A gothic masterpiece of romance, obsession, and soaring theatrical drama.
There are few musicals as enduring, as opulent, or as deeply embedded in musical theatre history as The Phantom of the Opera. The musical tells the tale of a disfigured musical genius, the Phantom (played by Ben Forster) who haunts the shadowy depths of the Paris Opera House. Captivated by the voice and beauty of the young soprano Christine (Grace Roberts), he draws her under his wing as his protégé, all the while falling helplessly in love. Unbeknownst to him, Christine’s heart belongs to Raoul (Matt Leisy), igniting a tempest of jealousy, longing, and madness.
A haunting tale of obsession, unrequited love, and the perilous seduction of brilliance, Phantom remains a breathtaking spectacle of operatic drama and theatrical magic.
This was my first time witnessing a musical live, and I say this without a hint of exaggeration: it was pure enchantment. I stepped into the theatre with an open heart and no expectations, only to be swept into a world of velvet shadows and operatic splendour. What unfolded on stage was not merely a performance, but a dream set to music...
From the moment the chandelier came crashing down with a thunderous roar, awakening the ghostly grandeur of the Paris Opera House, I was completely entranced. What followed was less a performance and more a living, breathing tableau. Each scene unfurling like a baroque painting in motion, rich with mood and detail. The scale of the production was truly operatic in every sense, from towering sets dripping in gothic opulence, costumes meticulously crafted to period perfection, and lighting that sculpted the stage like candlelight dancing across marble. Even the pyrotechnics were deployed with artistic precision, adding bursts of drama without ever overwhelming the elegance. There were stretches where I genuinely forgot to blink—so consumed was I by the sheer spectacle. You know it’s all illusion, built from flats and fabric and lights, and yet, it holds you in such thrall that disbelief doesn’t just suspend, it vanishes entirely. I believed every flicker of candlelight, every echoing footstep in the underground lair. The world they conjured was complete, and I, without resistance, surrendered to its spell.
Of course, it is the music that remains the show’s beating heart. The Phantom of the Opera’s iconic score swept through the theatre like a siren’s call, equal parts seductive and unsettling. From the moment the first notes rang out, the atmosphere shifted. Its thunderous organ, soaring vocals, and eerie undercurrents enveloped the audience in a soundscape that felt both grandiose and intimate. You don’t merely listen to it, you absorb it, as if the music itself is etched into your bones. It’s no exaggeration to say that this score doesn’t just accompany the story, it haunts it, as surely and vividly as the Phantom himself.
Forster’s portrayal of the Phantom was nothing short of revelatory, a performance laced with both grandeur and aching vulnerability. His voice, at once powerful and painfully tender, carried the weight of the Phantom’s torment with unnerving clarity. From the hypnotic seduction of “The Mirror (Angel of Music)” (one of my favourites) to the desperate crescendo of “Down Once More”, every note was steeped in longing, rage, and heartbreak. There were moments where his delivery felt less like performance and more like confession. You could hear the fragility behind the fury, the plea beneath the mask, and it was chilling in the best sense. Opposite him, Roberts brought a luminous strength to Christine, balancing innocence with resolve. Her voice soared with crystalline precision, and her emotional clarity anchored the show’s more surreal moments in something real and deeply affecting. Together, their chemistry was electric.
In contrast to the Phantom’s dark allure, Raoul, served as the production’s emotional ballast. His presence brought a sense of light and nobility, a necessary counterpoint to the Phantom’s brooding intensity. While his role can often risk feeling overshadowed, here it was given space to breathe, allowing his affection for Christine to feel authentic and deeply rooted. His duets with Roberts were particularly stirring, capturing the tenderness and quiet desperation of a love caught in the crossfire of madness and music. The ensemble, too, deserves every accolade. Their precision and energy imbued the opera house scenes with life and grandeur, shifting seamlessly between lavish performance numbers and moments of whispered intrigue.
Beneath its spectacle, The Phantom of the Opera endures because of its aching vulnerability. It is this raw emotional undercurrent, brought to life through impeccable performances, haunting music, and visuals that verge on the sublime, that makes the experience so unforgettable.
Admittedly, the plot may, at times, veer towards the melodramatic, a trait not uncommon in grand operatic storytelling. For those unfamiliar with the original storyline or the novel by Gaston Leroux, the arc can occasionally feel disjointed, particularly in the transition between acts. The beginning of the second act, for instance, arrives with an abrupt shift in tone and pace, which may momentarily unsettle audiences trying to locate the emotional throughline.
However, in the grand scheme of such an expansive and intricately staged production, these narrative fluctuations are but minor tremors in what is otherwise a profoundly immersive experience. And once the rhythm is re-established, the story reclaims its grip, guiding the audience through its final act with mounting urgency and emotional weight. It is, after all, a love letter to the melodrama of opera itself, and to criticise it for its operatic tendencies is to miss the point of its baroque beauty.
Would I return to see it again? Without hesitation. Perhaps it was the thrill of my first Broadway style production, or perhaps The Phantom of the Opera truly possesses that rare, timeless magic. Either way, I left the theatre breathless. And I think, everyone deserves to experience that once in a lifetime enchantment.
“The Music of the Night”, “All I Ask of You”, and the titular “The Phantom of the Opera” are undoubtedly among the standout musical numbers to anticipate during the performance. Each piece holds its own emotional weight and theatrical grandeur. From the seductive, velvety allure of “The Music of the Night”, to the tender, soaring duet of “All I Ask of You”, and the spine-tingling drama of the title track. These iconic compositions not only showcase the vocal prowess of the lead performers, but also encapsulate the very essence of the show’s haunting romance and emotional intensity.
If you’ve never seen The Phantom of the Opera live, make this the year you do. Because no recording, no film, no Spotify playlist can match the haunting grandeur of seeing it unfold right in front of you.
The Phantom of the Opera is now playing at the Sands Theatre.
