| With the opening of this wonderful Phantom in1988, its | | | | notes from the Phantom. The managers are |
| special effects, impressed the audiences with its | | | | considering the demand of replacement of Carlotta by |
| massive crashing chandelier. The production with its | | | | Christine in the lead role of the upcoming opera Il Muto. |
| modern adjustments is still doing the best even after 19 | | | | The group learns of Christine's return, and the |
| years of its existence. Costumes are more elaborate, | | | | managers reassure Carlotta that she will remain the |
| and the chandelier descends more quickly. | | | | star. The Phantom's voice is heard warning them |
| "Phantom" also got a boost from the 2004 | | | | against that course of action. |
| movie adaptation, which helped renew interest in the | | | | For the performance, Raoul sits in Box Five and |
| show even though the film wasn't a hit. | | | | Christine is cast in a silent role. The Phantom interrupts |
| ACT ONE | | | | the show and repeats his demands. He magically |
| Prologue--1911. An auction is being held on the stage of | | | | causes Carlotta to croak like a toad instead of singing |
| the Paris Opera House. There are many items for | | | | when his demands are ignored. |
| sale. A musical box with the figure of a mechanical | | | | The managers are helpless before Phantom. They |
| monkey is one of the items for sale. An old man bids | | | | offer a ballet sequence while Christine changes for the |
| for it, and it seems to hold some special memory for | | | | performance. During the ballet, however, Buquet's |
| him. This man is Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny. | | | | body, hung with the Punjab lasso, falls from the flies. In |
| The next item is the remains of a great chandelier. | | | | the ensuing panic, Christine and Raoul flee to the roof. |
| The auctioneer calls for a demonstration of the new | | | | There she tells him of her experiences with the |
| wiring, and suddenly the chandelier rises to the ceiling | | | | Phantom. Raoul does not believe the existence of |
| of the theatre, transporting the stage back to the time | | | | Phantom. However, He promises her protection. They |
| of Raoul's youth. | | | | profess their love for each other, and agree to leave |
| 1881-- Hannibal is the new Opera which is being | | | | together that night. |
| rehearsed by the Opera company. The manager of | | | | Once they leave, the Phantom emerges from where |
| the Opera announces his retirement on his arrival. | | | | he has been listening and vows revenge. As the cast |
| Andre and Firmin are the new managers. Andre asks | | | | of Il Muto are taking their bows, he brings down the |
| Carlotta, the company's prima donna, to perform a | | | | chandelier, which lands at Christine's feet on the stage. |
| piece from the opera for them. As she starts singing, a | | | | ACT TWO |
| backdrop falls suddenly, almost killing her. Buquet, the | | | | Six months later--The Opera is preparing to celebrate |
| chief flyman, is called, but he can offer no explanation. | | | | the New Year having a masked ball. Raoul and |
| The ballet girls whisper that it must be the work of the | | | | Christine are engaged now but Christine wants to |
| "opera ghost". | | | | keep the fact a secret. She wears engagement ring |
| Carlotta is infuriated with these strange incidents. He | | | | on a chain around her neck. However, a figure |
| storms out and vows not to return until there is an end | | | | dressed as Red Death appears on the staircase in the |
| of these happenings. The new managers have to | | | | middle of the ball. It is the Phantom.He tears the |
| face the more problems when Madame Giry, the ballet | | | | engagement ring from Christine's neck and disappears. |
| mistress, hands them a note from the opera ghost in | | | | Raoul questions Madame Giry about the Phantom, and |
| which he demands a salary and the use of Box Five | | | | she tells him of what she has knowledge.i.e., he is a |
| for the opera. | | | | deformed genius who escaped from a freak show, |
| Madame Giry has a daughter named Meg Giry who | | | | and was presumed dead, but that he still lives |
| suggests to the managers that her friend Christine | | | | somewhere in the Opera House. |
| Daae could take Carlotta's place. Christine has been | | | | Andre and Firmin have no wish to perform the |
| taking singing lessons but she fails to tell the name of | | | | Phantom's work. However, Raoul proposes a plan, in |
| her teacher. Madame Giry's convince the managers in | | | | which they go along with his plans, and then, when he |
| granting her an audition. | | | | attends the performance, they will be prepared. |
| Christine' impressed them with her performance and | | | | Christine agrees to become the part of the plan with |
| she is given the role in the opera. Raoul, a new patron | | | | reluctance. |
| of the Opera House, appreciates her performance | | | | Christine visits her father's grave. Againt, the Phantom |
| while watching the opera from the managers' box. | | | | appears and attempts to regain his influence over her. |
| These sentiments are echoed by an unseen voice. | | | | However, Raoul arrives to her rescue.The Phantom is |
| While answering the question about her teacher, | | | | furious and declares war on them both. |
| Christine explains that it is the "Angel of | | | | The performance of Don Juan Triumphant, the |
| Music" which her late father had promised he | | | | Phantom's opera, begins. Police officers have made all |
| would send to her. She has never seen him but has | | | | the security arrangements at all the doors. As the |
| only heard him in her dressing room. | | | | opera progresses, it becomes obvious that Piangi has |
| Raoul approaches Christine in her dressing room to | | | | been replaced by another singer. Christine realizes this, |
| congratulate her. It is a wonderful meeting as they | | | | and unmasks him in front of the audience. Police rush |
| discover that they were playmates as children. Raoul | | | | onto the stage, but the Phantom is able to take |
| wants to take her out to dinner and would leave her to | | | | Christine and escape. Piangi, who has also met with |
| get his coat. | | | | the Punjab lasso, is discovered behind the scenes. |
| After his departure, the strange voice is heard again, | | | | Raoul along with Madame Giry attempts to follow the |
| and there is a appearance of a figure behind the | | | | Phantom. Madame Giry shows him the way to the |
| mirror. It is the Phantom, her Angel of Music. The mirror | | | | lake. An angry mob is also following them. |
| glides open and the Phantom draws Christine inside | | | | Down in the Phantom's lair, Christine confronts the |
| with him. Raoul returns and hears the voice, but the | | | | Phantom with the fact that his true disfigurement is |
| door is already locked. Suddenly it opens, but when | | | | that of his soul, not his face. Raoul arrives, and the |
| Raoul enters the room, the mirror has slid shut and it is | | | | Phantom lets him in, only to trap him in a noose and |
| empty. | | | | offer Christine an ultimatum: either she stays with him, |
| Christine and the Phantom journey through the labyrinth | | | | or Raoul dies. Christine's answer is to kiss him. |
| beneath the Opera House, crossing a lake to arrive at | | | | Stunned by this act, the Phantom lets them both go. |
| the Phantom's lair. It is here that he explains to her why | | | | Christine comes back to return his ring, and he tells her |
| he has been teaching her--so that she may sing his | | | | he loves her. She leaves with Raoul in the boat. As the |
| music. | | | | mob draws in to the lair, the Phantom sits in his throne, |
| Christine falls into a trance. On the next morning, she | | | | drawing his cloak around him. Meg is the first to arrive, |
| wakes to the sound of a musical box, the same one | | | | and she approaches the throne and tears the cloak |
| from the opening scene. The Phantom is now seated | | | | away. All that is left is the Phantom's mask. It was |
| at his organ, absorbed in his composition. Christine is in | | | | indeed a very sensational and stunning story. |
| a great sensation. She quietly approaches him and | | | | This fall marks the return of some long-running shows |
| unmasks his from behind. Furiously, he turns on her, and | | | | that ruled Broadway in the 1980s: these shows' record |
| Christine recoils from the horror of his face and his | | | | runs have since been surpassed by "The |
| anger. Once his anger is spent, he breaks | | | | Phantom of the Opera," which turned 18 in |
| down.Christine feels pity for him and returns his mask. | | | | January; meanwhile, "Chicago" will hit its |
| He takes her back to the surface. | | | | 10-year anniversary next week, becoming Broadway's |
| Buquet catches sight of the pair as they return. | | | | longest-running revival. These shows, along with |
| Madame Giry also witnesses the scene, and cautions | | | | Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" and |
| Buquet not to speak of what he has seen. | | | | "The Lion King," use a range of strategies |
| Christine's sudden disappearance has arose many | | | | to keep audiences coming back, from casting |
| confusions. Raoul, Carlotta, Piangi, Madame Giry and | | | | celebrities to tweaking costumes and effects. |
| Meg all meet in the managers' offices, brandishing | | | | |