A Phantom more human than the Webber version

Kira Morsley and Kieran Brown in Phantom at Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre, London

Playing at the Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre, Walthamstow until 31 May.

“The greatest hit never to be produced on Broadway,” those are the words of veteran Broadway composer Maury Yeston (Nine, Titanic) when commenting on his show Phantom which receives its British professional premiere at Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre.

After their triumphant productions including Flora, the Red Menace and One Touch of Venus, All Star Productions treats us to a first-rate staging of a totally different Phantom from the one that has been lurking at Her Majesty’s for several decades.

Written in1983 by Yeston and bookwriter Arthur Kopit, commissioned by actor/director Geoffrey Holder who had bought the rights from the estate of playwright Gaston Leroux, Phantom never reached Broadway and probably never will, even though there has been more than 1,000 productions worldwide.

In the meantime Andrew Lloyd Webber decided to musicalise the story and the rest is history. Needless to say investors quicly backed out of the Yeston project when the London smash transferred to Broadway.

This is a shame as the pieces are so different, it’s almost pointless to compare them. This Phantom, brilliantly played by Kieran Brown, is more human, less threatening than the Webber creature. As for Christine, as played by Kira Morsley, she seems wiser and more in touch with the outside world.

The score is closer to Viennese and French opperetta, with no synthesizer in the vicinity, which is of course more fitting to the delicacy of the piece. ‘Melody of Paris’ stands out as one of several lush ballads in Act II.

All in all, it is a highly interesting take on the story cleverly directed by Dawn Kalani Cowle – suggesting more the silent movie version – which deserves to be seen for the insight into the character, if not for the spectacle.

Other shows coming up at the venue include Sing Happy (a Kander and Ebb revue with Katy Baker) on June 28 only, and the wonderful Neil Simon, Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh musical Little Me from August 13-31 .

Patrick Honore