‘Phantom Of The Opera’ Review: A Spectacular, Transformative Musical
This was arguably the most dramatic, opulent and spectacular theatre production witnessed in Mumbai in a long while
Courtesy of NMACC
Where: Grand Theatre, NMACC, BKC, Mumbai
When: Mar. 5 to Mar. 30, 2025.
It was a perfect theater experience on the opening night of the very popular musical Phantom Of The Opera making its India debut in Mumbai. After the great success the Phantom has achieved in London’s West End and New York’s Broadway and elsewhere over a couple of decades, we were curious about its visual and aural impact on this side of the world. Could the glamor and glitz of the detailed, elaborate sets be re-created? Would the logistics of transposing this top-heavy production be feasible?
We need not have worried. What unfolded on the opening night of this production at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) left us spellbound and searching for superlatives.
We reckon that this was arguably the most dramatic, opulent, and spectacular theatre production witnessed in Mumbai in a long while.
It would enhance the theater experience of the viewers if they were familiar with the tale on which Phantom of the Opera is based.
It dates back to 1910, when a book in French, Le Fantome de l’Opera, was written by Frenchman Gaston Leroux.
This work was based partly on a mysterious fire and the crashing of a chandelier in the Paris Opera House, the Palais Garnier. There were rumors of a ghostly presence in the Opera House after the fire and accident.
Using his ‘poetic license,’ the author injected a fictitious tale of romance and mystery to come up with a tale that ultimately became this musical. There is a haze of mystique throughout the plot and a deep, but one-sided romance and pathos become the leitmotif of the Phantom of the Opera.
The Phantom is supposed to be a troubled, disfigured man living in the labyrinth under the Opera House in Paris. He is madly in love with the young soprano singer, Christine Daae, who is unaware of the Phantom and is, in fact, in love with Raoul de Chagny; it makes for a macabre love triangle.
In 1986, Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote a musical based on this 75-year-old tale. He has composed the enchanting music; the Title theme, the moving “Music of the Night,” “The Masquerade,” “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” and others. It adds an additional dimension to the story of the Phantom of the Opera.
Add to that the superlative costumes, elaborate and opulent sets, and the style and finesse of the city of Paris from that period, and you have the recipe for an almost fairytale-like theater experience.
The acting of Jonathan Roxmouth as the Phantom, Grace Roberts as Christine Daee, Matt Leisy as Raoul de Chagny, as also the rest of the large cast is central to the narration of the tale and they are worthy of applause for delivering a musical of huge theatrical impact.
One is transported to an opera house in Paris circa 1910, in the pre-World War I era, with the phenomenal costumes, and subtleties of that time. We understand that meticulous care was taken in the detailing of the costumes; the shoes were handmade, the beadwork on the dresses was done to precision to echo the atmosphere of that time.
Taken as a whole, this production of The Phantom of the Opera is astounding, with layer upon layer of meticulous detailing. Actually, it would enhance the enjoyment of watching this musical more than once; we recommend a minimum of one viewing!
