music but watching the chandelier being hoisted up and the scenery change made it so much more dramatic. The special effects are amazing particularly during the Phantom of the Opera. I did find it quite scary in places too. I also hate to admit to this, but I actually cried on more than one occasion. All I Ask of You was particularly emotional as was The Point of No Return where my blubbing was uncontrolable. The guy sat behind me actually commented on the fact that both me and the women sat next door to me were crying. He promptly got told by his girlfriend to shut up as it was emotional. There's something strangely sexy about the Phantom and at the very end, I felt so sorry for him :( . More crying ensued.

I'll stop now otherwise I'll go on all day. Just to say, I was completely blown away by it....and am going to see it again at the beginning of November. :-P

Oooh wow! Thank you so much for posting this review! I've been waiting for ages for someone to post a review of the new cast on the Phantom forum and no-one has so I really appreciate it! It sounds fantastic.

I too was gutted when Michael left but I had high hopes for Alex. He seems lovely from his Myspace messages anyways so I'm so glad he's living up to expectations. Leila is amazing, she really blows you away and she's such a sweetie. I agree with her WYWSHA, it really shows her voice to its best! And Sam Hiller and James Barron are hilarious I agree. As I've never heard Ramin *live* I'm really looking forward to this! I've heard great things about him. I think he's got a much more original voice than others who have played the Phantom as it's a lot more rocky. Earl was pretty soft and gentle. It's nice to have different characteristics from the actors who play the Phantom.

I can sympathise with you being completely distracted by Alex...that's exactly how I was when Michael was on stage...I had to force myself to look at the rest of the scene. Hehe. I'm glad his voice is good too! In the Final Lair scene at the end, does he really fight for Christine and get angry with the Phantom? I really hope so as that was something that I loved when Michael did it. Raoul can be so pathetic and it's nice when he has a bit of fight in him!

I'm very jealous of you going at the beginning of November...I wish I was. However, I have to save up a bit. But I'm going to be going with some lovely girlies as soon as possible!

Don't apologise about going on all day about it! I can write absolutely LOADS after I've seen the show! I wrote a review that was nearly 3000 words long once

Thank you so much again for posting this! It's lovely to hear how the new cast are doing. :D

Did you go to the stage door?

thanks for the review, I'm going in early October so good to hear such glowing reports of the new cast :D

I saw the show about 40 times, in London and Holland, but I haven't seen it for years - the last time was a complete disappointment - but now I've read your review, I think I will try to get tickets next time I'm in London.

Oh I've cried so much at the Phantom, I'm not ashamed anymore to admit it!! WYWSHA always makes me sob.
And yes, I too felt sorry for the Phantom at the end. I guess that's what a GOOD actor will do to the public. A bad actor will leave you indifferent (not sure how to say this in English).

Ooooh, thanks for that review! :D It was great to read.

And there's really no need to apologise for not being so keen on Ramin's voice at the beginning. I only get irritated when people don't like his performance overall . Since you were taken by him from MOTN (who wouldn't be?!) I can forgive you for not being so keen before that...

You know, hearing that people are crying at Ramin's performances makes me really happy. I know that sounds weird but, Ramin wants people to be moved by the performance and cry so... yeah, really it's a good thing you cried!

Edited to add: next time you need to go stage door Ramin and Leila, since they're both lovely lovely people.... I've heard Alex is nice too but I have yet to meet him myself... :D

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear the last time was such a disappointment. Do you know who you saw in it? I'd definitely recommend going again, especially with this cast. The last cast was outstanding but I think Ramin and Alex (along with Leila and Robyn) are going to be amazing!



That's how we'd say it too :)

Oh by the way, I would have been quite happy to read you going on about Phantom! I know I do it all the time :-P. And I have written 1,000 words just on my random Ramin observations before so...

Yeah, I would say he put up a fight. As I said, I've not seen Michael play the role so I couldn't compare the two but he was certainly believeable *sniff sniff* I agree that there is a lot of scope for Raoul to be a bit of a wet wicket, purely because he's overshadowed by the Phantom.



No, didn't go the the stage door as I was attempting to stalk Lee! Given my new found love for Alex, I may try that next time.



Even if you didn't like his voice, there's no way you can fault his performance. He was extremely convincing throughout although I'd say he kinda grew into it as the show went on.

There's just so many good moments in it. I've heard some not very good reviews of the show in general but they must have been watching a differnt show to me.

This is a very important question (well, important for me anyway ) : did Ramin slap Alex in Final Lair? At the part where he sings "refuse me and send you lover to his death" ?

Oh yes, that is indeed a very important question! I missed the Ramin-Michael slap....I sincerely hope I will be able to catch the Ramin-Alex slap!

Oh no, I must have missed that - Mascara in my eyes and all that! :( I'll have to look out for it next time.

Oooh, I do hope it's still there! I never wear eye make-up to Phantom any more, I cry a bit too much for that!

Where were you sitting by the way? And where will you be sitting next time around?

I was stalls P14 last time and next time I'm stalls M23. I'm nearing closer and closer gradually. I might be going to see it again next year so I'm hoping I'll be able to get better again.

Hey thanks so much for this review! I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed it!
I'm really intrigued by Alex, he does look like a good looking young man, and no doubt he will distract me when he's on stage - trust me, when Michael Xavier was on stage it was rare that I looked anywhere else! I would really like to see Alex, I look forward to seeing him and deciding if I like him or not. I'm sure I will, but I was so fond of Michael....

I havent actually SEEN Ramin live yet, but I love his voice, I think he's really great. He's got a very powerful voice, and he's just got something about him that I like... His album is really good, I recommend it to you all - can be bought either at his website or from the Dress Circle shop in Covent Garden/website.

Haha sorry for the Ramin album plug there - I've been listening to it in the car all month!

Great review it really makes me want to go and see Phantom again. I love it that everyone in the audience is so quiet and then you can hear people snivelling at the end. I cried loads especially when Christine kisses the Phantom.

Except that you shouldn't buy it from Dress Circle . It's more expensive there. That and if you get it from Ramin's website, he writes on the envelope himself.... well, he used to, I don't know if he has the time anymore!



Heh, I was the same... well, only when Raoul was on stage and the Phantom wasn't :-P (oh except that one time when the Phantom was Earl and not Ramin)

Oh my god he WRITES on the envelope???
Ok now I want to buy another copy, but from his website.
I got my copy from the Dress Circle shop and the guy who served me asked me loads of questions! "So why are you buying this? How do you know about this artist? Where did you hear about his album?"

Ummm... "Because Ramin's great. I know him because of Phantom and my crazy friends like Angelie. I heard about his album on his website. Can I just have the CD now please?"

Haha ok so I didn't respond in QUITE that way... But I was quite frightened...

Can I just say: Oh dear Nic. Oh. dear.

But yeah, he does write on the envelope. You can tell because the handwriting's the same on the envelope as when he signs programmes and stuff. I got my dad to order my copy, so sadly Ramin wrote his name on the envelope rather than mine

See, if you'd just got your first copy from his website you would have saved some money, and saved yourself that weird conversation AND had Ramin's writing on the envelope!

Meh... I'll just order another copy. I'll give it to my mum or something, haha though I think she's getting annoyed with hearing it all the time in the car!

I don't actually own this album, it's just on my iTunes....maybe I should purchase one *prepares self for Angelie's "omgyoudefinitelyneedtogetanalbumofthewonderfulgodraminsinging"*

Didn't I give you the mp3s

And I wouldn't say you need to buy the album if you already have mp3s.... well, unless you just want to have him write your name on an envelope :-P