The Phantom of the Opera
at Westfield High School

Reviewed on April 27, 2018

Bailey Bane
James Madison High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

Human obsession is best delivered through disturbing infatuation and heartfelt affection as ardently presented by Westfield High School's The Phantom of the Opera. Reminiscent of the complexity of human attraction, the production balanced perilous rage and romantic angst that kept the audience reveling in the music of the night.

Andrew Lloyd Weber's rock opera first appeared in London's West End in 1986, accruing a collection of awards, including the Tony Award for Best Musical. Since its 1986 premiere, it has been revived numerous times worldwide, becoming Broadway's longest-running musical. Set in nineteenth-century Paris, the musical details the mysterious phenomenon of the Phantom of the Opera, a facially-deformed outcast residing in the underground lair of the Opéra Populaire. A musical prodigy, he develops a fervent affinity for young soprano Christine Daaé, coaching her to operatic success. The Phantom falls madly in love with Christine, throwing violent furies and descending deeper into depression as Christine reunites with past suitor Vicomte Raoul de Chagny. As the Phantom's paranoia swells, so do his threats on the Opéra Populaire, terrorizing Christine to emotional despair.

John Henry Stamper, in the lead role of The Phantom of the Opera, delivered a multi-dimensional performance that remarkably portrayed the character's emotional complexity, specifically through his intricate interactions with leading lady Molly Van Trees in the role of Christine Daaé. Stamper's tenor voice proved perfect for the intensity of the score, while also fitting for the more delicate sequences such as "The Music of the Night." Molly Van Tree's light soprano vocals complemented Stamper's severity, and together they created immense emotional vehemence that blossomed in "The Point of No Return." Together, they were a vocal powerhouse, dedicating extraordinary detail to the depth of their characterizations and gracefully tackling the remarkably challenging vocal score.

The production's supporting cast enhanced the impassioned delivery of the leads by offering perfectly-timed comedic moments. Particularly notable were Braeden Anderson and Harry Schlatter in the roles of Monsieur Firmin and Monsieur André, respectively. Anderson and Schlatter maintained an exceptional commitment to their characters and worked together seamlessly, leading the rest of the supporting cast in the comedic showstopper of the night, "Notes." Poised and sophisticated, Lily Whitman in the role of Madame Giry exhibited a commendable maturity with her unwavering stage presence and compelling vocals, lending her substantial stage authority. Anderson, Schlatter, and Whitman often united with the ensemble of the Opéra Populaire who effectively utilized the cast's dancing strength.

The technical aspects of the production enhanced the eerie and enigmatic mood delivered by the actors. Lighting by Ray Panzer and Vicky Thomas and sound by Nic Swanson and Vicky Thomas assisted in establishing the intensity of Stamper's Phantom. Especially notable was the movement of the Phantom's off-stage lines throughout the peripheries of the auditorium, immersing the audience in the role of terrified Christine. Similarly, the lighting execution amplified the production's most climactic moments, such as the iconic rise of the chandelier that welcomes the audience into Act One. Conversely, the lighting also lent an appropriately sinister presence to the stage during the more emotional instances between The Phantom and Christine. The actors were accompanied by a sensational pit orchestra that successfully bestowed the imposing appendage of a Weber production. Well balanced within itself and a harmonious complement to the actors' vocals, the orchestra was a striking talent of its own.

Nothing to fear, this "horror" of a show performed by Westfield High School was one of vocal and dramatic balance and strength, procuring the cast and crew a standing ovation for their portrayal of The Phantom of the Opera.

Emma Shacochis
Oakton High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

From the opening organ notes that signal the ascension of a glowing chandelier, the haunting atmosphere of 19th century France radiates throughout Westfield High School's theater, where the technically outstanding and well-performed production of "The Phantom of the Opera" is as mysterious and glamorous as a masquerade.

"The Phantom of the Opera", based on the eponymous French novel by Gaston Leroux, features music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe, and book by Lloyd Webber and Stilgoe. Premiering on the West End in 1986 and on Broadway in 1988, the musical has found success through in numerous worldwide productions. Sweeping the Olivier and Tony Awards, winning Best Musical at both, "The Phantom of the Opera" is Broadway's longest-running production, boasting over 10,000 performances.

The story focuses on the mysterious happenings at France's Opéra Populaire following the breakout performance of chorus-girl-turned-star-soprano Christine Daaé, aided by her unseen, spectral vocal coach - the Phantom of the Opera. As his infatuation for her passes the point of no return, Christine's childhood friend Raoul returns for her affections, and the opera staff grows increasingly infuriated with the Phantom, Christine must choose between her teacher or protector.

John Henry Stamper's embodiment of the deformed Phantom contrasted sympathy and fragility with power and rage. Stamper's steady voice was excellent both offstage, during his frequent disembodied taunting of the opera management, and onstage - the dedications he showed in "Music of the Night" proved for an intimate piece of theatre.

His Angel of Music, Christine Daaé, is a role that is emotionally and vocally difficult, but the dedication and innocence that golden-voiced Molly Van Trees provided make her portrayal a successful one. From her giddy debut in "Think of Me" to her anguished breakdown in "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again", Van Trees is delightful; her chemistry with Raoul (Gene Kim, chivalrous and sweet) shone in the charming "All I Ask of You".

The opera community, a cluster of eccentric characters, were all played excellently - from Meg Giry (Kaili Fox) as a sisterly figure to Christine; Lily Whitman as Madame Giry, perfectly severe and secretive; and the resident prima donna, Carlotta, whose wide operatic range and wider ego were played entertainingly by an animated Lauren LeVine.

Despite the show's dark tone, there were still opportunities for comedy - particularly from the high-strung theater owners, Monsieurs Firmin and André, played by Braeden Anderson and Harry Schlatter, respectively. The two had excellent chemistry, making their exasperated meetings in "Notes" and agile reactions to the opera's disasters perfect comedic relief.

The ensemble fills the scenes well, with the opera's ballet corps and crew reacting to the happenings around the theater with shock and fear. The entire company maintained energy and passion while beautifully blending harmonies throughout the complex score.

The stage crew (Brendan Mallon, et al.) were as efficient as a professional opera crew - their set changes were quick and silent, transforming the stage from Christine's dressing room to the Phantom's candlelit lair in seconds. The lighting (Vicky Thomas, et al.) was chilling, particularly the combination of colored lights and footlights for dramatic effect in the climax of "Notes". Kaili Fox's makeup and hair design both shone - particularly the well-applied wigs and the Phantom's terrifying yet spectacularly done deformed makeup.

Every minute is intoxicating, down to the final moments in the Phantom's lair where love, true and unrequited, fuels an armrest-gripping scene. By the culmination of Westfield's thrilling production of "The Phantom of the Opera", you'll find yourself wishing you were somehow there again.

Aubrey Winger
Loudoun Valley High School
Submitted for publication to FCPS Community News

Delicate dancers, boisterous tenors, and elegant sopranos dominate the stage of the Opera Populaire. However, darkness lurks behind the velvet curtains. A sinister figure, neither man nor monster, sits hunched over an organ, pounding out the opening chords of Westfield's most ambitious production yet.

The longest-running show in Broadway history, Phantom of the Opera is one of the most beloved productions of the theatrical world. Composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, this musical is renowned for its complex score and demanding vocals, making it a huge undertaking for any high school. However, Westfield High School approached this story of a young chorus girl and her foreboding "Angel of Music" with an undeniable fervor, transfixing the audience with their crystalline vocals and unforgettable characterization.

Christine Daaé's (Molly Van Trees) wide-eyed innocence never faltered as she fell victim to the Phantom's desires. Her stunning voice allowed her to leave her life as a chorus girl in the dust, claiming the role of leading soprano with a newfound sense of confidence. The emotional complexity of Trees' performance in her solo number "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" showed off her abilities as an actress and a vocalist, adding immense depth to her character.

John Henry Stamper, the show's resident opera house ghost, added nuance to the classic role of Phantom without compromising the integrity of the character. First presenting himself as a cold and inescapable deity, Stamper mesmerized the audience with his vocals, inviting them to descend into his world of eternal darkness. However, as the man behind the mask began to shine through, Stamper's hard facade melted away and his tragic backstory was revealed. His obsession with Christine transformed into love, creating moments of incredible intensity between them. Their final encounter in "The Phantom's Lair" was brimming with raw passion and emotion as he begged Christine to be his bride through pleading eyes.

Monsieur Andre (Harry Schlatter) and Monsieur Firmin (Braeden Anderson), the two bumbling opera managers, brought a touch of comedy to this dark tale. Their hilarious facial expressions, combined with their farcical frustrations with the Phantom, never failed to amuse.

Carlotta Giudicelli's (Lauren LeVine) operatic soprano voice perfectly complemented her arrogant personality. Her presence was magnified by her incessant desire to stay in the spotlight and her impressive range. Her costar Ubaldo Piangi (Alan Gutierrez-Urista) matched the ludicrousness of her performance with his flamboyant gestures and heavy vibrato.

The Don Juannabes pit orchestra commanded the haunting score with incredible skill. The symbolic lighting created by Vicky Thomas reflected the dominant emotions on the stage, bringing new meaning to every encounter. Classical ballet was seamlessly integrated into the show through Emily Bidinger and Bridgette Carey's choreography. The wigs utilized perfectly matched the period, while the Phantom's makeup and prosthetics made the reveal of his disfigured face simply shocking.

Westfield High School's production of Phantom of the Opera will leave you with a newfound compassion for its titular character. The cast's ability to balance elements of comedy and tragedy, combined with breathtaking individual performances, enthralled the audience "past the point of no return".

Cristen Scully
South County High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

Westfield High School's production of The Phantom of the Opera was a haunting and enchanting performance that hardly resembled a high school show. The lead cast did an exceptional job of capturing the audience's attention and not only succeeded but also thrived as they took on the challenge that is The Phantom of the Opera.

The musical takes place in a French opera house, where the "opera ghost", or, Phantom takes a liking to a young ballet dancer, Christine Daaé. After becoming his protégé, she obtains a lead role in the opera where her gorgeous soprano is shown off. The Phantom becomes captivated and obsessed with Christine and is overcome with jealousy and rage when she falls in love with a man from her past, Vicomte Raoul de Chagny.

The challenge of this performance is the need for a soprano with a large range to fill the difficult role of Christine, and Westfield's Molly Van Trees exceeded all expectations. Her gorgeous vocals coupled with her total commitment to her character made her the perfect leading lady. Her renditions of "Think of Me" and "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" brought chills and emotion to her captivated audience. Her performance was made even stronger whenever she shared the stage with the Phantom, played by John Henry Stamper. Stamper and Van Trees had an undeniable stage chemistry that was unmatched by any other character onstage.

While the show had exceptional leads, there was no lack of talent in the supporting roles. Madame Giry (played by Lily Whitman) gave her character more depth as the show progressed in the second act, as she shifted from a harsh teacher to Raoul's aid in his desperate search for Christine during the show's final scenes. Meg Giry, played by Kaili Fox, also had a strong performance and was able to maintain her energy through the show. The two managers of the opera house, Monsieur Firman and Monsieur André, played by Braeden Anderson and Harry Schlatter, respectively, added much needed comedic relief to the otherwise dramatic and intense show. The two played off each other to keep the audience laughing even in serious scenes.

The actors' performances were garnished with equally impressive technical aspects. The scene changes for the elaborate set were done quickly and without noise. The lighting and sound created haunting and dramatic moments that added a lot to the overall effect of the show. Lastly, the wigs and makeup of the characters were accurate and detail oriented.

The actors were able to pull off an exceptionally difficult show for a high school, as it includes not only extremely challenging vocal parts, but also demands technical proficiency. The cast and crew were able to maintain consistency and the two leads; Christine and the Phantom had an incredible vocal stamina that did not waver during the show. Westfield put on an exceptional performance that was well above the quality of an average high school performance.

Kathryn Webb
Paul VI Catholic High School
Submitted for publication to Connection

In a game of word association, "musical theater" is usually followed by "The Phantom of the Opera." With over 10,000 performances on Broadway, Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1986 musical about an opera house haunted by an equally haunted man is easily a cultural phenomenon. As popular as it is, Phantom of the Opera posses many obstacles to those who decide to perform it, including the vocally demanding nature of the score and many technical aspects such as the crashing chandelier. The cast and crew of Westfield's production of The Phantom of the Opera converted these challenges into triumphs as they put on an overall impressive show.

Leading the cast as Christine Daaé was Molly Van Trees, whose performance demonstrated an enviable vocal range and endurance that far exceeded expectations. Van Trees showed that she wasn't just a pretty voice as she also displayed a wide range of emotions during her character's ascent from chorus girl to leading soprano in songs like "Think of Me." John Henry Stamper, playing the title character and the "angel of music" behind Christine's success, took on the iconic role of the Phantom with a mysterious and ominous stage presence fitting of his character. Aided by impressive technical effects on the part of the sound crew, Stamper's full voice echoed through the theater and sent chills through the audience. Van Trees and Stamper only grew stronger when they performed together in numbers such as "Phantom of the Opera" and "The Point of No Return," skillfully capturing the complicated and unhealthy relationship of their characters.

The supporting and featured cast only added to the performance as they proved the old acting saying to be true: "There are no small roles, just small actors." There certainly weren't any small roles or small actors in Westfield's performance as members of the cast, particularly the comic duos of Monsieurs Firmin and André (played by Braeden Anderson and Harry Schlatter) and Carlotta and Piangi (Lauren LeVine and Alan Gutierrez-Urista). Each of the actors contributed their own moments of humor through their extreme physicality, energy, and dedication to their roles, making them audience favorites. The dancers of the opera house also exhibited extreme dedication with their impressive performance in the ballet numbers, which were student choreographed by Bridgette Carey and Emily Bidinger.

The greatest achievement of the show was the combined efforts of the technical crews to make such a logistically difficult show happen. Between the intricate costumes, many of which were handmade, fast and seamless stage management, and complicated and well thought out light cues, it was easy to become invested in the story. The disfigured appearance of the Phantom is an integral part of the plot and can be a lot of pressure for any hair and makeup department, but the head of hair and makeup, Kaili Fox, transformed the Phantom from a high school student to a terrifying oddity without a hitch.

Compared to the "disasters beyond imagination" of the Opéra Populaire, the cast and crew of Westfield's Phantom of the Opera suffered little to no hiccups within their performance. The company of Phantom created their own complex, layered, and entertaining interpretation of a classic piece of musical theater. As long as Box 5 is left open, it seems Westfield will continue to delight audiences as they venture to unmask the Phantom.

Ben Donovan
Freedom High School
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

Through the ascension of a chandelier, a flash of bright lights, and an eerie yet majestic orchestration, Westfield Theatre beckons the audience to the Opera Populaire of 1881 Paris; where a "Prima Donna" vies for the lead role, a chorus girl is instructed by an unseen "Angel of Music", and a shadowy spectre haunts with his "Music of the Night." With remarkable lighting effects, beautiful vocals, and pure dedication, Westfield High School brought together a new and impressive rendition of the timeless musical; The Phantom of the Opera.

Based on Gaston Leroux's 1909 novel of the same name, The Phantom of the Opera which features music and lyrics by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Charles Hart, respectively; opened in 1986 at Her Majesty's Theatre in London's West End to critical acclaim from critics and audience members alike. Upon its arrival to Broadway in 1988, Phantom of the Opera earned itself ten Tony Award nominations and seven wins; including Best Musical. Additionally, Phantom of the Opera holds the prestigious title of the longest-running show in Broadway history, celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2018. The story revolves around chorus girl Christine Daae who becomes the obsession of the sinister musical genius known as The Phantom of the Opera.

With an impeccable amount of emotional depth and an overall demanding stage presence, John Henry Stamper masterfully transformed himself into the formidable and mysterious title character. From his first appearance, Stamper's dedication and prowess to the role were explicitly present with captivating movements and intoxicating vocals. Furthermore, Stamper's high energy and impressive vocal range fully immersed the audience leaving goosebumps after each number. Throughout, Stamper was effectively able to distinguish the disturbed and humiliated exterior from the troubled and misunderstood man beneath the mask; whilst, also bringing forth a new dimension to the classic role. Starring as the subject of the Phantom's admiration is protagonist Christine Daaé, played by Molly Van Trees with the utmost precision. Van Trees' operatic voice and sheer complexity enchanted numbers such as "Think Of Me" and "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again". Likewise, Van Trees brought chills with her hypnotic performance of the tormented soprano; giving a sense of innocence and realism to the performance.

The talent pool at Westfield was deep, with numerous supporting cast members making powerful impressions. One particular standout is Lauren LeVine as the brash Carlotta. LeVine brought to the stage strong vocals, a clear Italian accent, and effortless comedic timing perfectly capturing the essence of the audacious leading lady. Another standout performance was Kaili Fox's execution of Christine's co-star and best friend, Meg Giry. Fox perfectly demonstrated the age-old theatre saying that there are "no small parts" commanding attention whenever on stage with delicate poise while also providing an able support to Christine in times of hardships.

The Phantom of the Opera was tied together with technical elements that shone as radiant as the sun. Almost every tech crew within the production expertly showcased their craft; with complicated prosthetics and an array of elegant wigs, a dominating orchestra hilariously dubbed "The Don Juannabes", and graceful choreography. However, most impressive were the lighting elements gorgeously executed by Vicky Thomas and Ray Panzer. Thomas and Panzer used full use of the lighting; creating a whole other side to the world of the Phantom. From a giant chandelier to gels that represented the character's moods, Thomas and Pantzer's lighting beautifully accentuated the performance.

From start to finish, the students of Westfield High School beautifully executed this complicated musical with grace; giving off a professional feel. Their rendition taught the valuable reminder that compassion goes a long way.