10th Anniversary of 'Phantom' Musical Delivers a Thrilling Experience

The '10th Anniversary' of the musical 'Phantom' began with grandeur, living up to its title. As if an orchestra was hidden beneath the stage, a conductor peeked out to greet the audience, setting the tone for a captivating opening that promised an auditory feast.

The musical 'Phantom,' which opened on the 31st of last month, is based on Gaston Leroux's 1910 novel 'The Phantom of the Opera.' While the story is familiar through various adaptations, the production team skillfully avoided clichés with a streamlined narrative and swift scene transitions, engaging the audience from the start.

The protagonist, Phantom, is a masked figure living beneath the theater. To lighten the potentially dark atmosphere, the production incorporated humorous lines into the dialogue, fostering a connection with the audience.

Actor Kai, playing the Phantom, used his distinctive baritone to add depth to the character and the overall mood of the play. His performance balanced the humor with gravity, drawing the audience back into the Phantom's world. His nuanced portrayal added authenticity and empathy to the character's plight. Min Young-ki, playing the Phantom's father, delivered a powerful performance, showing no signs of his recent gallbladder surgery.

The attention to detail extended beyond the actors to the props, with meticulously arranged candles, lights, and moonlit scenes enhancing the atmosphere. Special effects like sparks and smoke underscored the production's commitment to excellence.

However, the multitude of simultaneous dialogues sometimes overwhelmed the audience, causing fatigue. Additionally, the lengthy backstory monologue by the Phantom's father in the second act, following a 15-minute intermission, was noted as a minor flaw, with some audience members visibly disengaged. While the combination of ballet and musical elements justifies this, a more concise rendition might have sufficed.

Despite these minor drawbacks, the production's strengths overshadow them. The fusion of opera, musical, ballet, and high-action sequences demonstrated a commitment to perfection for the 10th anniversary, resonating with the audience's senses. One attendee remarked, "If the goal was to electrify the entire body, the 10th-anniversary performance achieved it brilliantly."