‘The Phantom of the Opera’ closes on Broadway after 35 years

NEW YORK — The ultimate curtain got here down Sunday on New York’s manufacturing of “The Phantom of the Opera,” ending Broadway’s longest-running present with thunderous standing ovations, champagne toasts and gold confetti.

It was present No. 13,981 on the Majestic Theatre and it ended with a reprise of “The Music of the Night time” carried out by the present forged, earlier actors within the present — together with authentic star Sarah Brightman — and crew members.

Andrew Lloyd Webber took to the stage in a black go well with and black tie and devoted the ultimate present to his son, Nick, who died final month after a protracted battle with gastric most cancers and pneumonia. He was 43.

“When he was a bit of boy, he heard a few of this music,” Lloyd Webber stated. Brightman, holding his hand, agreed: “When Andrew was writing it, he was proper there. So his son is with us. Nick, we love you very a lot.”

Producer Cameron Waterproof coat gave some within the crowd hope they might see the Phantom once more, and maybe earlier than they suppose.

“The one query I preserve getting requested repeatedly — will the Phantom return? Having been a producer for over 55 years, I’ve seen all the good musicals return, and ‘Phantom’ is without doubt one of the biggest,” he stated. “So it is solely a matter of time.”

The musical — a fixture on Broadway since opening on Jan. 26, 1988 — has weathered recessions, battle, terrorism and cultural shifts. However the extended pandemic could have been the final straw: It is a pricey musical to maintain, with elaborate units and costumes in addition to a big forged and orchestra. The curtain name Sunday confirmed how out of step “Phantom” is with the remainder of Broadway but additionally how superb a giant, splashy musical will be.

“If there ever was a bang, we’re going out with a bang. It’s going to be an awesome night time,” stated John Riddle simply earlier than dashing inside to play Raoul for the ultimate time.

Based mostly on a novel by Gaston Leroux, “Phantom” tells the story of a deformed composer who haunts the Paris Opera Home and falls head over heels in love with an harmless younger soprano, Christine. Webber’s lavish songs embody “Masquerade,” ″Angel of Music” and ″All I Ask of You.”

Along with Riddle, the New York manufacturing stated goodbye with Emilie Kouatchou as Christine and Laird Waterproof coat stepping in for Ben Crawford because the Phantom. Crawford was unable to sing due to a bacterial an infection however was cheered on the curtain name, stepping to the aspect of the stage. The Phantom waved him over to face beside him, Riddle and Kouatchou.

There was a video presentation of most of the actors who had performed key roles within the present through the years, and the orchestra seats had been crowded with Christines, Raouls and Phantoms. Lin-Manuel Miranda attended, as did Glenn Shut, who carried out in two separate Broadway productions of Lloyd Webber’s “Sundown Boulevard.”

Riddle first noticed “The Phantom of the Opera” in Toronto as a 4-year-old youngster. “It was the primary musical I ever noticed. I did not know what a musical was,” he stated. “Now, 30-some odd years later, I am closing the present on Broadway. So it is unimaginable.”

Kouatchou, who grew to become the primary Black lady within the function in New York, did not suppose the present would ever cease. “I used to be like, ‘OK, I’m going to do my run, ‘Phantom’ goes to proceed on and so they’ll be extra Christines of shade,’ ” she stated. “However that is it.”

The primary manufacturing opened in London in 1986 and since then the present has been seen by greater than 145 million folks in 183 cities and carried out in 17 languages over 70,000 performances. On Broadway alone, it has grossed greater than $1.3 billion.

When “Phantom” opened in New York, “Die Exhausting” was in film theaters, Adele was born, and floppy discs had been on the slicing fringe of expertise. A postage stamp price 25 cents, and the yr’s hottest songs had been “Roll With It” by Steve Winwood, “Religion” by George Michael and Rick Astley’s “By no means Gonna Give You Up.”

Critics had been constructive, with the New York Submit calling it “a chunk of impeccably crafted musical theater,” the Every day Information describing it as “spectacular leisure,” and The New York Instances saying it “needs nothing greater than to bathe the viewers with fantasy and enjoyable.”

Lloyd Webber’s different musicals embody “Cats,” “Jesus Christ Famous person,” “Evita,” “Sundown Boulevard” and “College of Rock.” The closing of “Phantom” means the composer is left with one present on Broadway, the critically mauled “Dangerous Cinderella.”

The closing of “Phantom,” initially scheduled for February, was pushed to mid-April after a flood of revived curiosity and ticket gross sales that pushed weekly grosses previous $3 million. The closing means the longest-running present crown now goes to “Chicago,” which began in 1996. “The Lion King” is subsequent, having begun performances in 1997.

Broadway took a pounding in the course of the pandemic, with all theaters closed for greater than 18 months. A few of the hottest reveals — “Hamilton,” “The Lion King” and “Depraved” — rebounded effectively, however different reveals have struggled.

Breaking even often requires a gradual stream of vacationers, particularly for “Phantom,” and guests to the town have not returned to pre-pandemic ranges. The pandemic additionally pushed up bills for all reveals, together with routine COVID-19 testing and security officers on employees.

Followers can at all times catch the Phantom elsewhere. The flagship London manufacturing celebrated its thirty sixth anniversary in October, and there are productions in Japan, Greece, Australia, Sweden, Italy, South Korea and the Czech Republic. One is about to open in Bucharest, and one other will open in Vienna in 2024.

Kouatchou, who walked the purple carpet earlier than the ultimate present in a sizzling pink clinging robe with a sweetheart neckline and a reduce out, stated the bitterness was undercut by the large send-off. Most Broadway reveals that shut slink into the darkness uncelebrated.

“It sort of sweetens it, proper?” she stated. “We get to rejoice on the finish of this. We get to all come collectively and drink and snicker and speak concerning the present and all of the highs and lows. It is ending on a giant notice.”

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Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits