Phantom of the Opera
at George Mason High School

Reviewed on November 21, 2014

Cecily Wolfe
Flint Hill School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Fairfax

As the chandelier slowly rose above the audience and the orchestra played the ominous opening chords, a feeling of trepidation descended over the audience. George Mason High School's production of The Phantom of the Opera had begun. One of the best-known musicals of all time, The Phantom of the Opera, features music written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics written by Charles Hart. This timeless musical is based on the novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by French author Gaston Leroux. It first opened in London in 1986, and then premiered on Broadway two years later. Today, it is the longest running show on Broadway. Not only did The Phantom of the Opera win the 1986 Olivier Award, it also won the 1998 Tony Award for Best Musical. The story centers on Christine Daaé, the beautiful soprano who finds herself in the star role at the Opéra Populaire in 1881 France. Her appearance and talent cause her to be the object of affection and obsession for the enigmatic and scarred Phantom of the Opera.

As the title suggests, the Phantom truly did haunt the opera, and the minds of the audience. The commanding yet sinister presence of the Phantom, played by George Castillo, created a tone of mystery and apprehension. Such power contrasted nicely with the pure character of Christine (Alexandra Smith). While Castillo's overpowering voice swept across the audience, Smith's operatic soprano floated and soared. Songs such as "The Music of the Night," communicated the chemistry of this twisted relationship through Castillo's sweeping, menacing gestures and Smith's expressions of grave concern, her hesitance and her guarded demeanor. Smith also exhibited her vocal range and diversity when she interacted with her fiancée, Raoul (Arijeet Sensharma). Smith and Sensharma conveyed their romantic and passionate connection in the lyrical and elegant song "All I Ask of You," where their two voices blended seamlessly.

Overall, the singing was the highlight of George Mason's Phantom of the Opera, as it should be in this show. Yet, the talents of other actors and actresses complimented this "main feature" of the show. The managers of the Opera House, Monsieur Firmin (Gus Constance) and Monsieur Andre (Michael Curtin) both lent strong voices and comedic interpretations to their roles with their well-timed banter, providing a welcome break from the intense central plot. Carlotta Giudicelli (Meagan Pierce), the former prima donna before the arrival of Christine, capitalized on the levity of her role through her dismissive posture and haughty air. On the other hand, Christine's friend, Meg Giry (Gabe Brown) offered a simple sincerity. Albeit a quiet role, Brown's face and body continually responded to the action, even when she was not speaking or singing. Such rays of light added variety and slight lightheartedness in an otherwise gloomy musical.

Along with the versatile cast, the technical aspects, for the most part, succeeded in emphasizing the actors and actresses. The sets were not overdone, yet they were not so bare as to seem nonexistent. The Phantom's lair, for example, was comprised of hanging black strips of cloth, a few platforms, and a lighted background of dulled hues. Such simplicity evoked the desired effect, but it did not distract from the message of the scene. Likewise, the orchestra produced the desired atmosphere without overwhelming the singers.

The strength of George Mason High School's actors and actresses and the subtly of the technical aspects combined to produce the desired poignancy needed for any production of The Phantom of the Opera.

Sierra Hoffman
Fairfax High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Fairfax

The Phantom of the Opera is a widely known show, performed thousands of times, but rarely at a high school level. Intense special effects and incredibly demanding vocal parts would scare away most directors, actors, and technical crews, but the drama department of George Mason High School willingly accepted the challenge, and it paid off.

This show has a lot to live up to. Currently, The Phantom of the Opera is the longest running musical on Broadway, and anyone who has heard the score knows that it is heavily operatic and very vocally demanding. The story follows Christine Daaé, a chorus girl turned ingénue who is spoken to by the "angel of music." This phantom becomes more and more deadly as he makes demands of the theater owners which they ignore at great peril.

The roles of Carlotta and Christine are the most vocally demanding soprano parts in the show. The required vocal range was easily reached by Meagan Pierce and Alexandra Smith, respectively. Both girls were clearly well trained operatically and were technically beautiful. Another excellent performance was that of Gabe Brown, who played Meg Giry. She was fully devoted to all her character choices and was always present in a scene, even if she had no lines. Overall, the cast had great dynamics and was very involved in the show. Even the pit orchestra was involved in the action.

The set was beautifully dressed, and transitions were quick due to the fly system and the use of the apron as performance space so that the curtain could be closed to set the next scene. The lights fit with the mood of the show and were well executed. There were at least six or seven body mics, in addition to two hanging mics, which the sound crew managed expertly. The special effects were very well done and creative, including falling objects, a piano that played itself, and a disappearing phantom.

Overall, the technical and physical elements came together in unique harmony to create a show that captivated audiences and took them through the emotional journey of The Phantom of the Opera.

Hailey Scherer
Flint Hill School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com - Fairfax

George Mason High School performed The Phantom of the Opera on November 21 with all the intricacies for which the show is renowned, and did it with an impressive complexity that might prove elusive to most high schools.

Le Fantôme de l'Opera was originally a novel authored by Gaston Leroux, which was later adapted into many stage and film productions, most notably Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1986 musical. This production first took the stage at the West End in 1986, and then on Broadway in 1988.

The storyline takes place in the grandeur of the 1880s opera theater. Prima donna Carlotta Giudicelli is interrupted during a rehearsal by the sudden collapse of a backdrop, and the story of the Phantom of the Opera, who haunts the theater, unfolds. After Carlotta storms off, Meg Giry encourages her best friend Christine Daaé to offer to take her place. When the managers of the theater hear Christine sing, they accept. However, backstage, Christine confesses to Meg that her teacher is a mysterious angel of music, who she later discovers is the same feared Phantom of the Opera. The story is as fascinating as it is eerie, and calls for a strong cast and a wide array of vocal ranges.

George Mason High School students answered the call for a strong cast with strong vocalists, primarily with the lead actress, Alexandra Smith (Christine Daaé). Smith, like her character Christine was meant to, instantly captivated the audience the moment she opened her mouth to sing. With her impressive vocal control, beautiful vowels, remarkable diction, and strong breath support, she has a consistently breathtaking soprano voice with just the right amount of vibrato. Smith had a secure sense of tempo which enabled her to keep in time with the difficult rhythms of this musical, as well as a keen sense of pitch that allowed her to deliver each note with confidence and accuracy.

Her fellow lead, George Castillo (the Phantom himself) showed his passion and vocal control in pieces such as "Music of the Night". His comportment and the way in which he made every movement controlled and purposeful characterized his role. Supporting actor Arijeet Sensharma (Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny) had an accurate sense of pitch and delivered notes in a consistent, rich tenor voice that blended well with Smith's for mesmerizing harmonies such as those in "All I Ask of You". Meagan Pierce (Carlotta Guidicelli) possesses a remarkable soprano range for a high school student, and played the part of the haughty diva well.

Because the material of the musical is at times so sinister, comic relief is important, and actors such as Alec Reusch (Ubaldo Piangi), Gus Constance (Monsieur Firmin, one of the managers of the opera theater), Michael Curtin (Monsieur Andre, the other manager of the opera theater), and Monsieur Reyer (the opera director) delivered their lines with the expression, energy, and comedic timing that roused laughter from the audience.

George Mason High School's rendition of The Phantom of the Opera was completed by its addition of special effects – the startling, the scary, and the spellbinding. This included highly effective mood lighting, a moving boat behind a ripped black curtain in the scene in which the Phantom takes Christine to his lair, and dropping chandeliers and hanged people that actually surprised the real audience members right alongside the characters on stage.

Eva Petersen
Fairfax High School
Submitted for publication to Falls Church News Press

The lights came up, the dramatic overture began, and the infamous chandelier slowly rose to the ceiling. Hearts couldn't help but beat a little faster. So began George Mason High School's romantic and intriguing performance of The Phantom of the Opera. The show featured a superior combination of talent and technical marvels. Riveting music and astounding special effects made for a rapturous evening of wonder and left the audience cheering with ebullience.

The Phantom of the Opera was composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber in 1986, based on the French novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux. Taking place in a Parisian opera house in 1881, the well-known story revolves around a disfigured and mysterious musical genius and his obsession with a young soprano whom he takes under his wing. The show is perhaps most famous for its special effects, most notably the falling chandelier at the conclusion of Act I. It is the longest running Broadway show in history, the first production ever to surpass 10,000 performances. The Phantom of the Opera has grossed over $5.6 billion worldwide, further proving its immense popularity.

Anchoring George Mason High School's production of The Phantom of the Opera were the fantastic special effects. The excellent fly system took on the tough task of making incredibly large props fall from the ceiling with aplomb. The well timed "drops" were brilliantly heart-stopping.

The Phantom was portrayed with scary passion and intensity by George Castillo. Playing Christine Daaé was the lovely soprano Alexandra Smith, whose technical skill elevated the show as a whole. Her voice was most beautifully exhibited in the songs "Think of Me" and "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again." The fantastic chemistry of the two leads gave the show a heart-wrenching credibility.

Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny was played by Arijeet Sensharma with a tenderness that perfectly contrasted the Phantom. His duets with Smith as Christine were beautiful and sweet. Gabe Brown, in the role of Meg Giry, elevated every scene with her lovely voice and convincing acting. August Wilson, who had multiple comedic roles throughout the show, stole every scene he was in with his funny facial expressions and hilarious voice.

George Mason High School's production of The Phantom of the Opera was a technical success. Along with the aforementioned fly system, the technical elements added to the overall strength of the show. Effective lighting set the mood for every scene, whether it be the vibrant colors of the masquerade ball or the darkness of the Daaé family tomb. The makeup team showed a wide range of skill, from the gruesomely realistic disfigurement of the Phantom to the funny, mask-like face of Don Attilo in the opera-within-an-opera, Il Muto.

George Mason High School took on The Phantom of the Opera, a very technically-tough show, with much skill and passion. Astounding special effects and some strong performers made the show delightfully intriguing and darkly enchanting.