Phantom Acting Choices That Live In My Head Rent Free (Part 3)

More Phantoms in 1-2 Sentences

[These are like my 'unpopular opinion' Phantoms?]

Josh Piterman: He cheated the unwritten final lair rules by actually embracing Christine back, but I am SO glad he did! He has the voice and natural intangibles for Phantom.

Greg Mills: Love him as a person (on social media at least) and want to love him as the Phantom, but inexplicably...don't and I don't know why *crying emoji*.

Stephen Buntrock: Inexplicably do love him and don't know why. The voice, the vibe, and the choices just work for me and I wish there was more of him to see.

Franc D'Ambrosio: Serving face, serving drama, always so extra, but I have to be in the mood for it.

Peter Jöbeck: I truly do not understand the hate he gets; his voice is so perfectly disturbing and Joker-esque!!! And he actually seems to regret his actions at the end, not just losing Christine.

James Romick: He's very forceful/on the nose (vocally + acting), and I think the Phantom is more than just "commanding." That being said, his "I love you's" are beautiful.

Géronimo Rauch: He's scary and sexy in equal measure. Elements of his performance remind me so much of JOJ.

Jon Robyns: Don't know much about his Phantom, but want to get to know more lol.

Tim Howar: He seemed very violent with Amy Manford's Christine in the final lair, and that turned me off. The Phantom is already "yikes" so let's not add unscripted physical aggression to the equation.

Brad Little: I live for the way he's so bossy and booming in "Phantom mode" but such a damn softy during the AIAOY reprises and final lair.

Interrupting my usual POTO content to exclaim: God almighty this man!

Oh shit, I started a fanfic!

Welp, we've gone this far. Follow me on AO3 and tune in to a POTO retelling lol.

It's over now, the music of the night. Laird Mackintosh, April 16, 2023. [X]

All final Broadway Phantoms, the kiss.

“I have touched you, heard you, felt the comfort of your presence–the sweetness of your consolation: I cannot give up these joys. I have little left in myself–I must have you. The world may laugh–may call me absurd, selfish–but it does not signify. My very soul demands you: it will be satisfied: or it will take deadly vengeance on its frame.”

— Edward Rochester (Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte) 

In one of your older posts I read about how Marcus Lovett deliberately echoed Raoul and Piangi for some scenes, because he thought that Erik would mimic them in terms of “manly” behavior. I thought this was really interesting, and I was wondering if you could talk about any scenes in particular that stood out in this way?

One scene that definitely stood out was the proposal after “Point of No Return”, before the unmasking. Here Marcus Lovett’s Phantom seemed to perfectly mimick Raoul’s movements and manners in the Rooftop scene.

I thought it was an interesting take on it, and I brought it up when talking to Marcus Lovett after the show. He looked mighty pleased that I had noticed that detail. He told it was an acting choice; that he envisioned the Phantom studying the men of the opera numerous times to try and understand how a man was supposed to appear to the world. Which is why the Phantom has a slightly theatrical flair, because without realizing he was just as much studying opera roles than actual men. But with Raoul he saw genuine affections towards a woman, and this is what he figures out Christine wants - hence the PONR moment (albeit he could probably pick up more clues from Raoul, given what happens next...!)

There’s something deeply human and adorably clumsy about this, and when seeing Marcus Lovett’s Phantom again with this arch in mind I loved him doubly. He had really thought of every single little detail he did on stage, from hand movements to grander arch storytelling. Which is also why, despite moments of rusty vocals, I list him as one of my favourite Phantoms.

Whoa Jon Robyns and Lily Kerhoas were such a good pairing, their voices mesh so well and their interpretations make sense together.