‘Phantom of the Opera’ at the Straz review: Spectacular set highlights fan favorite
The legacy of The Phantom of the Opera will certainly grow with the latest production at Tampa’s Straz Center. A spectacular set showcases talented performers honoring the great and popular story.
Chris Mann (The Voice) stars as the titular character with Katie Travis as Christine. The battle over the talented singer in the haunted Paris Opera House is brillantly brought to life with an amazing rotating set which creates the most incredible descent into the Phantom’s lair that I could ever imagine.
Storm Lineberger rounds out the top performers in a great cast which deliver the favorite tunes and moments effortlessly.
Mann delivers a darker, edgier Phantom, more in line with Lon Chaney’s version, who murders a stagehand in front of the audience.
This version of “Masquerade” is a brilliant restaging and “shadows” of the Phantom‘s backstory give the impression of the darkness needed to make this more than just a love story.
No offense to the cast, who truly deliver an energetic and enthusiastic performance, but Paul Brown’s set design is the star of the show. Deeper and deeper into and beneath the Opera House the audience journeys, truly creating that gritty feeling prior Phantom performances may have lacked.
The chandelier gets its moment, the ensemble cast is great in their moments and the costumes are magnificient.
Don’t miss this version of The Phantom of the Opera!
Tickets are now on sale for THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, which will play the Straz Center for the Performing Arts’ Morsani Hall, Dec. 17, 2014-Jan. 4, 2015, as part of the Bank of America Best of Broadway Tampa Bay series.
Overall the Phantom of the Opera receives 4 1/2 out of 5 stars!
Get tickets HERE!
For more information on the production and a video sneak peek, please visit www.ThePhantomOfTheOpera.com/USTour
DISPATCH INTERVIEWS: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
Chris Mann on The Phantom, The Voice and more
The cast give a preview of The Phantom of the Opera
Michael Morales talks about eturning to Tampa for The Phantom
