Review | Manatee Players stage a more soulful, tuneful 'Phantom'
It's difficult to talk about "Phantom" without talking about "The Phantom of the Opera."
Both musicals take their stories from the same source, the 1910 novel by Gaston Leroux. Both began their lives right around the same time, in the early 1980s. One went one to become the longest-running show in Broadway history, still running after 28 years, and it altered the course of the Broadway musical. It introduced, for better or worse, a decade-long trend of hyper-expensive, brooding pseudo-operas.
The other has reportedly been produced more than 1,000 times, but has never made it to Broadway and has always lived in the shadow of its more famous cousin.
"Phantom" is the latest offering from Manatee Players. While comparisons are unfair and unwise, they're also unavoidable. And in all aspects, "Phantom" turns out to be the stronger of the two shows.
Its score is more varied, its narrative is clearer and more compelling, its characters more fully formed and more deserving of empathy, and its songs cleverer and more stylistically and emotionally diverse.
The Manatee Players production, which opened Thursday to a nearly full house, is terrific. It's one of the most thoroughly successful shows that the company has staged since it moved into the Manatee Performing Arts Center three years ago.
The cast, directed by Steve Dawson, is huge -- 33 people -- and there's not a weak link worth mentioning.
Dan Yerman's sets are evocative but not spectacular. That's not a criticism, just a description -- they're not meant to be spectacular. But aided by Joseph P. Oshry's beautiful lighting design they look gorgeous; even sets that are clearly two-dimensional seem solid and imposing. Becky Evans' costumes, mostly period formalwear, are rich and lovely.
The story puts more focus on the title character than audiences might be used to, and James Alexander Hyde's commanding performance, marked by a stunningly rich, vibrato-laden tenor voice and dynamic acting, makes the Phantom a complex character who's as worthy of sympathy and scorn.
Among the other lead performances worth noting are Sophia Masterson, whose beautiful soprano voice meets the challenges of the role of Christine, and Chris Caswell, in the less flashy but just as emotionally complex role of Carriere. Kris Sethi is perfect in the comic villain rile of Carlotta.
But all the principals do great work.
The ensemble work is remarkable as well, with intricate harmonies that are executed beautifully, and music director Aaron Cassette gets a full and satisfying sound from the five-piece pit orchestra. And there are some nicely choreographed (and attractively performed) ballet pieces created by Vanessa Russo.
Perhaps best of all, the writing by Arthur Kopit and Maury Yeston (the book and the songs, respectively) is emotionally dynamic, full of warmth, humor and horror. The songs range from semi-operatic dirges to sprightly old-fashioned show tunes.
Whether you're a fan of "The Phantom of the Opera" or not -- perhaps especially if you're not -- this "Phantom" is worth seeing.
Details: Through May 8, Stone Hall at the Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 Third Ave. W., Bradenton. Show times: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $27-$37. Information: 941-748-5875, manateeperformingartscenter.com.
Marty Clear, features writer/columnist, can be reached at 941-708-7919. Follow twitter.com/martinclear.
This story was originally published April 22, 2016 at 6:32 PM with the headline "Review | Manatee Players stage a more soulful, tuneful 'Phantom' ."